Have we started something here with Alonso?
In the opening games of the season so far, Alonso has been cutting inside from fullback and the results have been devastating with 1 goal, 5 assists (or 3 assists and 2 penalties won whichever way you prefer) and to further add he has hit the woodwork twice and had a good effort well saved by Begovic, that's obscene for a left back in 4 games.
Maybe part of Sarri's thinking is to maximise goals/assist's from Marcos to make up for the fact we don't have as many goals in our attack as City and Liverpool do, but if it keeps working to this effect, could we see a new trend when the inverted fullback starts to become a 'thing' like the ball playing goalkeeper has?
Which bring me onto the point of Kovacic's, for this new role for Marcos to work, Kovacic is crucial. Alonso and Luiz got their fare share of flack for those wild 15 minutes against Arsenal, but for me the biggest contribution to why Arsenal kept ripping us down that side was down to Barkley's lack of defensive nous. A lot of times in the Arsenal, Bournemouth and Newcastle games Kovacic snuffed out potential counter attacking dangers be it by positioning himself to cut passing lanes or getting the ball off the advancing player.
He has helped balance the defensive side of our game massively.
The inverted fullback/Kovacic's importance
posted on 5/9/18
comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 40 seconds ago
comment by I Kante Drinkwater (U15973)
posted 50 seconds ago
Still feel Morata doesn't get much service and just feeds off scraps.
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Did you watch last season?I think he missed most one on ones in a PL season. Just against arsenal in 3 games he had 7 or 8 one on ones.
He was average against arsenal imo but took his goal very well tbf to him.
Huddersfield and Newcastle he didn't even try and get involved for me, Giroud has done more in his 10 min cameos (see newcastle and bournemouth).
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I was referring to this season, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt for last season (adjusting to the league, first time being a 1st choice front man)
He was better vs Arsenal as he could get in behind their defence.
If you look at his goals last season it was because Azpi was crossing the ball in for him, this seems to have stopped happening
posted on 5/9/18
Exactly so last year he was just relying on azpi. I think my player ratings I only gave morata a 6 against arsenal, thought he was our poorest forward player.
posted on 5/9/18
Giroud is a better super sub, if only he was more mobile.
posted on 5/9/18
comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 27 seconds ago
Exactly so last year he was just relying on azpi. I think my player ratings I only gave morata a 6 against arsenal, thought he was our poorest forward player.
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I feel we should cross the ball in more as a team, we do a lot of passing around. Even Costa struggled for Spain a couple of years ago when they just kept passing it about
posted on 5/9/18
I agree with that point, but morata when we do is nowhere near it, or alonso or rb will throw in a terrible cross.
Bournemouth Azpi crossed it probably 7 or 8 times, all were low and all cut out. Was pretty poor.
Other than that I still feel morata needs to work more and get himself involved in the game. He doesn't do enough and his finishing with his feet is poor.
posted on 5/9/18
comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
I agree with that point, but morata when we do is nowhere near it, or alonso or rb will throw in a terrible cross.
Bournemouth Azpi crossed it probably 7 or 8 times, all were low and all cut out. Was pretty poor.
Other than that I still feel morata needs to work more and get himself involved in the game. He doesn't do enough and his finishing with his feet is poor.
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Agree, he's got some terrible finishing with his feet, surprised he tucked in the one vs Arsenal.
Yes, a lot of the scoring does seem to be low crossing which rarely beats the 1st man.
Morata definitely needs to improve his hold up play, link up and making space for other players like Giroud can.
posted on 5/9/18
Still feel Morata doesn't get much service and just feeds off scraps.
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Kind of agree with this. We have struggled to create goal scoring chances in the last 2 games. We’re moving the ball too slow in midfield. Can’t be doing that against bus parking teams.
posted on 5/9/18
comment by ＴＬＬＬ (U4640)
posted 9 minutes ago
Still feel Morata doesn't get much service and just feeds off scraps.
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Kind of agree with this. We have struggled to create goal scoring chances in the last 2 games. We’re moving the ball too slow in midfield. Can’t be doing that against bus parking teams.
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Will be a similar game vs Cardiff soon.
posted on 5/9/18
I think this is the quickest we have moved the ball in nearly a decade lol
posted on 5/9/18
No one's attempted more passes than Jorginho in the whole of Europe according to the guardian journo
It's nice it's moving quickly as well