I don't believe that Lyon are a better team man for man than Fulham, the difference last night was our team selection allowed them to dominate our midfield 1, it started right from kick off, pressure was applied and we wilted under it. Fernandhino was effectively playing there on his own, Silva had no support further forward, almost every time he passed to Sterling, Sterling ran back past him towards our goal, whereas on Saturday Sane ran at the Fulham defence, not Sterlings fault, but he really can't do anything with his left foot. The knock on effects of Sterling on the left, namely Bernardo on the right, and the statue in midfield, affected pretty much the whole team.
I don't buy the complacency thing, it was a poor team selection, and it was obvious quite quickly, and should have been dealt with earlier, much earlier.
I don't believe our players are lazy, or have turned arrogant overnight (certainly not in this competition, its every players dream to win it), so I prefer to look for a football reason, and last night it was staring us in the face from kick off, players were put under pressure, and couldn't cope in the positions they were in.As you say , and I posted earlier, the overloading of midfield by Lyon was tactically superior. All other arguments are superfluous. It should have been spotted in the first ten minutes.
Everything else negative, e.g. careless passing ,was a result of this.
absolutely spot on.Can and didn't.
Sergio wasn't the answer to the issue last night, the answer was the first sub made, and the change of positions of 2 other players, and it should have been made after about 10 minutes, 40,000 could see that. Had it been made much earlier then Jesus would have had much better (some even) service from both sides, whereas he had none from either side.
I don't believe our players are lazy, or have turned arrogant overnight (certainly not in this competition, its every players dream to win it), so I prefer to look for a football reason, and last night it was staring us in the face from kick off, players were put under pressure, and couldn't cope in the positions they were in.
Delph between Saturday and Wednesday, hasn't turned to rat shit, he just kept finding himself facing his own goal, and he didn't like it, and was panicked. Fernandhino another one who appeared to have turned to rat shit overnight, had no help at all, his only pass seemed to be a chip over other players to Bernardo on the touchline, who had a large full back in front of him, or back to one of the CB's.
Ultimatately, their tactics were far better than hours, and until the first sub was made we couldn't get any foothold in the game. Lyon outplayed us for an hour, and we appeared to make no changes to resolve the issue.
If there was any arrogance it was on our touchline, thinking the game plan would eventually come good.
I couldnt work out that free kick either, at thst stage of the game when losing with the quality we had available to take it. Not a good leadership decision by whoever made itI felt the first change of Gundogan for Sane, also Jesus for Sergio worked out well as Bernardo moved inside and Sane was an instant threat on the left, and in that 10 minute spell we looked something like our old selves. We'd got a goal back and we were very much in it. The Sterling for Mahrez sub for me didn't work and the game just petered out. I couldn't understand Walker being allowed to take a free kick that was truly bizarre. All in all a very disappointing night, hopefully we can get this defeat out of our system by getting 3 points against Cardiff at the weekend!!
Or even David dropping deeper, with Bernardo coming into the gap that Gundogan was stood in.If Bernardo had dropped deep, Silva to the right, would have sorted it.
Anyone concerned we could go in the Europa if god forbid we finish 3rd?
Last night worried me.