It was an important win rather than a great one. I don't know if anyone else had to resort to watching from behind the sofa every time we tried to play our way out from the back. Some of the passing was none too assured and we ended up giving possession away in the centre of midfield as defenders ran out of options and were forced to play a forward pass blind and hope we had a midfielder to pick it up, which we didn't have on a couple of occasions. Better teams would have punished us in those situations. Playing out from the back and looking to get the ball forwards is fine, but if we are being pressed then to keep turning back and getting ever closer to our own goal is just inviting trouble needlessly.
... and we didn't win the title by following the herd. The first rule of a defence is not to concede. The second is to always remember rule 1. We have enough difficulty defending set pieces without putting additional pressure on ourselves by playing Russian roulette on the edge of our own box. I'm not saying we should always just boot the ball hopefully upfield. I appreciate the advantages of getting possession at the back and then building from there, and we have done that spectacularly at times this season. But you must not risk conceding possession in the last quarter of the pitch when the number of opponents pressing you outnumbers the defence. Too many silly points have been needlessly lost by teams trying to follow what Man City started under Pep. Put simply, there's a time to do it and there's a time not to.
It also depends on the personnel. Huth and Morgan were not players you'd want to have it at the back. I'm fairly relaxed if it's Pereira, Castagne, Evans and even Soyuncu playing out (more so the continental lads as they have been brought up with it) ... does scare me if it's Fofana or Justin ... partly down to their age and relative inexperience. I also agree that there are occasions when you should just put your laces through it. But if we are to continue growing as a club and also have regular sojourns beyond the group stages in Europe, then we do need to get more and more comfortable with a more possession based game. IMHO.
Very average first half, we look like we know the way through them with the quick one touch passing so need this more. We do look shakey at the back, Neto has been very good. I don’t normally comment on refs and there’s been nothing game changing of course but what a shocker Atkinson is having. He is falling for their antics. Surely Semedo should be booked also for trying to simulate a pen? Very soft disallowing the goal for us too...
We weren’t great but will never complain with a point away at Wolves. Good to have Vardy back now going forwards without his injury costing us too many points. Just miss N’didi really. Choudhury played well but Ndidi really is a world class midfielder in my eyes and the next one of ours who is going to be wanted by everyone
What do we do Wednesday for the cup? Mass changes, or go for it. Bearing in mind Liverpool have got no midweek match I’d give a chance to a few peripheral players, give the key players a rest. Beat Liverpool and we’ll have a great chance of top 4.
Just looked like we tried to walk it in through a packed defense but we looked so much better in the last half hour. Traore was certainly a handful so probably a fair result. Brighton are on a run of good form so I think its going to take minimal changes to the team to get past them. Maybe Amartey in for Evans to make sure he is right for Liverpool.
Could be a valuable point later on. Often we see teams define their success or lack of it on not turning enough draws into wins but with us, we have won a lot of games but lost too many as was the case after new year last season so turning games we may have lost before like yesterday or going behind at Everton for example into draws could be the difference.
I would rest Justin, Evans and Barnes. Give Vardy 60 mins and also Ndidi if he is fit. Bring in Thomas, Amartey and Under. In fact, I'll just give Brenda a ring and tell him I've picked the side for him. Kasper Ricardo Amartey Soyuncu Thomas Under Tielemans Ndidi Albrighton Maddison Vardy
My own view Is that Brenda should have given Under some time against Wolves. Seen his comments about Under not being aware of defensive responsibilities but that kind of glosses over that he has played most if his career in the Italian league where team set ups like Wolves are common ... needed more guile and inventiveness at the sharp end yesterday and Under brings that. Missed opportunity for me... although important to get Vardy up to his match speed and touch as soon as is possible ...
Totally agree, Fosse. I'm surprised Under didn't get a run out considering he didn't get any game time against Fulham. We got more chances in the last 15 minutes of the game against Wolves and he can add that little bit of extra trickery that can make the difference particularly against tiring defenders. It would be a shame if he is only going to be picked in a team that is not at full strength, because that doesn't allow him to show his full capabilities.
I may be wrong but depending on the number of games played Under's loan would turn from an option to buy clause to a commitment to buy so maybe the club are trying not to trigger the clause - thus keeping the option open
That was a generally boring and crap half all round! It’s tough for Rodgers with 3 competitions to balance and being an injury to someone like Tielemans away from disaster so can’t be too harsh but I feel this team and system is neither here nor there. Not the right one to put the game out of sight by half time or keeping Tielemans, Ndidi and Vardy back for later. It is like playing with 9 men with Under and Perez tonight! Also don’t think Ndidi should be playing in front of a back 5. Surely the back 5 is to compensate for no Ndidi..... It’s not to say we won’t win of course but that was so boring...
Looked a bad one for Justin. Would be suprised to even see him start next season if it’s as bad as it looked
Well Nacho said what everyone probably thought in his interview, that he couldn’t be bothered for extra time. Good humour from him and glad he took matters into his own hands! Another half hour on Tielemans etc would have been an issue. Awful game though, but job done in terms of result. Rodgers doesn’t seem to think JJ’s injury is that bad but imagine he’ll still be out for a number of weeks. Shame Castagne is not available.
Awful game, but still leapt up to the ceiling when Nacho nodded home. Hope JJ recovers sooner rather than later, as he has been brilliant all season.
Has anyone seen the photo doing the rounds on Twitter when we took our quick corner? 10 Brighton players in their own box and only Nacho in a blue shirt......the rest is history
