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Match Ratings Ratings vs Leceister

MOTM

  • Lloris

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Dier

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Sanchez

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • Verts

    Votes: 1 0.6%
  • Aurier

    Votes: 1 0.6%
  • Rose

    Votes: 1 0.6%
  • Dembele

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • Sissoko

    Votes: 2 1.1%
  • Eriksen

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Dele

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Kane

    Votes: 10 5.6%
  • Son

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Llorente

    Votes: 2 1.1%
  • Lamela

    Votes: 133 75.1%
  • None Deserved

    Votes: 17 9.6%
  • Undecided

    Votes: 4 2.3%
  • Poch

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    177

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
50,713
Just seen Poch's post match, even he said we haven't been staring games right. Even named the last 3/4 games.
 

ebzrascal

Well-Known Member
Sep 13, 2009
2,635
4,670
I think there are a multitude of problems, but a simple one has been a general lack of rotation of key creative players. Ignoring the fact that Alli's all round game has been pretty poor most of the season, he's also a 21yo kid. Eriksen seems to have played every single league and CL game too, and Kane is pretty much the same, and often left on the pitch when games are well won.

I don't think our defence has suffered much at all from the loss of Alderweireld, Dier is a very adequate CB, a decent communicator and Alderweireld hasn't been at his very best anyway.

But the midfield is a major problem that Poch seemed to take his eye off, and while he did it went stale. We have no stability, solidity or continuity there. Roles are il-defined, we've had Winks playing as the central hub, when the positioning and defensive side of his game is weakest, we've had Sissoko, Alli and Eriksen all parachuted back there with mixed results, two of them are fucking clumsy, none of them are much good under a stern press.

And this means we also aren't as effective without the ball either. Alli doesn't press well, Sissoko just charges into people, Dembele's zimmer needs oiling. Dier can't press because he's too cumbersome and gets turned too easily. Eriksen's decent at pressing but not exactly the bravest.

I don't think we've played the same midfield structure or personnel two games running all season, we've rarely played it for the same game. Last two games we've switched from 3331 to 4231 to 226.

I remember quite a few on here giving me shit for being annoyed that he ignored Winks for a massive chunk of last season, and also refused to get Onomah into games when we were 3/4 up with 30 minutes to play, and then also failed to play him in midfield in every single post and pre season friendly. And Lesniak was jettisoned despite showing briefly that he's a very capable little busy ****.

I know Onomah has learning to do, but FFS, he is definitely a better midfielder than Sissoko. And I don't blame Sissoko, I blame Pochettino. He's wasted/spurned the opportunity to develop assets, or at least utilise them for squad purposes and now he's hoisted somewhat on his own, Sissoko sized petard.

We got away with it against RM and Liverpool because the midfield didn't really have to play, just sit and spring occasionally. But we are being asked different questions now and it's getting exposed. The midfield is the engine that drives the machine, and ours is a bit Heath Robinson right now.

FFS Onomah is not the answer and neither is Sissoko bashing it is other players who have dipped in form and caused our slide!!
 
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