Regardless, if it was the first game or the 38th game, or if we were playing a full strength side or the 'b' team, we should be able to pass the ball around at least. On times we looked like we'd never played the game before.
Gerrard was particularly bad, with the majority of his passes going all over the shop. Primarily because he was playing so deep and thus having to rake those 40 yard passes up field to Borini (who must have thought the entire team were ignoring him - very good movement from him as it goes). Why Gerrard's playing so deep is anyone's guess, but he seems to be doing it of his own free will, because he did it when KK was in charge as well, in fact he's done it for quite a long time now. Sure he's not as young as he once was, and perhaps he cannot get up and down the pitch like before, but we cannot afford to have him so deep, especially when we have Lucas/Spearing there. Move up, stay up.
Hendo and Downing were not awful at all - they just didn't do anything. Downing scored, and it was a great strike, but did nothing before it and very little after it. Hendo was literally missing from the game. They've had one whole season, and whilst this is still (basically) pre-season, nothing at all has changed concerning them. Shelvey must be wondering what he's got to do to start a game.
But like I said, never mind individual performances, collectively, as a team, needing to do the very basics, like pass to the nearest red shirt, we were on times shocking. And I don't care what anyone says, that has nothing to do with a lack of games.
People can stop using 'pre-season' as an excuse for us not doing the basics. Fact is, we are apt to do this too often, i.e. suddenly becoming terrible at the passing game for no apparent reason. I don't see this with most other teams I watch, but it's an issue we've had for way too long now, and it needs to stop. Swansea City were beaten a good few times last season, but they alway knew how to pass the ball and not look like they've fallen apart. And before anyone starts crowing with the sarcastic crap like 'Why aren't we playing like Barcelona after 45 minutes - I want a lynching now!', I've seen my home town amateur team pass better than that.
Bren said the philosophy was that in the end, it will be so ingrained in their psyche, that players will start to feel embarrassed if they give possession away. In that case, a good few of the players last night should go into hiding for a few weeks.
No excuses for not doing what you learned to do when you were 12.
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