The absence of control when we are ahead has dogged us throughout Ange's time. And I think we are just poor as a defensive unit. Ball watching and a general failure to pick up runners has led to great chances for our opponents. My son has been highlighting for me how we leave open the players at the far post, and today was another example. You add in the high line and the advanced full backs and against any opponent, we are giving up gilt edged chances. Chances that are usually better than those that we have. Even today, against a team that is leading the "worst of all time" table, we could have been behind.
In the end, I can only view these last two years as demonstrating that Ange's style of play is ill suited to the Premier League. IMHO, it requires unachievable perfection to dominate and score while not conceding. Can it work? Well in a league where he coaches a side that is forever a winner and streets ahead of most opponents, I can see it working. But in the Premier League, where all bar the promoted teams are well financed and staffed, well I think we can see the result.
Those first 10 games just appear to have been the anomaly here where we got the breaks and the luck, had teams still trying to work us out, and built up a head of steam. Thereafter, the flaws have been exposed and the injuries that accompany his demands have led to our current position. The goal difference is a weird anomaly too, but who among us can honestly say that our performances have inspired confidence? No progression in an upward direction whatever our personnel must justify a change, whatever happens in the Europa.
