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"He's such a good player but having watched him for a year, I am still none the wiser as to what's his best position and how we can get the best out of him. It's a big positive that he's so versatile, but would he benefit from being consistently deployed in the same role? How do you think he should and will be played by the new manager?"

His best position is probably in Bowen’s on the right, but as that's Bowen’s most natural and best position he needs to accept being on the left which I think he has done. 

Because he's so good anyway and super confident in his own ability he should be able to adapt and make it his own which makes us a very dangerous Team going forward as its already shown with him left, Bowen right and Paqueta down the middle. 

I don't see any other way of managing to fit them all in to the same Team used as effectively than this way.

The next best way of maximising our strengths as a Team could well be with Bowen up top, Kudus on the right, Paqueta down the middle and Summerville on the left, however that would mean Fullkrug would have been a catastrophic failure (which might yet be a possibility if he carries on the way he's started). The 1st scenario really needs to work so that doesn't happen otherwise that's £27M big ones we've yet again wasted up front..

And as much as Bowen makes the best of it and does an admirable job up top, I feel we don't get the very best out of him unlike when he faces the goal charging forward on the right the way he does excellently. 

Pretty sure Bowen played on the left for Hull. I'd like to seem them switch. Kudud would be more effective on the right. 

Kudus - what's his best position?

Sitting on an advertising board shortly after scoring.....

Noticed Bowen and Kudus swapping over during the City game too but thought that Bowen was far more effective on the right. Kudus is so good he can play anywhere (though annoying for him if he prefers the right).

Hopefully Summerville will become equally as effective once he has settled in... the thought of the three of them going at the opposition defence is an exciting one. That would mean Kudus in the middle which has to be his best position in that that's where he should see more of the ball and where he can cause the most damage. 

I’d like to see him play down the middle. On the wing, full backs keep funnelling him toward the touch line and his only option is to pass backwards. If he were to be in the middle he can go either way and would be more effective. I think from what I have seen Summerville is more suited on the left and expect some good things from him when he finds his feet in the team.

I didn't notice this against Villa or Palace but against City Bowen and Kudus were swapping left to right during the game so expect to see that happening more often.

 

I think we will have different line ups depending on the opposition...

Against stronger teams I can see why we would have Rod and Alv together with Kudus on one side

Vs teams where we have more ball, I think Paq and Alv together with Summerville, Kudus (middle) and Bowen is hopefully where we will go.

stubbo-admin wrote: ↑31 Aug 2024, 06:44

kylay wrote: ↑31 Aug 2024, 00:02 At Ajax, he was most frequently played out on the right, but Bowen isn't nearly as effective anywhere else, so I don't think we'll see him there any time soon.

I'd like to at least see them try Kudus on the right and Bowen on the left.  Don't think we've ever seen it to judge which is more effective.

kylay wrote: ↑31 Aug 2024, 00:02 At Ajax, he was most frequently played out on the right, but Bowen isn't nearly as effective anywhere else, so I don't think we'll see him there any time soon.

At Ajax, he was most frequently played out on the right, but Bowen isn't nearly as effective anywhere else, so I don't think we'll see him there any time soon.

Doggystyle 

For me it would be playing central behind the striker and in front of midfield. When he gets that ball on the run and he's off he breezes past people. Him bearing down centrally towards the area will give most defenders nightmares. 
 

"It's unfortunate that in Bowen and Kudus we have two of our best players who are at their best on the right. Have to be honest last year I really thought on the left Kudus would be effective, pace to burn driving to the byline crossing to an incoming centre forward but the days of attacking wide men crossing from the line seems to be a thing of the past and as others have said he isn't effective there. I think he could do a job up front but you lose his dribbling skills unless he gets the ball a lot so again as others have said a free role behind the front man seems the best option. Fulkrug and even Antonio now need runners and he would provide that, plus with his strength and dribbling skills we would probably win a lot of free kicks centrally. All depends on whether the manager persists with Soucek as a starter."

"As Mike says, Soucek’s position centrally but with licence to roam wherever he wants. Hopefully the whole Soucek as a starter experiment by Loppy will end soon. I can only think he us takimg an evolutionary not revolutionary approach to keep squad togetherness intact ( dont alienate those that will be moved to the bench and give them opportunities to make a case for starting ). Also it gives new players time to settle, understand the club, exising players and in many cases the country they have moved to. Kudus’s least effective role is wide left."

"A proper Manager would surely ask him where is he is most comfortable. I'm not saying Loppy is not a proper Manager,time will tell but he is the best player in our side IMO and should play where he wants to."

"the answer is playing him where soucek is, with bowen and summerville wide. two out of paqueta, alvarez or rodriguez behind him"

There has been some Noises about under performing at the start of the season. Came on last night in his favoured position and he looked back to his normal self. Need to find a way of getting him away from that left side. We are a more threatening side when he is on his game and his game if not left midfield! Fuck knows what the answer is!

"He and Bowen will swap it up so you don't know where they will be next, a bit like when Bowen popped up on the left to get on the end of Paqueta's through pass in the final......"

"CAM for me. I would play him in the middle in front of Alvarez (when back) and Paqueta. Front three has to be Summerville, Antonio/Fullkrug and Bown. Summerville is the hottest young prospect we have signed for YEARS and our only quality signing of a dreadful summer window, so he has to start."

"“ ideally though I would imagine his best position is as a 10, with Paqueta as an 8 behind him. Bowen and the new lad from Leeds on the wings behind Fullkrug. But it seems a bit of a stretch to go from Moyes defensive mindset to basically only playing one holding midfielder behind 5 attackers, so I can't see us doing that.” In general, you’re right, it would be too expansive. But, if you’re 1-0 nil down with 15 mins to go, I’d fancy them players with that formation, to have the ability, creativity and pace, to score against most teams - home or away."

Central or Right wing although fear we will see him on the left again. Hes significantly weaker there.

"I'd be quite interested to see him as an option up front as well, he's strong, fast and knows where the goal is. He scored quite a few for Ajax as a number 9 I believe. ideally though I would imagine his best position is as a 10, with Paqueta as an 8 behind him. Bowen and the new lad from Leeds on the wings behind Fullkrug. But it seems a bit of a stretch to go from Moyes defensive mindset to basically only playing one holding midfielder behind 5 attackers, so I can't see us doing that. I'd say he's nailed on to start on the left of a front 3 in a 4-3-3 formation with Paqueta in the middle 3 alongside the Argentinian and Alvarez when fit. Hopefully Summerville can play his way into the starting 11 and force the attacking change of formation."

"exile - Sure. Nobody knows, so it's fruitless to ask really, albeit harmless enough."

"Manuel - well, I clearly said that I don't know in the OP above, which is exactly why I want to know what other people think. Hope that's OK with you old chap."

Have any of you experts said ''I don't know''? Because that's the only real answer.