That stat is deceptive.
Apart from the 2nd United goal which seemed to go in slowly, cannot see how he could have done much with the others.
With no DM we are porous in front of the back four, with too much space allowed for the opposition players to operate in and then pick a pass, and with two very ropey full backs we are vulnerable down both flanks. This means we will cough up clear chances, which makes it harder for a keeper.
Don't want to pick out Grav as ultimately he is a #8 being asked to play as a 6, but three times in recent weeks (at Newcastle when he was the wrong side of the midfield runner who was able to run into space and pick out Gordon, against United when he watched as the ball was played through for their opener before reacting too late to the runner, and at Forest when he left a gaping hole for their midfielder to make an easy pass to Wood with so much time and space) he as the player in the 6 position has not been defensively switched on.
It's been amazing that we have got this far with such an imbalanced midfield (a #8 and a #10 playing as the two deepest having failed to bring in a #6 in the last window), and up until the end of November Slot had managed to keep them positionally sound by leaving few gaps in front of the back four for the opposition to exploit (can only think of Chelsea's opener during that time when we left a gap for them to run at the exposed defence), but since then the gaps have appeared as the natural attacking instincts of the #8 and #10 have come to the fore allied with their lack of defensive thinking.
A defensively minded player senses danger, and in holding midfield and at right back we have neither, while at left back we have a player who is over the hill. We will be opened time and again this season (with the opposition requiring very little to achieve it) unless the unthinkable happens and the current ownership decide to allow the manager to strengthen the side and address these vulnerabilities.
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