Ikon

Would be so perfect for us in every way really.

To evolve properly I think we need a mix of what we have now and some more creativity/technical ability. If we don’t get that I’m not so sure that Howe will get us to the next level. It doesn’t mean lazy players. Just players that offer something different. Not just dynamic and direct players. Or too many of them.

I agree that we didn’t do too much wrong apart from that. I’m not sure what it is but we seem to struggle to keep possession a bit too often. I also feel that we are missing a couple of players, players with more different attributes and that makes us slightly predictable. If we aren’t at our intense best and with slightly more space and time then I think we look slightly clueless and predictable when we have the ball. I would like to see a better balance between between physicality and creativity/technical ability. Hopefully we will be getting some more creative players into the side to mix it up, but I’m not so sure that we will. I still think we should do better with the ball and with our current players.

His passing was sloppy without doubt. But most of our players wasted many balls. Overall I’m not even sure how many times we lost possession.

I doubt anyone including me would have liked to see us sit back and then try to hit them on the break, no! What I’m saying is what I’ve said for ages, when it comes to controlling games and be fluid in possession we’ve never really been very good at this overall. Even against Everton where we “controlled” the game we wasted possession way too many times with sloppy decisions and passes. Also, I’ll say it again, Everton allowed us to have tons of possession and time and the ball and they chose to sit back and we’re perfectly happy for us to “control” the game. For all the possession we didn’t create enough clear cut chances.

We have an identity when games are more open and there’s more space to exploit and we can break and be direct, or press the opposition into mistakes/out of shape. When we are firing we’re VERY good at this. When it comes to possession and controlling games and breaking teams down and keeping the ball to conserve energy or to keep the ball out of reach for the opposition then we’re really poor overall and look extremely predictable. Teams like Everton allowing us tons of time and space and possession doesn’t change my opinion.

To my eyes it’s obvious we aren’t even near our best or creating enough. Yes we had chances last night but not enough.

Counting everything as a good chance now. Even when there wasn’t a chance because of a poor final ball (I know what you meant)

It’s because we didn’t create that much. (Aiston)

I genuinely don’t remember too many clear cut chances. I think we created quite a few “potential” chances that wasn’t to be because our final ball was lacking severely which resulted in no proper chance in the end. Everton allowed us possession and look to be in control more than we usually do away. Everton play that way. I just don’t think we managed to do enough despite the allowed possession. We weren’t awful by any means. I think our final balls were very poor and that we were sloppy overall when it comes to passing. Not sure how many times we lost possession unnecessarily with sloppy passing. But with us having so much possession I guess it looked better overall than it really was. Everton were really really poor and we should have won that easily even without a striker available. Fulham, more ok with as they are a good footballing team at times.

I know both Howe and PM prefer dynamic and aggressive players “that can play”. I really do hope we try and prioritise some technical and creative ability. It doesn’t mean that the players will barely be able to move. I’m not convinced that we will though. Personally I think we need a creative #10 there. Both Bruno and Tonali are very good when it comes to progressive and quick passing through the lines. Having a 10 there in front of them would give us so much more playing depth through the centre without say Isak having to come too deep. It would sort of give us more of a triangle in the middle of the pitch. It most certainly would allow Isak to stay further up and be less isolated. The “10” would also drag defenders with him at times which would give more space for our forward players at times. Too often we lack playing depth through the centre imo as our midfield very often is a bit of a flat line. Not literallly of course, but slightly towards a straight line a bit too often. I think a 10 would also allow our double pivot to be more ready for defensive transitions where we struggle and leave space for the opposition quite often. As it is now we often have at least two CM’s pushing forward very high and the times we lose the ball there’s a massive channel of space for the opposition to exploit. Having a ten there would mean that we probably wouldn’t have to go as high with too many midfielders. The worst times is when we go forward and no one is taking depth defensively to close out space against potential counters. A creative 10 in the middle would make us less predictable imo and the way to go to get the most out of Isak. It would also drag the oppositions defence out of shape more often which would give space for our pacey wide men and Isak. As I’ve said, I think we are too predictable, especially as we don’t have any genuine creativity from our wide either. Having said that, I don’t ever see us playing with a #10 under Howe. But at least get a proper creative right sided attacker in who can go more central at times with say Trippier/Tino providing width at times. The last thing we need out there is another slightly too predictable runner.

Didn’t they miss a sitter during the pen incident with Burn? Unless I saw it wrong.

Anyone know the stats about how many times we lost possession?

I’m amazed how many fail to see this.

Everton really gave us tons of space and time on the ball.

Not sure how people don’t realise that Everton are perfectly happy to allow the opposition have the ball most of the game. That’s not “control” imo.

“Fine”

They are very happy to allow the opposition to have most of the ball and then occasionally go forward and be direct. So yes, really!

Everton have had the game exactly where they’ve wanted so far. edit, wrong thread but yeah.

“Great Control”

This is my view too. We’ve been the better team and controlled the game but we could have been much better imo.

I know we have controlled the game, but not as well as we could have. Lost count of how many times we’ve lost possession by being sloppy. Still the better team. Hoping for improved 2nd half when it comes to crispness in our passing. Much improved towards the end thankfully.

Excellent really? We must have given away possession about 15 times.

I said before the pen thhat someone else has to take it, just not Gordon. I would have given it to Schar.

I’m genuinely astonished how we are so extremely poor and sloppy in possession so often. How is it possible for us to not gain proper control of games? We keep giving the ball away time after time. Hoping for a much improved second half. These are so very easily there for the taking. And we’ve still been the better side. Especially towards the end.