With Sterling and Mahrez in wide areas, we are lightweight. Throw Torres in the middle, still lightweight. Throw in a half fit Grealish and a half fit KDB, with Cancelo and Mendy out wide and we look ripe for the picking.
For me, we lack physicality, and our “fast breaks” often end up without a shot on goal, let alone a goal!
At times, we look like world beaters. At others, we look like the world could beat us!
Pep needs to work with the team, not to stiffen up our spine, but to strengthen us down the flanks. We are a soft touch down the flanks and through the channels, and I think the good coaches combine attacking us in those areas with getting in our face and trying hard not to give us time on the ball.
Against Spurs, we had 2/3 possession, more shots, more corners. In short, domination of the ball, even in attacking positions. The problems are:
1) We don’t do enough with it.
2) Others do more with less.
3) We lack fight, and with full stadiums, watching your team fight us gives them a 12th man.
From the Brentford & Spurs games alone, we can see what the game has been missing. Sadly, I think we will continue to miss it…even this season.
