robsblubot

Will check the stats, but I suspect the number of changes was about even. Curious about that.

You can say the first goal was gifted (it was a silly PK to give), and I think it was. The second was clearly a fluke, but you can only get lucky like that if you put yourself in that position, so good work by Mudryk on the overlap and dangerous cross. Their first was gifted as well. And their second was a bit down to Gusto's inexperience, imo. By that time we had lost control of the match tho. The PK discussion is silly. You can disagree with the rule, but the ref has no choice but to give it.

If someone is in need of an example of what "lack of experience" looks like, this would be it. This is just a single case though: how to see the game out. There will be others, I'm afraid. Today was Sanchez and Gusto; next time will be someone else. Regarding "deserving" or not, we scored two fluke goals, and they scored 1 fluke and one good goal, so I'm not sure I have much to complain about. Good performance against a better team, so not a great result evidently, but one we shouldn't too upset about.

Clever starting lineup by Poch! Arsenal are confused and struggling defensively. Quite a few good performers, but Palmer is really the best player for me. Sterling is having a strong game too. Palmer is a bit lucky though, that tackle on Jesus could've easily been a red. Enzo is doing Enzo things on the ball, but his shooting remains eh... This was the best half I've seen from Mudryk... much better than the half in which he scored. No, he did not produce anything fantastic, but he did all the little things right in a game like this. It was actually funny watching the announcers discuss the PK; the most clear cut handball I've seen all year. 😆

Rumor has it Brazil has an agreement with Ancelotti, and Diniz is a just filling in until Carlo leaves Madrid. Going from Carlo to Mourinho would be a pretty 180 in terms of philosophy, even more so from Diniz, who's an Pep/Arteta wannabe. Personally I think Jose could make a brazil a bit more competitive; make them better at facing strong opposition, but it's hard to say... he seems a bit past it. Getting a good manager for a National team seems to be very difficult. The offering just isn't competitive compared to what top managers can get from clubs.

Sure no argument regarding performances. I just think there are other variables in the mix, which affected a number of players, and would naturally affect more certain types. He's also way too young to be written off esp considering what he has accomplished already. We will find out one way or another in a the coming seasons. Heh I for one pretty much considered him a first team player esp for the CL run. Fair enough on Conor, but my comment regarding opposition still stands; I'd rather see what he does against better players who play at much higher tempo.

that must be some dead leg...

21yo Chelsea player who is day in and day out in the senior team is doing well in U21 against kids.... congrats. 😆 No seriously, it's disappointing that he's even playing at u21... Enzo was winning a WC for Argentina at 21! Caicedo plays for Ecuador, not Ecuador u21.

I agree that Conor is improving and becoming a good player. Now, we've been playing pretty shit opposition lately, so we will see how these players, including Conor, do against mids who can actually play at a much higher tempo. I know what Kante did to them. We know how Jorginho and Kova fared. We do NOT know how well Conor, or even Caicedo will do. We have a better idea with Enzo, tho. It's a long season... lots can happen. Putting Mount and RLC in the same bucket is literally trying to rewrite history. 😆 One was a first teamer who won CL, while the other was never more than a sub. I know the mount hate is strong around here, but boy...

Well he did not "play" as they faced the worst team in South America: Bolivia. It's really merely a fitness test in La Paz at 3.6km high, and one that Ecuador players usually do well at. Multiple locations in Ecuador are high altitude, like Quito. Bolivia historically has a pretty good record playing at home, but not so much recently; they just have a very poor side atm; they just aren't good enough to benefit from the huge advantage they have when playing at home.

I agree with you regarding Silva. Was just trying to think what Poch will do tho. It's still a pretty young squad with only Sterling, 28, as the real senior experienced played of the bunch. James is 23, but definitely has experience. The others are new to the league and the rest of the squad has 19-22 yo players. Some of them physically look their age (Palmer).

exactly! Yeah I mistyped it earlier, I meant Sterling on the LW like you said. I agree that this is likely the best starting XI perhaps Gallagher/Nkunku depending on opposition. I suspect he will play Silva a lot too, perhaps depending on the opposition esp because of the experience (& young squad).

