The thing for me in this game was we had to go with a full 4-3-3 press, which we clearly didn't do. We were pedestrian, ploddy, we didn't look comfortable and when you add in the awful games had by at least half the team - specifically Barnes, Gordon, Isak, Burn - it was just poor all round. Obvs we caveat with "best season ever"! But in isolation this game was a too familiar sight this season.
Feels very much to me like we went to this formation because Howe didn't want to drop Burn for Botman. It's these decisions that need to be improved, Howe just needs to get a bit tougher. I don't think Botman needed to come off, but Burn probably did. Barnes shouldn't be at the club, but if he is playing he needs to be on the left. We've got ourselves into Europe by GD - that GD is so good because Isak, Murphy and Gordon were doing really well, so why you'd disrupt that purely because you want to play Burn is odd. I understand Joelinton being out is an issue, but LCM is Willock's position (not LW) so surely it would've made sense to give him, or Miley, a run.
