As we enter the final 8 days of the season I think it is pretty safe to say we will finish in second again. A great effort, especially in 2024, but ultimately we came up short. In a race of fine margins, where did it go wrong?
Lack of a striker
As much as there was controversy surrounding our first 3 defeats, one common theme was our failure to score in 4 of our 5 losses. There was also the City 0-0 where a half decent striker could have won it for us. Once again Jesus missed periods injured, with us starting the season with Nketiah up front. It is quite embarrassing for Jesus that Eddie still has more PL goals this season than him - and Nketiahs last was in October!!
Martinelli and Trossard both had runs up top, and then Havertz offered something of a solution.
It is a bit harsh to attack a team with 88 goals for not scoring enough, but you have to feel we could have added a few points with a clinical man up top.
Gabriel/Timber/Partey
The first question I would ask Arteta if I had the chance was what was the thinking at the start of the season in regards to our defence.
Gabriel was dropped - was his head turned by Saudi? Or was Arteta really planning for a back 4 without him?
Timbers injury means we won't know what the plan was exactly. Would he have replaced Zinchenko? Would he and Gabriel start?
Also, playing Partey at right back, was it a plan for the long term?
It was all a bit confusing, and did it play a part in dropping points to Fulham and Spurs - where we had yet to find any fluidity in our play?
Martinelli
A constant changing of left backs, plus not replacing Xhaka, has seen Martinelli's form drop off a cliff. He has looked a bit lost and isolated, with Trossard becoming a better option.
Lack of rotation
My old favourite! It cannot be ignored our big loss of form came in December as the CL group stage came to an end and the hectic PL schedule kicked in. 3 defeats and a draw in the 7, it could have been worse but for Rice's late, late Luton winner. The draw, on paper, wasn't bad - Liverpool away. But it was a tired looking team. You can't help but feel if fringe players were kept more active they could have played a bigger part, and the key players kept fresher. It is worth noting our only league defeat in 2024 came in between the two legs of the CL quarter.
Only 15 outfield players have 10+ starts in all competitions. White, Saliba, Gabriel, Rice, Odegaard, Saka and Havertz have pretty much played all the time - with 40+ starts apiece. Rotation is limited to left back, left attack and whoever comes in for the position Havertz vacates. Smith Rowe and Vieira have 7 starts between them. They have had spells injured, but their workload has been very light. Nelson, who was given a new contract, has just 1 PL start.
It is clear Arteta feels his best XI should play every game, and for me this belief is costing us.
Finding Havertz role
No longer mocked, the signing of Havertz still has huge question marks over it. He seemingly was signed to take the Xhaka role, but his best form has been up top. It took until February for Arteta to work this out, although he did drop Havertz back into midfield for that fateful loss against Villa. The decision to drop Jorginho for Jesus and play Havertz deeper for that really hit hard.
I don't think he is good enough there for next season, so what happens?
The 'keeper situation
It seems harsh to criticise the golden glove winning 'keeper, but you can certainly highlight point costing mistakes from Raya. Personally, I can understand wanting to upgrade on Ramsdale. He is a great character and did some great things last season, but in a title race of small margins it was one position we could have upgraded. Raya just isn't enough of an upgrade in my opinion.
City will win the title, but we have to credit the team for their 2024 performance. To potentially win 16 and draw at the Etihad in the last 18 games would be a madness. Sadly we gave ourselves too much to do with Decembers form.
Hopefully we can end the season on a high, a win at Old Trafford would be great given our record there. Take it to the last day, enjoy the home match against Everton and then start the work on bridging the gaps!!
The Autopsy...
posted 3 weeks, 4 days ago
Havertz has really complicated how we go forward in the striking role. Arteta could go with improving that with a player who plays ahead of the two wide men and so allow Martinelli another season to regain his form. Or he could stay with Havertz and go big with a goal scoring wide player like Nico Williams. That would mean buying a striker who is stronger, like Havertz in the middle, with ability to drop wider. Like Zirkzee.
posted 3 weeks, 4 days ago
This summer could see potentially 12 players go. How will we replace them given that most will be back up players and that rotation wasn’t given much a thought?
December was certainly where we lost the league, not Villa. To win 17/18 is ridiculous, even 16/18 is. Can’t fault 2024, it was the December, period.
City will continue to strengthen as always. The fact Arsenal will finish 2nd again, it’s quite an achievement given that Liverpool never have recently.
posted 3 weeks, 4 days ago
I think Arteta was seriously planning for a defence if :
Raya
Timber White Saliba Tomiyasu
But of course, small injuries to Zinny and Tomi at the start meant we had to shuffle the pack a bit. Then Timbers huge injury torpedoed the whole idea.
posted 3 weeks, 4 days ago
I don't think Timber was ever bought to play centre back. He is too small for that in Pep/Arteta teams.
posted 3 weeks, 4 days ago
Think he can "do a job" there in case of emergency.
posted 3 weeks, 4 days ago
This summer could see potentially 12 players go.
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Will be interesting.
Ramsdale, Nelson, Nketiah, Smith Rowe, Cedric and Mo will probably go.
Can't really see any loanees coming back into favour.
Other than that I think Arteta would probably want to keep them, but a few could be open to offers like Zinchenko, Kiwior.
posted 3 weeks, 4 days ago
One thing which has been overlooked is that our improved form also coincided with moving Rice out of the DM position into a more advanced press role. Arteta hinted as much with how both Rice and Havertz have settled.
Now that creates further issues. Rice is doing a De Bruyne role but without his spatial awareness, range of passing or finishing. I am sure there are some aspects he can develop, but it means we have to be careful in who we sign to replace Partey (if he leaves). The DM will need to be more attacking but can less apt in defending compared to a Rodri/De Bruyne partnership.
Although I have talked about someone like Zubimendi in the past, I now think someone like Guimares is far more suitable.
posted 3 weeks, 4 days ago
Or maybe even De Jong?
posted 3 weeks, 4 days ago
Rice is playing a box to box role. The amount of times he wins it in the final third is as good as a playmaker.
posted 3 weeks, 4 days ago
Left no.8. Not box to box. He only assumes that when we change to a counter formation. (mostly after we take a commanding lead)