I think we have to be more worried about Eriksen's form than the demoralising defeat to West Ham. IMO, he has been poor since that outstanding performance against Norwich in his first match for us. Our attacks relies almost entirely on Eriksen's creativity. We will be in trouble if Eriksen has another poor match like against West Ham.
I don't get this...
Our attacks relies almost entirely on Eriksen's creativity (I'm accepting that for the sake of argument). Eriksen has been poor since the performance against Norwich.
Am i the only one of the opinion that there's a basic flaw in this thinking. If we're relying on one player to that extent we will always become predictable and relatively easy to defend against. Saying that he had a poor game is, to me, a bit like saying that Soldado (or Defoe) are poor in matches where they get no service. I think we've seen similar with VdV and Bale in that role.
Surely the answer must be to look to other players to get involved and help get the best out of Eriksen, or Holtby, or whoever plays that role?
I think we should look more to the players flanking Eriksen, and to some extent the two behind him, and ask what are they doing to help get the best out of Eriksen in the role he plays.
Apart from his goals Sig hasn't been great this season, I don't think he's gotten involved enough. I thought Chadli looked promising and was forming a decent relationship with Rose up until his injury. He hasn't been flash, but he was getting involved (imo). For me he should start against Villa.
Townsend has looked good doing what Townsend does. Taking players on, trying to get around the outside, cutting inside going for goal. But he's not a combination player at all, at this point at least. How many times has he gone for the one or two touch quick pass in to Eriksen? Where are the quick one two passes to get others involved?
If we keep playing Sig and Townsend on the flanks with Eriksen in the centre I think the pattern will keep repeating itself. Sig will score some goals, or at least put in some good finishes. He's good at that, getting into position and he's a very good striker of the ball. Townsend will start scoring a few goals at some point, he will get some assists and he will probably continue to impress, but he won't bring the best out of Eriksen. Eriksen will continue to impress when he's given space, either through poor/average defending from the opposition who don't mark him out of games or by us getting an early goal changing the game situation. He will continue to look unimpressive against West Ham and other teams that defend well and try to mark him out of the game. Probably to the point where he is replaced by Holtby, or Sig in that role, of course that won't fix anything.
For me, Lamela should play so that an understanding might start to develop between our two most creative players (him and Eriksen), so that interplay between them might start to happen to get the best out of both of them instead of having individuals doing what individuals do. Either that or we need to bring in a better, and quicker, passer into the centre. Either by going 4-3-3 with Holtby and Eriksen ahead of one sitting player, by bringing Holtby in alongside a defensive midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 or by waiting for Capoue to return as I think he's a more effective passer than our other 3 obvious central options.
Although I also think getting Chiriches in at the back instead of Dawson might also help as proper ball playing centre backs can compensate for a lack of creative passing in the centre of midfield.
/rant (sorry if incomprehensible, too long, too ranty or overall useless as a post. Not the most clearheaded morning around this one)
