I don't think it's sluggishness, having watched it the highlights and looked back at a few things from the game I think the problem is the lack of preparation. We looked like players who had been off playing all different styles and shapes and came back to 1 training session before the match. For example was Mings positioning for the first influenced by a week and half of training on the left of a 3? Was McGinn playing a little further forward than he did against Arsenal because that's the role he plays for Scotland?I don't know either way but 3 international games in a row leaving the club with 1-2 days with players before a league match feels fucking shit, not because of fatigue but because of how they train. I don't have a good answer for how to change it but 3 international windows for a total of 8 games in just over 2 months is fucking ridiculous.
Quote from: paul_e on November 22, 2020, 12:00:17 AMI don't think it's sluggishness, having watched it the highlights and looked back at a few things from the game I think the problem is the lack of preparation. We looked like players who had been off playing all different styles and shapes and came back to 1 training session before the match. For example was Mings positioning for the first influenced by a week and half of training on the left of a 3? Was McGinn playing a little further forward than he did against Arsenal because that's the role he plays for Scotland?I don't know either way but 3 international games in a row leaving the club with 1-2 days with players before a league match feels fucking shit, not because of fatigue but because of how they train. I don't have a good answer for how to change it but 3 international windows for a total of 8 games in just over 2 months is fucking ridiculous.Southgate chucking his weight behond the 5 subs rule was ridiculous. Just stick to two games per international window, rather than three if you're that concerned.I'm not sure that it had any real effect though, we've just got to get to the point where we can maintain standards from agme to game. As good as the games against Liverpool and Arsenal etc have been, our home defensive record is atrocious and we've got the joint worst record with Newcastle. That has to change.
Our shape was all over the place for that goal, not sure if they were all a little over confident, or zealous and trying for an early onslaught like against Arsenal. I can’t believe it was tactical to be that far up. Another day and we’d have scored a goal or two more. We were also lucky not to give away more as well. Mings had an off day for sure.
Think next home game we just need to sit back a bit and if it's 0-0 after an hour so be it. Just checked and it's Newcastle so that will probably happen even if we're on the front foot.We're doing so much chasing at home currently having to come from behind and it's not something we're good at all. I'd be really interesting in how many games in last 3-4 season we've actually come from behind to win, we weren't great at it in the championship under Bruce and DS.Thought the second was just a very good finish. We are being a bit punished for that currently as March, Ings and Bamford have all pinged shots right into the top corner at key points in the game and that's not something that even happens to the worst team in the league every other game, we've had it 3 times in 4 games.
We're a team capable of banging in 11 and getting 9 points against the likes of Liverpool, Leicester and Arsenal.We're also capable of giving up 9 and getting 0 points against the likes of Southampton, Leeds and Brighton.