Marshall D Teach
Well-known member
We should revisit the idea of Griezmann playing in midfield.
FDJ is clearly levels better as a CDM regista than he was at RCM or LCM, has way more influence on the game and the tone of our possessions from start to finish. He needs total field vision and the ability to build up a head of steam from deep positions. His best plays come when he is behind the main zones of buildup and pushing forward to support whenever/wherever he feels needed, like the guiding hand for our circulation of the ball.
Rakitic is a horrible, absentee partner at the RCM spot. Roberto is too inconsistent and a niche player that mostly performs in end to end games at home.
What people want is someone who is more offensive than FDJ and Arthur, a high level runner off the ball, creates chances, and attacks free space in the final third. Enter Griezmann, who does all of these things. He also puts in more than his fair share of defensive support. His best weapon as a player is linkup play and 1-2's, which he'll get plenty of if he's in close proximity to Messi/FDJ/Arthur.
It also allows a fluid system in which Messi can drop deep, move wide, or push up, and Griez can rotate to occupy the different empty spaces in response to Leo's movement. He'd be very complementary to Messi in that role.
Plus it seems like Suarez is definitely gonna be a starter no matter what, sadly.
Ansu-Suarez-Messi
Arthur-FDJ-Griezmann
Alba-Lenglet-Pique-Semedo
Dembele can rotate with Ansu or, if he manages to up his level and be truly productive, he can be the full time starter there this season.
This iteration of our lineup has the greatest # of high level runners off the ball and players with good defensive workrate. It also gives us a midfield where every single player is mobile and dynamic, not static like Busi/Rakitic.
Not a bad idea. Plus Arthur, FDJ and Griezmann all run a lot. None of the 3 is a traditional out and out DM but the defensive workrate between the 3 could make up for that.