SarriBall works

The tactics also got exposed today. No response to a high, aggressive press, the space Alonso constantly leaves to just hit an inaccurate cross every 10 minutes, the space between defence and midfield, Kante in advanced positions, lack or rotation..

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SarriBall works as a concept going forward, but Sarri was beaten by the better tactician today.

Maybe today will be the catalyst he needs to see something has to be done about the left side. Alonso's lack of recovery pace, Luiz's indiscipline and Jorginho's all round bad defensive game is a poisonous cocktail. Doesn't need wholesale changes, just a bit of experimentation to find a solution but it is broken atm.

comment by The Devil's Advocate's Advocate - I Represent Him (U6522)
posted 2 minutes ago
SarriBall works as a concept going forward, but Sarri was beaten by the better tactician today.

Maybe today will be the catalyst he needs to see something has to be done about the left side. Alonso's lack of recovery pace, Luiz's indiscipline and Jorginho's all round bad defensive game is a poisonous cocktail. Doesn't need wholesale changes, just a bit of experimentation to find a solution but it is broken atm.
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I hope we start looking for a replacement for Luiz. This result has been coming for a while even in matches we were winning.

and please don't forget that we need a ..........

CENTRE FORWARD ! ffs.

I hope we start looking for a replacement for Luiz. This result has been coming for a while even in matches we were winning.
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Out of all three of them Luiz is definitely the expendable one. Replacing him with Christensen for a few games should be experiment #1, which I'd have done ages ago.

comment by Kunta Kante (U1641)
posted 19 minutes ago
The tactics also got exposed today. No response to a high, aggressive press, the space Alonso constantly leaves to just hit an inaccurate cross every 10 minutes, the space between defence and midfield, Kante in advanced positions, lack or rotation..
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Yup pretty much.

Too much reaction to these results is blame to one player specifically. Luiz was atrocious today, but as were Kante, Kovacic and Alonso.

Also, pretty much this point can be made for any manager.

AVBall would have worked if Terry could run.

comment by The Black Hawk War, or, How to Demolish an Ent... (U16342)
posted 3 hours, 4 minutes ago
Got to accept that the management along with the players are to blame for this one.

This was a complete tactical mismatch, Poch exploited the system horribly; it was clear through the game.
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There were far worse players than Luiz today... but this is spot on. Sarri messed up big time IMO today, it was his fault for his poor tactics and starting Morata WILL get him fired. He needs to learn that Morata Is like Lukaku in the sense that be can just about score against the rubbish teams but can't do it against the decent sides

If Sarri continues to start with Alvaro Morata,he needs to ask Azpilicueta to start crossing the ball like last season for Morata to score headers in the penalty box!