People please give credit where due. South Hampton has the best defensive unit in the league. Wanyama in the middle is like a reincarnation of Makalele in the middle for Chelsea back in the day. You needed energy to match energy, that was why Ram was a better option. Fabregas has always been slow and can't tackle for shit since he came back from Spain. He's lost all that edge he used to have at Arsenal and the EPL. Barca hardly ever have to defend, because they were spoilt with teams packing the bus against them and giving them a lot of ball. I've always said it will take him this summer to get in better shape and EPl fitness. The pace is a killer for whomever has not played in the league at all, or for a while. Oscar and Fabregas left all the work for Matic in the middle, he almost got red carded covering for all the midfielders and Ivanovic on the right.Costa ran his socks off, pressuring and holding ball up front and attacking, but Willian kept doing the same old moves that he was so predictable. I remember Hazard having the same issues when Jose first came to town. He would disappear for most of the games, except for some moments of brilliance that soon made everyone forget he had a subpar game.. Now this year, things are different, he's in shape and playing well. Cahill as usual was all over the place, but the right place. We were playing short three in the midfield. Its one of those funk periods that no coach can get players out of, but just hold the fort until they regain their form. There was nothing Jose could have done. The problem stems from Cahill having subpar games and Ivanovic coming more inside to cover for him, which leaves the outside open and Willian kept falling asleep. Cuadrado is not in rhythm with the team yet, that is why January buys are so delicate. I will expect him to be in form next season though. We actually had the chances, but ball simply would not cross the line for us. Forster, their goalie was either brilliant or lucky or both. Wood works was on their side too. I think with the CL gone, their sights will be refocused fairly soon. This last game was only game I was really worried about,. Their Coach Koeman having known Jose real well and worked with him under LVG is always a tricky curve. But for all those blaming jose and whining about his tactics, they really have short memories. We have gone through almost 8 coaches in the last ten years. We need stability, the players need stability. The team is almost completely rebuilt and in two years we will be in full form, with the players averaging about 25-26 years. We are about two key players away. One central defender and another playmaker in the middle. Look at what happened when he brought in the Cuadrado. Let the coach coach and stop second guessing what you know nothing about. What the team needs right now is our support and to give them strength to carry on. Not boos and not hisses. We are NOT Real Madrid. My two pence.
