Finally watched a replay after having to listen on the radio yesterday and my one takeaway (other than playing Emerson was a huge mistake) is that Willian has no place in the squad for how we want to play. Much too slow to move the ball and brings every break to a halt with his dithering. Other than as a Dave replacement on the wing in a 3-4-3, I’d rather see any of the other wing options at this point. Other than that, a pretty good, albeit unlucky performance.
Our u23 team is playing in whatever they call the league 1 and below league cup tonight so the fact that these guys aren’t playing means they will be on the bench at a minimum tomorrow night. My guess is that guehi and Maatsen play because of injuries to Emerson and Christensen/rudiger, Gilmour would have played anyway and anjorin comes off the bench if we are winning.
Emerson won't be back til the 16th according to Lamps. Also Mount said he played that game against Pool with his ankle joint still swollen to hell. Does Puli rate that poorly, that Lamps'll risk Mount instead of playing Puli on the left?
mount seems to be the key to everything. Whether he’s playing as a 10 or as a LW, we look very different when he’s not out there. Remember he also played mount over Pedro. I think it’s more about mount than pulisic. I think people need to give him some time to settle. 20 year olds typically don’t come into new clubs and leagues and shine right away. Mount played for lampard last year so he’s a bit different. Tammy has played in the premier league before. All 3 of them also played for years under Jody morris. I think people need to just have some patience with pulisic. He also didn’t have a full preseason.
he doesn’t look comfortable on the wing of a 4-2-3-1. He looks much better as a winger with a compact 3 man midfield. He looked better when Pedro came off and he also looked better when we played Liverpool in the supercup and we played our 3 non-attacking midfielders. The gulf in talent between pulisic and Hudson-odoi was pretty drastic though even with CHO still very rusty coming off injury. people need to relax and let pulisic settle in though. Kid has battled tougher odds before. The price tag and USMNT hero status will always ramp up expectations but he needs time. Fabinho didn’t play his first 6 months for Liverpool. Some people need more time.
This is a truly horrible lineup. Barkley proved he couldn’t play in a midfield 2 on Wednesday and Pedro/willian combo gives us nothing. They are terrible together. If we don’t get the 3 against Brighton it’s 100% on frank and this completely shit lineup. How do you start Barkley over kovacic in a holding role?
I think he comes on before pulisic as well. I didn’t see pulisic becoming 4th string with how bad Pedro and Willian are but here we are.
I don’t understand how he keeps getting starts. He’s not good for much besides advancing the ball to the touch line and then turning it over
Willian looks amazing charging up field on the break and then plays the wrong ball. It doesn’t matter how good he did on the break if he gives it back to the other team. Guy has managed to fool every manager except conte. Conte the only one to eventually bin him despite Pedro not being anything special.
How did Alonso miss that? How did Barkley miss? How did Pedro miss? I feel like I’m watching sarriball without hazard.
That’s what my last comment was getting at... this is the first game where I feel Hazard’s absence is glaring
It’s because Barkley, Willian, Pedro and Alonso are playing. They can’t do anything right. CHO for Pedro and James for Alonso and play azpi on the left and this looks different. Gives you an elite crosser on the pitch and someone who can actually put the ball in the net on a wing. Pedro and Willian can’t score. This lineup was trash so this isn’t that surprising. Very frustrating seeing lampard Trot out this shit lineup. Even if we are 1-0 up it’s a bad lineup. If we don’t get the 3 this will be a horrible result.
That was as good a pressing/defensive performance as we’ve had all year. I still rate Pedro but Willian and Ross are dreadful. Puli and CHO for those two and being on James to keep Alonso from the inevitable red.