I think that is a fair point. I have watched a good bit of RBL this season, and I could not get excited about half of their regular starters. But they are very well-drilled. They lack creativity in the middle of the park, IMO, and are not uncomfortable with the idea of playing a more reactive game, as they did against Bayern just a couple of weeks ago.
Even Southampton have blown us out of the water with their work rate in recent times. We have some very good players, but we have become very poor at the nuts-and-bolts stuff (pressing, counterpressing and squeezing up when we get the chance). We have a few highly overrated players and an injury/fitness crisis from hell.
Just on the issue of the reluctance of our defensive line to push up at times (and you can see the frustration of some of our attacking players in relation to this), why do you think our back four are reluctant to do this? I think one reason is that only Sanchez has recovery pace. But maybe they don't trust the midfield not to leave them exposed, too? Is there anything else?
