Just some ramblings from Saturdays game.
1. Stoke fully deserved the point.
2. Why did our midfield players play so deep. At times all three of them were palying in front of the defence. There was often a big gap between the attacking players and Pogba and Herrera.
3. Stoke clearly exploited this. Fletch and Allen had way too much time on the ball.
4. Corners. WTF was the point of Mik taking 7, yes 7 short corners. When the first two didn't work, and the third one led to their first goal, enough should have been enough. Especially when we scored from Miks last corner against Leicester. It makes even less sense when we have all these tall players in the box, and he is passing it to Valencia to cross.
5. Closing down from the front. There wasn't any. If we allow teams to play it out from the back,eventually they will hurt us.
6. Darmian does not offer anything on the left. Stop playing him there.
Stoke Game
posted on 11/9/17
comment by Roy's Keen (U11635)
posted 12 minutes ago
Pogba to me unnecessarily gets involved in too many physical challenges. He's a big strong lad and he likes to show it.
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Not enough slick one touch play among the midfielders including Mata and Miki. Taking too many touches and pirouetting for no reason is pointless.
posted on 11/9/17
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 5 minutes ago
The issue of him losing the ball by trying to shield of and hold it simply hasn't happened this season
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He lost it twice on Saturday doing this, to Fletch once and Joe Allen knocked him of the ball for the second one. The Joe Allen one made Graham Le Saux laugh.
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oh, when he got fouled? ok
So it happened once all season... Wow.
posted on 11/9/17
oh, when he got fouled? ok
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Neither of those two instances were fouls.
posted on 11/9/17
So it happened once all season... Wow.
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He has done it in our other games as well. He got robbed by Vardy doing it on the edge of our box against Leicester at the end of the first half. Luckilly Jones cleared the danger.
posted on 11/9/17
Darmian offers nothing and should not be played anywhere....
I thought the funniest moment of the game was when Matic stepped up to take a free kick (as apparently he was the only left footed option). I was giggling before he took it and pretty much in tears at the outcome... the ridiculousity.
As far as closing down from the front goes, a lot of everton fans claimed Lukaku was lazy. Never got that and still don't but maybe this is kinda what they were alluding to...
posted on 11/9/17
tbf to lukaku you cant as a sole striker close down if the rest behind you are not bothering to do the same, its pointless and just wastes energy, if rash, miki, pogba were all tight on stoke players lukakus closing down however much he does would be a lot more effective, its obvious mourinho tells them to reserve energy and not press high up the pitch
posted on 11/9/17
tbf to lukaku you cant as a sole striker close down if the rest behind you are not bothering to do the same, its pointless and just wastes energy, if rash, miki, pogba were all tight on stoke players lukakus closing down however much he does would be a lot more effective, its obvious mourinho tells them to reserve energy and not press high up the pitch
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That is how I see it.
posted on 11/9/17
On a separate note, Jose is winding me up again.
"I need him," he said.
"He's a very important player for me, much more important than you can imagine. I feel weaker without him."
posted on 11/9/17
Is he talking about fellaini?
posted on 11/9/17
Yes.
Someone has just done a thread on it. I couldn't be bothered.