I was really nervous about this game with the ridiculous number of changes in defence again. I genuinely cannot understand why we constantly play different combinations of defenders in the defence. It's no surprise we've a very soft underbelly when the players don't know if they will be playing, where they will be playing or who they will be playing next to. It's all very well being a bit of a smart arse against Villa, but try that against Arsenal, Real and PSG and they will rip us a new one. It has to stop as it's going to cost us something this season.
This might be a bit negative, but it's narked me today that game. It's probably more a combination of things over the last few months but even though we won 3-1 it papered over cracks for me.
Anyway, it was a real game of two halves that.
The best thing in the 1st half was getting the early goal. Without that I suspect we'd have reverted to the left-to-right-and-back-again passing we've been doing the last few months. Once that goal was scored by Rodri, the game changed. I thought Rodri was immense today - powerful, great passing and just ran the show. Gundogan showed some top class touches too and really showed his class throughout the game. I felt sorry for Bernardo as he was playing as some "left sided, right sided defensive attacking holding defender midfielder" and at times was all over the show.
Second half we came out looking uninterested and lacking passion - not for the first time this season. Did we really think Villa would come out and sit back and take it? It was another "first attack, goal" as well - when will we learn this suckerpunch?! They were unlucky and if another had gone in, we'd have crumbled I suspect. We also had a good few chances but why let them even have a sniff? Get the game killed off!!
I am a HUGE Haaland fan. Simply put, he's the best striker I've ever seen. However, something is seriously off with him. Unless he scores a hat-trick it's starting to feel like he's a waste of a shirt at times as we give him so little service. Why buy the best striker on the planet and give him nothing to attack?
The decision to let Mahrez take the penalty was FUCKING CRETINOUS. Haaland hasn't missed one, so give him the ball. Mahrez has missed plenty so why is he anywhere near it? It was a scandalous decision that made the team look clueless. The Captain should get the fucking ball and give it to Haaland, simple as that. It's these kind of stupid decisions which are creeping in (eg playing 18 year old, right footed Lewis as a left sided inverted full back FFS) which do my head in. Keep it simple.
I also didn't understand the substitutions. Why rest Grealish when he's in a bit of form? He can't be tired? Same with Haaland - has he ever finished a game? Why rest him when we don't pass to him?
Anyway, sorry to gripe but it's been building really and whilst I could write this if we'd lost 1-3 it feels better doing it after a routine win.