StillBluessinceHydeRoad
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 14 Aug 2020
- Messages
- 2,138
- Team supported
- City
I thought we played very well indeed in the first half on Saturday and well for much of the second half. Brighton are a very good side and are capable of beating any team, so it's no disgrace to lose. We didn't fall apart as we did at the start of the second half as we did on Tuesday and at times we we had much the better of the play even after half time, but the fact remains that we haven't scored twice in a match since Sparta Prague on 23 October, and in the PL since Wolves on 20 October - 6 or 7 games ago. While we have only scored 12 goals and conceded 11 in those 7 games, we have scored only 4 in the last 5 games but have conceded 10.
Injuries have to have played a major role in our "slump". Rodri suffered injury which has ruled him out for the season and his absence is a blow of incalculable importance, and KdB has been absent effectively all season. Phil has had his struggles and doesn't look fully fit even now. Our midfield is still formidable but is not the all conquering steamroller that it once was and it doesn't give the same protection to our backline that it used to. And that backline is not the same. Our captain is clearly not match fit, though he performed valiantly on Saturday, Gvardiol is carrying a knock as is Stones, Dias can't play because of injury and Ake has struggled with injury all season. The result is that in central defence we rely on a lad who is barely 19 and A N Other who is not as unfit as the others! Our 19 year old doesn't even know who is partner is, and has never really played with them anyway! Rico has to defend and try to move into midfield. We are vulnerable through the middle and down the right. What a surprise!
Up front Erling has been in excellent form but Jack is out and Doku and Savinho are struggling. Nunes has come in and performed very well. But all in all it is a wonder that we can still play at all like the "well oiled machine" we have been for as long as anyone can remember. We have a major problem, but the major consolation is that if anyone can solve it Pep can.
Injuries have to have played a major role in our "slump". Rodri suffered injury which has ruled him out for the season and his absence is a blow of incalculable importance, and KdB has been absent effectively all season. Phil has had his struggles and doesn't look fully fit even now. Our midfield is still formidable but is not the all conquering steamroller that it once was and it doesn't give the same protection to our backline that it used to. And that backline is not the same. Our captain is clearly not match fit, though he performed valiantly on Saturday, Gvardiol is carrying a knock as is Stones, Dias can't play because of injury and Ake has struggled with injury all season. The result is that in central defence we rely on a lad who is barely 19 and A N Other who is not as unfit as the others! Our 19 year old doesn't even know who is partner is, and has never really played with them anyway! Rico has to defend and try to move into midfield. We are vulnerable through the middle and down the right. What a surprise!
Up front Erling has been in excellent form but Jack is out and Doku and Savinho are struggling. Nunes has come in and performed very well. But all in all it is a wonder that we can still play at all like the "well oiled machine" we have been for as long as anyone can remember. We have a major problem, but the major consolation is that if anyone can solve it Pep can.