@zlatan_but_a_car covered it well, to which I'd just add that he was a bit more defensive than usual but didn't put a foot wrong as Bournemouth seemed opt for defending their lead. His anticipation and positioning were excellent throughout. I do agree with those who say that he has more in his locker going forward but he really is a top, top quality DM
Tyler made eleven passes in the City half. Given that it was Manchester City and Bournemouth were hanging onto a lead, defense was the priority.
Obviously right? It's odd when people don't consider when a player with at least some attacking chops doesn't attack in some games and everyone thinks the player had a bad game when it's kind of obvious the coach instructed them to stay home. Same thing is happening with Freeman who plays much more defensively than he did with Orlando or with the US. Of course his coach is telling him to play that way.
People are generally bad at assessing matches through the lens of game state. Like, if a team wins 2-0 after scoring both goals before the 10th minute, they're probably going to put up paltry xG numbers relative to what you'd expect going in, because they had no reason to keep trying to score.
If I'm doing my math right, summing up, these things have to happen for Bournemouth to qualify for the CL: 1) Villa beats Freiburg in today's Europa League final 2) Villa loses to Manchester City this Sunday 3) Liverpool beats Brentford on Sunday But even after all that... 4) Bournemouth must at least draw against Forest on Sunday 5) ...but if Bournemouth loses against Forest, even with 1-3 occurring, Brighton must then not defeat Manchester United on Sunday. Bournemouth and Brighton would end the EPL season tied on points, but Brighton would win out for 6th place and that last CL spot on GD -- unless something crazy happens in goal scoring with both matches. Had Bournemouth defeated Manchester City yesterday, Bournemouth's path to the CL would've rested on Bournemouth beating Forest while hoping Brentford beat Liverpool. (I think).
Thanks. Damn, the math would have been a lot more simpler if Bournemouth had just cleared that ball in the box that Haaland scored - but hard to blame that on anyone, that was a chaotic scramble with the ball ping ponging around in the box. Whether it be UCL or Europa, I do fear for this squad. I feel like there will be some more major departures, and with the manager departing for possible greener pastures (yet to be revealed where), there is concern. That and the extra matches next year makes me wonder if this could be one of those tales of a european contender turned into a relegation-battler. Hopefully not.
Oh yeah, I forgot about that!. He looked a bit clumsy in front of goal, at least one of those should have been buried!
#1 has basically come to pass. There are still 4' plus stoppage, but at 3-0, I don't think Freiburg are pulling off the upset...
Normally I would be upset given it's a pointless match, but he really needs the minutes to continue to build up his fitness.
Didn’t work out for Bournemouth today, but they’re headed to next season’s Europa League. Adams went the full 90.
True, but they've already appointed their new manager, Marco rose, who has a decent pedigree and whose teams have a similar, attacking focus. The transition should be smoother and the EL money will make it easier to hold on to their better players. It will certainly enable them to hold closer to their valuations. For the more future-oriented players, the prospect of EL league phase exposure makes staying another season a more viable option. IMO it's the following season that the shoe-filling problems will start
done deal...best of luck to him: Sources: Liverpool reach agreement to name Andoni Iraola new coach - ESPN