We been undercooked, Tottenham been much better fitness wise and its understentable, they played super cup, had all the preseason to prepare very well.
We should be much closer to our optimal fitness and match sharpness after the international break, meaning for the United and Arsenal games. All the hope is that we outsmart Brighton and take 3 points.
I watched the game again, once the dust had settled, calmly, now my reservations:
1) unfortunately Nico been so off it. Positioning, awareness, spotting the threat. Im sorry Nico, but you are my main culprit hear. For Nico's defence - point 2 below,
2) Cherki + Reijnders in the middle gonna be a rare picture against top teams, until at least Rodri gets to his old best, because we need there a bit more of the legs and defensive solidity. Reijnders was disjointed with Nico and left Nico alone too often,
3) I love Bobb, but thought he could press a little harder at times, while Cherki pressed the goalkeeper incorrectly; he should have cut off the passing channel to the fullback, but instead he ran directly at the goalkeeper.
4) Rico still needs to keep developing, including athletically. He’s good enough for half of the Premier League teams, which is a huge achievement, but to compete with top teams and players, he has to be better.
Generally all players below par, for me maybe Dias and Haaland deserves the shout. Marmoush fought well, but just must hit the net out of three decent chances at least once. Would be 1-0 and the story of the game could have been entirely different
