Well, we are into another international break and I have lost count of it now. As a neutral, I find it frustrating but I do understand that some of us loves to see our country play. And to go into a 2 weeks break after sharing points with Chelsea and ranking 4th on the table isn’t a good sight for us. Chelsea under Maresca has improved but not enough to beat us at home. In fact, we should have taken all 3 points and it feels like a loss.
We have had a fit playing XI. Odegaard was back into the team, we had our usual back 4 and a front 3 of Saka, Havertz and Martinelli. Chelsea dominated us for the first 25 min where David Raya had to make a brilliant save for a long distance shot from Cole Palmer. In 24th minutes, Gusto wasn’t able to put the ball in the nets from a close range header which should he should have been. Neto’s cross was brilliant, Ben White wasn’t bold him to move closer to him and in a way let him make space for himself to put a cross. We finally managed to put some pressure when a poor pass from a Chelsea defender was blocked by Saka and Odegaard took the ball, passed it back to Saka who then took a shot which was blocked. Martinelli got the ball from that block but wasn’t able to get pass Sanchez. In fact, it wasn’t the very best of his attempt, was on a perfect height for the GK and he didn’t have to move to his left or right. Not good enough.
Havertz scored within some min but it was offside. In the second half, Martinelli finally scored from a similar angle to the one he missed earlier. Much much better and we only had to get through 30 odd minutes to win. Even though Odegaard gets the assist, it was Thomas Partey’s brilliance. Timber tried a long range shot in 65th minute which was a bit wide. Why was he trying to shoot when both Havertz and Saka were in good places to receive the ball – I don’t know. Neto levelled the score for Chelsea and we couldn’t have done anything about it. It was a great goal, similar to what we have seen from Odegaard in the past. Nothing exciting in those minutes.
Right, that was the Chelsea game.
This draw came on the back of a 1-0 loss against Inter Milan in Champions League, a 1-0 loss against Newcastle, a 2-2 draw at home to Liverpool and a 2-0 loss to Bournemouth at home when Saliba picked a red card. These results are not enough to panic (just yet), but there has been some lacking in consistency and poor managerial decisions that could have made it better for us.
Lets talk about the players first. We had some injuries, Odegaard’s absence affected the game, Martinelli is on a poor form (still one of my favorites in the team), Trossard/Saliba had a brain fart which costed us the Liverpool game, Declan Rice had one earlier against Brighton (1-1, 2 points dropped), Trossard against Man City (2-2, against 2 points dropped). I have been vocal about the refereeing decisions going against us, but we are talking about the players who are probably in 1% of football players around the world, and they couldn’t concentrate enough to not get a silly red card for kicking the ball away? Ok, refs are not blowing whistle for other teams, but you can’t kick the ball away it’s in the rulebook.
Martinelli and Trossard are out of form. Both of them shouldn’t be on the pitch at the same time. Merino gets tired after 60 minutes, Ben White wasn’t brave enough to stop Neto for that cross and there has been other incidents. Only Saka and Partey are putting up the fights so far. The less we talk about Havertz, the better. Talking about ‘this might be the year we win’ doesn’t get you trophy. You need to put your mind and body on the line without thinking about what happens tomorrow. If you are in red and white, and has a cannon on the chest, you need to show that you earned it – every goddamn minute.
Now, lets talk about the manager. I am okay with Mikel’s infatuations towards defenders as long as we don’t neglect other areas of the pitch. But we have done exactly that. Going for two competitions at once with only 1 attacking midfielder will cost you. Odegaard is brilliant when fit, but we didn’t have a back up. Ok, we had, but we sold one of those to Fulham and loaned another one (Vieira) without bringing any like-for-like player.
This was highlighted before the season started and some of the news outlets confirmed that the club and the manager sees Nwaneri as a back up and they are not actively looking for a replacement. Guess what, Nwaneri is playing Carabao cup games and Mikel feels putting 3 DMs (Rice, Partey, Merino) in the midfield is better than giving him a chance in PL / CL. First, you didn’t have a competition / rotation to Odegaard. Second, let go off 2 players which were closest to play in that position. Third, you are hesitant in trying a 17-year old that might do the job.
