07 Sep 2026 05:41:41
For lots of reasons couldn’t sleep so I just finished watching yesterday’s game again.
I’m personally never confident about giving match summaries after watching games on TV.
Firstly, Arsenal performed better than us. We could have nicked a point.
My impression after the game was Palmer wasn’t as influential as he can be, but that seems to happen a lot against strong teams. I also still think we should have played with a narrow three man midfield, but may have caused us more problems out wide.
So many times we had players being pulled out of position with significant gaps appearing all across the back line.
Also, the gap between the defence and midfield was far too big. I guess what I’m saying is, so far under Alonso we are not compact.
Obviously, Martinez should do a lot better for their first goal, but all players make mistakes, but when goalkeepers do, it’s usually costly. This is also just my gut feeling, but I don’t think they score the second goal if Caicedo is playing.
I wouldn’t have hooked Neto, but Estavao did cause them some problems.
Our games against dirty Leeds and Hull will be interesting. I can’t see the point in risking Caicedo, but I hope Palestra and Barco both get mins.
07 Sep 2026 07:58:52
It was a poor performance yesterday. Our defensive frailties from the first 2 PL games came back to haunt us. Havertz was allowed to run a long way before getting his shot away for their first goal, and their second goal was schoolboy defending.
They continually managed to find huge gaps to exploit. We were lucky it was only 2-1 in the end. Though I'll never know how Gabriel got away without being punished for kicking Martinez in the head, and also Rice for the deliberate foul on Rogers.
07 Sep 2026 08:15:34
Tom, I have got over the disappointment of yesterday. In the end, Arsenal probably deserved to win. I won’t go on about our midfield as the issues are glaringly obvious. It’s unfortunate that Moises is injured, and we didn’t bring in a midfielder who can play in a double pivot: things might have been different - who knows.
We should win the next two games, and, like you, I would not risk Caicedo. That said, we should not underestimate Leeds, who, no doubt, would be happy to go to penalties. It would be very disappointing to be out so early in the League Cup.
07 Sep 2026 09:23:23
Maybe the people who only post when we lose would have something to do if we got beat by dirty Leeds.
I personally think that sooner rather than later, Alonso has some tough, Jose-like decisions to make. That's when it will become very interesting on lots of levels!!
07 Sep 2026 10:24:00
Agree that Martinez could have done better for Arsenal's first goal, even if the ball came between Lacroix's legs and to Martinez as he was balanced towards moving to the right. So not as bad an error as Sanchez v Fulham, I reckon, and Martinez made many other good blocks and does inspire more confidence.
Palmer is a bit of an enigma at the moment. He looked back to his best v Fulham, less so v Brighton, but did score that nice goal, yet was otherwise in and out of the game yesterday.
Both he and Rogers are exciting flair players who combine well together, but are not great at defensive duties, and so all the more reason we need a really solid defensive pivot behind them in midfield, but also someone, like Kante, and perhaps Kone and Camara, who we were linked with, leave aside the incomparable Lamps, able to drive forward with the ball from deep or deliver fantastically accurate long passes when needed.
Kevin De Bruyne is exemplary for City in this respect, and of course one we had let go. Enzo also offered something in terms of transition play, controlling the pace of the game, plus tackling ability, work rate/turf coverage, and goal threat, but he did lack great pace, and anyway that ship sailed and the problem was that a replacement was not purchased. But last time perhaps that needs to be mentioned, if not already done so one too many times!
07 Sep 2026 10:09:15
Yes Tom having watched that Mourinho documentary Alonso needs to find that ruthlessness whil also making his players willing to walk through fire for him.
At the moment our openess, and with numbers of goals scored and conceded, slightly reminds me of early Klopp's Liverpool - nort sure if Ed001 would agree though? - and that project took a while to get right, arguably key being signing of Virgil van Dijk (about 18 months after Klopp came to Anmfield? ), though cleary earlier signings of Salah and Wijnaldum hugely important too. Fabinho a later key creative midfield one.
In other words, Alonso team capable of winning EPL not complete as yet imho and the owners must give him the time - and would be wonderful if he could for once be a lon/longish term manager for our club - - to oversee the process. He is the reason that I still have considerable hope/cofidence that we will qualify for ECL football this season.
07 Sep 2026 10:47:52
Jbs, while at Chelsea, Jose never seemed a fan of players who only had "moments" of influence.
07 Sep 2026 13:53:13
You are right, Tom, and one wonders what he would have made of, or done with, CP's ups and downs.
07 Sep 2026 14:30:48
JBS, Roger's also looks like a "moments" player. I really hope I'm wrong, but so far I have not been impressed with his work rate.
It will be interesting to see if Alonso makes a big call on one or both players in weeks to come, or against the better sides, because our two DMs got totally outnumbered on numerous occasions yesterday.
07 Sep 2026 15:55:59
I agree, and almost added Rogers to the CP comments. Can we afford two flair/moment players in attack in our side, if not also pretty reasonable defensively, which neither seems to be.
OK, Hazard was one in the 2014-15 season, and Mourinho did acknowledge that he was something special in CFC's EPL winning team under him.
Mind you, JM had John Terry and Gary Cahill in central defense, plus Dave and Ivanovic outside them... then John Obi Mikel and Matic available to play defensive pivot roles ahead of them. Oh yes, and Cech or Courtois to choose from as GKs - has there ever been a better two options for any club in that position?!