DickRitchie214
Player Valuation: £5m
The beginning of the end started the moment Gylfi Sigurdsson stepped on the pitch at 30.’
Yes we still controlled the majority of play to see out the first half, and Gylfi had what, 2 touches, 1 shot before going even more invisible than ever? If that’s even possible. Moving Iwobi out wide to accommodate him ruined what little cohesiveness and flow the midfield had left. So now to start the second half, Iwobi had little to do with much play, Gylfi assumed his role as the do-nothing guy, and we were back to having a giant, gaping patch of space in the middle of the park. Potter very astutely realized this and brought Trossard on to utterly demonize us and take advantage of that error for the final 30’
I’m not saying the outcome would have changed because I can’t possibly know that, but a simple Kean on for Bernard and assuming the center forward spot with Richy moving wide left where he loves to play, leaving Iwobi in the middle, surely would have produced a better outcome, no?
Then bringing Delph on for Davies (which should actually have been for Gomes) makes sense, as does DCL for Walcott, and we get a formation that looks like this:
Pickford
Sidibe Keane Holgate Digne
Davies Iwobi Delph
DCL Kean Richarlison (or whatever combo you want up top)
DCL and Davies and Delph are all smart enough and get around the pitch well, and IMO would never have left Sidibe out to dry like that. Besides Holgate’s beautiful pass to DCL, can anyone point to another decent run of form in the entire 2nd half? Hard to do so when you’re playing a man down. I’m 99% sure we don’t lose that game. Lots and lots wrong with the match, but to me it all began when Gylfi came on at 30’
How anyone continues to defend this stale piece of dried cod is beyond me.
Yes we still controlled the majority of play to see out the first half, and Gylfi had what, 2 touches, 1 shot before going even more invisible than ever? If that’s even possible. Moving Iwobi out wide to accommodate him ruined what little cohesiveness and flow the midfield had left. So now to start the second half, Iwobi had little to do with much play, Gylfi assumed his role as the do-nothing guy, and we were back to having a giant, gaping patch of space in the middle of the park. Potter very astutely realized this and brought Trossard on to utterly demonize us and take advantage of that error for the final 30’
I’m not saying the outcome would have changed because I can’t possibly know that, but a simple Kean on for Bernard and assuming the center forward spot with Richy moving wide left where he loves to play, leaving Iwobi in the middle, surely would have produced a better outcome, no?
Then bringing Delph on for Davies (which should actually have been for Gomes) makes sense, as does DCL for Walcott, and we get a formation that looks like this:
Pickford
Sidibe Keane Holgate Digne
Davies Iwobi Delph
DCL Kean Richarlison (or whatever combo you want up top)
DCL and Davies and Delph are all smart enough and get around the pitch well, and IMO would never have left Sidibe out to dry like that. Besides Holgate’s beautiful pass to DCL, can anyone point to another decent run of form in the entire 2nd half? Hard to do so when you’re playing a man down. I’m 99% sure we don’t lose that game. Lots and lots wrong with the match, but to me it all began when Gylfi came on at 30’
How anyone continues to defend this stale piece of dried cod is beyond me.








