Well that ‘dogshit starting 11’ would have won that game yesterday except for the following:
1) Aguero penalty
2) Eddie very poor on first goal. Seems to get an easy ride on here compared to other players and manager.
3) Sterling penalty that should have been given.
1) I have no idea what he was thinking. In his 10 years here he has never to my knowledge tried anything so stupid. 2-0 would have given us a big boost the way the escape gave them one. I still think they may have got a draw yesterday even at 2-0 though
2) I have to agree. He got a weak hand on it. It was similar to the one Steffan turned around the post against Spurs in the final. He appears quite slow getting down to low shots, particularly on that side. The Villa goal was another example. He has a presence and is great with his feet but if I was his coach he would be practicing low shots to improve his feet moving, speed and agility
2) That was shocking from Taylor and Atwell on var. It was more a penalty than the Jesus one, Zuma was all over him culminating in whacking his thigh just as he was about to shoot. It was exactly what var was brought in for, I'm sick of this bollocks about not overturning the refs decision, at the very least he should have been sent to the monitor. It was 100% a penalty but I fear we'd have missed it anyway.
While collectively it wasn't great that was understandable given all the changes. We could have won though but a draw would have been a fair result. Mentally and physically we appeared a bit weak at times. Certain individuals were poor, Mendy, Rodri, Cancello and Ederson should have done better on their equaliser. As a DM I have no idea why Rodri was advancing so far with the ball, then dawdled on it and lost it. Once he did we were fucked because that big hole they ran into was where he should have been and he's too slow to get back.
Laporte wasn't great but he was often trying to cover Mendy as well who was getting mullered on his side. A bit like Stones used to be he switches off at times and a goal against is often the end result.
Mendy is Mendy. Never a defender, he just hasn't got the brain for it and now sadly the pace either.
Cancello is a puzzle. A few weeks ago he looked the best full back in the world, now he looks bang average at best. No idea what's going on with him.
Sterling is still an asset with his pace and mobility but that brain freeze and getting bullied off the ball too easily is still there. Add to that his goals have dried up, obviously aside from the one he got yesterday, but in general. Big decision needed on him close season. If we get a decent offer he may be gone to fund a replacement if we have one in mind.
Jesus, I feel sorry for him. He tries his heart out and did well to set up the goal and win the penalty but he's just below the level for a top striker. At times he's totally anonymous. Maybe another big decision the end of the season
Sergio. He'll always rightly be a legend here and is still capable of moments of magic like his goal at Palace. Sadly his pace and mobility has gone and the decision to leave is probably the right one, hard as it his for everyone. Yesterday he fluffed a great chance to bow out as once again the man who's goal sealed the title. He deserves a better swansong and I'd love to see him come on in the champions league final and score. I don't want no nerve biting last minute winner though my heart couldn't take it, just a nice double when we're a couple of goals up and in control.
A Villa win today would be nice and would totally wipe out the pain of yesterday very quickly.