- Apr 16, 2005
- 16,047
- 18,013
comments like this affirm my conviction that some people on here are watching different games (perhaps a parallel universe)?
There were two balls yesterday hit brilliantly by Verts and Dier to the full back on the opposite flank - the fb took the ball in stride attacked and made a penetrating pass. The Verts to Walk to Dele (against the bar) was fantastic. Dier also hit one in particular that was Koeman like in its quality.
Had promised to tick through a few positives so here goes:
1. Rose - was incredible - interceptions, tackles, breaking up play, charging forward, getting in good balls and a couple of decent shots. Poch has transformed this guy - best LB in the league
2. Walker - the best moment of the game was the one referred to above. He was strong, powerful, quick and got some really good balls in. Best right back in the league
3. Verts - defensive masterclass + incredible passing from the back + so unlucky not to score with a header and a 30 yard shot in the last few mins. Best left center back in the league
4. Dier - a lot to like from mr utility - only nit picking thing is that he needs to get better at closing off the cross from the byline (see Vardy x 2). Still not at his best but heading in the right direction
5. Dembele - sometimes it was men against boys. Getting back to his best after a stop start season. When he is up to full match sharpness we know he is as good as anyone in Europe in his position (as the data from last season proved).
6. Victor W - while the header was poor, a real lax moment - he showed good desire to try to make it right. Not his best performance for us but lots of good moments
7. Dele - hunting the ball, trying to make things happen, got his shots in and should have had a penalty. Unlucky not to finish what would have been a team goal of the season contender.
The challenges for me from the performance are as follows:
1. Son - not had the sharpness he had before the international break and the trip out East
2. CE - working hard and trying but not as sharp as he can be. Dead ball stuff not quite where it was last season
3. Lamela - we missed him - lack of balance with Son and CE in the same side
4. Victor J - worked very hard, should have had a second penalty and two moments in the second half when he could have scored very good goals with a bit of luck (the free kick and the swivel and shoot) - at other points in his career both have and will go in
There is not much wrong with where we are now - Toby and Kane would strengthen the side + we need Dembele, Dier to get match fitness/ sharpness. If that happens + Victor W continues his form and, crucially, CE gets back to form we will have a fantastic season. My sense is that we have an incredible starting xl from last year + Victor W and a revitalized Son. If Victor J gets close to the level the Dutch think he will and Winks continues his upwards trajectory, that gives us 16 (including Vorm) really good players. Then, if one of the other new signings or youth players can break into that group we are in wonderful shape.
Lamela - we missed him - lack of balance with Son and CE in the same side
As one poster put it we have scored just one goal in open play the last five games. To suggest that we have "missed" Lamela is plain daft.
We have very little of is pace, and directness in this side. You only have to look at the likes of Chelsea,Citeh and Liverpool to see that their managers philosophy is working a treat. If you think that the return of Lamela is the answer then you don't really know the question.
The old saying that "if things don't change they will stay the same" rings true on this point. Playing Eriksen, and Lamela behind the main striker is the problem. Rotate them by all means because it's clear that both lack pace, and direct attacking ability. Some games it's like watching Ray Wilkins and his twin brother playing behind Janssen or Son, and thats perhaps why Kane before his injury was struggling.