Yoshida was directly at fault for two goals. For the first he went for a challenge on the half way line when he should have stood off, and for the third he stood off just outside the box when he should have closed down. These are things that don't show up in stats, but they were two poor decisions which likely cost us points. The guy always looks like he's not sure whether to stand off, get tight or tackle. It worried me last season, and this season it's just too much of a liability for a team with our ambitions. A defender has to be far more confident with these decisions.
I agree, and the second goal came after from a missed tackle by Cork, it's no coincidence that both these players have been short of match time this season, this does not excuse their errors, but maybe they are a little rusty right now..
The first goal Lallana lost the ball when the whole team other than the centre backs were committed forward. He had easy options but lost the ball trying to force it to Clyne. Yoshida tried an early interception (which was clearly a mistake) as the centre backs had been left two on two. He did that as I imagine he expected to be burned for pace by Agbonlahor if he stood off. Lovren shouldn't have dived in either. Half the team were arguably at fault for that goal considering no one stayed back to help the centre backs. Blaming that goal on purely on Yoshida is nonsense. The third goal Lallana again lost the ball needlessly. We were hit on the counter and the midfield were no where to be seen. With Delph running full tilt at the centre backs you are happy to let Delph shoot from that far out. It was just a great goal. Blaming the third goal on Yoshida is also nonsense.
I think that Morgan not playing was the biggest reason why we lost last night, we were vunerable to the counter attack all game, something that I have not seen before this season. He is the heartbeat of the team and covers more ground and makes more interceptions than anybody else and he reads the game so well, often winning the ball before the oppo can break effectively, He also often appears as the extra man in attack to give that additional goal threat crucial to breaking down a tight defence. Fair play to Villa, they came with a game plan and executed it perfectly, soaking up the pressure and counter attacking quickly with help from the individual errors mentioned above.
If only it was that easy, the problem is more that they don't get enough competitive match time, we used to play Reserve games on a regular basis to do that. You seldom see Maya, Cork e.t.c in a Development Squad XI which is the only alternative these days.
Disagree Joe on the third goal. He had to back off. As Delph broke, he had a team mate on the outside (his left) and Yoshida could see that. If he had stepped forward to close Delph down, he would have slipped a simple passed into the space for his team mate to run onto and have a shot. His only hope was to try and hold them up, backing off to hopefully stall the pace of the counter and throw some doubt into Delph's mind.
Seriously TSS?? To me, he is nothing but a headless chicken. Simply not good enough to play at that level. Yes, it was a good goal, but did you not see how many times he just sprinted in a straight line and found himself offside. Brain dead footballer. I bet they've given up telling him to 'arc his run' at Villa.
It was Morgan's fault for not being there The first one was pretty bad though, like something we would have done a year ago. Oh well never mind.
It is all Morgan's fault. In an interview with a French magazine he said that injuries were rare because of the care the players got.
Losing possession in the opposition half is going to happen. The position of the centre backs was optimal to defend against a possible counter but then one tried to challenge with no awareness as to what would happen if he didn't win it. If he'd stood off, Agbonlahor would have had a lot still to do. Instead, Yoshida took himself out of contention and left Lovren on his own in defense. For the third goal Delph should have been shut down as he had no forward passing options and could only have passed to the player to his left who was in no more of a dangerous position. Delph's ability from range is well known and he doesn't have the pace to burst past defenders with the ball at his feet. You back off to an extent but when you're near the edge of your own box you expect a shot and you close it down. You'd much rather they pass it wide than continue down the middle at that point anyway.
I haven't seen it back, but this was in front of me and I think the player to his left was a real threat and could easily have been put in on goal. I think you are wrong with Maya on that goal. If he had closed him down, the other player would have been put through. EDIT: I have just watched it back and I apologize... Fonte was there covering that player. Maya should have closed him down!
Complete spine of the team was severely disrupted last night and we were spectacularly unlucky to lose that. Let's take it on the chin and move on.
I dunno, you can say we were unlucky but really if we're going to make errors like that then Villa deserve the win. They scored three goals and none of them were flukes.
Yeah. We weren't unlucky, we were disorganized and that's what happens. Yesterday, no one was quite sure what to do or what others would do so everyone was a half step slow. In part, it's due to lack of game time. But also, I think the reason why those players don't start isn't due to skills but because they haven't figured out how to play in MP's system.
They weren't flukes, certainly. A lot of credit does need to go to Villa for finishing them, though; while the first was a relatively simple manner after Yoshida blew the interception, the second involved a pinpoint cross from between two defenders, placed between two defenders and the keeper, and the third involved a 20 yard screamer on the run by a player who last scored a league goal in 2009. Bad defending gave them those opportunities, but in most matches one or both of those chances would fizzle.
I though some criticism of Cork was harsh. So he was to blame for the second goal, but let's put things in the perspective. A defender (don't remember who) gave the ball to Villa player in a dangerous area, but Cork managed to take the ball away and prevent the threat, then he nearly lost the ball but somehow kept it, only to lose it when he tried to pass it forward. Yes, he did a mistake, much like every playe does, but let's not forget the good things he did, like just then when he won the ball in the first place. And that being said, he didn't gave the opponents a clear goalscoring opportunty, there was still much to do. Agbonlahor was marked by two player, Kozak also, but nontheless Gabby made an impeccable cross and Kozak finished with an impeccable header., they executed it perfectly.
I thought bossed the game when he came on, then made a mistake which was him trying to correct someone else's mistake and then he bosed again afterward. Yoshida was garbage and should not be allowed into St Mary's again
Yoshida's first start this season. He looked good last season and I'm sure given more time he would improve. Bit harsh to write someone off after one match.
