Following the latest round of Premier Leauge matches, barring Southampton’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur, Thomas Woods provides his thoughts on some of the biggest talking points.
Milner switch the tactical decision of the season
There has been a lot made this season about some of the tactical decisions and formation changes made by the likes of Pep Guardiola and Antonio Conte, among others.
Conte’s switch to 3-4-3 (or 3-4-2-1) is perhaps the most talked about tactical switch in recent years, because it has sparked Chelsea’s incredible 12-match winning run which has seen the side climb from eighth place in the league table, eight points behind then leaders Manchester City, after six games, to top spot and a six point cushion entering the halfway stage.
But it is arguably not even the best tactical decision of 2016/17. That honour goes to Jurgen Klopp for ditching erratic Spanish left-back Alberto Moreno after one game and replacing him with James Milner, a midfielder.
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Bold and decisive, it was a move that probably saved Liverpool’s title challenge. Moreno is not good enough defensively and he was run ragged by Arsenal. You have to wonder how many goals an already fairly porous defence would have conceded with him on the left.
Milner is not a defender, but it was a wise decision by Klopp to play him there. He’s got one of the best engines in the league, can tackle and barely puts a pass wrong.
And don’t forget that Milner began life as a tricky, persistent winger so he gives Liverpool such an edge going forward down the left that they haven’t missed Moreno’s attacking qualities one bit.
Klopp is not the first manager to switch a midfielder to full-back, but he deserves plenty of credit all the same.
Pedro showing why Chelsea brought him
Speaking of that Conte formation switch — one of the players it has benefited the most is Pedro, the Spanish forward who scored one and saw his shot deflect home for another in Monday’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth.
Pedro, 29, is finally showing why Chelsea signed him from Barcelona at the start of last season. It has taken him time to show consistency, but is that a surprise? Not every foreign player comes into the Premier League and hits the ground running.
Pedro’s debut last season saw him produce an electrifying display, when he scored a fantastic goal at West Bromwich Albion, picking up the ball, running at pace, playing a one-two and then getting a shot away from the edge of the box. But he didn’t really build on that performance as Chelsea collectively saw their league title defence implode in spectacular fashion.
This season, however, he is producing those kind of moves on a regular basis. Chelsea now have Eden Hazard, Pedro and their wing backs all running off the ball and with the technique to collect a pass at pace.
It’s the most impressive aspect of Conte’s tactical switch.
Bradley had no chance
On Tuesday, Swansea City sacked Bob Bradley after just 11 games in charge of the club. The American did not have much of a positive impact on the struggling side and they were conceding more than three goals per game on average. Upon Bradley’s arrival, Swansea were one place above the relegation zone on goal difference. As he departs, the Welsh club are four points from safety and only above bottom side Hull City on goal difference.
However, 11 games is far too short a time to give any manager, especially when he was unable to recruit.
The real blame for Swansea’s situation should be placed at the door of the club’s American majority owners and the transfer policy that has seen the likes of Ashley Williams, Wilfried Bony and Bafetimbi Gomis leave in the past 12 months.
In that context, it is amazing no club has moved for Gylfi Sigurdsson, the Icelandic midfielder who is easily Swansea’s most important player.
The summer transfer window was completely botched and now the club are paying the price.
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