And if I remember correctly, we paid 65 million for Kai Havertz because he was a versatile player who can play in the midfield and as a CF. We didn’t see him the midfield and he isn’t really doing much up top. We needed a proper CF, not another Gabriel Jesus.
Careful what you wish for. We were asking Wenger to stop neglecting defence and he would still go with 7 attacking players. The football was great but we would often lose. Now, we have a manager who can hold off City to a 2-2 at their home with 10 players and loves hoarding defenders. The football has gotten boring and we don’t get to see any of the Sanchez/ Wilshere like goals. Martinelli fits in that profile, but he hugs the sideline like his life depends on it.
We needed a blend, we got the opposite of what we had. City’s loss to Bournemouth is keeping us in the fight, Liverpool is leading but they will have bad days and I still feel it will come down to Arsenal v City at the end. We are still in the Champions League, not doing great but not as bad as some other teams.
Lets hope Mikel learns, unlike Wenger. I would love to hear your say in the comments.
Cheers.
Hoopah…Cheers for the kind words…I’ve been fortunate enough to both play at a highly competitive level and briefly coach, after getting certified during my university years, so I feel like I know my way around a pitch
agree Tony…minus the odd triangular passing drill at the midfield stripe, he’s been more of a hindrance than a help
time for Tross and Jesus to get some rest…Merino’s spending too much time in the wide channels, where he’s rather ineffectual
probably wise to get Cala off after his long spell on the training table…not sure what a side of Zinchenko, Tross and Merino can provide, but I guess anything is possible
so wish that Ode had goals in his boots, which is why I so want to see Ethan get some significant minutes…obviously not instead of Ode
big blockhead Chirs Wood really did us a favour
I still think this Forest side are fraudulent and will experience a precipitous drop in the coming months…good on them for coming to play against some of the better sides thus far, but shame on anyone with title aspirations for dropping points…I’m sure Slot will rue their earlier loss should things get tighter up top
Chris Wood…I went full dyslexic on that one…I’ll blame that on the early morning hash bots
not sure why we aren’t using some more subs…oh, here they come
maybe if Ethan was a right-footed player he might see more time on the pitch…still think he has something to offer regardless of what side he’s deployed on
if he scored there MA should have been fired immediately
When will MA learn about Ethan?
The Arsenal fans had given a big welcome to Nwarhi. He did not disappoint.
The lad has a higher ceiling than Odegaard
The gulf in class is very apparent today. But we were fresh with Odd and Saka rested properly so no international hang over.
it only took another 30 seconds after my earlier comment for Ethan to score…MA better not screw this up again, especially after United snagging Obi-Martin
MA will never learn TRVL. Good win because we changed it up and played better without Rice today…
no Rice or Havertz, who oft-times stymies our directness…Merino is functionally a taller, leaner Rice anyways, which makes you wonder why we needed that…today showed how MA mismanaged the last several windows, specifically since Xhaka left
MA “has” mismanaged
What the fuck is going on with City?
Good win and much better faster attacking play today. Jesus cannot buy a goal with his monthly wage looks like. Is this the season city implodes and will we be able to take advantage? Nwaneri should get more time with this team and the team needs more of Nwaneri.. Is MA listening?
KP
Was the 0:0 and entertaining draw? Your Spud fan mate must have been cock a hoop – pardon the pun after their demolishing of City. City look weak in midfield without KDB and less assured at the back without Rodri. Stones and Silvinho are poor deputies.
KDB is back so maybe he can help Pep turn their form declining tide.
I wouldn’t want to play Spuds next….
Madhu
MA has got selective hearing only tuned to his pets’ worshipping their lord & master or why else would Jesus start up top? It’s the usual trust issues masked as poor trainers/fitness levels (ESR), and stating that Ethan “decides when he plays”.
Can you think for even a millisecond Ethan not wanting to start every game, like Fabregas at 17? I think injuries brought Fabs in sooner than Arsene wanted, but once in he was rarely left out.
I made a statement in an earlier post, and I’ll support that again that I feel Ethan will become Liam Brady’s rightful successor as Henry did with Wrighty. Many won’t remember Brady, but he was a sublime legendary baller, where I see Ethan becoming a bigger legend if he stays with us.
