26 Feb 2020 09:57:16
Outclassed both on and off the field. So what did we learn?
1. After the Spurs game Frank said that 3 at the back worked when the opposition sit deep. Did Frank really think that Bayern would 'sit deep'? It was excruciatingly obvious within 20 minutes that our wing-backs were being pushed into a back 5 leaving our midfield outnumbered. We should have switched to a back 4 with James and Mount on the right and left of midfield and Barkley in the hole. Increasingly worrying about Frank / Jody lack of tactical awareness.
2. Why always like for like substitutions? At 2-0 down, why not play Tammy off Giroud?
3. Christensen was made to look an amateur by Lewandowski. Christensen has had his chance - not good enough - sell / replace.
4. Thiago reminded us what a quality midfielder looks like - Thiago is a class and a half above Jorginho. Jorginho never has been and never will be good enough - sell / replace.
5. I thought we had got ourselves a bargain when we bought Barkley - but we should have listened to our Everton friends. Barkley has not progressed since bursting on to the scene at 18. Too slow of thought and feet - sell.
6. Tammy. Tammy Tammy Tammy. When will he learn that his winger will attempt to get to the touchline and fizz the ball across the box and he needs to hit that near post at speed? Willian and Pedro were both successful and fizzed balls across the box and both times Tammy was a yard and a half behind the play. This can be learned but, at this stage of his career, Tammy should already know that. Worrying.
So a lot to work on and do before next season. Let's hope that we can cling on to a CL place so that we can bring in the required replacements. Including a new manager?
{Ed001's Note - I would add one more thing, Rudiger. He has the brain of a sparrow. That is why he is so inconsistent, he doesn't think, he just does. When up against clever movement, he ends up making the wrong choices time and time again. Someone needs to take him aside and teach him to keep it simple and stop trying to be clever.}
26 Feb 2020 10:11:46
Agreed Ed001 - but I do think that Rudiger would be ok next to a dominant leader aka van Djik.
I should also include Azpi as a player who needs replacing - Azpi has been brilliant for Chels for years but his loss of pace over the last year is frightening - this needs to be Azpi's last season as an automatic starter.
{Ed001's Note - you can't afford to lose Azpilicueta's leadership and experience right now imo.}
26 Feb 2020 10:31:26
I'd like to see us stick with the back three, but I agree the coaching needs to learn to adapt how the system works Vs different opponents. I felt one of Barkley or Mount should have player much deeper than they did Vs Spurs. Thiago and Muller ran the show through the middle of the park, we allowed that too easily. I'm not Jorginho's biggest fan, but you could see he and Kovacic needed help last night.
I thought Christensen did ok for 90% of the game, was the best of our three CB's. Like a lot of the team at the moment, that 10% of mistakes will cost us at this level. I'm not sure we'll ever see Christensen develop into a CB who we'll trust to be 100% concentrated in big games. I echo Ed's comments about Rudiger, you want him to be the experienced head and leader at the back, he is almost selfish in the way he plays.
James did get stuck back in our defensive third, and he struggled with the overlapping runs of Davies. But I think that'll be a common theme for full / wing backs Vs that lad.
{Ed001's Note - you can't judge anyone playing against Davies, that lad is a special talent and has destroyed pretty much everyone he has come up against.}
26 Feb 2020 10:38:48
First time I've seen him, he was unbelievable. They showed a highlight reel before the game, thought he looked good but so would anyone in a highlight reel. He then did all those things in the game. James did as well as anyone could expect to.
26 Feb 2020 16:43:20
Brilliant post MDW.