I have to say, I didn't think that Llorente was that bad. Missed a couple of sitters, but his overall contribution was far better. Lamela and Son playing off and around him made life very, very hard for Newport and they never really dealt with it. The system worked far better with the Spaniard as the lone front man and I think it should be used again against Rochdale. Might be an idea to deal with whatever made us play with nobody down the left in the second half, though. Rose was on his own down that side, while everyone congested in the middle and down the right. Very odd. Leaving a left-back who's miles from 100% in such an isolated position would cost us against better opposition. Very glad to have come through that game relatively untroubled, injury free and with as few first XI players as possible. Good run outs for Alderweireld, Wanyama, Rose, Aurier, Winks and Lamela, as they return to fitness. Nice opportunity to give Llorente, Foyth and Vorm some game time, too.
The combination of Davies and isolation down the left wing cost us badly at Anfield last season. He's improved since then, in my opinion, but we need some discipline on the flanks when we're defending. We didn't even appear to have any in the second half when we were attacking, for some reason.
Agreed, when KWP came on even he went down the middle, nearly scored as well. But if we did that against Citeh, we would come unstuck big time.
I think Ben Davies made 3 attempted tackles on our little Egyptian friend....missed each time.....and goal number 2 was scored.
