We're in a good period now. Winning games, playing well. Jesus, Sane and Sterling playing particularly well and hopefully the injury to Jesus is minor. But is the balance between defence and attack OK?
I listened to Pep after the game, and he was very pleased with our last 10 minutes. He emphasised that the best way to defend if to pass pass pass and keep the ball.
I agree with that. I think everyone would, but if this season has emphasised anything it is that 80% possession can still lead to lots of goals conceded.
Midway through the season we had 80% possession in games and were struggling to score goals, and we were conceding on the counter. Since Sane and Jesus came in, I think our attacking play has gone up a level. But I think we are going to always be defensively vulnerable whilst we persist with 6 attacking players and 4 defenders.
When we have Silva, De Bruyne, Sane, Sterling, Jesus in the team, isn't there a case for playing someone like Fernando in front of the defence? There are times in the game when we will lose the ball in attacking areas, or misplace a pass, and at those times I think defensively we are vulnerable. I have lost count this season of the number of times this season when we have totally dominated a game and then see the opposition just waltz through on one of their rare attacks and score a goal. Bravo has taken the flak for that, but for me it is almost entirely down to the wide open way in which we play
We have improved offensively with the acquisition of Sane and Jesus. A couple of months ago we were struggling to create and we needed attacking players on the pitch. Now that we are playing well going forward, would we not be defensively stronger as a team by recalling Fernando to protect the defence. Undoubtedly his passing range is not the best, but his defensive attributes are outstanding, and when you have Silva, KDB, and a front 3 of Jesus, Sterling and Sane, I think we would still score goals and be tighter at the back.
I listened to Pep after the game, and he was very pleased with our last 10 minutes. He emphasised that the best way to defend if to pass pass pass and keep the ball.
I agree with that. I think everyone would, but if this season has emphasised anything it is that 80% possession can still lead to lots of goals conceded.
Midway through the season we had 80% possession in games and were struggling to score goals, and we were conceding on the counter. Since Sane and Jesus came in, I think our attacking play has gone up a level. But I think we are going to always be defensively vulnerable whilst we persist with 6 attacking players and 4 defenders.
When we have Silva, De Bruyne, Sane, Sterling, Jesus in the team, isn't there a case for playing someone like Fernando in front of the defence? There are times in the game when we will lose the ball in attacking areas, or misplace a pass, and at those times I think defensively we are vulnerable. I have lost count this season of the number of times this season when we have totally dominated a game and then see the opposition just waltz through on one of their rare attacks and score a goal. Bravo has taken the flak for that, but for me it is almost entirely down to the wide open way in which we play
We have improved offensively with the acquisition of Sane and Jesus. A couple of months ago we were struggling to create and we needed attacking players on the pitch. Now that we are playing well going forward, would we not be defensively stronger as a team by recalling Fernando to protect the defence. Undoubtedly his passing range is not the best, but his defensive attributes are outstanding, and when you have Silva, KDB, and a front 3 of Jesus, Sterling and Sane, I think we would still score goals and be tighter at the back.