BBZ, the forum's ultimate chameleon at it again.
So now you're criticizing players who run and press? What happened to your workhorse theory?
As for dribbling and creating, Arthur and De Jong dribble and create plenty. Dribbling past players and carrying the ball forward is literally one of their best attributes as players. We need movement up front, without movement our midfield suffers.
It's also immensely counter productive to fault Griezmann for working hard off the ball as well. We need players like him, especially in the latter stages of the Champions League.
I thought you liked work horses. Griezmann is a perfect example.
My workhorse-love theory came as a response to 3 short midfielders style, which I hate.
So, for me: 3 light midfielders is the worse option and it can work only if you have Xavi-Iniesta and IN THE MOMENT when the opponents haven't figured out TikiTaka.
Since we will never have Xavi-Iniesta again and the opponents will never be as shocked as back then, that will never repeat.
In that sense, I have said something like:
1 workhorse and 2 light midfielders is a better option that 3 light midfielders.
But also, we (me too) have figured out over time that 3 workhorses suck.
So, 3 light midfielders suck in Europe.
But so do 3 workhorses.
So, the answer is somewhere in between.
Then, lately we have another problem, similar to light midfielders vs workhorses.
We can't have all players who are shooting and dribbling and where no one is working for the team.
But also, we can't have ALL players who are only working and running and where no one is dribbling and shooting.
In that sense, Frenkie is a deep lying pivot, who is moving a ball forward. Which is awesome.
And even though he can pass and shoot here and there in the attacking 3rd, he is not a natural CAM or similar type of a player.
Arthur even less, even though he will also create and shoot here and there.
Now, if you look at a bigger picture, and if you want Frenkie and Arthur as starters, those 2 would fit the best with the 3rd guy like Coutinho, Donny VDBeek or a new kid Dani Olmo and similar.
Someone who has dribbles, assists and shooting in his blood.
Not only that we don't have that, and a 3rd guy is currently another workhorse Roberto or another pivot Busi, but now we even have a workhorse attacker in Griezmann.
In a current midfield with Frenkie-Arthur, imo, Griezz doesn't make sense.
We have enough of possession and running from Arthur and Frenkie, and the most needed skill in attack is actual pace/getting into chances/dribbling and shooting.
Griezz seems like another misfit who could work in some weird 442 and not in 433 and especially not in 433 where Messi is also a hybrid RW-CAM.
Griezz could probably work the best in some weird 442 where we would have No9 Suarez and Griezz as silent striker, and then let's say Dembele on the right flank as a Rm, and Alba as a LB behind Griezz.
Plus Arthur-Frenkie and the 3rd guy in midfield.
So, imo:
1. Griezz is not a winger
2. further, he sucks without a true no9, he needs someone like Suarez, Giroud or Diego Costa in the box.
That means that Griezz can't play instead of Suarez but only WITH him.
And that means that Griezz is a LW, and since we already have Messi as a RW who is not a RW, that means that we are turning into a Christmas tree 433 which is actually a 4321 with no wings, no pace and where we have 5 creators in the middle (Busi, Arthur, Frenkie, Messi, Griezz) and only 2 players who are willing to shoot in Messi and Suarez.
Anyway, regarding light midfielders/workhorses, try to look at a bigger picture.
Again, I am a fan of workhorses, but I wouldn't play 3 workhorse midfielders, because we would lack creation.
Further, 3 workhorses midfielders and 3 workhorse attackers would work probably only against Liverpool.
But in other 59 matches during season, that combination is too sterile and we need a balance (more shooting and creativity in attack, in this case).
That means: some more technical midfielders, some workhorses, some workhorse attackers, some attackers who will finish those chances etc.
For years, we always had too much of technique and creation and not enough workhorses and physique.
This year it is the opposite. We now have too many workhorses and not enough brave dribblers in the attacking 3rd and finishers.
In this moment, we lack:
1. a 3rd, CAM-ish type of a guy to compliment pivot Frenkie and a CM Arthur
2. at least one true, fast winger
3. one more attacker who is willing to shoot and score and not to pass all the time. I personally see Griezz more as a passer/creator attacker than as a clinical finisher.
