With respect, I'm not sure which game you were watching. Wanyama was absolutely brutal, I was considering the possibility that it was one of his worst games for us. He constantly gave away possession!
Not really interested ini being competitive in both competitions, tbh. I'd like to stick around Europa long enough not to embarass ourselves to hopefully get some games for guys like JWP, Reed, Targett, and Gardos. And some of the academy players as well, if possible. But that's all. 10-15 players is a ton. At that point I think you are sacrificing quantity for quality and there's just too many new players at once. Just 5 good players, and a couple of squad filling loans/backups is about all we can do. Assuming Clyne and Schneiderlin (and maybe Rodriguez) are the only ones we lose.
He completed 78% of his passes. Not great, but no worse than anyone else. And Reed was at 88%, and he's the one who is playing because Schneiderlin is out.
Five good players isn't going to be enough, though 10-15 is too much. If that's the route we take while appearing in Europa, we're going to have some exhausted players by midseason.
Think this underlines why stats are next to useless most of the time,Vics passing today may have been78% but he was very wayward alot of the time,completely ruining any chance of a decent attack more than once.
Arsenal winning the cup and Swansea failing to beat either of Arsenal/City would get us to Europa without any further input from our squad.
I've got a sneaky feeling that villa are going to win the cup! (Although that's probably complete nonsense based on my current betting losing streak)
My summary player by player: 1. Gazza - at fault with the second goal with a miss cued clearance going straight to Leicester player in the D. No chance with first goal and was OK 2. Clyne - where do I start. Tackled well but was only against very average players. Crossing was appalling again. Head not at SMS obviously but if Manure see him playing like this he won't get to Old Trafford thats for sure. They caught a cold buy Shaw so will be wary of buying another pup 3. Bertrand - at least he tried hard and was OK 4. Fonte - his usual self but failed to get life into the rest of the team. He looked very frustrated 5. Alderweireld - his usual self in his best position. Good free kick that forced a save. Look embarrassed as he came over to the fans to give his shirt away 6. Wanyama - talked well but distribution slow and poor, passing poor and got caught in possession too many times. He can do far better 7. Reed - my MotM. ran and tackled his heart out. Passing was quick and accurate. Had a thunderbolt from range that if had been a yard to the left or right would have rocketed in 8 Davis - Jesus Christ where do I start. Continues his dreadful form from the last 4-6 weeks. Lucky to be on the pitch. responsible for the first goal with a powder puff tackle on the edge of the box and then let the scorer simply run away from him 9. Mane - the most frustrating player I have seen for many a year. Great talent but hits the floor too easy, rolling around holding his face like he had been punched by Tyson. Get up! Not getting free kicks even when he should now and its getting embarrassing. In the first half he went to ground in the box when he had beaten the defender and had an opportunity to take advantage and shoot 10. Pelle - first half there was effort for no reward. Was absolutely battered by Huth without protection from the ref and the second half he disappeared probably due to intimidation from Huth 11. Ellia - not good enough. Tried hard in the first half but looked lost Long and Djuricic - made a difference and sped the game up. Especially Long who was constantly breaking their defensive line and getting crosses in but Pelle had lost interest by then That's an afternoon of my life that I have wasted and really not looking forward to next week as Villa will batter us if we play with that level on interest and enthusiasm
Where are we going to find that many in such a short time, (looks to the South East whistfully) Hmmmm!
Yep, although I don't think Reed was any better than anyone else. Remember his tackle for their first was just as bad as Davis'. Pelle no service all game from midfield. was basically him vs 3 CBs and Mane running around like he was going to do something but not doing anything. Although from highlights looks like Reed didn't really know where Mahrez was going so I'll let him off of some of the blame, Davis completely bottled it though.
From your comments and having been closely watching Davis closely over the last few weeks he should not be in the last 2 matchday squads IMO.
Two games running the excuse has been the other team wanted it more. What happened to skill and organisation? Another week of intensive? Training wasted. Give them the week off, it can't be worse than the last 2 games.
Davis got beaten far too easily on the first goal. He didn't even slow his man down, and then couldn't recover. It put Reed in a tough spot. He was out of position. He couldn't have made a tackle but could have at least disrupted things, but he was in two minds, hesitated a split second, and then it was too late. He just sort of weakly dangled a foot in. Maybe inexperience got the better of him, but it was really Davis's fault. It's been my beef with JWP recently as well. The attickingish mids don't have to make tackles, but they need to at least just hold their position and slow things down. Don't let players just dribble right past you.
