The AVB's of Poch
As with all our home games this season, our intentions were OK, tried to control the ball etc, but omnipresent failings continue to fuck us. Poch's selection/tactical disconnect and the lack of intensity being big ones.
Picking a 4231 with with two non DM/6's, a high line, forwards that don't press and a CB for a RB was pretty flawed against a lively opponent - and this is the third tough away game he's done this now.
We were constantly exposed in those wide channels, and nobody can blame Trippier anymore.
I think he did adjust to a 433 later in the first half, and I think we were more structurally sound, but then they hit with a very good counter and then Vertonghen gave a stupid and needless penalty away so we then reverted back to try and win it again, which again created fragilities.
And how many times can Poch complain about the lack of intensity, this has been a recurrent feature for three years now, it's his fucking job to make sure the players deliver it, and if they don't then fucking drop them and stick a kid in there who will, as he did when he first arrived. Mason and Bentaleb weren't world class, but they were prepared to run through walls for their place, if more experienced players want to amble about pointing and hiding then fuck them off and put a kid in their who will die for the chance. Get some fucking aggression and intensity back.
The other thing as Park Lane Mark Twain said in the match thread, is our continued inability to create quality chances, especially when Eriksen has an off day. Moura managed to go through a whole season last year with creating a single assist for anyone. That's pretty special. But it's not hard to see why, he'll score the odd goal, but the rest of the time he tears around with his head up his arse, rarely lifting it to see what's on. He'd be miuch better used as a wide forward in a 433 system, which is where he spent most of his career before us.
Alli continuas to bumble about, like Lamela and Son he's capable of the odd bit of inspiration, but there's a fuck of a lot of wastage with all of them. we could really do with a bit more composure in that forward area. I'd have taken a one knee'd Fekir for 20m all day long.
We've gone from Poch employing the chaos of Redknapp last season, to looking like the last days of AVB. I guess that's some kind of progress?
Individual
Lloris - meh
Sanchez - Such a poor decision to play him at RB. Could build anything down the right and he was exposed by the structure early on, constantly tucking in like a 3rd CB when we were attacked.
Alderweireld - Decent
Vertonghen - Really poor for the penalty. Looked a bit hesitant on an early break too, and seemed to be slow getting across to cover Davies for the first ? maybe harsh but I've only had one look.
Davies - Not his greatest game, torn apart for their goal.
Ndombele - This kind of format is really not going to maximise his skills. Showed some nice touches at times, but also looked a bit like a turtle in windsock at others.
Winks - Put on a real shift. One of the few to come out of the game in credit.
Moura - took his goal superbly, but did pretty much fuck all else. Zipped around with no real composure or purpose.
Eriksen - he grafted, got through a lot of ball and ground, but was really poor creatively and pissed the ball away a shit load.
Alli - Like Eriksen, but with less graft and getting through ball.
Kane - OK/meh
As with all our home games this season, our intentions were OK, tried to control the ball etc, but omnipresent failings continue to fuck us. Poch's selection/tactical disconnect and the lack of intensity being big ones.
Picking a 4231 with with two non DM/6's, a high line, forwards that don't press and a CB for a RB was pretty flawed against a lively opponent - and this is the third tough away game he's done this now.
We were constantly exposed in those wide channels, and nobody can blame Trippier anymore.
I think he did adjust to a 433 later in the first half, and I think we were more structurally sound, but then they hit with a very good counter and then Vertonghen gave a stupid and needless penalty away so we then reverted back to try and win it again, which again created fragilities.
And how many times can Poch complain about the lack of intensity, this has been a recurrent feature for three years now, it's his fucking job to make sure the players deliver it, and if they don't then fucking drop them and stick a kid in there who will, as he did when he first arrived. Mason and Bentaleb weren't world class, but they were prepared to run through walls for their place, if more experienced players want to amble about pointing and hiding then fuck them off and put a kid in their who will die for the chance. Get some fucking aggression and intensity back.
The other thing as Park Lane Mark Twain said in the match thread, is our continued inability to create quality chances, especially when Eriksen has an off day. Moura managed to go through a whole season last year with creating a single assist for anyone. That's pretty special. But it's not hard to see why, he'll score the odd goal, but the rest of the time he tears around with his head up his arse, rarely lifting it to see what's on. He'd be miuch better used as a wide forward in a 433 system, which is where he spent most of his career before us.
Alli continuas to bumble about, like Lamela and Son he's capable of the odd bit of inspiration, but there's a fuck of a lot of wastage with all of them. we could really do with a bit more composure in that forward area. I'd have taken a one knee'd Fekir for 20m all day long.
We've gone from Poch employing the chaos of Redknapp last season, to looking like the last days of AVB. I guess that's some kind of progress?
Individual
Lloris - meh
Sanchez - Such a poor decision to play him at RB. Could build anything down the right and he was exposed by the structure early on, constantly tucking in like a 3rd CB when we were attacked.
Alderweireld - Decent
Vertonghen - Really poor for the penalty. Looked a bit hesitant on an early break too, and seemed to be slow getting across to cover Davies for the first ? maybe harsh but I've only had one look.
Davies - Not his greatest game, torn apart for their goal.
Ndombele - This kind of format is really not going to maximise his skills. Showed some nice touches at times, but also looked a bit like a turtle in windsock at others.
Winks - Put on a real shift. One of the few to come out of the game in credit.
Moura - took his goal superbly, but did pretty much fuck all else. Zipped around with no real composure or purpose.
Eriksen - he grafted, got through a lot of ball and ground, but was really poor creatively and pissed the ball away a shit load.
Alli - Like Eriksen, but with less graft and getting through ball.
Kane - OK/meh
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