I’ve heard people say that CM has affected the defence this season but IMO the defence has just been massively guilty of individual errors constantly and the best CMs in the world can’t account for that.
I think the CM issues are an excuse forbid failing elsewhere IMO
The so called weakness in that area was good enough to deal with citys, Chelsea’s, United and pools this season, and Dortmund’s
Just because it has worked, doesnt mean it is working, if you see what I mean?
Our CM is massively compromised compared to years passed, and I do genuinely believe it has impacted the entire team.
While the team collectively has had its moments and brainfarts, I honestly think it stems from midfield.
The attack is not being supported and supplied anywhere near as effectively, meaning Alli and Eriksen are often MIA because theyve dropped so deep to see the ball.
The midfield isnt as solid as it was, meaning that platform we always enjoyed for recycling the ball back into attacking areas has all but disappeared. We used to leave 2 just in the other half sending the ball back in everytime the other side defended. We were able to exert big pressure and get all our bodies forward. Now we and up in a much more end-to-end situation.
This also has the flip side of the defence not being offered anything like as much protection as it was. Its exposed time and again and last ditch defending is far more prevailant than ever before.
Yes, I completely agree our defenders and FBs, our attackers havent been on particular form and of course thats not ALL down to the CM - but the CM is a massive part of it.
Put it this way, a completely limited player like Sissoko is regularly held up as MOTM and now Im seeing him offered as player of the season.
Our midfield has been that poor, people think Sissoko is an especially good player.
Now Im not looking to start that whole debate again, but when you have a player whose biggest asset is his stamina, and who is really just a workhorse, well that says everything you need to know about the core of the team and its issues IMO.