I'm less annoyed than others about this game, but that's also likely because I was less over enthused about the game against Wolves (which is a score line that owes a lot to game state). We continue to be a somewhat similar side to what we were under Sarri - we're missing enough quality to be a great side. There are good stirrings, but most of the game we were fairly predictable and not all that threatening. Willian was quite useful, but when he's our best player we're going to be a limited team. I find Frank's insistence on playing this system a bit odd, since it requires a #10, and we don't have one. That he thinks Mount or Barkley are one is even weirder - Mount is a decent player, but he's just not a #10, and Barkley - well - yeah. I actually think Frank's less likely than some others to get a lot out of Ross because what he needs is rigid tactical discipline, and that's not what Frank is bringing. Jose might have turned Ross into a good player, or Pep. Managers like Carlo or Frank won't. On the plus side, Tomori continues to be excellent, I've been thrilled with his performances so far.
To be fair it was a harsh penalty anyways. VAR is still a joke imho. But Dross should score the bloody penalty. We may have deserved a draw. We didn't deserve a win. We did have more possession, a lot more shots and a lot more corners. Pedro? waste of space. What does the manager have against Pulisic?
Commentators have been saying a lot of dumb things about penalties recently (like the comment that Pogba deciding to take the penalty put of Rashford in the next game - lol). How about, when there are better penalty takers on the pitch, you let them take the ********ing penalty? It's not rocket science.
Here's the problem, he shouldn't be taking them. There are 2 players who should be ahead of him, Jorginho and Willian. This isn't his place to pull that shit.
Designated. Designated penalty taker. Simple as that innit. Ross didn't seem to be the designated pk taker for this game. Maybe there wasn't one?
Although it sucked but not too bothered about the result. Hopefully we can still get out of the group but eventually we will go out in the knockout anyways. But good learning process.
Has Jorginho missed a penalty for us? Struggling to think of one. He should be automatic number one for me.
Good attitude. I'm just really frustrated with Ross and Pedro. Otherwise, meh, not the end of the world. We have 5 other matches which are all winnable if we are up for it. Getting players back is the next step. Kante, Rüdiger, CHO, and RLC all make us a better team. Oh, and Emerson too so we don't have to rely on 5 at the back.
Although people are concentrating on the missed PK and the introduction of Barkley more generally, It's important to remember we'd looked slightly anemic before he came on. I'd have expected to see Puli in the game but maybe Frank is thinking of him more as a winger/2nd striker than a like-for-like replacement for Mount.
Ah ok. Nonetheless, still number one for me. He has excellent composure during penalties. Similar to Hazard.
Oh absolutely, has to do with the midfield and Pedro who was dreadful IMO. Again, Pulisic is direct. Out best moments came when we were direct. Pedro runs direct but the wrong direction. In a lot of ways he's similar to Ross in that regard, in that he kills a lot of forward momentum. Thought Frank got the subs wrong starting with Pedro though.
Frank's just said that on the TV Ross does take them if he's on the pitch and had taken them in pre-season. Having said that I seem to remember other people taking them but then, maybe he wasn't playing on that occasion? I don't remember, tbh. Frank just said he takes them and, on this occasion he missed. IOW he made light of it but then, I guess he can't just throw players under the bus.
Either Lampard is covering for the player (which is sort of OK) or he actually has designated Ross as our penalty taker, which is batshit insane. Given the little argument between Willian and Barkley, I'm thinking it's the former.
Just going for the greater experience in what was looking to have become a slightly difficult game? Pedro seemed to be playing slightly narrow when he came on so maybe that was the thinking? I dunno... was the wrong call anyway as it turned out
That's my thinking, exactly. If he said the guy shouldn't have taken it, how's that going to play out going forward. It won't change the outcome now and it would mean that ALL the players know he's liable to throw them under the bus if they make a mistake... not just Ross. If you saw the interview with Dave he did pretty much the same thing. The guy was confident he could score... he missed... move on. I'd imagine there was 'words' in the dressing room
Yes, well, that would be the point then, wouldn't it. The game plan had already gone out the window with Rudi out, Kante out and THEN mount gets crocked in short order. So yes, I can see him going for some experience in those circumstances.
Emerson out. So Frank went with caution and 3 CBs and wing backs. Maybe he should have started with a 4-3-3 seeing as how we were playing at home and all.
Yeah, I forgot that guy. The game was going sideways with them all out and THEN an injury to a guy that had been performing for us thus far. So going for a guy with huge experience, you'd think, was a wise move.