Tactical Pragmatism
For me, that was much, much better than the last few games we've played against City. I've obviously still got some issues with some of the personnel choices, but tactically, that's only the second time this season when I think we've not been pretty poor for long spells (Watford being the other).
I very much like that Poch went with the 433 and I liked even more that he showed some astute tactical pragmatism in terms of our collective approach, going for a deeper press, with occasional forward pressing at trigger times, being more disciplined and countering - it was just a real shame that we wasted all of the good counter situations we created.
This was pretty much the best we've played against City since they got their Pep shit together, the first game for a couple of years were we haven't been embarrassingly naive, we limited them to only two or three real quality chances - and two of those were just terrible individual defending - meanwhile we created a couple of excellent situations - and I think we were fucking unlucky not to get something out of this game.
The first goal was just a horrible cluster fuck by Trippier. I don't think it was the right thing to do, but I can understand why he tries to head it back, you would normally expect Lloris to be further up - it's been the opposite issue with him recently - but even then Trippier fucks up the header, and he compounds this with a really weak bit of defending. It was just poor all round.
But he wasn't alone. Their second best chance came as a result if some really shoddy work by Alderweireld, ironically it was Trippier that eventually goes some way to redeeming himself by blocking the eventual shot off the line.
And lets be clear, Kane's and Lamela's complete wasting - not even working the keeper - with two outstanding chances is up there with our individual defensive cluster fucks. Both should have done so much better.
I will never enjoy watching a player like Sissoko, even on a good day, and today was a good day for him, it's like watching a rhino doing a rubik's cube.
And I hope to god that Poch wakes from the dystopian football nightmare that is Dier in midfield soon. He was fucking piss poor again, when they had possession he was like a kid ball watching, rarely in th right place, then when our defenders had the ball he was never available. Winks touched the ball three less times than Dier in a third of the time on the pitch and was once again one of the biggest positives individually for us, our whole demeanour changed when he came on the pitch.
I really think if Poch could just get a bit braver with his personnel selections, especially in the midfield, but stick with this 433, he could reinvent us and get our mojo back. Wanyama's got to be given a run of games and a chance to re-establish himself, it can't possibly be worse than watching Dier plod around like a baby elephant on smack. And if he isn't looking like the old Wanyama by Christmas then we move on.
Individual
Lloris - Decent enough, one great save from Mahrez.
Trippier - Terrible for the goal, but did save us one as well and was OK generally after that.
Sanchez - Got to be a candidate for MOTM, performed well on a tough night. Used his pace and tenacity well.
Alderweireld - Couple of very slack moments, the rest of the time OK.
Davies - Hit his usual meh standard.
Sissoko - He tried hard bless him, and again, by his standards this was a decent run around, a couple of stampedes, but ultimately they led to nothing, he wasted a great chance to create something first half. His technical deficiencies will always make him tough watch for me, and there's always those "Sissoko" moments where he'll clunk one.
Dier - I get that vision Reggie Perrin used to get whenever his mother in law was mentioned, whenever I see him in midfield.
Dembele - Some good, some bad. Anyone who can't accept he's in decline is fucking deluded, but he was generally our best CM until Winks came on.
Lamela - Pretty much the usual bag of Lamela pick and mix. Some good stuff, great ball to put Kane through, wasted some other situations by holding onto the ball, worked hard off the ball but, as ever, occasionally crossed the line into reckless. Decent overall though.
Kane - We are getting more of the old Kane again, but that wasted chance was fucking piss poor. In these games chances like that have to be cherished, not pissed away.
Moura - Not everything fizzy is champagne, quite a lot of it is sparkling wine that goes flat quite quickly.
Poch - Like the shape, like the tactics, not loving our midfield right now, but unlucky not to get something tonight IMO.
For me, that was much, much better than the last few games we've played against City. I've obviously still got some issues with some of the personnel choices, but tactically, that's only the second time this season when I think we've not been pretty poor for long spells (Watford being the other).
I very much like that Poch went with the 433 and I liked even more that he showed some astute tactical pragmatism in terms of our collective approach, going for a deeper press, with occasional forward pressing at trigger times, being more disciplined and countering - it was just a real shame that we wasted all of the good counter situations we created.
This was pretty much the best we've played against City since they got their Pep shit together, the first game for a couple of years were we haven't been embarrassingly naive, we limited them to only two or three real quality chances - and two of those were just terrible individual defending - meanwhile we created a couple of excellent situations - and I think we were fucking unlucky not to get something out of this game.
The first goal was just a horrible cluster fuck by Trippier. I don't think it was the right thing to do, but I can understand why he tries to head it back, you would normally expect Lloris to be further up - it's been the opposite issue with him recently - but even then Trippier fucks up the header, and he compounds this with a really weak bit of defending. It was just poor all round.
But he wasn't alone. Their second best chance came as a result if some really shoddy work by Alderweireld, ironically it was Trippier that eventually goes some way to redeeming himself by blocking the eventual shot off the line.
And lets be clear, Kane's and Lamela's complete wasting - not even working the keeper - with two outstanding chances is up there with our individual defensive cluster fucks. Both should have done so much better.
I will never enjoy watching a player like Sissoko, even on a good day, and today was a good day for him, it's like watching a rhino doing a rubik's cube.
And I hope to god that Poch wakes from the dystopian football nightmare that is Dier in midfield soon. He was fucking piss poor again, when they had possession he was like a kid ball watching, rarely in th right place, then when our defenders had the ball he was never available. Winks touched the ball three less times than Dier in a third of the time on the pitch and was once again one of the biggest positives individually for us, our whole demeanour changed when he came on the pitch.
I really think if Poch could just get a bit braver with his personnel selections, especially in the midfield, but stick with this 433, he could reinvent us and get our mojo back. Wanyama's got to be given a run of games and a chance to re-establish himself, it can't possibly be worse than watching Dier plod around like a baby elephant on smack. And if he isn't looking like the old Wanyama by Christmas then we move on.
Individual
Lloris - Decent enough, one great save from Mahrez.
Trippier - Terrible for the goal, but did save us one as well and was OK generally after that.
Sanchez - Got to be a candidate for MOTM, performed well on a tough night. Used his pace and tenacity well.
Alderweireld - Couple of very slack moments, the rest of the time OK.
Davies - Hit his usual meh standard.
Sissoko - He tried hard bless him, and again, by his standards this was a decent run around, a couple of stampedes, but ultimately they led to nothing, he wasted a great chance to create something first half. His technical deficiencies will always make him tough watch for me, and there's always those "Sissoko" moments where he'll clunk one.
Dier - I get that vision Reggie Perrin used to get whenever his mother in law was mentioned, whenever I see him in midfield.
Dembele - Some good, some bad. Anyone who can't accept he's in decline is fucking deluded, but he was generally our best CM until Winks came on.
Lamela - Pretty much the usual bag of Lamela pick and mix. Some good stuff, great ball to put Kane through, wasted some other situations by holding onto the ball, worked hard off the ball but, as ever, occasionally crossed the line into reckless. Decent overall though.
Kane - We are getting more of the old Kane again, but that wasted chance was fucking piss poor. In these games chances like that have to be cherished, not pissed away.
Moura - Not everything fizzy is champagne, quite a lot of it is sparkling wine that goes flat quite quickly.
Poch - Like the shape, like the tactics, not loving our midfield right now, but unlucky not to get something tonight IMO.
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