SSFC

If true, a good opportunity to get an upgrade in. Ha! Im guessing the most likely thing is when Yedlin is back is that Manquillo plays LB. Or I guess a CB over there depending on matchups.

I was just coming to say this exact point. He played miles better (atleast consistently) with Yedlin overlapping because teams have to respect the pace of Yedlin. So Im waiting to see how he does when Yedlin is back. Should have more time and space and if teams still collapse towards him then its up to Yedlin to make them pay by putting dangerous balls into the box and at that point the attackers doing their job.

Carragher was having a go at him there later in the match. Im guessing that he has a problem with him from the training grounds or something With how much coaching he has had, he shouldnt be getting sucked in like that. Imagine him doing that against actually Prem quality wingers? I mean he trained at Atletico Madrid where they preach defense at all times, trained with Liverpool (for better or worse defensively), then at Marseille, and finally at that hellhole down the way. I hope those mistakes get rectified. Or better yet Yedlin comes back and secures the spot.

Yeah both them and Murphy need to start next week. Hopefully Yedlin as well. Ritchie always looked better with him on the pitch because teams have to respect his pace so Ritchie had that little bit extra time and space. Obviously it remains to be seen if Yedlin can impact games whatsoever but atleast he will add something going forward even if its the mirage of pace only. Hopefully the transfer window doesnt close without any help coming in, especially centrally.

Isnt there some kind of "talent" waiver? He would definitely qualify. Interesting that he chose Ajax over Barca last year cause he wanted to develop but then chooses Spurs in the end. Probably the right choice considering Poch should be able to continue his development. In my opinion he is still very raw and not top of the Prem level yet...although considering some of the CB's on the big clubs, he should be just fine

Yup. Although at the price quoted you would think someone would be offering given his 6 goals and 4 assists in 1200 minutes for Sevilla to end last campaign. Nevertheless if he goes to Sevilla in the end (I believe they are in the final qualifying round for UCL ) then that is one thing. Would be annoyed if Brighton gets him though at that price or a loan/future fee agreement.

So assuming Dummett is out for a while, and the lack of cover...Im guessing if Yedlin is back that means Manquillo to LB?

Terrible challenge by Kane. That could have been a different color card

Yedlin assisted the first goal that Pulisic scored US and was part of the build up on Pulisic's 2nd goal. Looked good for the most part and was going up against their most dangerous wide player (Trinidad) for the 90 minutes. USA plays Mexico next week.

That cross by Yedlin, more of that please....right where you want it to be and Gouffran heads it down like he should and gone in and then Gayle just wills in the winner. Absolute madness WOW

Looking at the advanced metrics....his passing probably was bit off at 75% rate on something close to 50 passes. 2 key passes (obviously one is the assist). 2 tackles on 2 attempts but that is always hard to discern so take that FWIW. Also he was only dispossessed once so that is pretty good for an attacking fullback that is going all the way up field. Certainly hope Lazaar can replaicate since there is likely only gonna be one striker and while I think Yedlin will play a lot just because of the amount of games, Rafa trusts Anita...... but I truly believe that in a one striker formation you have to have a fullback that can do what Yedlin can down the flank consistently. Since Anita is the trusted one, someone on the left needs to be that guy IMHO.

Agreed. Cant understand why he insists with one up front. Diame is in very poor form and needs to take a step back for a bit. Bring him on later in a game or something. You would expect to be on the front foot most of the time. Put them under pressure. Gotta try it at some point. Literally all of the strikers are in p*ss poor form. There's literally no discussion to have about formation though, Rafa has never and will never play two up top. Unfortunately you are right. Just seems questionable when your supposed to be the cream of the crop and you dont want to be on the front foot with two up top in this league.

Yedlin's longest time off from injury is likely gonna be this one unless its what I thought it was (getting stepped on while crossing and then shifting weight defensively brought the knock to the forefront again). I think his longest time period missed due to injury is one game in his career.

Agreed. Cant understand why he insists with one up front. Diame is in very poor form and needs to take a step back for a bit. Bring him on later in a game or something. You would expect to be on the front foot most of the time. Put them under pressure. Gotta try it at some point. Literally all of the strikers are in piss poor form.

Gayle missed a one-on-one and Diame scuffed a sitter! That's why we didn't win. Diame also missed that strange situation where Ritchie's shot was blocked, fell to Yedlin who passed it to him right at the penalty spot and he skied....expectation should be fore an attackerto put that on frame. Not sitter status but a golden chance.

Was Gamez on the bench?

Precisely, needs addressing. Nothing in the tank the final 15-20.

Sels is the most shaky keeper when under pressure.

Terrible from Sels....soft as * goal

Shola runs a 4.3 40? Not that it matters that much on a pitch (maybe for a fullback a 40 does) Sucks he got injured. Competition is a good thing. Hopefully it was just from being stepped on that cross right before he came off (the cross was blocked and counter ensued)

Yedlin got something stepped on and looked twisted in the attack and then he came up lame there. Gotta think it was from what happened when he got stepped on. Maybe a hamstring otherwise but he didnt reach for it.

Should ask him what his grade would have been if Dummett was on the team or if that exact performance was done by Paul. Bet its not 8 out of 10. Cant see how he could rate his performance better than Yedlin and especially Darlow. That save Darlow made 1 v 1 was match changing. They bag that and their confidence builds after winning on the weekend and who knows how it plays out.

Ritchie+Yedlin on the right looks like it could be as formidable a right side you could hope for in this league. Ritchie's ability on the ball obviously has to be respected especially cutting in and then Yedlin on the overlap has to be accounted for. Hopefully Lazaar was just rusty and will come out better next time (Im sure he will) and that can happen on the left as well.

Disappointing but 39 points dropped last year was enough for Automatic Promotion. Home defeats gotta stop. Still think Yedlin and Lazaar at home is the way to go....teams would have to account for two more players coming at them and would create overload opportunities for Ritchie to cut in among others. Especially if Rafa is determined to go with 1 striker (which I think most people disagree with). If Rafa switched to 2 strikers then just Lazaar starting would suffice. Cant drop many more at home. Really disappointing.