Soucek is a conundrum. I am still convinced, long term, that to progress he cannot be a regular starter but that is when we actually build a squad with the profile players needed to play a fast, possession game with relentless pressing and movement. Our squad is a half baked mess. The depletion of the squad under Moyes was always going to make it tough with having to recruit and integrate 8 new players. And transforming from a low block, counter attack team to one that dominates possession and stretches teams with pace and movement made it even tougher.
The recruitment in the back line was “ok”. Kilman, AWB and Todibo will I think prove that over time, when the other parts of the team / squad are addressed properly, to be very good players.
But ( Lop ) really got it wrong in central midfield. He pushed for the wrong profile of player and
up front Steidten switched from the right profile of player ( Duran ) to the wrong one in Fullkrug who is more of an immobile, target man like Chris Wood who thrives in a low block, counter attacking system ( ironically Moyesball / Nunoball
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The real disappointment this season is Alvarez and Paqueta. Both so slow, ill disciplined in positioning and poor in decision making unable to play on the half turn and so ineffective in transitions. Rodruiguez just so immobile / slow for the Premiership too. Soler has emerged now as the best of a bad bunch of recruits in centre mid. Nothing to crow about though.
So Soucek, while being not the long term answer, has become important to a team playing this “half in half out” system where we try to keep the ball without doing the necessary pressing and running to make it really work. Maybe because collectively they are too slow but also because ( as mentioned already ) they lack the discipline or simply dont understand what the coach wants? Probably all of those things.
Soucek, despite his limitations technically ( passing/ control ) and physically ( pace ) is disciplined positionally even if he is easily bypassed. He at least keeps things simple to avoid being caught in possesion like Alvarez and Paqueta. But teally he’s just the best or most reliable of a bad bunch in that sense. But he has to start now solely because he come up with a goal from a set piece or cross.
Tonight, Lop IMO would be advised to start with Soler, Paqueta deeper and Soucek the three that started and conpeted well against Newcastle although were overwhelmed / overrun by Arsenal a few days later ( tiredness ? Or tactical as we sat deep) . Alvarez who I thought was a real asset is currently too big a liability to a start. Paqueta similar but played deeper showed in that Newcastle game that he might be more effective. But its a gamble for sure.
It could go either way. I suspect it wont be great because Bournemouth are the best pressing, furthest running team in the league. But they have a few out. We only have a chance if as a team we put in the effort, the yards and are disciplined in keeping our shape ( positioning ). If Floppy tries the high line and advanced wing backs we will be carved apart on the counter with acres of space for Bournemouth to run into.
Ironically, we have to play as more of a counter attack team again with this squad ( Moyes esque ). We simply do not yet have the players to progress to the possession / high line being attempted. Only my opinion and hardly giving any great insight. Most of us can see the same problems Suspect we will lose whatever we do with our half baked squad and ineffective ( nay suicidal ) tactics but hoping things run for us, we keep disciplined, stay in shape when out of possession and break at speed when we get the chance.
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