Reality bites

At the end of my previous article, I said that Brighton would show us if we’d found a bit of form, or whether our result midweek had more to do with how appalling Galatasaray were, as opposed to us being amazing. Well… I guess we got our answer, as normal service resumed yesterday and we dished up another dismal display, that was all too familiar this season.

The game got off to a bad start with Ekitike having to go off with a dead leg but rather than bring Rio or Chiesa on, Slot chose to bring on Jones and we subsequently looked toothless in attack for pretty much the whole game and it wasn’t long before another familiarity reared its ugly head again and our complete inability to defend high balls and crosses resulted in us going our obligatory goal behind.

All was not lost however and we soon found ourselves level after some brilliantly play from Kerkez. For me, this goal was as much about attitude and doing the right things, rather than any great skill. As Mama went to play the ball long while a few of our players were standing offside, Kerkez gambled by making the run from deep, anticipating something could drop for him and he was vindicated as a poor defensive header back to the keeper found itself landing in Milos’ path and some quick thinking saw him dink the ball over the onrushing keeper’s head and into the goal. It was a goal that only comes of once every hundred or so but if you don’t make the run in the first place, it’ll never happen so well done Kerkez and that was enough for him to claim this week’s McMOTM. Not that he had much competition however…

That moment aside, there were few positives to take from yesterday’s game, as it was more of what we’ve become all too used to this season – toothless in attack, sloppy in possession and all over the place at the back. Even Szoboszlai who has been our one shining light this season was poor, sloppy passing and his set pieces fell way below his usual high standards.

Wirtz was anonymous and uncharacteristically sloppy in what he did do. I’m a Florian fan but he needs more aggression and decisiveness to his game, especially in front of goal where he’s had so many tame efforts this season. Gakpo was terrible again and Frimpong huffed and puffed but to little avail.

Macca and Gravenberch continue to be shadows of the players they were last season and our defence looked vulnerable the entire match, as the score somewhat flattered us in the end.

Towards the end of the game, I pointed out that you’d have thought it was Brighton that were losing and chasing the game, not the other way around as if anything it was us who were under the cosh in the final twenty and that brings me back to something I’ve been calling out for months but seems to only be getting widely recognised now – The players look unfit!! They don’t look fit and they don’t look coached!

I believe the commentator mentioned in the game that yesterday was the 24th out of 30 games where we’d been outrun by the opposition and that is absolutely damning. Considering Slot said his style was similar enough to Klopp’s that he didn’t have to change much, that stat shows nothing could be further from the truth! Under Klopp we pretty much outran everyone, everyone dreaded playing us because they knew even if we weren’t playing well, it was going to be one of the toughest games of the season, due to our high intensity and high work rate. What we’ve seen this season has been the polar opposite and teams are out working us week after week. A favourite quote of mine is…

“Hard work beats talent, when talent fails to work hard”

That sums us up right now. We’ve got lots of pretty footballers in the team but we’ve taken all the grafters out and those we do have, don’t get a sniff. Chiesa being an example in yesterday’s circumstances. Is he as good as Ekitike? No but he is a forward player who’s capable of scoring goals and he works his socks off and will run non stop for as long as he’s on the pitch, so why not bring him on? Or young Rio who, apart from Dom and maybe Kerkez, is pretty much the only one in the squad with any kind of form or momentum at the moment. But instead he chooses Jones? Why? For control? Because there wasn’t a single minute of yesterday’s game where we were in control. Brighton were by far the better team and well worthy of their victory. On a side note, the fact Forest walloped Spurs today, rubs further salt into last week’s wretched display too.

Another torturous international break now, for us to stew and wallow in yet another defeat this season and I can’t pretend I’m anything other than fearfully dreading our upcoming games against City and PSG. The Parisians in particular are giving me nightmares as I just don’t see how we’ll live with their intensity. If we play like we did against Spurs and Brighton, we’ll get absolutely battered in both legs.

I don’t have the answers at this point, although you all know my opinion on the coach by now. I don’t know if it’s true or not but I read during the week that Slot asked to add Heitinga to his coaching setup when he became available recently but the hierarchy refused. If that’s true, it’s not a particularly good indicator for those who wish Slot to remain in charge, although they’re dwindling with each passing game.

On a positive note, I know you’ll all be excited and looking forward to the upcoming Scotland games. At least some of us can boogie! Walk on!!