Demonstrated his adaptability as a manager today, acknowledged that if we continue with the half hearted press then we would eventually concede. Instructed the side to hold their shape and limit the spaces between the lines, Burnley went from looking like a real threat to having no idea how to break us down. The second half we basically reverted to counter attacking football, it wasn’t pretty but it was what was needed in this game and it was effective.
The worry is just how poor we looked when we were trying to implement his way of playing in the first half. We were totally outplayed by a God awful team and made them look incredibly threatening. They played through us with ease and we didn’t look remotely like winning a high turnover. I still have severe reservations as to whether it is sustainable to try to play his way over an entire season in the PL. A number of our players look physically shot. I think we seriously need to beef up our central midfield options going forward as rotation will be vital if we are to be successful next season.
Neto- 8.5 one great save that he clawed off of the line from a free kick and good positioning to narrow the angle and save one v one Vs Fofana in the first half. Been poor in recent weeks but today I can’t fault him.
Smith- 7 put in a good shift and defensively his positioning was very good, contested his duels well but rarely supported the attack.
Kerkez- 7 as per Smith really, defended diligently and competed well in his duals. Felt like he won quite a few tackles and interceptions. Didn’t impose himself going forwards though.
Zabarnyi- 7.5 solid and didn’t really put a foot wrong, made a number of important clearances in the first half. Read the game well and was usually in the right place to snuff out any danger.
Mepham- 7.5- as per Zabarnyi, didn’t really do a lot wrong. Read game well and made a couple of vital interventions.
Cook- 7.5 would be higher as he was pivotal in setting up a number of counter attacks in the second half through winning the ball back and playing a quick incisive through ball, as seen for the equaliser. Unfortunately he was poor in the first half and barely involved at all (bar the Kluivert assist) so he gets marked lower than he would have been.
Christie- 3 miles off it today, was ill in the week and it really showed. Tried to press but just wasn’t getting close to them, even when he did Burnley players just glided past him like he wasn’t there. Should have been hooked sooner really.
Tavernier- 2 utter mystery how he stayed on the pitch for the entire game. Very poor both on and off of the ball. In the first half he was just allowing his marker to run free consistently with minimal effort to track back. His use of the ball was arguably even worse, bordering on comical at times. One shot he attempted didn’t even make it out of play. Don’t know what’s going on with him but he should be behind both Dango and Sini right now.
Kluivert- 7 very classy goal. Was similar to the Newcastle performance, not involved a lot but when he was it was usually very meaningful and resulted in us creating a chance. The more I watch him the more I feel like he is NOT a number ten. Doesn’t influence the game enough from that area and seems uncomfortable picking up pockets of space, he wants to get in behind and utilise his speed and trickery. He’s a decent winger who’s doing an admirable job out of position right now imo. That number ten position really needs to be resolved in the summer.
Semenyo- 7 he is such a moments player, which for me is okay for a winger (not for a number ten as per Kluivert.) Possesses the most valuable skill in football, the ability to shift the ball and get a clean strike away in one movement before defenders can react. As I’ve always said, get him in shooting positions and he will score goals. The rest of his game on the ball wasn’t great but as a winger as long as he is scoring or assisting then that is okay for me.
Solanke- 6 worked hard and threatened to get in behind a few times but didn’t really look fully fit, tested their keeper once with a decent strike.
The worry is just how poor we looked when we were trying to implement his way of playing in the first half. We were totally outplayed by a God awful team and made them look incredibly threatening. They played through us with ease and we didn’t look remotely like winning a high turnover. I still have severe reservations as to whether it is sustainable to try to play his way over an entire season in the PL. A number of our players look physically shot. I think we seriously need to beef up our central midfield options going forward as rotation will be vital if we are to be successful next season.
Neto- 8.5 one great save that he clawed off of the line from a free kick and good positioning to narrow the angle and save one v one Vs Fofana in the first half. Been poor in recent weeks but today I can’t fault him.
Smith- 7 put in a good shift and defensively his positioning was very good, contested his duels well but rarely supported the attack.
Kerkez- 7 as per Smith really, defended diligently and competed well in his duals. Felt like he won quite a few tackles and interceptions. Didn’t impose himself going forwards though.
Zabarnyi- 7.5 solid and didn’t really put a foot wrong, made a number of important clearances in the first half. Read the game well and was usually in the right place to snuff out any danger.
Mepham- 7.5- as per Zabarnyi, didn’t really do a lot wrong. Read game well and made a couple of vital interventions.
Cook- 7.5 would be higher as he was pivotal in setting up a number of counter attacks in the second half through winning the ball back and playing a quick incisive through ball, as seen for the equaliser. Unfortunately he was poor in the first half and barely involved at all (bar the Kluivert assist) so he gets marked lower than he would have been.
Christie- 3 miles off it today, was ill in the week and it really showed. Tried to press but just wasn’t getting close to them, even when he did Burnley players just glided past him like he wasn’t there. Should have been hooked sooner really.
Tavernier- 2 utter mystery how he stayed on the pitch for the entire game. Very poor both on and off of the ball. In the first half he was just allowing his marker to run free consistently with minimal effort to track back. His use of the ball was arguably even worse, bordering on comical at times. One shot he attempted didn’t even make it out of play. Don’t know what’s going on with him but he should be behind both Dango and Sini right now.
Kluivert- 7 very classy goal. Was similar to the Newcastle performance, not involved a lot but when he was it was usually very meaningful and resulted in us creating a chance. The more I watch him the more I feel like he is NOT a number ten. Doesn’t influence the game enough from that area and seems uncomfortable picking up pockets of space, he wants to get in behind and utilise his speed and trickery. He’s a decent winger who’s doing an admirable job out of position right now imo. That number ten position really needs to be resolved in the summer.
Semenyo- 7 he is such a moments player, which for me is okay for a winger (not for a number ten as per Kluivert.) Possesses the most valuable skill in football, the ability to shift the ball and get a clean strike away in one movement before defenders can react. As I’ve always said, get him in shooting positions and he will score goals. The rest of his game on the ball wasn’t great but as a winger as long as he is scoring or assisting then that is okay for me.
Solanke- 6 worked hard and threatened to get in behind a few times but didn’t really look fully fit, tested their keeper once with a decent strike.
