by StLGooner » Mon Aug 13, 2018 1:08 pm
Perspective, reason, and logic go a long way, but not for some on this forum. The knee jerking is embarrassing.
City is a tough team to start off with because we really don't know what our measuring stick is after that game. Plus it was just one game.
I think Emery chose to let city get space on the wings, maybe thought they'd be more clinical going thru the middle. Or maybe he thought we'd better defensively defending the width? IDK, but with City you have to pick your poison, and know they will probably have the bulk of possession, and are going to get their chances.
We pressed well at times, but not well enough or coordinated enough, but that should get better, especially against other teams.
I knew Emery wanted to play from the back, but didn't think he would try it so much against City. We didn't do that great with it, but at times we did ok, so hopefully we can get a bit of confidence from that, and that will help us against other teams not named City and of course against teams that don't press as hard, or as good. I think we'll be ok with that, and of course that will get better too.
The formation doesn't suit Ozil and Ramsey starting together. Neither are wing players, so neither should be playing there. Make them two fight for the CAM role. Ramsey pressed well and ran his head off like he always does, but just never has that it factor or that touch of class that we need. Ozil was poor with his decisions and final ball, and our front 3 didn't seem to gel at all, so that didn't help.
Xhaka, well it was one game under the new coach but same ole mindless mistakes from him. Still not seeing why we got this guy.
Matteo, made some 19 y/o mistakes, usually instantly corrected them, and played very well for a young man. I was worried this game was too big for him, and it almost was, but hopefully he can only build more confidence from playing pretty well against the best team in the league. Unfortunately if he keeps it up he'll probably be playing for City before we know it.
Hard to criticize Auba or Laca cause they didn't get many chances, but we weren't clinical enough with the ones we had obviously.
Torreira looked good when he came on, hopefully he gets the nod over xhaka.
Defense wasn't as bad as I expected, but still too many errors for a team like City.
Overall I don't feel horrible about our performance, but there are still concerns of course. Still too early to really tell how we'll be.
Formerly ChVint22