i think Theo is a big part of our attacking machine...contributes even more attacking wise than the RW position, i think Saelemaekers and Samu do their job, and Saelemaekers has been good lately... but in term of direct action that leads to goals or chances + being a goal threats himself. Theo does more.
and i would not call him a one man show...yes he has the ability to make great runs many times during the games ... but the amount of combinations happening on that side with Rebic, Hakan, Ibra to for him end up behind the defense is significant. it's great teamwork going on there
2. ANYTHING could work long term, if you shop right for it and address the shortcoming such pairing would have ... whether it's by switching system or adding a different type of player somewhere in the mix ... but as we stand right now with this formation and the role that 2 DM play, sustaining the pressure, intensity and briging the Physicality...that pairing will be very light, less energetic...Bennacer despite being small can hold his own... but this is just not Tonali's game ...
at the price we've got him, it's a good deal/an opportunity but in the immediate another type of midfielder was more of priority.
long term ok, probably in a different formation as well.
I am referring to Theo as a one man show compared to what we had for long in the defensive positions.
Our CBs are bad scorers, 2020-Conti offered only little going forward, Bennacer and Kessie only started pushing up with purpose at the end of the season. Theo was the only one eager to do something in attack, that changed now.
I personally see Tonali as a more defensive player than Bennacer, but also a little bit in between Kessie and Bennacer in terms of characteristics with some classic regista thrown in. Imo it is more about Tonali hitting form and settling than the combination.
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