I'll go ahead and start the play by play thread. 3-4-3 formation. Steffen; Williams, Crognale, Naess; Afful, Trapp, Artur, Raitala; Higuain, Meram, Ola. DC with a 4-5-1. Hamid; De Leon, Franklin, Birbaum, Kemp; Sam, Harkes, Sarvas, Acosta, Nyarko; Mullins.
With the issues we have penetrating the middle of the pitch around the box in possession, I would think a 3-4-1-2 would be a better formation.
Exactly - with two strikers we have more of them occupying the back line, we have easier passing lanes between the split forwards and the WB/MR-ML, we still have Pipa in the middle of the pitch *hopefully* making plays, etc. And we'd have Jahn hopefully providing some height/hold-up play next to Ola.
Meh, I think Pipa will drop deep as usual, making Meram more of a withdrawn Fredy Montero type striker by default regardless.
Artur has recovered nicely, very smooth on the ball, switches the point of attack on a dime and had that flick that started the nice counter.
Crognale has now made two key interventions, a header away on their best looking attack and now that simple block. And now a simple toe poke on Sam in a dangerous area. Solid debut thus far.