Right now after yesterdays cameo scoring soon after coming on, and making a difference immediately, where we struggled to score 2 goals is 83 minutes, I imagine Barca, RM & BM all sitting up and taking notice adding Ethan to the Saka & Saliba list.
Interestingly, I don’t hear any noise from the elite clubs wanting Rice?
We would have more points now if Ethan had started all PL games, even if he only played 60 minutes; he’s that good as he has once again made a big statement to MA: Start me!!!!!!
Ethan and Ode in midfield protected by a disciplined Rice at 6 with Cala & Timber at LB & RB respectively, and we are in business. Kai will get goals if played as a 9. However, buy Isak or better in January and we will have the tools to win most of our games and put in a challenge assuming we keep our best 15 fit and rotated.
TRVL
Bang on as always. Rice is regressing because I don’t see our play is the right fit. As you’ve stated often, Rice has a hard on for playing in the final third, but not he skill sets or footballing IQ needed for attacking midfield play – just a law of averages he’ll get some things right and where some is not nearly enough.
Simple acid test is can Rice do what Ode or Ethan does consistently? Clearly not!
Is Rice a better MF than Merino? No by some distance, in the same way as Rice is the better 6 than Merino.
Until MA can work out what we all see, we are going to experience that same scrappy form that has blighted us all season. MA changed it up to get a labored win with some pretty football at times all Saka and Ode attack centric, where Ethan just talked with his IQ and magical feet.
Like you said shame we lost the freak goalscoring kid to MU – what a pair they would have made.
I could see the need for Merino if he was the battering ram MF making space for Ethan and Ode’s creative craft, and breaking up opponents’ attacks before they get to the halfway line, in nicking back possession, which is what City did best for 5 seasons, with Pool wearing that crown now.
City used to let the opposition keep the ball until they wanted it back by surrounding presses and stifling play. I think Pep is realising he needs to keep the ball because they score when he gives it to them, because they know how to play through City now, as Spuds did last night too easily.
Do you think the legal battles City are fighting are having any effect on the field? I imagine Pep staying for 2 more years was a rallying tactic with everyone on the same page, being united in their struggles, and struggling they are I’m deliriously happy to say.
All eyes on Slot at S’hampton, which is not an easy game; there are now whipping boys on the south coast any more. Those Wenger days are long gone.
I’m also interested to see how Amorim is going to set United up? Ipswich away should be a good game for him to test his PL theories out with players all on notice to improve or ship out as is the way with all new incoming managers.
Great win last night but and there is a very big but…… From the Chavs in 3rd down to Fulham at 10th there are only 3 points difference. 22 to 18 points. Amorim’s Manure have 15 points where a win tonight puts them on 18 and very much part of the pack.
At a 3rd of the way through the season we have a top 10 fighting for CL and Europe places, which I think you and I with Marc thought there would be a top 8.
The biggest question we all want answering is how MA is going to sustain a challenge and win the next 8 PL games when he brings back Rice and Havertz and leaves Ethan to cameos…..?
For me Ethan is more of a threat for us than Rice & Kai combined, would you agree?
