It seems that this team goes as Ronaldo goes. When he was shit about a month and a half ago, we were at our worst. Today, particularly in the second half, we looked like world beaters. The goal date that I've heard for players to start taking to the Sarri system is February. Let's see how that goes. I don't think it's a coincidence that Demiral is being preferred to De Ligt. Sarri wants at least one defender to play as an aggressive stopper-type, pressing as soon as possible when the ball is in his zone. It's pretty eye-opening when you consider De Ligt was viewed not only as our key signing this summer, but as one of the most important transfers in world football.
We played Sarri ball and did nothing. Just a bunch of useless passing. Second half, Ronaldo pounces on a bad pass from the Cagliari defender. Dybala makes a nice dribble to earn a PK. Higuain scores from a counter. The last goal, Cagliari was just done. Great that we scored four goals.
Why was De Ligt asked to play on the left and not Demiral? I think Nicky Bandini pointed it out earlier in the season in the Serie Awesome Podcast and I think it's a interesting talking point. The 32 year old veteran stayed on the right and the brand new 19 year old was asked to play out of his normal RCB position that he has played his whole professional life (granted he's only in his 4th year)?
This is the type of breakout game CR7 needed. Let's hope it gets him going. Rabiot and Ramsey played well need to get more of these mid to low table games in their legs to show what they are worth. I still think CR7 needs to be in the center and not wasted on the left picking up balls from the 3/4 of the pitch.
Right or wrong let's not get on this again. They both need games and eventually will play together. I don't see this as who's better but more of getting both of them some needed minutes.
I agree except that I thought Rabiot played pretty well today. Certainly the best we have seen from him to date. The lineup we used and the subs other than Can are the players best suited to Sarri ball. Glad to see Ramsey in there instead of Berna. Not sure where Berna fits with this squad now, but it is not as a faux 10. This was our most fluid game to date and the ball movement and off the ball player positioning was much better. Also, for once, we kept the pedal to the metal and didn't go into a defensive shell 1 goal up. THAT is how you finish off opponents. Dybala has become the straw that stirs the drink. And CR7 has returned to CR7, not longer CR3.5. LONG MAY IT CONTINUE!
MDL will be fine, but he is BonBon, not Chiellio. Demiral is Chiellio. Since it is Giorgio who is out, Demiral is the better fit. If Bonucci was out injured than MDL would be the correct insertion. Both should have long careers here if we are smart enough to keep them both.
At this point, at least for today's game, you are really struggling to make reality fit into your narrative.
Just pointing out that Sarri ball was ineffective. The first half showed that clearly. We controlled the match but were still listless in attack. The first goal was a defensive gift. The second from the play of Dybala. Afterwards, Cagliari pretty much quit. We were boring to watch that first half, yet, we played Sarri ball just like the idiot wants us to play. But it was breaks that opened the game, not bore ball.