2020/21 Carlo Ancelotti

[Simon Buttle]

We need to be a deal sharper in midfield. Gomes looked like an old man in the first half v WBA but perked up a bit later on.

The midfield used to be the place where the maestro would put his foot on the ball and look around. No longer - it's pass and move.

Nothing wrong with that, our issue for me is that all of our midfielders just take way too long on the ball and by the time they have made their mind up what they want to do with it the opposition player has closed them down and the ball ends up going backwards or sideways. If you watch with say the City midfield none of them ever actually do more than a 10 yard sprint and when they get the ball it's one touch and they know exactly where it's going. I know we strengthened the midfield last summer but it's still missing something imo.

 

[canuckblue]

Still have to pinch myself on occasion when he's referred to as the Everton manager.

 

[gonetomorrow]

Still have to pinch myself on occasion when he's referred to as the Everton manager.

It's extraordinary. We've landed the greatest football manager of all time.

You only have to look at the Real team that he had to realise what he can do. They were the best football team ever.

Mind you they did have Ronaldo.

 

[Dixie1sixty]

YoUr AlLoWeD tO cRiTiCiSe hIm lAd

 

[kingduncan]

Trust him to tell the board what he wants, I trust to get him playing the way he wants. If he cant then who the heck can?

 

[Bedfordblue]

Nothing wrong with that, our issue for me is that all of our midfielders just take way too long on the ball and by the time they have made their mind up what they want to do with it the opposition player has closed them down and the ball ends up going backwards or sideways. If you watch with say the City midfield none of them ever actually do more than a 10 yard sprint and when they get the ball it's one touch and they know exactly where it's going. I know we strengthened the midfield last summer but it's still missing something imo.

I think often that’s due to movement in front of them. So many games this season where huge gaps open up in the middle / final 3rd and rarely do out players players move into them. They seem to get drawn to to whoever has it too often rather than giving them options.
Often the likes of Gomes play balls into space thinking some one will be moving in there and no one does, the opposition pick up possession and <enter midfielders name> gets slated for giving the ball away.

 

[arch stanton]

Imagine slaughtering Ancelotti for our footy when we are 5 points off 2nd with 12 games to go after watching Allardyce ball get us into 8th.

The Gravy Gargantuan nearly made me give up on the sport it was that bad watching us under him.

Lolling at Gravy Gargantuan

 

[blulouie]

YoUr AlLoWeD tO cRiTiCiSe hIm lAd

But do it in a cold dark room.....alone.

 

[Ring master]

Did you have the write-up of this? Can't seem to find it anywhere.

No Mate, dont think it was wrote anywhere with it been a quick P/C after the west brom game

 

[Rooney_Tunes]

We need to be a deal sharper in midfield. Gomes looked like an old man in the first half v WBA but perked up a bit later on.

The midfield used to be the place where the maestro would put his foot on the ball and look around. No longer - it's pass and move.

Gbamin.

 

[Barnfred 55]

the only issue with this team is that you feel that if they concede first, the best you will get is a draw

The converse is that if they scored first, you believe there's a good chance that they can go on to win. How long is it since we felt like that. Under Moyes about 15/16 years ago probably. That's a long time of being a nervous wreck.

 

[catcherintherye]

The converse is that if they scored first, you believe there's a goo chance that they can go on to win. How long is it since we felt like that. Under Moyes about 15/16 years ago probably. That's a long time of being a nervous wreck.

I said this on twitter the other day. I havent seen tmhe stats, but I can't remember the last time we lost a lead in the last 25 minutes of games. We've barely lost a lead at all (think that United game at home where we have a mad 15 minutes in the 1st half). So you can't really say it hasn't or doesn't work. He probably plays the odds too, and knows, worst case scenario we will end up with a draw.

You even think of games like Leeds, where they threw everything at us for 15-20 minutes after half time, but after that we were quite comfortable. I'm convince we were probably 2 or 3 minutes from getting a win against Leicester too.

Whatever they do in the final 20, whether it shape, or superior fitness, or whether we are just good at last ditch defending I don't think, but there's something in it for sure.

I don't know about anyone else, but in honesty the clock seems to win down very quickly for me in the last 15 minutes of games.

 

[Barnfred 55]

I don't know about anyone else, but in honesty the clock seems to win down very quickly for me in the last 15 minutes of games.

5 minutes lol

When was the last game we were winning where we've had less than 5 minutes added time in the second half. I can't remember. Even when there have been no second half goals and only 3 or 4 subs.

I think the Leicester game is the last one we went ahead and didn't win. And even that was a series of keeping errors that led to the goal.

 

[catcherintherye]

5 minutes lol

When was the last game we were winning where we've had less than 5 minutes added time in the second half. I can't remember. Even when there have been no second half goals and only 3 or 4 subs.

I think the Leicester game is the last one we went ahead and didn't win. And even that was a series of keeping errors that led to the goal.

Leicester is that classic case too isnt it, I think they scored on about 65 and had battered us for 20 minutes. I do think they were running out of ideas, as in honesty they didn't pose much threat (and we actually had the best chances to win it, with DCL/Gomes). Similar pattern to the Leicester home game last season, where they threaten until about minute 70, then very little.

It's really helpful for the team, as it must given enormous confidence to know that if they can get to 70 they will likely win and will never lose if they have a lead Thats a real positive.

 

[Terrarian]

We do get a lot of games with 5+ minutes injury time, for nothing much it seems