Madhu—any win is a good win, especially in light of our recent displays…it’s clear now that Jesus has to go next summer, if not earlier, and his replacement better care far more about scoring goals than playing with his back to goal at the midfield stripe
Ethan’s time has come and everyone seems to know it except the manager or he would have been on the pitch during our most recent spell of injuries…we had better hope that MA’s propensity to offer assurances to every GD new recruit doesn’t get in the way of his development…we’ve already seen how that led to Mart’s regression, at least in part, and ESR’s exodus
as for the pace of play and the much-needed directness, this is what many of us envisioned, tactically-speaking, two summers ago, then we mistakenly replaced Xhaka with Havertz…this isn’t to suggest that I wanted our Swiss miss to stay on, far from it in fact, but by bringing in Rice and Havertz that aforementioned dream scenario was never going to be realized…no wonder Rice wants to play higher up, as he could never be an effective pivot man in that sort of offensive scheme…tbh if I knew Partey would still be here, I would have much rather we never pursued either player, which isn’t to suggest their shite, it’s just that their presence has derailed what should have been our tactical aspirations
now if Rice was being deployed as the de facto 3rd CB in a back 3, with wingbacks and two attacking midfielders, I could have seen the merit, but we can’t keep paying players a King’s ransom to play them out of position…with the amount we spent on Rice & Havertz, we could have conversely acquired a readymade Striker and a top drawer number 8, then bought a more pivot-friendly depth piece to sit behind Partey…after all we still have Jorginho as a viable/serviceable option against the lesser lights…I just don’t think our thirsty little attention whore of a manager could resist any moves that would both place him firmly within the limelight and appear to legitimize his multi-phased facade…fact remains neither really made sense unless we were planning all along to return to our former boring sideways selves, which would have been a shameful and gutless decision on his part
sorry about rambling on a bit…such is often the case with me, rightly or wrongly…Cheers
Tony—City has fundamental flaws that they haven’t experienced since Pep’s first season…it’s hard to overstate the loss of Rodri, especially as DeBruyne’s sun starts to set…Grealish has been an unmitigated flop and as soon as Doku starts to find the net he’s been plagued by injuries…they were already started to show cracks in the two years prior, which Haaland and Rodri helped to cover up, which is why I was so distraught by MA’s inability to take full advantage…instead we let others back into what was functionally a two horse race due to our disjointed recruitment practices and misguided tactical plans
interesting to note that Amorim didn’t mince words when it came to shredding the present state of MU…whether he was telling the truth or just setting the stage for a potentially lengthy rebuild, only time will tell…I find him to be a very intriguing proposition, much in the same vein as Slot, in that he comes across sometimes as a gut instinct Simeone-type, but I think behind that “facade” lies an incredibly cerebral tactician…just not sure he’ll be given the necessary leash or financial commitment this messy project requires
that’s what makes MA’s tenure so confounding, as he’s been given an exceptionally long leash and the proper backing, yet he still can’t seem to figure his shit out…he should have stayed the course following Xhaka’s departure, but zagged when he should have zigged
The thing is I cannot make sense when people say that Ethan is young and will weaken the team due to this fact. That’s bollocks. If they are good enough they are old enough. Also MA has an army of defence minded players to keep the goal protected even if an young player like Ethan with his exuberance doesn’t stick to the positional discipline so drilled in by MA. In fact that’s precisely what we need in the team. We need a disruptor to create an element of surprise and mystic with Thier skills. Ethan is the only one we have other than Ode. Positional rigidity has killed Marti and he is a shadow of himself. That brazilian flair he had is all gone and he looks more a drab Italian player filled with positional discipline. Surely the famed defence can handle one player in the team who doesn’t stick to regimented buildup and attack.
TRVL
Those aforementioned strips seem to add to your writing flavors. Biscotti is my guilty pleasure for the weekend.
We sing from the same home sheets all of the time, but I hadn’t realized it’s 2 years + here now.
KDB seriously has the hunger still. His subbing into the game saw him trying to do a Roy of the Rovers kind of comic miracle, but City need rebuilding as you say. Watching the game this morning made me think there is no quick fix; this and next season at least, and they might be relegated by then end of this season with no TWs to speak of.
I would be surprised if KDB stays past next season with City unless it’s to coach ala MA.
The next 6 months is going to be interesting in the world of football where for us, I hope by either winning the title now City is misfiring or MA leaving the building to someone who can.
On City Hall and looks disinterested. The way he contributes nothing and just ambles from offside position to back in play is pathetic. Wonder how fans tolerate. He may score goals still but he remains flat most times. Terrible body language for any fans considering how much he makes.
Ode makes us tick not just with his creativity but his orchestrating press. He is the first one to press and you see him encouraging and directing others. Without him our press is non existent or most part direction less.
Southampton are not laying down for Pool. Lovely start by both teams.
S’hampton 2:1 up with lightning counters with Dibbling at the heart of most things for Southampton.
Great game.
What will Slot do?
Slot adds Diaz and Macalister and now 2:2 with Pool in the ascendency and more likely to win. 30 minutes to nick it.