PBP: Christian Pulisic (starts): Atalanta vs Borussia Dortmund Feb 22, 2018

They give Reus so much more freedom. Him and Schurrle are basically both playing on the left.

 

Not sure it's shocking. I think the commentary that he was poor really misses the mark, but given that Reus was the best choice off of the bench, barring a formation change, Pulisic or Schurrle were the only two real choices to remove. And I think it's a little early for a formation change.

 

His agitation at being subbed off was palpable.

 

Lol, if you consider "blasting the ball over the net, and being pushed so far back that you may as well be playing LB" more of a "goal threat" than the only person combining with Gotze, Dortmund's sole competent attacker, I don't think you can be dissuaded...

 

He was quieter in the second half. He's logged lots and lots of minutes and clearly isn't 100% - hopefully just getting a chance to recharge - I'd love to see a front 4 of Puli-Goetze-Reus behind Bats for the next league match.

 

Its shocking because he clearly had been playing better than the last few games. No one wins by taking off someone who is on the upswing of confidence in the 58th minute.

 

I work at 430 so all is good

 

amazing how watching this side with all this on paper talent continues to be an absolute chore

 

It's an obvious decision. He was poor with the ball a lot of the day. The 3 good passes are standing out in your mind and you're forgetting the numerous times he was dispossessed.

 

I only saw the 2nd half of 1st half and up till he was subbed. seemed fine-not-special. Dortmund had good possession end of the 2nd half, but Atlanta was well organized and BVB didn't have anything clever enough going on.

 

Fouled outside of the box. Beat players off the dribble multiple times. Combined with Gotze.

But sure, Schurrle had a 30-yard field goal, what a legend!

The real problem is, Toprak, Sahin, and Dahoud are just not playing well along the spine of the team. At least Sokratis can play balls forward, meanwhile Toprak crumbles at the slightest pressure. Sahin and Dahoud just aren't doing enough most of the time.

 

no i'm not. He was dispossessed twice in the first half where he actually had control of the ball. He didn't put a pass wrong. He seemed like his 2016/17 self with less explosiveness.

 

I don't think Shurrle had a great game... but it's not like performance in a match even compares one-to-one, or that such a comparison would be the sole reason for a sub anyways.

They've been pressuring well, still have 20 mins to get a goal. Atalanta are pretty well organized.

 

Relevant:

 

This. They are getting destroyed in the middle, can't hold on to the ball.

 

About as relevant as posting the new Madrid kits.

God, I hope those are fakes...

 

Another reason CP was more successful last year was the 4-3-3. He was playing further up the field. I had forgotten about that.

 

seems like burki always makes a huge save to keep dortmund in a match after having prior let in a weak goal to almost take them out of it. also wild how atalanta seems not only bigger, but also faster, in the back than dortmund is in attack.

 

They are down 1-0 on a complete GK blunder. I mean I don't like the CM either, I think it's weak and imbalanced, but without that blunder they are moving on.

 

Hey they got the goal! I guess the sky isn't falling anymore.

 

The same can be said for when CP scores. Its all rainbows and butterflies in here.

 

they still look terrible against atalanta when they used to compete for champions league titles

 

This squad isn't half the squad that was competing in the CL final under Klopp... talent wise this group deserves to be bounced from a very tough CL group and it will continue to have tough ties in EL knockout rounds. That's the state of the club right now.

 

right, so the sky is falling since they are losing ground every season from where they want to be

 

It's a building process. When they stop selling their best players, they will improve! But not before then. They are right where they should be, this is not a team that is going to beat Bayern to the BL title. And last I checked they are in 2nd!