that was a real grind to get that - but we fully deserved the win even though we didnt play particularly well compared to our normal standards (part of that was down to the dirty/fouling behaviour of the Sheff Utd players - no wonder their fans are so ignorant having to watch that shit every week - football from the mid 8o's and a fan base stuck in that time zone as well)
it was an odd team selection from Pep but maybe he anticipated the battle it was - when i saw the team sheet what struck me was for the first time with Pep i thought he had picked a defensive team (as fa as we normally are).
Positives
Laporte back and looking good - passing a bit rusty but completely understandable
Sergio!
Rodri very good as well as Ferna
Sterling - didnt play well but never hides
Walker - again never hides aand has that aggression when its needed - never shirks anything. Maybe not the greatest with the ball at his feet at times but always puts a shift in
Garcia - only on for the last little bit but there was one challenge in the area where he cold have easily given a penalty away if he got it wrong but it was such a good challenge - so cool.....
Negatives
Gabriel Jesus - forgetting the penalty but the more time goes by the more I become unsure about him and a long term future with us - just not sure he can step up - it showed how far behind in terms of ability with what Sergio did with his clinical movement in the box which Jesus just doesnt do anywhere near enough. I think we have an issue when Sergio hangs his boots up.
Penalties - we used to be so good at them (Elano, Tevez, Balo, Yaya) - now i just dont back us to score - Ferna, KDB should be the takers
KDB's position - when he is played further back like today he is less effective. Im not saying he didnt play well or that he played badly
Overall great result and fully deserved against the anit football we were faced with.