11 Mar 2019 13:43:17
Ive seen a lot of posts attributing yesterdays game as just one of those days which is true as we have been on an amazing run under ole.
But yesterday did expose that our style of play is still quite limited. We have been excellent at defending in a low block and counter attacking with ruthlessness and incision.
Once arsenal got the first goal, unfortunate mistake by de gea then the onus was on us to take the game to arsenal and we struggled to break down arsenal when they went into their own low block.
Our build up from the back is poor, de gea has regressed with the ball at his feet, young gives the ball away too much and smalling is a liability with the ball at his feet. Matic also dawdles too much when in possession. Further forwards fred and lukaku are unsure of their first touch which means we can't sustain pressurised attacks.
Ole has done wonders with the belief and confidence of this squad but there are still underlying issues of quality which we are lacking. I just hope ole and the staff aren't too nice and are ruthless enough to shape this squad in the future.
11 Mar 2019 14:45:55
DSG, Ole can only use the players we have available. Unfortunately we don't have the kind of forwards or creative midfielders to break down teams that sit deep.
Ole has also got our defence playing a higher line now than they did under Mourinho. That higher line has allowed us to turn over possession quicker and the players are encouraged to play the ball forward as quickly and as often as possible.
So although it is a counter attacking style, it isn't one in which we invite teams on to us but rather one where we go after the opposition.
The squad still needs work, beyond the first 11 the drop off in quality is too much. Also having had several managers over a short space of time there are players in the squad who don't suit the style Ole wants to play.
The summer will be pivotal, we need 3 or 4 top level signings who can go straight into the first 11 or at least seriously challenge it, while 6-8 players need to move on, with a couple of kids coming through.
11 Mar 2019 15:47:29
Still don't understand why we sold daley blind, him and lindelof could have done a good job together at centre back till the end of the season until we bought an upgrade.
11 Mar 2019 16:52:04
I agree, selling Blind was a mistake. I really rate him as a squad player. He would offer us a good ball playing CB, or a solid DM cover for Matic, plus cover for LB.
Very few players are that versatile.
He would have also allowed us to seemlessly play a three at the back system that could have been very good.
11 Mar 2019 18:28:56
Some players are limited not just style of play. The players have been doing great but will come unstuck from time to time because they are not as good as the run of results suggests.
We need a few new players to complete at the top table.
12 Mar 2019 00:22:02
DDG saves a speculative shot. Ref waves off an iffy pen. Lukaku buries a couple of his sitters and we're rolling home with a 2 Nil away win.
I know it's all Ifs and Buts. But my point is that we didn't lose the balance of play in the game. We lost a few key moments by fine margins. That's football. But don't over analyze it and make out that Ole's tactics are now floored.
We will not win every game. Get over the losses, learn from the moments we could have done better and move on. Biggest lesson for me is the lack of intensity from the start.
12 Mar 2019 07:19:18
Disagree with DSG. Arsenal struggled to contain us whenever we had a go at them.
We were just not clinical as we have been for the past 20 odd games.