We also need to invest in players who aren’t made of fragile glass so that we have forwards and game changers in the bench, and not academy kids.
yup its poor, i could provide better coaching there.
It's the cumulative effects of players injured, play in need of rotation and tired legs from those who weren't rotated imo. I agree that Vicario missing is an important factor, but even "just" Richarlison and Odobert/Moore for fresh legs in the second half probably makes a difference in this game.
Agreed. We struggled a bit, but Roma also looked quite good.
Definitely think the centre backs did well. Dragusin could have avoided that free kick, but it happens.
I think that's the kind of thing that happens to most teams. Corner is half cleared to the other side, everyone turns to see where the ball is (as they have to do) and moves somewhat in that direction, leaving people free at the back post.
Honestly makes little difference. We’re are nowhere near consistent enough to win anything. It’ll be Ange’s undoing, I’m afraid.
There's definitely concerns about how the squad will be able to cope with knockout EL football if we get there. Will most likely be tougher opposition on average, more on the line in each game. Less room for rotation.
I see a lot more grand negative conclusions after losses like this than I see grand positive conclusions after a win.It's that's weird confirmation bias that we see in here anytime we get a good win, a lot of people lose their heads a bit and start making grand conclusions based on that singular result which some cases could have gone completely a different way. City was a good win but they are in a terrible moment right now, winning that game didn't mean anything beyond the fact we won that game.
In some respects I kind of think a result and performance like today is sort of brings everyone back down to ground. We kept a clean against City but they deffo had their chances and should be disappointed they didn't score. Today reminds everyone that no, we are still far from the finished article and just swapping the CBs doesn't solve the systemic defensive issues.
In terms of the positives and I think there were quite a few. Kulu looked great for 65 minutes, his form is really, really drilled in right now. The replacement CBs largely coped with fitting into whatever it is that we do at the back.
Bentancur had a good game before the rash challenge and the risk of a red. Son didn't look as past as usual but still a shadow of his former self.
Most importantly Foster looked comfortable I don't think you can attribute any blame for Thier goals to him and he again made some telling saves.
Personally it's not the performances I find that are the issue. Most people accept we're a work in progress and there will be ups and downs.
Solanke has been quality, goodness knows where we would be without his constant pressing and physicality. Yesterday wasn't his best game but when he's constantly being played, with his high energy game you're going to get the odd average/poor performance. He is the least of our problems....
Am i correct in that Claudio Ranieri has never lost a match at White Hart lane?
But did you not see people concluding that the goals we've been conceding where down solely to Romero's presence? Our non picking up of players on crosses is just what happens in an Ange team.
Roma's overload was there all half. It was a fairly obvious tactic, target the inexperienced young player playing out of position. I remember we were talking about it as it was happening but we never responded to it. Which for me is Ange thinking that our pre transition shape is more important than protecting the wide areas.
Absolutely . I’ve seen people say we concede mostly because of errors and whilst that is certainly partly true, as you say, most of our goals are because of how we play and how we setup. It’s very clear that defending isn’t a major priority for Ange. We don’t ever look solid and we rarely keep a clean sheet (Saturday aside). I think people just need to accept this is how we play and it may lead us to success in the cups but it’s also just as likely to be the reason we get knocked out of any cup competition as we seem unable to win close games 1 or 2-0 and it’s also highly unlikely to win us any title unless we seriously upgrade on the forwards as you and I have been saying for a year but people seem happy with them for the most part, I don’t include Solanke as he’s only just got here.
