Rodrigo never has been an out and out attacker, he's a foil who Bamford plays off, a Becchio if you like with Beckford, but he can play the lone striker. Llorente is a class CH or a class DM and he's not benched, he's injured.
I know Llorente is injured right now, I was saying that when he's fit, he's too good to sit on the bench. Meaning, IMO, that Bielsa favors three at the back (hence my hypothetical team when ALL players are fit with Llorente in the middle of a back three and Rodrigo as a support striker as you stated his preferred role is) At the start of the transfer window I thought Bielsa would seek to improve his tried-and-trusted 4-1-4-1 formation. As I couldn't see Rodrigo playing long term in the midfield, it looked like Rodrigo could only replace Bamford, given the latter's poor strike rate last season.
Rodrigo plays similar for Spain, from what I've seen, hard worker, provider and Striker. Goes between midfield and attack giving us better options.
Just gives mb options doesn’t it... option for 3 at the back, competition at ch, cover at dm If he doesn’t play it means the opposition are playing 1 up front and Cooper, Koch and Phillips are all uninjured, not suspended and playing great.
I get the feeling that someone will be making way for Raphina soon and Rodrigo is just getting bettter and better.
Marcelo's way is to introduce the new talent a bit earlier each week to help them acclimatize. He's not one to rush things, his experience has shown him that places open up in the team on a regular basis through injury and suspension. That ability to support players through any perceived lean times and not drop/rotate them is part of what makes him special and why he gets so much more from the collective than other coaches who sometimes 'lose' the dressing room. All you ever hear from any ex player of Bielsa's is the highest praise.
Well if the opposition is Liverpool playing a front three of Salah-Firmino-Mane, I think it will force Bielsa's hand to play a back 4 as he like the out-number the opposition in defense All the same, I can't imagine Bielsa spent 18 million on a player to sit on the bench and/or keep Koch and Cooper on their toes. We will see what formation he plays when all are fully fit.
Rodrigo, he’d already played for Spain so he should be match fit. I remember when he came on at half time against Sheffield United, he’d only played 45 minutes and he looked out on his feet. Bielsa demands a different level of fitness and this season against top rate opposition you can see why the likes of Saiz, Izzy Brown and Augustin never made it under Bielsa