Wise man!
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Yes, they started well and a few in the in game chat kept mentioning their chances. But if you look at their XG, their chances were all long range efforts from outside the area, well struck and Mama did well with his saves however, non were what I would call a clear cut chance.
I do agree. That said, they were an inch away from scoring. The game would have been very different. Finally some bit of luck there.
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We were an inch away from beating Man Utd by about 5-2
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Obviously. I said so, many times, commenting that I agree with Slot talking about fine margins.
And that’s why also in that case, I said that we were better than them and didn’t deserve to lose that game. We didn’t play well, but we played better than UTD. But that’s a totally different topic..
The point here was that Villa were very close in scoring, and were coming from a good place. We didn’t let them be good enough to get something from the game. They almost got an early goal, but thankfully we grew in the game, and didn’t let them do much after that.
A win and a clean sheet against an in form Villa side. The three points helps steady the ship and the fuss that was starting to build up has abated. Mac Allister looked better, Salah looked a bit sharper, Virg resumed his understanding with Robbo, Szoboszlai bossed it.
So many things to like.
The main thing I did not like, and it seems churlish to say in light of a good win, is it did not advance the cause of the new players very much. In particular, we have to find a way to get a tune out of Wirtz and Isak (I know the latter was carrying a groin strain for this one).
I don’t mind taking the longer road to fully integrate new talent, especially if the old boys are going to get the points on the board, but at some point we need to see signs that the newbies are coming to the fore, and that’s the big job Slot has on his hands.
Apart from two attacking fullbacks, we brought in some very expensive attacking talent in Wirtz, Ekitike and Isak. I’m looking for signs as to how that trio is going to be integrated, and ultimately, will become dominant in our side.
It’s not there yet, but that was a good win against Villa.
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I mean, it was really only Kerkez. The others are injured or played.
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Yep, perhaps I’m speaking a bit more widely than just the Villa game. Isak had a groin issue, Wirtz didn’t play, Frimpong is injured, Robbo got the nod and did well, etc.
I guess what I am trying to say is the big job that Slot has on his hands is shaping the new side. That’s what I’m watching for, in addition to the match to match action. Ultimately the new players will have to come to the fore, and I’m watching to see how he does that.
So far it’s a slow burn, though Ekitike has done well, and Mamardashvili has been an able deputy for Alisson.
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He look far more confident in that last game.
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Agreed, all the purring from the media on Man U irked me because I thought they were poor and anny other day with the chances we had we would have beaten them by 2 or 3 goals.
They resolved to hoofing the ball and were lucky.
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Maybe getting more game time is helping him settle
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I think Ekitike is settling nicely considering he’s been dropped into a side not playing all that well. Keen to see what he might be able to do from the left too.
We’ve yet to see Isak remotely fit so that’s the first job. I think Wirtz has flashed plenty going forward to know he’s a class player that will be fine. I think the bigger issue with him is how much better the midfield looks with Grav, Mac and Dom. Might mean he’ll have to make do with cameos off the bench for a bit whilst we also get the fullbacks settled in.
To be fair, it was a lot to try and balance in terms of integrating new players and most of them have missed time due to injury, suspensions or late arrival, just to make it that bit harder.
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