very frustrating Palace, West Ham and now Everton. The early Burnley loss does not look so bad in retrospect
Add in Arsenal too. We just don't have the quality in the final third without Morata and his ability in the air. Just not good enough.
Scrappy stuff, the usual fat Sam fare. Not sure what is available in January but wouldn't panic buy (and there's, rarely value in the winter window) we have enough for top 4 but I am not expecting much fixture congestion from the champions league (We would need to be on our best day twice to get past barca and we are not that consistent). But some big puzzle pieces to find in the summer with more creativity needed. We are still largely built to run at and past defenders, when they stand up, we don't have enough creativity to knock it around them or effectively use the overlap. Right now we are okay. Not bad, not great. Okay.
I love English football, but it effing sucks when only one team tries to play. Big Sam is doing a solid job, but that was some cowardly display from Everton. That said, we didn't create anything meaningful.
I just don't get how Roman can watch these games and not see that we're desperate for another top class attacking option. With no Morata we just have Hazard. Willian and Pedro are only good enough to be a change of pace and fresh legs against decent competition. We need something more up front.
I don't either. Moses was actually having a good game. Likely cause with no Morata and Bats and Cesc already used as a sub we didn't have much in way of a proven attacking sub.
This happens every time we play a team committed to sitting back against us. Reminds me of our play during the Gerrard slip year. As much as I like Michy and his Twitter banter, we desperately need to offload him and bring in a backup striker that Conte actually trusts. One striker and one creative attacking player and we would be a much more threatening side. Until then, unless we are rested and at full strength, we are quite simply not good enough to compete with the top, top sides
Agree 100%. Would be nice if we could add decent quality (preferably not cup-tied) as soon as this January. Think we could easily leapfrog United in second and keep on in the CL
One other consideration (beyond the relative lack of difference makers being available in January and the fact the title is off the table for this season), we don't yet have Emenalo's replacement in and I'm sure that any major signing would be best left until we had that vacancy filled and a longer term strategy established. I just don't see us pulling the trigger in January for these 3 reasons. We may buy, but it won't be what the fans want, most likely.
What will be interesting to see is if they let Conte take charge. If we can get Sandro, pull off a switch of Michy and cash for Lemar, and find a back up striker to spell Morata I think we'll be in great shape to make a run. Would also be ok with a Willian for Mkhitaryan swap. Baka is growing into the league and playing better. He still makes mistakes but has improved in the costly mistakes he was making earlier in the season. Most of these are unlikely in this window but a guy can dream right...
Hazard is so far ahead of all his other teammates bar Kante. I can see him leaving if we don't show ambition. We really haven't been able to finish for over a month and that continues. That said, I don't see many teams getting wins at Goodison this season with Big Sam, Small Tie. And given that all our competitors dropped points, the damage was limited.
Said that in the transfer thread only for peoples’ heads to explode at the thought. It’s an absolute possibility. Its amazing to watch him try and carry attacks only for so many teammates to let him down. Please for ********s sake, lets make some signings happen. Really hope we pull the trigger on someone in Jan. That would be a big boost.