Barkley has an unknown return date though. Then needs to get fit enough for our style of play, and needs to be moulded into the team. Could be April by the time that happens. I don’t think Lanzini is the answer.
It's true. Does it have anything to do with it? No idea. Wouldn't have thought so. We've lost key players, haven't had the personnel to replace them and stuck with a system that's left us stretched. We haven't been able to rotate some of our key men, who have looked jaded and others are struggling with fitness and form. Has Pochettino revealed anything even vaguely controversial? If he has, then I might have missed it. I only read a few bits and pieces.
Seriously though wtf is he doing releasing a warts and all book at this stage of his managerial career? It shows either total arrogance or short sightedness.
Bit hard when the opposing team constantly wrestles your main goalscorer though, eh? We're not playing as well as we can, by any means, but we're also on the end of a lot of appalling refereeing decisions at the moment, too. There's no reason why we can't discuss both, as they're clearly relevant and not reliant on each other.
Is it warts and all? I've only read bits of it and it's all been quite tame. No idea why anyone does it while they're still working, though. Seems rather unnecessary. All proceeds go to charity apparently, but I'd still rather avoid the publicity and inevitable **** stirring, to be honest.
I was bitterly disappointed at the manner of the Madrid win and here's the result since. history now, we need to dominate matches and win to get back onto a winning run which I think we will.
We’ve been on the receiving end of some poor decisions again, but there’s bigger issues. Like @PleaseNotPoll suggests, we’re desperately short of a decent squad, very stretched in many areas over the pitch, and have a lot of players out of form. Combine all of that together and it’s a recipe for disaster. It’s about what we do to address it. Not much we can do between now and the new year, but waiting until Jan 31st for squad improvements is not acceptable. One thing we could do is stop playing Sissoko. Regardless of how short we are. He is even more detrimental to the team, and it looks like the others don’t trust him.
Didn’t take long... Danny Murphy on BBC talking up our demise and a player exodus in summer. They all have a collective hard on seeing our current form.
Thought that he did quite well today, to be honest. Defended his side in a fairly disciplined manner and looked to break when he could. He's never going to be amazing, but at least he's still giving it a go. Couldn't fault his attitude.
Injuries, fitness and a knock-on effect. We've had a few key players out, hurt or knackered at the same time. Alderweireld and Wanyama being out puts extra strain on Dier and we've been playing with five at the back, so no holding player. Kane, Alli and Winks all got injured, while Eriksen knackered himself out playing too many games, including his internationals. Dembele, Lamela, Rose, Aurier and Llorente are all miles from being 100% and Sissoko's confidence is in the ****ter. That's a lot of players that aren't at full strength and we're playing a lot of games in a short period of time.
There were times during the game where I couldnt help but laugh. The shirt pulling on Alli and the “bundle” on Trippier to name 2. You have to laugh, or you’d cry. Watford knew how much they could get away with and pushed Atkinson’s weakness to the limit. Our players will be in the dressing room going spare over his decisions, but I’d bet the Watford players are calling him a daft mug, too.
But this is it, PNP. We’re so used to his mediocrity, we’ve resorted to praising a bit of good defending and some Forrest Gump running with no end product. It’s depressing.
He's got his uses. We've had far more useless lumps on the bench in the past. He may only be good for a bit of running and defending, but at least he can do those things.
