I'm really, really scared of a Devlin/Rufer pairing. Tactically that's an absolute disaster, both on paper and as demonstrated post-COVID break. I really like Rufer but a defensive-minded midfielder able to close off passing lanes and screen the CBs alongside one of the other two mids is essential
I am sure Uffie will come up with something. However looking at the current line up you could play a 433 with Piscopo, Ball and Davila at the top and move Payne in as your central DM stopper with Devlin and Rufer each side. Payne has played at CB....he knows how to defend and his passing is OK. Fenton goes into RB.
Fenton in a back four scares me more than a holding mid pairing of Devlin and Rufer tbh. IMO Rufer was one of the few players we had who played better after the restart, and if he plays the same way this season I think it will be at worst a functioning pairing, at best a fairly good (and cheap) one. He seemed a lot calmer on the ball, moved it on quickly and sprayed some excellent long balls and deep crosses. Maybe it was just the Pirlo-esque hair, but he seemed a markedly improved midfielder. Small sample size obviously, but if he continues to play in the way he did, a partnership of Rufer and scrappy doo doesn't seem all that bad.
Rufer could be good. Neither of them have played in a way that suggests they're a like-for-like replacement for Matti. Though both had great seasons.
Seemed like Uffie wanted Rufer to play long. Chances of keeping Piscopo?
Need some reliability signed to replace Taylor and Matti. Also, Payne definitely not a mid?