Fair points Dan. When you mentioned pressing it made me reflect whether not having Andreas P pressing high has altered the dynamic without an appropriate adjustment.
There have been rare times this season where a second player (sometimes King, or Harry or ESR) has come up almost act like a second #9 and helped Raul with pressing as well.
More often than not - opposition gets less pressure coming out of defence and also don't get the Palhinha pressure coming into the final third. I think it has left us reactive and aimless
Also, in addition to losing Andreas Pereira, we've also effectively been without Muniz and Robinson for most of the season because of their respective injuries. Muniz just recently surpassed his appearance total of his ill-fated loan at Boro (which was only 17; currently an underwhelming 20 for us). Robinson came back in December, but has been a shadow of himself and in/out of the line-up since January.
These are three massive yet quiet building blocks to be without. One was sorta replaced, and the other two have essentially had lost seasons.
We do miss Andreas more than you would expect. Without Wilson’s once-in-a-career campaign our season would have flopped, and thered have been a lot more matches like Saturday.
We like to say "this season has ended like the last & that we couldn't get Europe even when we were touching distance away) However here you have shown as that there has been improvements each season.
Agree that we have never replaced Pereira's energy. ESR sometimes comes close but seems to drop too deep when he doesn't get the service. Maybe we are missing Luis Bo too?
Fair points Dan. When you mentioned pressing it made me reflect whether not having Andreas P pressing high has altered the dynamic without an appropriate adjustment.
There have been rare times this season where a second player (sometimes King, or Harry or ESR) has come up almost act like a second #9 and helped Raul with pressing as well.
More often than not - opposition gets less pressure coming out of defence and also don't get the Palhinha pressure coming into the final third. I think it has left us reactive and aimless
Also, in addition to losing Andreas Pereira, we've also effectively been without Muniz and Robinson for most of the season because of their respective injuries. Muniz just recently surpassed his appearance total of his ill-fated loan at Boro (which was only 17; currently an underwhelming 20 for us). Robinson came back in December, but has been a shadow of himself and in/out of the line-up since January.
These are three massive yet quiet building blocks to be without. One was sorta replaced, and the other two have essentially had lost seasons.
We do miss Andreas more than you would expect. Without Wilson’s once-in-a-career campaign our season would have flopped, and thered have been a lot more matches like Saturday.
Good point. Can't think of anyone who has put in a 'player of the season' campaign outside of Harry. In prior years there have been a few in the mix
We like to say "this season has ended like the last & that we couldn't get Europe even when we were touching distance away) However here you have shown as that there has been improvements each season.
Agree that we have never replaced Pereira's energy. ESR sometimes comes close but seems to drop too deep when he doesn't get the service. Maybe we are missing Luis Bo too?
Beige, the most beige team. Haven't strung a full 90 minute performance together. Lost the grit. No shithousery either.
Thoughtful article. The team are like a drizzly day on a Tuesday afternoon