It's an easy one though: they are better. They are better trained (a lot more time and better system) and have better players esp attacking options. A draw here isn't a bad result. Martinelli will be in better shape than against City (after hamstring) as he's not w/ Brazil -- he's by far their best attacker. Jesus is a close second, but different (MotM for me against City). Odegaard has been amazing this season too. And Rice improved their CM a lot. Which makes it a challenge for the players and club, which sometimes helps bring that extra effort. Regarding lineup, I hope for the same starting lineup w/ Jackson instead of Broja. This is NOT a game to start Mudryk. It's not even about what he does, or does not do in attack, but rather his defensive work.

not only both 😢 Imagine a 3-line with Eden, KDB, and Salah !!! it might have been too much of a good fantastic thing, but It sure would be entertaining. 🤤

that's exactly why KDB is better. Hazard may have been the more entertaining, esp if you like dribbling. If I want to beat strong opposition, in a system, I know which I'd pick. 😉

Yes! VERY similar career and demeanor; I mean one was for partying while the other family. Ronaldinho was more complete, but it's scary to think what they might have achieved had they had a bit more determination, and were more focused on their careers--perhaps then they'd not have been the same player though.

sounds like he should not have been getting call ups then. Suppose club tried to dissuade Ecuador, but it did not work.

way too soon IMO. Same as it was too toon to criticize, it's now too soon to declare winners. We've played a few weak opposition which we should be beating regardless of who plays--we did our job nothing else. We will start seeing how these players react against stronger opposition, which will be exciting for sure. It will also show who is who.

Jesus was MoTM for me against City... his ability to play in *very* tight spaces was the only thing working esp in the first half. He should be starting yeah, esp with marnitelli out. Gabriel might start as well. Brazil and Argentina can rotate without issue, Ecuador will be relying on their best for these games, so Caicedo will definitely play more; he's 21 tho, so that might help.

Arsenal will have the same issue. The same way it was premature to overly criticize players this soon, it is also premature to declare them good enough. There is a lot of football to be played, and these young players will still get tested against stronger opposition. Arsenal game will be a good test to see which players can rise to these occasions--we don't yet know that. Regarding the game, caicedo had another strong game. I really don't understand people suggesting Sterling should be benched or something; he's the best attacker we've got by a wide margin.

Agreed. Of course, things change during a long season: opponents figure out how to play your team, which forces the manager to make changes. Say Chilwell comes back and then gets into some good form, and if he remains playing sterling on the right wing, that could work (Sterling defends well).

yeah that's what I thought. I'd call against Mexico in the WC similar level to Portugal though, and although a great finish, it wasn't w/ power but a curl. Not a whole lot of powerful shots from outside of the box actually. River is much lower level of opposition and Portugal. Makes me more convinced it's the pace of the PL, so perhaps an adjustment here and there will help. I'd not even consider friendlies because they are a different sport; would be akin to "flag football" in the US. 😅

I sure hope so, but where? Portugal I suppose. I mentioned posture above, and also "early shots" because it's a characteristic of the PL. You get less time on the ball, which also means less time to take a shot. So, yeah he can improve on that, but honestly he needs to first start hitting it on goal, low, then we will talk about getting it in the back of the net. So, I suspect that has something to do with it 👆

yeah I know. I think it has to do with balance. His posture when taking early shots seems off and he ends up hitting under the ball a lot, which in turn sends it to row z. It does not seem like his a natural in that regard, but hopefully he's working to improve it. No, I don't think he'll turn in Lamps and start scoring for fun, but I do hope he gets a goal here and there during a season... become a bit more of a goal threat. I think Carney won't play in the middle esp against stronger sides: he will go into the left wing, because of Mudryk's defending. Well, we will see after this match, prob against Arsenal.

I don't expect much from teenagers at this level: ups and downs are common. Lavia in particular has not been tested at this level at all. The biggest adjustment was already made, which was to move Enzo deeper; he already played much better, which improved our overall play a lot. Still cannot shoot to save his life, but at least contributed a lot more in midfield.