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I would play the team we had last year with Rice instead of Xhaka, and Jesus up top.
White, Gabriel, Saliba, Zinchenko
Rice, Odegaard, Partey
Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
The experiments were fun. Time to go on a run.
Jesus needs to earn his spot in the starting lineup IMO, as does Partey after the past few games at RB being... really quite bad. I know he was out of position but Rice is just better, and I'm not convinced that a Rice-Ødegaard-Partey midfield is offensive enough against a team like Manchester United, nor that we need the defensive solidity that that trio provides. And Nketiah has been really good.
All good points. With an attack of Jesus, Saka, Martinelli, and Odegaard, I think Rice and Partey can turn over the ball higher up the pitch sending our attackers forward. Jesus is our CF, and our team is way better with him. His movement and interplay with Saka and Martinelli made last year so much fun. Eddie is good, but not that good.
I think the gaffer wants Partey on the pitch no matter what, and slotted him at RB to get him on, so there is no way he sits. The question is, will he sit very expensive Havertz?
I watched the most recent Match of the Day and they showed the holes in the Man U midfield. I think Partey and Rice will expose those holes. I also hope this is the game wherein Rice makes the Xhaka runs into the box.
Anyway, it feels good not knowing who the starting XI are and being okay with whoever gets on the pitch.
I think Jesus is better but he's had a whole like, 10 minutes so far since the surgery, and he's not impressed (though it would extremely hard for him to have). Nketiah has consistently impressed, and not really given a reason to be dropped. It would feel harsh for him to be dropped and Imo without good reason (especially considering how Trossard did).
Really hope Partey gets dropped — if you're saying it's a meritocracy, you simply can't have him start. And I'd want to see Zinchenko invert instead of him.
I trust the gaffer though. If he wants to start Tomiyasu at GK I'd let him.