Cannot play the same players every game, in every competition. That's why there is a squad. However, our squad on paper looks strong, but in reality it's not.
Lamela was the most exciting player we had. The only direct midfielder with a touch of class.
When you are playing 2 midfielders behind the No10, at least one of those midfielders has to get into the box.
Both Dembele and Capoue don't, In fact play Dembele with Bentaleb/Satmbouli, it would be the same. Dembele in my honest opinion is a hindrance. He creates nothing, scores nothing and passes sideways. I am tired of hearing that he has the talent, but he needs to do it further up the pitch. He has had a chance to. He hasn't done it. If you ask me we bought a crock who was not injury free. He then suffered another setback which has done for him. He was awful in the WC too. However, he is playing as a 2nd defensive midfielder, but one who is not mobile enough & slows the play down.
Mason is the only midfielder we have who plays in that two who is capable of getting into the box, capable of movement and of playing decisive passes. It's his debut season in the EPL and he is still recovering from injury.
If Lamela was not on the field today, we would have been dire. Against SU we created not much with a rusty Mason and then Dembele and won with a penalty. Bar Erik today we created not much and went ahead by a penalty.
Kaboul was fucking pathetic. A shambles of a central defender. Bad positioning, bad communication, bad passing. Whoever he partners it's usually a bad combination.
That play for their winner is what we lack. Someone running from deep, moving forward from midfield for a return after passing it. Then getting in a decisive pass to another midfielder in the box.
However, the Eriksen miss pass that lead to their winner the efforts of Paulinho /Capoue were diabolical. Half arsed tackling by Paulinho both Jogging back watching the ball and not going with the runners.
Mason, Eriksen, Bentaleb, Stambouli, Lamela, Townsend, Eriksen...keep
Dier, Fazio, Vertonghen, Rose, Davies, (Chriches), Walker, Yedlin..keep
Kane. (Soldado)..keep
players in brackets keep if we cannot buy 2 in same position.
Hopefully Kaboul, Adebayor, Capoue, Paulinho, Dembele, Lennon ( as he obviuosly ain't featuring) are not in our future plans.
I would honestly rather have schlupp than Dembele and drinkwater as a defensive mid than Capoue.
Edit: Life goes on. MP is doing the best he can with what is available. This year I said 6th would be good. 6th and a cup great and anything more a bonus.
MP is clicking with some. But I feel he will have a very hard time getting what he wants from the above players.