There is no doubt that losing mane and going down to ten men cost us the game but yet again our defending was criminal at times and some of klopps decisions left me baffled.
I've no idea why he keeps swapping and changing the back four. It seems he can't make his mind up between lovren and klavan. What was dropping mignolet for Arsenal all about only to bring him back in today? What has happened to Robertson after putting in a solid performance against palace (and for Scotland) but we haven't seen him since? Why take Gomez out who was also brilliant against Arsenal? Gomez was also motm for the England u21s other night.
Anyway moving onto the game. For the first 35mins we completely battered them in my opinion. We were on top and in full control.
They took the the lead against the run of play. Could it have been avoided though? Of course it could.
From memory we lose a 50-50 in the middle of the park. The ball falls to kdb who puts aguero through on goal who then finishes. The pass from kdb and the finish from aguero were top quality but come on lads your playing city here and you need to be switched on at all times. Aguero is probably the best forward in the league but we failed to mark him or track his run. We should have him under control for 90mins. The cbs were too far apart from one another and we made it far too easy for them.
At that point I wasn't concerned though because as I said we were on top and I expected us to get back into the game.
Then of course the red card happens. At first I thought it was just a normal collision and I was in disbelief when I saw the red. After seeing about a dozen replays I accept it was the right decision now though. Mane was just unlucky but unfortunately we suffered as a consequence. I don't think we had a touch of the ball for the remainder of the half.
Second goal comes just before half time and it was similar to the first in that kdb had time and space to whip a cross in and Jesus was left unmarked who heads in from close range. Again, the ball and the finish were top quality but again, we made it easy for them.
So 2-0 down at half time and a man down too. The only way we're getting back into this game is if we keep it tight, do not concede any more goals and we hit them on the break.
Me personally, I'd have gone 4-4-1 and played a diamond. Henderson and wijnaldum would have come off who I thought were dreadful, and I'd have put on Ox and solanke. I'd have had can sitting, Ox and salah out wide, firmino tip of the diamond and then solanke holding the ball up. Yes we may have been over run in the middle but we were 2 down and that was the gamble I'd have taken.
What does Jürgen do? Takes off salah. I'm still scratching my head about that one even now. Why do that?
Although salahs end product was poor at times, he was our best player in the first half. He was giving their defenders all kinds of problems. He is also our quickest player so at a time when we need to rely on pace I couldn't understand why he was brought off. Bizarre substitution in my opinion.
It was obvious to me we needed somebody to hold the ball up and then have players with pace to support. Solanke would have done that with Ox and salah giving an option, firmino too.
I've no idea what the tactics were at HT but we looked a million times worse anyway. We were soon 3 down and that was game over. Jürgen did the right thing bringing Bobby off to prevent injury or tiredness.
At that point I wanted the game to finish so I can't be arsed talking about the other two goals. It was a bad day at the office for us and if we're honest, just sheer embarrassing at times.
Positives to take are that up until mane went off, we looked a far better side than them. When you think lallana, coutinho and clyne are to come back into the team then we have the making of a very, very good side.
Plenty of negatives too though I'm afraid. Nether lovren or klavan are good enough to partner matip. Trent shows his inexperience in defending against top opposition which you would expect from a young lad of his age but it will punish us at times this season. Wijnaldum blows hot and cold, one week decides to be the best player on the pitch and the next decides he can't be arsed and wants to go missing and not involve himself - really starting to frustrate me that now because I've seen what he's capable of. Jordan Henderson doesn't have what it takes to captain our club. Mane is out for three games. The boss only knows how to play one way - we have no plan B and we can't win or get a result 'ugly'. Jürgen doesn't know what his back five is.
Let's put this one behind us f**king quickly and just move on. Although I've given some criticisms, I'm still convinced had mane stayed on we would have had three points today so it's just one of those things, we just had no luck on the day. Forget about it and onto the next one.
« Last Edit: Sep 10, 2017 03:40:14 am by HamannsTheMan »
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