I see more positives then negatives, we controlled them and limited their chances as shown with the XG, and also created one or two big moments in the second half. I see constant signs of very small improvements and their goal came from a lucky deflection off Macalister, we are improving and just need slightly more luck. Luck comes down to many factors, injures and lack of options are not helping, and arguably lack of help with the officials!
I agree with you Oliver but also with Matthew's comment. We ARE improving except for mistakes - most down to losing concentration.
For the first goal, Virgil & Dom ball-watching while Silva is switched-on. For the penalty, Curtis & Macca miscommunicate and Curtis loses Nunes' run into the box.
What's especially frustrating is losing concentration when...defending in a low block while intentionally standing off the ball carrier. In that tactical mode, you are INVITING runs in the spaces behind. You MUST be switched on and track runners. Yet for both goals, we are ball-watching and lose concentration.
Who didn’t track Nunez’ run into the box? Two of them ball watching and you could see it coming even before the throw. Our midfield lacks defensive instincts at times.
We have seen all season that we lack fitness to go for 90 mins, probably a direct result of the summer tragedy.
I get that we don’t have great depth at the moment due to being unlucky with some long term injuries, but we still have professional footballers, internationals, sat on the bench until the 85th minute while players who are being run into the ground flail around obviously mentally and physically shattered.
If we are not careful then some of those are going to start getting injured as well, and then what? We are already at the low ebb of not much more than a point a game for 20 games. If we lost a Van Dijk, a Gravenberch or an Ekitike then we will definitely be finishing 12th not 6th.
Every time you think maybe this is the start of a better few weeks, we drop another clanger.
Slot has been dealt a really shitty hand this season, but you have to wonder whether he’s also playing it really badly.
I’ve been looking into subs in detail but one thing I have spotted:
There were ten games last season in which Slot left two subs unused. He hit that total for this season in this match.
However, last season it was never more than two. Yesterday was the sixth time it’s been at least three this term, with four on a couple of occasions.
It might be one thing if every game was going well but they’re obviously not.
For me the only chance we have of saving this season, is to start using the likes of Jones, Chiesa, Ngumoha, Endo, Marma more. That will bring risks no doubt, but I don’t see how we have a choice.
Our best players won’t be capable of giving elite performances in CL matches if they are being run into the ground in PL games.
It reminded me of many Klopp Vs Pep games. People are conveniently forgetting it now, but in lots of those games City were all over us for long stretches, before we'd get back into it, usually in 2nd half.
IMO that game could have gone either way. There were 4 key moments (the three goals and Guehi's non red card) and 3 of them went City's way and so they won and we lost.
It’s not the defeat …..it’s the manner of the defeat……turgid dross….there is no dressing up…..we are sh1te and we know it, there is no coming back from this with slot in charge
Over the past 20 PL matches we are trending to a 42 point season. The same as Man U last season - and we were in stitches laughing at them. Do we have to slip 7, 8, 10 points behind Chelsea before the club take action? (Action = replace Slot)
Sigh.
I see more positives then negatives, we controlled them and limited their chances as shown with the XG, and also created one or two big moments in the second half. I see constant signs of very small improvements and their goal came from a lucky deflection off Macalister, we are improving and just need slightly more luck. Luck comes down to many factors, injures and lack of options are not helping, and arguably lack of help with the officials!
I agree with you Oliver but also with Matthew's comment. We ARE improving except for mistakes - most down to losing concentration.
For the first goal, Virgil & Dom ball-watching while Silva is switched-on. For the penalty, Curtis & Macca miscommunicate and Curtis loses Nunes' run into the box.
What's especially frustrating is losing concentration when...defending in a low block while intentionally standing off the ball carrier. In that tactical mode, you are INVITING runs in the spaces behind. You MUST be switched on and track runners. Yet for both goals, we are ball-watching and lose concentration.
Who didn’t track Nunez’ run into the box? Two of them ball watching and you could see it coming even before the throw. Our midfield lacks defensive instincts at times.
Perhaps the cost of not having a true DM, just a collection of good midfielders.
I just can’t understand the lateness of subs.
We have seen all season that we lack fitness to go for 90 mins, probably a direct result of the summer tragedy.
I get that we don’t have great depth at the moment due to being unlucky with some long term injuries, but we still have professional footballers, internationals, sat on the bench until the 85th minute while players who are being run into the ground flail around obviously mentally and physically shattered.
If we are not careful then some of those are going to start getting injured as well, and then what? We are already at the low ebb of not much more than a point a game for 20 games. If we lost a Van Dijk, a Gravenberch or an Ekitike then we will definitely be finishing 12th not 6th.
Every time you think maybe this is the start of a better few weeks, we drop another clanger.
Slot has been dealt a really shitty hand this season, but you have to wonder whether he’s also playing it really badly.
I’ve been looking into subs in detail but one thing I have spotted:
There were ten games last season in which Slot left two subs unused. He hit that total for this season in this match.
However, last season it was never more than two. Yesterday was the sixth time it’s been at least three this term, with four on a couple of occasions.
It might be one thing if every game was going well but they’re obviously not.
Great spot.
For me the only chance we have of saving this season, is to start using the likes of Jones, Chiesa, Ngumoha, Endo, Marma more. That will bring risks no doubt, but I don’t see how we have a choice.
Our best players won’t be capable of giving elite performances in CL matches if they are being run into the ground in PL games.
It reminded me of many Klopp Vs Pep games. People are conveniently forgetting it now, but in lots of those games City were all over us for long stretches, before we'd get back into it, usually in 2nd half.
IMO that game could have gone either way. There were 4 key moments (the three goals and Guehi's non red card) and 3 of them went City's way and so they won and we lost.
It’s not the defeat …..it’s the manner of the defeat……turgid dross….there is no dressing up…..we are sh1te and we know it, there is no coming back from this with slot in charge
Over the past 20 PL matches we are trending to a 42 point season. The same as Man U last season - and we were in stitches laughing at them. Do we have to slip 7, 8, 10 points behind Chelsea before the club take action? (Action = replace Slot)
I still don’t think they replace Slot before the summer at the earliest.