25 Aug 2019 08:48:53
Good morning,
Couple of questions on yesterday's "best defeat in years " performance and Emery's tactics.
Were you happy with him ditching our set up and giving Pool space down the flanks
Were you happy with the Matteo Vs Torriera decision
Were you happy with him dropping Laca
Were you happy with him playing Ceballos out of position
Do you think we can sell Luiz abroad while the window is still open
Thought we put a decent disciplined shift in but the above didn't help us one bit. If we had played 3 5 2 or 4 3 3 perhaps our energy levels would have maintained better. Thought the 3 1 flattered us and it was a stroll for Pool in the second half. Not their easiest games but I bet Utd and Spurs and Chelsea put up a better fight and tinker less.
Let's get Chambers and Holding in the defence as Luiz is a liability and we don't need two VAR disasters as Papa is so old Skool VAR is just a game away from catching him out.
Can't wait for the fullbacks to return and we play a back 3 with both fullbacks pushed into a 5 man midfield or a solid back 4 especially if we are playing 3 up front.
25 Aug 2019 11:02:45
Hi SY4
I think the setup and the tactics were horrendous, my jaw dropped when I saw that lineup, everybody knew that midfield is going to get rolled over, every team with Xhaka in it is going to have to play with a man less.
Liverpool had such an easy game we looked like amateurs compared to them, much weaker teams set themselves up much better than us, and are less likely to get embarrassed against big teams.
Sticking Ceballos on the left when he had played a blinder in centrally last game is just plain stupid, he didn't know what he was doing all game.
Also the play was very much Stoke like hoof it to the forwards. We were so narrow, Liverpool fullbacks tore us apart, AMN had a horrific time against Robertson.
25 Aug 2019 11:26:52
I was equally unsure about the tactics, but in fairness neither of the first two goals came from the flanks where we defended crosses quite well. The tactic was, as I understand it, to give up the lions share of possession and expose space on the flanks behind their full backs to counterattack, which to be honest worked quite well until we lost the goal before half time to a corner. At that point I would have brought off Xhaka for Torreira and brought on Laccazette for Willock and returned to 4-2-3-1 and pressed more and held off less. Inviting them on with their tails up was not a wise move.
At least Emery had a go at at switching tactically, and there was promise of better to come. Let's not forget, alongside City Liverpool are way ahead of every other side in this league. A better indication of where we are will be next week.