Yeah especially from set pieces. I seem to recall it not being a thing to defend the edge of the box at all. Strategy was put everyone 5 yards from our goal to defend. Also remember Russ blaming us conceding from these situations as unlucky rather than a stupid strategy. Might have worked at the Champ where the players haven’t got the quality to punish you regularly in those scenarios but in the PL giving them so much time was ****ing stupid.
Didn’t see the game but did see the goal. Was it just a lack of concentration after just coming on or was he like that before & after? Always thought of him giving 100% but just not good enough for certain games.
Personally don’t think it was down to a lack of effort from Smallbone, just a lack of physicality to keep up with Odegaard. In hindsight he should’ve just fouled him but the fact that Odegaard ran away from him so easily just reinforces why he will never be a PL level midfielder. Like when we played Everton and everytime the ball went wide into space for Bree the Everton player got there first regardless of the headstart Bree had. Some players just can’t cut it at the PL level because they aren’t quick/strong enough.
I think Charles is more a classy Wanyama than a terrier. A terrier is your Harry Reed type. Playing one of each is a good, good thing if you're doing the double pivot.
You can extend this thinking to the overall squad, every player brings unique skills to the table which can be needed in specific match scenarios. I've read that Still is a pragmatist with multiple systems and tactics so he'll surely want a mixed bag of styles from his players.
