Two for the price of one today! We won the one that mattered, so don’t be too downhearted.
First up our resident glove butler followed by the world’s foremost expert on continental imports.
If no one else will say it I will that was piss poor!
Everything about that defeat was our own making from not creating enough, not taking chances we did create, and far too easy to be broken down from defence to attack.
Now here’s an issue teams have stopped playing through our midfield because we’ve actually sorted that problem, so instead they bypassed it twice and took the chances. Southampton went wide, and I’m also a bit concerned with the positions out midfield two were taking up.
Also professionalism was lacking getting upset at Spuds timewasting tactics at 2-0 but we shouldn’t have been 2-0 down, so it’s crying over spilt milk what do we expect them to do?
Going through the team you can see the players playing Emery’s way and the ones not:
Cech just can’t play the ball out back,cost us possession far too often with his inability to pass ball ten yards or fifty.
Monreal playing high up the pitch leaving us exposed, but I think he is one of the hardest battlers in the side and never hides
AM-N we know he is out of position on the right and I love the kids touch he can pull a ball out of the sky and invariably he puts it in front of him ready to pass on, however there were times tonight where I wanted to see first time crosses from a diagonal ball but he chose an extra touch.
Sokratis a solid defender, but that’s it.
Xhaka …. not a centre back, better midfielder but mainly better at long passes
Guendouzzi ….. covers a lot of ground, maybe step back to disciplined central role.
Torreira …. is he getting a bit attack minded or was it needs must in second half? Would prefer him to be asked to stick to break up and tick over duties
Ramsey …. disinterested or not wanting to get injured or basically not good enough to be missed
Mikhi…he is currently the player we need to do the creating but seems unable to step up to the plate consistently. I do like him though and think he is most likely to do as asked.
Iwobi….end product end product
PEA …. not enough variety in his play as the lone striker, tried to play on the shoulder, rarely comes short
Subs:
Kozzer …. still ring rusty
Laca ….. with Iwobi and Mikhi off he had no one playing to him with Ramsey in hiding
Nketiah…looked out of depth but by that stage I am not sure what formation we were playing.
Emery…struggle to see the benefit from the substitutions, however recognise that we are shortnib the squad due to injuries and some selections are forced on him. And don’t believe that is what he asked players to do. Time to see what he can do.
If you hadn’t guessed I’m pissed off and maybe that colours my assessments above.
That was simply not good enough.
Not sure what has happened with Ozil but I think we continue to look less dangerous without him.
Written by GIE
Cech – 4
AMN – 4. He needs to play higher up the pitch.
Sok – 5. Was our best defender.
Xhaka – 4.5. Tried hard but also multiple poor passes.
Monreal – 5. Tried hard as always but not cut out to play as a FB the Emery style.
Guen – 5. Tries but needs to tidy up his passing.
LT – 5. Looks tired.
Ramsey – 4. Wanted to do well but did not want to run much.
Miky – 4.5. Seems like he is struggling physically at the moment because his running is low. Needs to work his fitness level and also rediscover his magic passes.
PEA – 4. Frustrating night for our forward
Iwobi – 5. Tried hard, created chances but should have created a lot more.
Kos – awful. I am sorry but I think he is a liability.
Laca -5. A decent showing but would have done better if he started the game
Nketiah – 3. Too big of a game. Was lost on the pitch
2 losses in a row. Now I hope that Emery does the right think and rests some players and brings some energy in our next game.
Leno – Lichten, Mustafi, Sok, Monreal – AMN, El Neny, Xhaka, Douzi – Laca, PEA
Ratings by RC78