10 Feb 2018 18:23:17
We can see that the team is underperforming and certain players are making costly mistakes. Why this is the case is anyone's guess.
However, we need a bit of perspective as there is too much negativity. We are top of the league with a comfortable lead. We have the league cup in the bag. The treble is still on. Not only that we got into CL group stage and have European football after xmas.
Unless we somehow implode and lose the league, this will have been a very successful season. My hope for the remainder of the season is we get our creative players back, we stop getting injuries to key players and recapture our form. Oops nearly forgot, I also hope we hand out another couple of bun skelpings.
Before I go I have a question for ed, do you have any idea why dembele has been well below par this season?
{Ed007's Note - I think it's a mixture of injuries and low confidence. To me it's as if he won't push himself that extra inch/mile in case he gets injured, he's never been the most mobile of strikers but he is always looking to shoot rather than take his man on or pass to a teammate. It's like Boyata in defense, if they just play their natural game and use their instinct they're fine but when they try to overthink things it goes wrong. Dembele's still learning his trade though, he'll be fine.}
11 Feb 2018 01:28:59
I hope he finds it soon as he is an important player for us and we have missed him this season.
11 Feb 2018 10:12:49
Unfortunately, he can't ease his way back due to the absence of LG and the misfiring Sinclair making him the main striking option.
Fortunately, JF made all the difference in attack yesterday, but I wonder why BR doesn't play Dembele with Edouarde more often, as it worked very well against Hertz and it would take the pressure of MD up there on his own. I appreciate we are trying to accommodate Musonda at present, but he too needs more time to settle in and shouldn't be pushed IMO.
11 Feb 2018 16:17:24
@OnceABhoy - Agreed, I would also try and find a system were you can play both and hope that Dembele gets back to his best with a bit more support from another striker.