Post of the year nomination Billy. Well done.
One point I wanted to dwell on: "No lily livered side to side we pose no threat beige boring pish we seen a month or so back,"
Saturday will probably be more open which should help, but in these games when teams bunker in, we too often do as you say, just go side to side to side. It reminds me of when there's a total traffic jam on the freeway. All of the lanes are blocked, and then some tosser starts cranking his steering wheel to change lanes in front of you, when the lines are all literally, standing still. I want to lower the glass and yell "Good move buddy, because we are just FLYING over here." My point is when teams bunker in so deep, switching the field doesn't really do you any good. Sure the crowd may applaud you at first for a well-executed long pass, but when the ball moves to the other wing, the receiving player is looking at exactly the same thing most of the time.
So to me, we need to go for it more, try that pass into the area even thought they have defenders. Make that run into the 6-yard box despite the cynical tactics. Take the long shot from the edge of the area into the pack of bodies. Because the worst thing that will happen is that it won't be on. But the fact is, it's already not on. But if you try things, sometimes they will work. I know this reads like a grammar school tactical guide, but dealing with such bus-parking is going to take some expedience on our part.
Sorry to go on a tangent, but the side-to-side comment struck a vein.
The reference to beige pish to be fair was when we didn't have that pace we need to unlock defences, no one was running into space or between lines because the supply just wasn't there, we had key players missing, players who have the artistry and guile and can spot a pass where others can't, Mane, Coutinho and Bobby in particular, Lallana to has the vision to spot a runner or find space to get behind the buses,
I think I'm right in saying those four have not featured together since November, proof if needed we haven't been at our best in that time, it also shows us how thin our squad is, where Jürgen has had to play young lads not quite ready to step up,
Another key factor is quality, we simply do not have the resources to replace one player with another without losing too much fluidity, in the summer, if CL is obtained especially, I'd expect at least 6 or 7 new faces , with 3/4 top drawer quality in amongst them, this is pivotal if Jürgen wants to take us up another level, none of us can expect progress if quality players are not added, hopefully with experience of CL behind them,
Whether those tight arse muther's in Boston dig deep enough remains to be seen, but it needs to happen, not holding my breath on that one let me tell ye.
Thanks for the sentiments btw, appreciated.
YNWA
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