Nunez was given plenty of chances to smack off the post, so what’s changed?
Isak isn’t fit… that seems obvious and I doubt he would be, no pre season, has one and then gets injured towards the end.
If Hugo was fit to start he should have started. But I don’t think I’m going give up on Isak or Wirtz yet.
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For me, Ekitike was the better stylistical fit to start yesterday.
There’s also the factor of their fitness at the moment, sharpness, how they came back from internationals, how they trained.
That said, even if we all agree Ekitike is ahead of Isak at the moment, it’s not like Ekitike needs to (or even can) start every game between now and Christmas.
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I think the worst thing here is we know Hugo starts against PSV and it’s the game Isak should be starting.
Then Isak will be rotated back for West Ham, though you’d hope he would actually consider rotating one of the other two out.
I don’t know, we’re in a such a state that we cannot afford to look past the next opponent, whoever that is whatever and competition it is.
I’ve heard enough of the easy run of fixtures and a great opportunity to turn things around. That started well with 0-3 at home against Forest.
Most of us follow football for years and decades, we should know by now that football is such a beautiful and stupid game where it’s absolutely possible to beat Real and then lose to a few “Forests”.
I’m trying to find a few arguments why he went Isak ahead of Ekitike yesterday and even if I can think of some, for me as an isolated case yesterday, it just didn’t make much sense and it showed in our disconnection centrally.
The only good thing we produced was down the sides. It’s a shame we lacked a better final pass/shot/decision in those first 20-30 minutes to convert a bit of that initiative.
What was really disappointing then was when Forest actually started playing a bit, winning second balls (again, we were not compact enough), putting the ball to the floor, keeping it, switching it, etc. And in the first few minutes of the second half, we already looked beaten.
Arne leaving him on the bench yesterday was pretty dumb.
Rather this and anything leg related.
Depends what the back problem is. What back problems have you had to cause you to say that?
Was it ‘I wish I was back in Germany’ ?
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Probably caused by carrying Salah and Gakpo for three months.
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Probably overused by carrying the rest of the team
Because if you pull a muscle in your back you can be ok within a week, do your ACL, Hamstring or groin in good bye for 2 months at minimum. As a goalie I’ve had a lot and to be honest. I didn’t miss a lot, when I fractured my ankle I was out for ages.
well done to Hugo today on the two goals, and he continues to show hes great in small spaces
feels a bit lost in the mire making comment on this now, but he really needs to work on his aerial game when a high ball is played into him…its kinda staple in the PL to have to chase high balls at some point during any game…lock it in, draw the foul… today he wasnt even looking at the ball in most duels…
again, a bit harsh after todays game…but something hes gonna need to work on to be successful in the UK
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In regards to high balls, for a CF, the ball needs to be played on a lower less loopy trajectory then it easier to control the ball or flick it on.
When he receives it to feet with runners off him he is very tricky and has some excellent touches.
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yeah i dont disagree with where the ball should come in, and yeah, hes awesome with runners going past him…
having said that…in this league, for as long as i can remember, strikers need to get their hands dirty on scraps from time to time, get down in the trenches so to say…balls do come in high and balls do go high into wide spaces…so many times today he litterally wasnt even checking the flight of the ball.
he needs to work on that part of his game.
It isn’t his strength atm and for a big lad he isn’t that great in the air, reminds me of Crouchy, who wasn’t great for his size but did improve.
Thought he was great today.
Loved seeing him throw himself into the goalkeeper to score the second. He’d already been clattered and he still didn’t bottle it. Gravenberch and Gakpo could do with taking heed of that.
Quality performance, he is one of our better players and should be starting the majority of games.
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How does Isak even get on the pitch when we have Ekitikè scoring?
At least he got a decent ball for a change for his 1st goal.
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I tried to explain why Isak may be starting, but I was wrong.
Hugo has to start and if anything try him an Isak together
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