wiziwig
Steed Malbranque
what was the score?
We got beat 2-2 .
what was the score?
We got beat 2-2 .
I don't give a crud about how Southampton played their football. The matter of the fact is that they managed to create 6 or 7 clear cut opportunities against us. Whether they did that through long balls or not is relevant, we need to cope better with it. And I think they created chances in various ways. On the counter, on set pieces, on crosses, through combination play centrally and we couldn't defend against any of these things. Our defending is not good enough.
And when we play against settled defences, we have nothing to offer. What are we trying to do? I don't see anything that seems to be planned or practiced. It's been that way all season. One players receives the ball, looks around, doesn't see any good alternatives, passes to another player, the same happens and in the ball ends up at Hugo's feet. It seems like it is always up to the individual player to try to get something going. What do we practice in training? Is it all about running around, being aggressive and working hard?
ha ha, one of those, cheers
July .... must have done something right after the World Cup, but definitely not during our season.
We do need a CM. Should be the biggest priority IMO.
The physios were testing for an ACL the way they were pulling the lower leg forward.
Absolutely atrocious pitch - like a skating rink
KouyateCan you think of someone for under £15m who fits our system? I can't.
I'd much rather we spent all our efforts fixing our front 4 options instead.
Mason and Bentaleb are not very good at reading play and tracking determinedly or athletically.A lot of our weakness in defence seems to me to arise from simple paucity of organisation at set plays against, it has to be said. There's a temptation to say we need a Carrick/Mendes or Davids/Sandro to protect the defence &c., and I'm not dead against the idea of that, albeit that I see it doesn't sit just so with the received wisdom on what is supposed to be Pochettino's preferred system, but I think there's obvious work on sheer basics we could and should be doing in the meantime, just with what we've got. Why are we such fuсking сосk ріѕѕ ѕhіt defensively, week in, week out?
Mason and Bentaleb are not very good at reading play and tracking determinedly or athletically.
One decent DM could do their jobs, I.e in Carrick style or Sandro style. We effectively play with 10 men as they move as if in a three-legged race.
I agree. Mason and Bentaleb just don't complement each other. I would like a designated DM who has as his first priority cover of the back four. This would release Bentaleb to play slightly further forward and join in more attacking moves like he did against Saudi Sportswashing Machine. That is his best position imo. I would like someone like Song from Wet Spam. His experience would be really beneficial to our young team. He has been well schooled at the other place. We need a Davids, terrier type desperately to solidify our vacant area immediately in front of the back four. Davies really exploited that space today and could have had a hat trick.
How on earth you can watch us and make this statement beggars belief. I think you should go back and see how many times Bentaleb is in deep defensive positions covering/seeing potential problems/eliminating them. Mason is absolutely knackered IMO. I wouldn't disagree that an upgrade in that department would be great if (say) Schneiderlein was a potential option, as it would give us a little more quality strength in depth in this area (Mason is a current walk-in due to lack of competition).
General comments here for the board...I think people also need to remember these two are TWENTY and TWENTY-THREE respectively. They will get better as they get older. I am still prepared to say that when Bentaleb is Scheniederlin's age, he will have gone significantly further in his career. As ever in these discussions, the escapees are the likes of Chadli, who is the most frustrating player I have seen in recent years. Aside from his clear lack of dedicated covering when we're defending, the lad has SO much talent and ability which simply does not flicker into life nearly enough. Add to that the fact that we again played with a different defensive line-up, neither of our first-choice FBs available plus our back up LB stretchered off, and I think it is clear to see why we have issues back there currently. I must also say I thought Pelle pushed Davies over a bit.
GB I genuinely don't think Mason particular good at any thing. His passing is pretty weak although he does move the ball quickly. His positioning as a defensive midfielder is suspect. His best attribute IMO is his tackling. Bentaleb IMO is a far superior player but himself is far from the finished article. Unfortunately the lack of protection they give our back line is one of the main reasons we have conceded so many goal. All that said I like the attitude of Mason and would like him to be a squad player and in light of the paucity of options in that position I can see why Poch plays him.The whole point of the system is that they are both alrounders - capable defensively/pressers but good passers/quick transitioners too. A specialist DM just brings back all the turgid problems. All the other CMs we have signed (Stambouli) or have been linked with (Schneiderlin) under Poch are alrounders too
The whole point of the system is that they are both alrounders - capable defensively/pressers but good passers/quick transitioners too. A specialist DM just brings back all the turgid problems. All the other CMs we have signed (Stambouli) or have been linked with (Schneiderlin) under Poch are alrounders too