Running busy a bit, but it’s good to see Saturday night football back. We are playing Bournemouth today in about 15min.
There are some changes to the lineup. Ben White is back in the defense alongside Calagiori, Gabriel and Saliba as Timber isn’t fully fit to make it. Merino starts in the midfield with Thomas Partey and Rice. Odegaard is still out. It’s a strange front 3 – Martinelli makes way for Trossard which kind of makes sense but Sterling starting at the right is a concern for me. Saka is injured, I understand but we have seen Martinelli playing well in that position. Even Trossard can do that job. Unless it’s a precaution to keep Marti safe from the injury he picked up on the international break, it’s a poor decision in my opinion.
Every week is an important one if you are fighting for the title. Liverpool has made it even more difficult this season, sitting at the top with 18 points, ahead of City and Arsenal in equal game. We can’t afford to slip here. It’s a must win game, just like the next 30 ones.
Bournemouth has been a kinder opponent for us, since their return in the top flight we have won all 4 games against them with an aggregate of 13-2, scoring 3+ goals in each of those encounters. They haven’t been able to grab a win against the top half of teams in their last 10 games and we should make sure to keep it that way.
An away game is always difficult in Premier League. However, with our defence and form, and with Bournemouth not doing any great any time, we should be comfortably winning this.
A 3-0 for me, Havertz scoring 2 and Trossard with his signature mask celebration. Short one today, hope you and your family is well. Take care and see you in 15 min.
Cheers!
KP
Totally agree, but one wonders why such a self assured player as Saliba, why he didn’t do just that. White had no chance, but the form Maya has been in with his aerial gymnastics of late, he may well have got something on the ball.
1:0 down early doors isn’t a done deal for the game. Brilliant thinking, as it seems to have alluded our players and press alike.
There has been a general slight downturn in our confidence and fluidity of play this season. Our normally assured back line looks nervous, and well they should be because our tactics haven’t changed. Other coaches know who to nullify or hamper their repetitive play. This nervousness means we take an extra touch or two where the openings, as you said, are really fine margins of passing through the eye of a needle, pre-assist type through balls, when the busses are parked.
Busses are getting better packed as we saw with Wolves who lasted until the last 25 seconds Marc said. City had no answer and few shots on target because Wolves were so well drilled. Only one piece of magic drew dividends for City pretty much all game with a few great saves by Jose Sa.
I imagine the coaches are going to be looking at City differently now. Wolves have shown the ways and I’m looking forward to seeing how others teams adapt their tactics to keep City on edge and the back foot at times.
Got to give kudus to Gary Oniel for that defensive performance masterclass.
We are a yard off the pace too often. White is being challenged more and now showing signs of next what we need to land a title or CL cup.
Has Saliba’s head been turned by RM with their recent overtures? Coincidence or something more internal in the squad with El B? Mostly, Saliba is playing his usual languid pace and doing ok, but he lacks some sharpness of last season.
Tross was as bad as it gets with that hospital pass, but for me, why was Trossard starting ahead of Marts? I think , as I always do, it was poor selections again. We needed pace and EL B chose guile who was too easily snuffed out by such a well drilled small pacy side.
Surely you meet pace with pace to try to keep them on the back foot and reduce their overlaps.
Don’t know if you saw the City game, but tactically Wolves were best with Pep scratching his shiny dome as Wolves countered with one touch football leaving City chasing shadows.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=gary+moore+chasing+shadows&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
Rodri is such a big miss. I think the goat term is applicable to the player. City are soft bellied now, and can be got at with quick counters was identified yesterday. Worth a watch if nothing else for the highlights, as it was brilliant for the neutrals.
There are many small things wrong at the moment where injuries have highlighted them more. However, the biggest issues are players playing in unnatural positions and the changing tactics needed to accommodate such out of positional players.
I hope we can regroup and think better after the next international break because City even being softer, with Pool, Chavs and Villa are playing much better than we are now.
New post.