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!
two quick points:
(1) I’m not convinced that our approach would be any different were we fully fit and down a man…time and time again MA has employed this amateur hour 10/11 men behind the ball nonsense against teams of little to no consequence…until this is remedied we’ll continue to be a pretender of the highest order, much like our diminutive skipper…it’s a shame really, as I can’t help but wonder what a more astute manager might have conjured up with our newfound financial approach and the same inherited pieces…just think, minus Ode, MA had all his bells and whistles out there tonight yet we still looked bereft of ideas, even before the sending off
(2) even though I still believe that we’re defensively sound enough to finish in the top 3, if we continue to drop points against bottom-feeder sides we could easily find ourselves on the outside looking in…when you adopt such bully-ball tactics you’re going to find yourself in a shitload of 1-0 or 2-1 type affairs, which means the margins are incredibly thin…as such, if we continue to make crucial mistakes, like today, or can’t find a way to generate the chances our scoring-challenged options require, all hope could be lost in relatively short order…that said, the season has only just begun, so let’s hope our small-balled fuckstick of a manager grows a pair tout fucking suite
Tony—we should be able to handle our mid-week CL opponents with relative ease, but our upcoming Pool clash is a whole different beast…I fear that without Saliba MA might once again go full-bore Pulis, which could leave us on the wrong side of another 2-0 scoreline…fuck I hope I’m wrong…there has been some chatter regarding Ode’s return to the pitch next weekend, but I’ll believe it when I see it..fingers-fucking-crossed
Amen TRVL, I’m with you on that and the finger crossing, I’ll add legs, too.
I also agree with your above points – spot on; we have the players to fulfill your thinking of top 3, my issue is at the usual suspect sharp end that is blunting everything this season.
Ode will be too rusty to take 100 minutes v Pool and be effective. He’s usually chasing shadows for a game or two before he gets into his match rhythm.
Slot will be coming to win. This is a potential statement game for him and Pool’s title aspirations where they will see us as weak. If I were Slot I’d tell them to wind Timber up or White, Havertz is easily put into hissy fit mode; ditto Jesus.
Odds for a two yellow, Red?
Jorginho will probably get the Ode nod, which will be the kiss of death for us and lead to more Saliba-esque last ditched tactics that you could have been confused thinking Xhaka had returned.
Why does White push players in front of the ref? I thought that was only reserved for our Bosnian and Greek defender: Sokratis Papastathopoulos who got confused with wrestling at times and clearly liked souvlaki. Ozil’s Serbian minder; Sead Kolašinac was just confused all the time, but not banking his wages; never confused about that by hanging in there til the painful end ala Ozil. I think Gifts from Raul & Diamond eye? Can’t remember now.
I have a feeling next weekend’s game is going to be the type you can’t unsee, and wish you didn’t watch. El B is no match for Slot tactically having watched most of their games waiting for the new bounce to end.
Another problem is Slot’s subs change games. They just seem to be getting better, and he’s quietened Sala’s petulant ways – even hooking him off for non performing.
We will be facing a very strong and confident Liverpool next Sunday unless the Chavs can make a big dent tonight, making the wheels come off Slot’s winning-ways wagon; as he is sitting nicely at the top of the league with a game in hand.
What are the bets they take all 3 points at Anfield from Chelsea this afternoon?
Can Wolves take a point off City today?
Anyone know which gods are in favour at the moment?
Moment of the game yesterday was Spud’s Richaladson wanting in to the ensuing melee and getting accidentally head butted as he entered the fray head prominently stuck out forward. Really funny to watch. Meant even more him being a Spud!
Wolves 1 up against City but not for long. It’s been defence v attack all game bar the goal scoring counter by Wolves.
City is so open to the counter most going down 2:0
Have to feel for Wolves dying seconds in the 95th minute Stones seals the win from a corner.
Wolves would have been worthy for a draw. Niel has got Wolves playing much better,
Tony
That’s such a huge kick in the teeth for them there was literally 25 odd seconds left to play.
If Chelsea can get their defence sorted out there’s a good team in there.
Marc
Thought the same when I saw them earlier this season. The Chavs are on their way back to a top 4 side again. The winning City goal was a choker but they and Pool seem to have that in their lockers where we don’t!
I thought of you at the pool game next week. Not an easy game to witness live I imagine.
TRVL
City scraping and Wolves being good value for O’Niel’s training and tactics, and should have got their deserved point.
Pool are on the rise again where Slot maybe the best PL manager this season. I know you are less cavalier at making statements than I, but unless Slot hits a serious injury crises or slump; they are favorites for me to lift the trophy this season. Have been since I witnessed their first 2 games.
Next season, the Chavs will likely be challenging again with Pool and City and I wouldn’t rule Emery out next season either, if he improves Villa again this season. Still have lapses at the back, but Emery will sort that out now he has a contract until 2030: that’s how much Villa rate Unai.
Shame Raul and Diamond Eye didn’t. He was always a cup specialist, but now he’s showing he can keep up in the PL now.
Add that Manure will be a top 4 side next season with Hag or new manager bounce, and El B will be back to 5th again next season because we already look below Chavs, City, Pool and Villa’s overall game levels now.
Between us at 3rd on 17 points and Spuds at 7th on 13 points lies Chavs 14, BHA on 15 and Villa level with us on 17 after 10 games.
B’mouth’s game just amplified all that’s wrong under El B, as we both agree we have the squad….. Just not the manager I’ve been saying for 5 years now.
Sadly, I don’t see our manager as anything, but a loser because you have to win leagues to be a winner; not capitulate every season. This season we might not make it past Xmas before our fall from PL grace yet again……
I deeply hope I’m wrong, but…… same mistakes and poor selections and…….. the list is repetitive every season.
Altogether now MA is a ………. (add your descriptive word)
I agree we should deal with Shakhtar, but Liverpool will be licking their lips with us being Saliba-less, our iffy inconsistent form and lack of goals from open play; set pieces we rely on too heavily.
KP
All good in Wales?
LIR
Here’s my list of top 11 managers in the PL:
Slot
Pep
Emery
Enzo Maresca
Russel Martin
Gary O’Niel
Julen Lopetegui Agote
Marco Silva
El B
Fabian Hürzeler only 31 and out thinks El B
Sean Dyche
My basis above is on money spent, time served and tactical nous where El B just fits above Dyche or Pulis if he were still a PL manager. I left Ten Hag out as I see him being fired this season unless results drastically change…..
88522 in 5 years and now playing as disjointed as we did 4 years ago, only we didn’t get rash red cards like we do now.
Can we lift the PL trophy this season? Not they way we are playing, we won’t!!!!!!
Finally, El B is throwing Marts under the bus for missing his best chance. Shame El B can’t see his own Faux pas he repeats over and over, and has time to create better tactics, but doesn’t. Wash rinse repeat.
Maybe if Marts had started instead of Trossard the game would have had a different results with at least us taking a valuable point.
Barring a lapse in concentration….well we certainly got one of those from alpha-tross whose pass was peak Xhaka at his worst.
The thing I’m wondering is whether the players should have a different mindset between the likes of Bournemouth and the strong teams. It’s all very spur of the moment but if Saliba had decided to chase the attacker rather than try to bring him down, three things could’ve happened. He either catches him and unloads him, Raya saves or Bournemouth score. We go one down after 30 or so minutes. Is that worse or better than going down to 10 mean which is almost a killer. I think that if Saliba hadn’t made contact we would have hard a far better chance of beating them. Small margins but 3 points dropped.
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.