Are you worried?

[Demitri_C]

Quite simply, this slow pace shite is killing us. We look far better with quick pass and move. That tonight was as bad as anything Steve Bruce/Steve Gerrard produced. Utterly clueless

So yes, I'm worried.

I agree wholeheartedly phil. This teams slow, dull takes 100 passes before it gets near the box and its just painful to watch.

Where was that dynamic fast paced football of last year? We have lost it.

This teams weaker than last season thats for sure.  We will bw lucky to finish in top 7 if we continue like this

Im going to try not go over board but i dont see how anyone isnt worried. The signs have been there most of the season

[N'ZMAV]

I was like this under MON at times, teams say "break us down" and there's times, we can't.

[PaulWinch again]

It can’t be a coincidence that there are so many players out of form - McGinn, Watkins, Bailey, Konsa, and Pau all come to mind.

[Bobby Boy]

I agree with the points being made but I'd ask where this move to such slow paced, pedestrian football is coming from? I'm assuming that the players aren't taking it upon themselves to play this way and that it is emanating as a gameplan from Emery and the coaches.

This being the case I'd like to ask, why? What is the thinking behind it? What are the benefits of such an interminably turgid approach?

I just don't get it.

[Demitri_C]

I agree with the points being made but I'd ask where this move to such slow paced, pedestrian football is coming from? I'm assuming that the players aren't taking it upon themselves to play this way and that it is emanating as a gameplan from Emery and the coaches.

This being the case I'd like to ask, why? What is the thinking behind it? What are the benefits of such an interminably turgid approach?

I just don't get it.

I agree Bobby. It makes no sense. Why have we changed the way we play to play more like bruce football?

We look horrible at the moment

[PaulWinch again]

We did the slow paced thing in Europe last year, where we put in some woeful displays in. I suspect it’s a calculated risk to try and conserve energy.

However, two issues with it. Firstly you need to be really controlled and precise - we’re not that. Also it  might be clouding the players thinking, because we’ve really incoherent in the league and just appear unclear what to do.

[nick harper]

It’s strange how things have evolved this season. There is no doubt that teams are better prepared against us than the last season or so. But in the last two games we have had no answer to a team that pressed the life out of us all game, and tonight a team that sat off and closed the space.

Coupled with out of form players and little movement ahead of the players with the ball, we are in trouble at the moment.

[ez]

Agree the slow build up us killing us. We draw them forward but we take so long to move the ball up the pitch that they've got all the time in the world to get back behind the ball.

[Villan82]

Did we have to choose this moment, Trumpageddon, to have our first proper slump under Emery. Honestly. Just when we need a distraction.

What's happened? Much was made of our 150th anniversary. It's now rapidly approaching and something just smells a bit 'off' around the place.

[Chip Butty 111]

Did we have to choose this moment, Trumpageddon, to have our first proper slump under Emery. Honestly. Just when we need a distraction.

What's happened? Much was made of our 150th anniversary. It's now rapidly approaching and something just smells a bit 'off' around the place.

Probably Heck in his new '150 Aftershave'. If Trump had been in the team tonight we'd have dodged the bullet..

[VillaTim]

Given the resources handed to Emery , the wage bill etc , the pressure to perform and keep performing is there, its real . This is a real test for him now to sort this out because the way we play currently has been rumbled , the system is no longer working. The defence has been poor for well over 12 months . Over to unai to work his magic

[London Villan]

It’s strange how things have evolved this season. There is no doubt that teams are better prepared against us than the last season or so. But in the last two games we have had no answer to a team that pressed the life out of us all game, and tonight a team that sat off and closed the space.

Coupled with out of form players and little movement ahead of the players with the ball, we are in trouble at the moment.

Thing is, last season when teams pressed us we were able to stretch the game with Bailey and Diaby. We can’t do that now.

[Demitri_C]

It’s strange how things have evolved this season. There is no doubt that teams are better prepared against us than the last season or so. But in the last two games we have had no answer to a team that pressed the life out of us all game, and tonight a team that sat off and closed the space.

Coupled with out of form players and little movement ahead of the players with the ball, we are in trouble at the moment.

Thing is, last season when teams pressed us we were able to stretch the game with Bailey and Diaby. We can’t do that now.

Just makes no sense to me selling onw of our best players last ywar and mot replacing him at all.

Thinking philiogene could replace him - i just dont get it

[Risso]

If you're talking about Diaby, he wasn't even in our top 6 best players. He was completely ineffective for a massive chunk of the season.

[eamonn]

The thing of Martínez drawing the opposition player forward with his foot on the ball at the edge of the box, and taking his time doing it...do other teams do that?
It's kinda getting old now, rarely leading to much vacation of space to beat the press.