I think there's a lot of elements to this that one player can't be taken out in isolation and made the reason why something is wrong.
windy pops was no more or less important than mane who was no more or less important than a bothered trent, a vvd who could run, a prime salah or a prime Henderson
it worked because they all worked.
there was a balance to the side from left side to right side that enabled the best of each player. now there's no balance.
there was a willingness to all press as one and not bottle it or hold back and bum out your team mates.
mane firmino and salah without the ball had shape and they were leading the line driven by firmino.
windy sat deeper with mane without ball but still did the job and anchored the side as he wouldn't lose the ball ever.
Henderson could run about then on the other side.
trent would actually push up and press onto his man and not let them out of press so easy
right now none of that works either consistently or sometimes at all. we might get 20/25 mins at times.
if you watch the game v Bournemouth, they were very average but has a constant outfall on their left wing cos trent would simply.not engage his opponent and nobody was going to help him. they could flip the ball out that side all game then back in and beat any other faux press the midfield put up.
look back at arsenal at the Emirates. thiago did the same in only the 2md minute. jogged up as his man then stopped and let them play it round him and then vvd doesn't hit saka as he receives it. it only takes seconds then for the ball to hit the net.
intensity is hitting man and ball together, not moving once you finally see your man receive the ball. it's putting the effort in the close the options
we simply don't put the effort in round the park cos we don't look like we can.
windy pops was no more or less important than mane who was no more or less important than a bothered trent, a vvd who could run, a prime salah or a prime Henderson
it worked because they all worked.
there was a balance to the side from left side to right side that enabled the best of each player. now there's no balance.
there was a willingness to all press as one and not bottle it or hold back and bum out your team mates.
mane firmino and salah without the ball had shape and they were leading the line driven by firmino.
windy sat deeper with mane without ball but still did the job and anchored the side as he wouldn't lose the ball ever.
Henderson could run about then on the other side.
trent would actually push up and press onto his man and not let them out of press so easy
right now none of that works either consistently or sometimes at all. we might get 20/25 mins at times.
if you watch the game v Bournemouth, they were very average but has a constant outfall on their left wing cos trent would simply.not engage his opponent and nobody was going to help him. they could flip the ball out that side all game then back in and beat any other faux press the midfield put up.
look back at arsenal at the Emirates. thiago did the same in only the 2md minute. jogged up as his man then stopped and let them play it round him and then vvd doesn't hit saka as he receives it. it only takes seconds then for the ball to hit the net.
intensity is hitting man and ball together, not moving once you finally see your man receive the ball. it's putting the effort in the close the options
we simply don't put the effort in round the park cos we don't look like we can.
