You mean things went south from the point you actually started to pin them in their box and pretty much stopped the out ball?
AFONs already effecting us... Salah's already in Cameroon. Maybe a bit harsh on Mane, he tried but couldn't hit a barn door. Keita didn't really get much time or opportunity to do anything either. Salah is hoping to be a massive miss just like today!
They were up for it and we just were not good enough on the night. We have to take those chances, I had a bad feeling when Mo missed the pen
It's this simple We do this nearly every time we play a massed defense. Our "wingers" dont work with the full backs any more. Mane comes right inside and trent decides he is a cm Leicester at best had to defend 2/3rd of the park. With 5 men then that's easy Trent standing in the middle steals space from every other player as a result. Firmino has zero space whatsoever. For me we need to recognise this and adjust. This run down the middle.is fine when theres space but when the game is crying out for something trent must get wide. I noted that tsimikas and keita and mane did "alright" getting deep.on Leicester but took too.many touches to drive the ball in. Trent never once over lapped salah, never got behind. Never delivered with his quality. Why? Stood in midfield passing out to an isolated salah.
Found last night quite dispiriting and the worry was we looked less threatening the longer the game went on and the subs made or worse .
We have eased up a lot in games and not killed then off. Imo we run out of ideas quickly when presented with the massed defence. I'll keep saying it. The answer is to stretch these teams but if we do we need goal scorers in the box. Would love to see us stick a proper striker on with jota and tell trent and salah to stay wide and create. Pity we dont have a real striker. In the end mane missed an easy chance and salah took a real poor penalty. Two sitters most of the time other sides dont miss but we do.
We carry too many squad players who are just ineffective and are never going to reach any sort of acceptable level that a club aiming to win the prem needs.
The annoying thing about last night was that the space was there at times to exiploit but wasnt used effectively.
All wide but delivery in poor and precious little runs made. Bodies in box too early, not running in to meet ball etc etc.
I agree with many of the comments on here but the bottom line is we are not clinical enough in front of goal and we had enough chances to have had the game won by halftime
People need to get used to this kind of performance, there are a few looming between now and February!
Could have done with Origi but I presume he's injured. Again. If the normal way of playing isn't working we have nothing else.
No point worrying about the league now, except to secure top 4 (and that ain't no certainty). Concentrate on the Three cup competitions now. But one advantage - we won't be missing Mane this Jan at AFCON - can he take Ox and Jota with him, on last night's showing?
