Think people need to lay off him a tad. I'm not his biggest fan, but he gets some unfair stick. He didn't have a bad game today (up against Townsend, Wan-Bissaka,, and sometimes Zaha who are all rapid - I feared far worse would happen). He used the ball well. And of course he scored. Was penned in a bit due to his lack of dynamism, but the team as a whole fell apart from around the hour mark. Also thought that penalty incident was a penalty, but you can't isolate Xhaka against Zaha like that. If you put Busquets in that position against Zaha, I'd expect Zaha to do the same to him.
I also thought we missed Xhaka in midfield today. Gwen was completely out of the game in that 2nd half Palace blitz and during periods like that, Gwen becomes a bit of a headless chicken chasing the ball everywhere. Xhaka brings more structure to the team in that position.
Players who deserve stick today:
Leichsteiner - hardly his fault that we bought a pensioner who wouldn't make Huddersfield's team, but he didn't belong on the pitch today
Mustafi - nothing needs to be added here
Iwobi - this guy has got far too much credit for far too little this season. I'm not buying the hype. He's a mediocre player who wouldn't stand out for Southampton or Newcastle.
Lacazette - I'm a fan of his but he had a shocker today. Should have been the one taken off instead of Ozil. I also blame him more for that 2nd goal than Xhaka due to the daft pass to Torreira.
Xhaka
posted on 28/10/18
comment by The Godfather (U10154)
posted 17 minutes ago
Desperately missed xhaka in the middle. Had no control in centre of park. Everything was a scrappy there. Gudndozi a bit of a headless chicken
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this. When things going tough Gwen is not the right man for our midfield. The guy is a real talent but the experience you need to have will come with age.
We lack that through pass, that special pass from our midfield against Leicester. He couldnt provide that. Btw Özil couldnt provide that either.
posted on 28/10/18
Guendozi can't start on Saturday against pool
posted on 28/10/18
AMN ffs let the lad get fit first.
Xhaka was always going to have a stinker at LB, but he did better than most people would expect. The penalty was a dive for me but regardless his body shape was all wrong for defending a 1 on 1.
Those saying he was missed in midfield are simply wrong. The way Palace pressed would have been horrific viewing with Xhaka in there.
Auba and Mustafi were the worst performers for me today. Auba's goal half makes amends for being absent for the majority of the game, but him and Lacazette shouldn't start together in that formation.
posted on 28/10/18
comment by PowerkingHenry27 (U18930)
posted 6 hours, 6 minutes ago
And it wasn’t a pen 👍
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It was, as was the handball
posted on 29/10/18
Didn't Xhaka admit it was a pen.
posted on 29/10/18
Xhaka was my MOTM. Played out of position, scored a wonder goal and was tenacious all game. Penalty was due to him being exposed and 1 on 1 against CP's best player. The rest of the defence were no where to be seen.
However, I agree that long term at CM we should be looking to upgrade as we should at CB and LB as well.
posted on 29/10/18
Xhakas pen was more clearcut than Mustafis. FOr Mustafi' she was going for the ball and Ayew stretched his leg unnaturally to try to get in front of the ball and trod on Mustafi's leg when he had no chance of getting to the ball. Ive seen us have ones like that in the past adn guess what, it wasnt a penalty and think we even had fouls against us for doing what Ayew did.
posted on 29/10/18
I'm baffled by the Gueondouzi criticism. Had a very average game. But I'd trust him in midfield over Xhaka that's for sure.
And Torreira was the MOTM for us. He was everywhere.
posted on 29/10/18
comment by Dubbed* (U21815)
posted 1 hour, 54 minutes ago
I'm baffled by the Gueondouzi criticism. Had a very average game. But I'd trust him in midfield over Xhaka that's for sure.
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I dont.
posted on 30/10/18
He's a good player. Certainly a better player than Xhaka that's for sure.