- Sep 28, 2004
- 45,893
- 68,893
A few posts back I said we may have to settle on either lamela or eriksen as #10, effectively pitting them against each other for the spot. Playing both of them doesn't seem to be working in the 3.Thinktank I don't disagree with this, but you miss out the main problem... The players who are in our key creative positions (Eriksen, Lamela, Capoue), be it because of age/experience/whatever, all seem to be of the same ilk and mentality - With an armchair ride they look like world beaters, but the second any pressure gets put upon them or the game gets into a bit of a battle or the tempo increases they get blown away. When we are most crying out for these players to keep hold of the ball and keep things ticking and then patiently wait for the opening all we get is poor decision making and the ball getting coughed up and given away. These are the players that the team has been built around, and if they cant step up to the plate and function when the pressure (and that from Newcastle today wasn't even that much of an examination to be fair) is on then we will keep having real problems and the team will fall apart. They need to step up to the plate.
Capoue brings a lot to the table imo and he works extremely well with Mason. Could he be more gritty/intense at times...yes, but I'd stick with him for his overall game and his passing ability.
We are going to have to go through an evolution though and it's obviously going to be a long - and sometimes painful - one.
We have deep dysfunction here it needs to be remedied. There is no quick fix.
Today was totally unforgivable all-round; poch conned himself out of a win today starting Ade. He needs to drop him very soon or he's going to start scaring me.
Don't scare me, poch.