That’s the big concern for me. The players who are well off it are our best players and the ones carrying the heaviest load. Trent looks completely burnt out. Terrible last night.
I think it’s probably an accumulation of a few things. The condensed pre-season, the tough previous season and the disappointing way it ended (which may have had a slightly demotivating effect), maybe an accumulation of wear and tear after playing on the edge for so many seasons. Whatever it is JK has a big problem turning it round because there aren’t many options to rotate currently. We got across the line last night through sheer force of will so the effort and commitment is still there, at least it is at Anfield, but the overall performance wasn’t convincing.
The most frustrating episode last night was the time it took Henderson to leave the field. Why on earth was he messing about with the armband? Give it to the nearest team mate and get off quick.
The wear and tear would make more sense to me if they were towards the end of their careers. But apart from Henderson, Robertson and Fabinho are in their prime and TAA is some way off it. Van Dijk is 31 years old, he isn’t getting on by CB standards.
I think that all of them just happen to be woefully out of form and unfortunately for us it’s taking place simultaneously.
Sky reporting that the 2 benches last night had a ‘coming together’ after the Fabio goal…so they haven’t or won’t look at the footage of the Newsandcastle bench throwing what looked like water bottles…
From TIA looks like we’re signing Brazilian midfielder Arthur Melo from Juve on loan. Supposedly Tiago-like in playing style. At least a bit of reinforcement until our players recover.
It was far to much faffing - got the feeling Hendo wasn’t sure whether it was to go to Millie or Virg. I can’t even remember who the vice captain is - I thought it was Millie.
So…analysing the goal we conceded, we were up fairly high as a team. Trent gives the ball away under no pressure at all.
Newcastle swiftly attack. Robbo is caught ahead of the ball so Virg has to go out wide to cover Almiron. Robbo is back but Robbo/Virg don’t prevent Almiron’s pass that ends up with Isak who gleefully takes the space where Virg should have been and lashes in his shot.
Also notice Fabinho’s stepping forward, allowing the space to Isak to make the run to receive the pass. With Fabinho holding back instead, he’d have been in position to intercept or at least mark Isak and block.
Fab was filling in for virgil and yet played like situation as if virgil was already back in position. You dont step out like that unless you are directed to by a player behind you who has already filled the space youre vacating. He just got suckered into concentrating on the ball at the exclusion of the bigger picture.
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