More tactics gore, this time in animated form As soon as the Dier/Winks/Hojbjerg triangle gets found out, things rapidly look like a complete mess Yet there's a simple solution to this: have Sanchez pass forwards, so opponents don't know who to get in the faces of to keep us penned in
PS read my post from above. It can easily be sorted by a goalkeeper that doesn't insist on staying on his line for the set piece. What should have been the Burnley goal yesterday against Leeds was when the Leeds goalie came out and although he messed it up, he was given the advantage. Sort it out Lloris!! That is our weakest link. If DH goes on about Winks, I am starting to have a go at Lloris.
I don't think there is anything much to sort out and I don't think Lloris was at fault for most of the set piece goals. Certainly not the Wolves, Liverpool or Palace ones. We've actually got perfectly good players in most positions and ones that are hard to improve upon. Look at Chelsea...4 points out of 15 against a very average set of opponents.
List of players recently put down as needing to be upgraded by various posters... Lloris Hart Aurier Doherty Dier Alderwiereld Sanchez Winks Sissoko Lo Celso Ndombele Lamela Lucas Dele
Honestly, what we need is three very specific components - Replace Sissoko with somebody who has his physicality and stamina, but is far more effective in the transition between defence and attack - Replace Aurier with a RB who can both defend rather than concede free kicks while having some end product in the final third - Replace Sanchez with a CB who has his pace but has a better ability to read the game and is better in the air -OR- - Replace Toby with someone who plays his game, but has an extra yard of pace We tried to get more out of Aurier this season by signing Doherty to kick him up the backside, as Trippier and Davies did with Walker and Rose respectively, but he's reverting to previous form way sooner than anyone would have hoped, and this is exposing the weaknesses in CM and at CB One of the weaknesses, anyway...
Lloris - long term replacement needed at some point but not imperative to replace in the XI right now. Hart - never an upgrade on Gazzaniga but likely signed for HG purposes. Will be gone after his contract expires next season. Aurier - brainfart extraordinaire, has had good spells this season but not a player you feel comfortable with as a regular starter. Doherty - not impressed as expected, still early too write him off but must do a hell of a lot better. Dier - yes and no. Not an elite CB, likely never will be albeit isn’t as high on the list to replace/ upgrade as others and would be fine as a squad player. Alderwiereld - yes. Not been near his best for about 18 months/ 2 years. We were stupid giving him that new contract on big wages at a time his form was declining. Sanchez - absolutely yes. Four years in and arguably regressed. Winks - one million percent yes. Never known such a pointless footballer. Academy tag is saving him. Skipp likely takes his place next season anyway. Sissoko - yes and no. Does his job and as a squad player is “ok” but he’s so technically poor it’s unreal. Lo Celso - unfortunately yes. Very good player, riddled with injuries. Lamela part 2. I think most would choose to get a refund on the £40m or so we paid if they had the chance. Ndombele - no. Fat **** who needs to sort his fitness and hasn’t delivered on his price tag yet but he’s got all the ability in the world to be great and has shown glimpses in matches. Must improve fitness though otherwise he’ll go down as a flop. Lamela - yes. Good player when fit, great attitude too, never fit though. Been wasting a squad space on him for years now. Lucas - yes. CL semi final heroics aside, can anyone honestly name say four more great performances from him to complete a handful? Dele - yes. Lived off of past form for too long. A passenger in far too many games over the last couple seasons.
If we had a right sided CB that Jose trusted and a right-footed version of Reguilion, then we wouldn't probably be seeing Sissoko starting every game with Hojbjerg and we might give it a bit more of a go before we concede the killer goal past 80 mins. Don't get me wrong I think we can play differently with the players we already have, but Jose clearly isn't comfortable with the midfield/defence balance we currently have even with everyone fit. That is holding us back.
So he joined around this stage last year...16 games in to 14 This is his first season, not second had 1 transfer window All that plus considering where we are this season suggests the man needs a chance to have his own team with key areas strengthened
I get where you're coming from with your point but, like you think I am too loyal to Levy I think similar re you and JM tbf. The only bit you are wrong on is that he has had two windows not one. He had last January and the summer.
When Mourinho came he said he wanted the chance to work with the group of players we had. He has already added nine new ones and given several new contracts. It is his own team already....
That is is only 5 pts more than what the "season compass" is currently extrapolating to (pts = 5, GF = 12, GA = 0) .
The obvious point is that Hugo is not the issue right now, and I cannot fathom how anyone can come to that conclusion When our right flank is a clear weakness which is being targeted, and we're inviting it upon ourselves by sitting back for 60+ minutes in far too many games meaning we're actively trying to help opponents exploit the inevitable mistakes from Aurier or Sissoko, the problem wouldn't magically go away if we shoved Pat Jennings and Gianluigi Buffon into a teleporter and stuck a contract in front of the Brundlefly that popped out the other side
He’s worked with them...dont hold it against him that he needs improvements...it’s any managers right tbh only thing I have an issue with is the dynamics of our game and I’ve raised my eyebrow with regards lately
Accepted wisdom I agree. But I think it is nonsense. Managing in all other walks of life is about getting the best out of resources....that usually doesn't require wholesale changes.
Because we are repeatedly conceding from set pieces and not open play. If we had a goalkeeper who would come and claim those balls which we know where they are heading , we would concede fewer. Of course, it depends on the question. Would that mean we played more attractive football- no, of course not. But it would help results and so also points.
