Exactly. They have had more cohesive pre-season yet we have pretty much controlled the game for the most part. Not like Dortmund first half.
Not directed at you Toro but it’s mildly amusing how it took 20mins in the post Kroos era for some on the board to realize how big his impact on our game was.
To me it looks like the players are not used to the setup. Tchou/fede/Jude like dont know who should go back to ask for the ball to start an attack. They do go back to defend its just that its like someone is expecting someone else to do something and all 3 do nothing. Also why is Rudiger pushing so far up several times. I have no doubt Carlo and the players will figure it out.
I think one issue is that they are still having Dani advance on the right and having Valverde cover that space behind him. But with only three midfielders, that's leaving notably more space both defensively and when we win the ball back.
It easy to notice that there is no idea in the midfield. It’s not clicking so far, the obvious answer: we are Kroosless
This. And our attackers and mids aren’t reading their 1-2s at all, so when they make the pass the player with the ball then has plenty of space to run at our backline.
He was on side too. He was distracted by Jude and took him a second fo realize Jude was offside and by then the body position was gone.
Rodrigo what's the point in him with Mbappe and Vinicius on the team...we need creativity,driblles not a worse version of the two star attackers Brahin,Arda are needed in the starting line up. Jude is a ghost and has been for a long time,Tcouameni is a defender not a midfielder ,compare him with Casemito ,Busquets,Rodry etc he doesn't dominate games he doesn't run the midfield he just sits there and that's it.....so static so unimpressive Camavinga is so much better
Valverde is suppose to play the midfield anchor role, but think are not good - Carlos fits it halftime
Total disconnect from MF to D. No one is coming back to check to the ball. Not sure why, but this seems intentional? Team looks like they haven’t played together before. Overall we look ok. Don’t like the constant turn overs from Vinny….. but eh, it is what it is.
Militao can and should do that more often. His long balls are quality. As expected we are still rusty and figuring out what we will be now. Just want to see the ball move quicker out of the back. And Mendy has to take a little more risk with the ball or they will continue to clamp down on that corner of the pitch. Just curl it down the line and let Vini get on it and turn or get fouled. Get it out of the back.