One of them games where we were bang on it at times and other times far from it, also one of them games where despite getting 4 goals, it's almost left me feeling a bit disappointed because we could and should have had more. I think the score flattered us though and on another day, we don't win with a performance like that. It's worrying how poor we looked defensively and just generally some of the overall play was so sloppy, lack of communication with players running into each other or getting in each others way. When we play a team like Norwich at home, it's not acceptable having to face 10+ shots on goal, it simply shouldn't happen.
I don't know how Gini managed to stay on the pitch again, he was poor vs City and was just as bad today. With Keita and Ox waiting, he wont get away with many more performances like that and keep his place.
The goal they scored, Adrian should have saved it, think he should have gotten down to it quicker but then if Robbo doesn't play Pukki onside then it doesn't happen. Hard to be too harsh on individuals on a goal like that though because it's just little things in it and on the balance of play, it was only a matter of time until they scored - either like that or us gifting a ball to them or something silly. Thought Adrian looked comfortable with the ball at his feet though.
The start of the second half we were blowing them away, they could barely get out of their box and how we didn't score, Bobby in particular, I'm not too sure, especially seeing as in the first half he pulled off a nicely stuck volley whilst doing his usual high flying karate move but completely miss hit a tap in. When it got the the hour mark though, we just fell apart and they were comfortable for the rest of the game, threatening us more than we were them.
Positives though that we created some really good chances and we were very clinical in that first half, it was a clear gulf in quality once we got into our stride. But with a mixed pre-season due to players getting back so late, it's not surprising there are some sloppy bits of play at the moment.
But we are top of the league and we've got a win when on another day, it could easily have been a draw or defeat.
Biggest disappointment is the injury to Alisson, that's the last thing we needed. He started the game a bit shaky with a couple of rogue passes but then pulled off some top saves and was nailing his passes.
A little surprised at some of the criticism Fabinho is getting though, there were large parts of the game where they just couldn't get past him. It wasn't a standout performance from him but it certainly wasn't a bad one.
Mixed performance but the 3 points and the 4 goals is what will have the bigger say on our season.
« Last Edit: Aug 09, 2019 10:56:46 pm by 7-King Kenny-7 »
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