By CandH’s top blogger Allen Cummings
Pep Guardiola pulled something of a surprise before Manchester City’s emphatic victory over Liverpool on Sunday!
He actually chose to leave striker Gabriel Jesus on the bench and played Phil Foden instead as a ‘false number nine’.
The 4-1 score line and the fact Foden was named Man of the Match suggests the tactic worked perfectly.
Could that possibly be David Moyes plan for Jesse Lingard, to combat the continuing concerns over Michail Antonio’s fitness?
To use Lingard in a ‘false nine’ role when Micky isn’t available could easily be the plan although it can’t happen tomorrow evening as Lingard isn’t allowed to play?
With the manager ‘hinting’ at his latest presser that Antonio might not have recovered sufficiently from the fatigue he suffered at Fulham on Saturday, to face Manchester United on Tuesday – and Lingard unable to play against his parent club – chances are Andriy Yarmolenko will be switched to playing up front, as he did in the previous round against Doncaster Rovers.
But the Lingard option might be the one occupying the manager’s thoughts for future games if necessary.
Moyes hinted at the possibility when Jesse first arrived saying: “I’ve seen him play as a young boy when he was still a wide player on the right, and I’ve seen him play off the left.
He’s played for England as a No10 he’s played for England as a No8 and I actually think if we needed him as a false nine, he could do that as well.”
Was that a clue to the Manger’s train of thought? Maybe the time to put it to the test might not be too far away. Sheffield United next Monday anyone?
Moyes maintained throughout the last transfer window he wasn’t going to be pressurised into any sort of panic buy – up front or elsewhere. “The recruitment is changing,” he insisted. “We are trying not to spend excessive money like we have in the past.”
He knows what he wants – and he’s prepared to wait if necessary. Moyes wasn’t looking for short term solutions from outside.
Maybe that’s because he believed he already had a viable solution in Lingard, at least for now – two goals in his first game was certainly a decent start. There could be plenty more where that came from.
Great piece Allen. I think you are right and that is the way short term. OK no Lingard, but with the options we have in midfield, my favourite would be Bowen false nine with two others, Benrahma, plus Lanzini, Forrnals, Yarmo combi. Must be five at the back as ManU are strong attacking flanks plus we must retain the ball and not lump it.
Good post as usual Allen. I was just remembering reading about “the (Don) Revie Plan” at Leeds in the 60’s – which involved the use of a deep lying centreforward – so the idea is really not that new
It will be interesting to see how the season pans out with almost no threat of relegation hanging over us (I will finally accept that there is no threat at all when we reach 45 points LOL)
Just wondering if we still have to pay Lingards wages this week seeong as we’re not allowed to play him against Manure.
To be honest I love Antonio but not to sign josh King on the terms Everton signed him on was criminal.. Perhaps Moyes didn’t fancy him so in moyes we trust…But against Fulham he was blowing early on….He can only play a game every week not 3 in a, week. We need a bigger squad as Noble and Yarmalenko offered nothing Sat when they came on….abd Fulham looked like the top 5 side not us… Maybe a few more windows moyes will get the full squad he wants COYI ⚒️⚒️⚒️
King cost Everton £5m – plus wages said to be around £100k a week – to be available for around 17 games if needed. He can then walk away. Personally I don’t think that’s value for money – even if it’s not my money I’m spending!
False nine just means playing someone who is not a number nine as a number nine. It’s not any kind of tactical masterstroke. In this case it’s just playing Jesse lingard as a striker instead of a midfielder. Moyes has already been successful with us at playing Mickey Antonio as a false nine, and before that marko Arnoutavic was a false nine. He has also played Yarmolenko as a false nine a few games ago. So who would be surprised if Moyes did it with lingard?
The difference being Man City can retain the ball for fun allowing players to get forward.
We can’t.