Misplaced passes again, another formation in the PL, one player double-double out of position over a potential starter in that position, no pattern of play in attack beyond forcing pressure, looking wide and swinging in crosses. This is not new. It is the same old thing. Week in week out. I see consistent criticism of Xavi, but he is NOT a player for THIS sort of football. Too often he gets the ball, looks up, and EVERYTHING is either wide or trying to catch up. Yes, he could also do better, but we do NOT set up to offer any of our players the chance to be their best selves. None of them.
Solanke today. Great hold up play sometimes, pushed off the ball others, woeful miscontrol in the box, missed a chance he probably should've buried, yet WTF is he meant to do? He's feeding on dog-brick service from crosses and scraps; there is NO plan to weave him into attacking patterns.
Poor first goal to concede, however there is no excuse for how we started that second-half. And, indeed, how it unfolded. In a chaos match with Burnley? No control anywhere? No composure? That comes from the sidelines.
Our confidence is fragile, that leads to mistakes, that leads to not winning games, that leads to desperation and chaos ball, and thus the cycle continues.
I was repeatedly told we were in a relegation battle last season.
We are currently 13th on 28 points. 8 points above the drop zone.
Bournemouth (currently playing) and Palace could overtake us. Leeds could draw level.
Here are our next four fixtures:
Emirates Marketing Project - home
Man Utd - away
Newcash - home
Goons - home
We need to take this seriously.
p.s. again, let's not get into a debate about squad quality; it is not going to win the league ever, and if it got top 5 it would be supremely lucky in any season. But it is better than this, much better.