05 Feb 2018 20:08:51
Almost all posters have consistently both identified and covered the cause and reasons behind our dismal displays this season.
So please excuse my post if it duplicates points made by fellow bloggers.
The team selection and tactics are the total responsibility of SA and whilst in his words the performance was pathetic so indeed was his as manager.
If you consider what! s gone before it is fairly obvious Holgate and Keane perform much better when paired with Jags.
At the Emirates the back five and DM were lacking in pace and their positional sense was non existent. At times we had six players to Arsenal's three and they tore us apart!
Too many players are going through the motions and in Sneidalin's case if he thinks pressing is standing two or three yards off the opposing player is good enough he is badly deluded. Gana is left with far too much ground and work to compensate.
All defending players were constantly caught out of position and the galling thing was not one bust a gut to recover his position.
Bolasie has flattered to deceive after a decent performance against Liverpool and should only be used as an impact substitute until he is fully match fit and to replace Walcott instead was a ridiculous decision as was SA reason for so doing.
IMO I feel the players are lacking in fitness and if professional athletes with the latest technology cannot be expected to play two and in some cases one game a week they should read the article on Duncan Edwards in today's Daily Mail which explains during two years of national service he was required to play on Monday and Wenesday before the army would allow him to play for Man United on Saturday and he was 18 years old at the time and already represented England!
Says it all about our cosseted 'stars'.
The squad is lacking in the basics and that is down to both coaching and professional attitude. i have previously posted on the need to understand that football is about movement off the ball both in offensive and defensive situations and those sentiments applied at the time to improve Ross Barlkley's Impact which Conte has picked up immediately at Chelsea.
As we are stuck with the present squad until the summer my message to SA is:
Focus on improving the fitness.
Instill the basics into the squad with the focus on movement, positioning and passing accuracy.
Pick a settled team with Jags central to the defence along side Holgate.
Give Tosan a run of six games to see if he can cut it in the Premiership - we didn't give Sandro, Klassen and Lookman a fair crack of the whip and have done no favours to Siggy playing him out of position.
I would go with:
Pickford
Coleman
Holgate
Jaggs
Mangala
Gana Banningme
Davies/ Rooney Sigudsson
Walcott Tosan

With DCL, Vlasic, Kenny, Bolassie as impact substitutes.

1.) 05 Feb 2018
05 Feb 2018 22:19:26
Pickford
Coleman Holgate keane jagielka
Geuye Rooney
Walcott Sigurdson Calvert-lewin
Tosun.

2.) 06 Feb 2018
06 Feb 2018 01:05:19
Should have a bit more of a chance with 12 starters. mate school boy error. Not sure how you've done that but it's 11 allowed on the pitch at any one time.

3.) 06 Feb 2018
06 Feb 2018 02:30:33
Myteansbetterthanyours: he clearly wrote Davies and Rooney with an oblique (a slash) between them so they’re alternatives. Schoolboy error not reading the punctuation. ;-)

4.) 06 Feb 2018
06 Feb 2018 08:45:16
bloody heck have I just seen someone put jagielka left back.