13 Jan 2019 01:14:06
I watched the first half this morning (well the first 30 minutes) and then fell asleep. Unfortunately the game was on at 3 am where I live.

I thought it was a good lineup but the intensity and tempo was very slow throughout. Currently the players seem lost but there are reasons. They do not have an outlet upfront. Although Giroud doesn’t score I’m surprised he isn’t starting mire games.

More slack for jorginho tonight but from what I saw he didn’t do anything wrong. It is a different league so he will need to adapt.

The biggest problem is definitely the tempo. The ressies played a quicker tempo against forest though I feel that was mostly because of Fabregas and there poorer midfield.

I do wish he made the subs a bit earlier but we won lads. Not the best performance but we won. Let’s show some faith and trust sarri and the lads to improve the tempo. If you watch Napoli you’ll see they weren’t this slow so it is not the coach. It is the players.

We will improve. Positivity :)

1.) 13 Jan 2019
13 Jan 2019 02:38:48
Standard where do you live, Australia by any chance?

Agree the speed of ball movement and the ability to run in behind (bar Pedro and Kante) is our biggest issue at the moment. Alonso needs to stay wider and overlap as does Dave who's probably a little guilty of the opposite and being too conservative.

I still don't by into the narrative of Jorginho being the issue, I read a stat that he's played the second most through balls in the epl so far this season (second only to none other than Luiz - what a pass for Pedro), so he has it in his locker but it speaks to the point above about no one running in behind. I think our issue is the LCM role, we lack a goal scorer, someone who can shoot from distance and makes late runs into the box ala Lampard in his prime. Kante is trying to add this to his game and his engine gives us the luxury of him still being able to track back and break up play and provide cover when needex but it's not natural to him and I don't think he can set the tempo the way that Jorginho will once Sarri gets the players he wants to play proper Sarriball not what we're seeing currently. Long and short don't judge Jorginho on what you're seeing currently he's having to adapt his role to suit while the players around him come up to speed.

I think we're a new striker (looking like Higuain), a Fabregas replacement (Paredes), a winger who can run in behind ala Pedro style (Lozano? ) and a goal scoring LCM (Barkley and RLC 🤞) and getting our wingers stay wide and overlap and.

2.) 13 Jan 2019
13 Jan 2019 04:21:19
Posted too early by accident* getting our full backs to stay wide and overlap and get crosses into the box, away from being the team that resembles the Napoli that dominated under Sarri that we all want!

Anyways another 3 points in the bag and possible 6 point result with Arsenal loosing and Spurs playing United so onwards and upwards!

3.) 13 Jan 2019
13 Jan 2019 08:30:20
Yes Zola Australia, tough gig with the times of the games haha

I also hope we bring in Higuain and a few others. I reckon we will too.

4.) 13 Jan 2019
13 Jan 2019 10:53:22
Standard there was a big improvement in the 2nd half. We could have had a few more goals, Willian and Pedro missed two good chances. Willian turned up after the break which made a massive difference. I just wish he was more consistent. All in all happy with the win and the tempo was better in the 2nd half. Its clear that Sarri is working on it. It will take time.

Hopefully we sign a few players before the Arsenal game which will be interesting. We can literally make the top 4 ours with a win.

5.) 14 Jan 2019
14 Jan 2019 04:23:26
Good to know Shak, thanks.