Having now watched the game, thought Brenden Aaronson (BA) looked lively and threaded some notable killer passes through Burnley’s back line.
For me, there are two main issues (not Mateo Joseph, think he scores that chance next time, just needs to calm himself. But he’s already better in front of goal than £40m Rutter was).
But we still cannot create clear cut chances, (predominantly the second half) as we are too predictable with the repeated passes sideways. Struick and Rodon again our highest passers of the ball, but usually sideways and backwards.
Burnley were never going to be drawn into a higher press (trap) once they held the lead so we wasted a good 40% of the second half playing keep ball amongst ourselves.
We must play quicker and taking Firpo and BA off was madness, as they certainly looked our two most likely to create.
The second recurring issue is our young captain, a fabulously consistent player who always gives his all, but clearly this season doesn’t understand where he’s meant to be playing.
Far too deep in the first half, he makes us a back five at home! And poor Gruev has to fill his gaps and amps gaps. Don’t believe you can drop Struick but Ampadu has to be more disciplined in his positional sense and get the team higher up the pitch.
I’m certainly not advocating sacking Daniel Farke (certainly without identifying a replacement) and his record in this league is very well known, but both the above issues which have existed for a good while now, are his to solve and his substitutions yesterday were also shockingly poor.
I’m definitely a paid up rose-tinted affiliated member normally, but Farke has never for me been an exciting appointment. He has made me feel confident at times, based upon his points haul last season and his aforementioned record in this league.
But even at our best under Farke, we are efficient rather than exciting to watch and understand a strong goals against record equals promotion normally, but it feels like the team are playing with the handbrake half on.
I get that I want my cake and eat it because I would like exciting attacking football that generates the results. Whereas it feels Farke wants professionalism stoic performances to accumulate enough points for promotion.
I think Aus player manager ratings were spot on for yesterday and I think / hoped we had a coach who saw what everyone else could plainly see and would make the necessary changes, but I’m not sure that’s in Farke’s DNA and for that I’m feeling underwhelmed.
Need Dil to find me an attacking flair coach from somewhere, or Farke to happily prove me wrong again!
Written by Classof92 September 15 2024 10:25:11
