2020/21 Carlo Ancelotti

[LocalNative]

I look at Villa tonight and apart from Grealish whose outstanding they’ve built a young energetic and attractive side to watch with good recruitment. The signs are good we have the nucleus of a good side, but we still are carrying too many players who aren’t up to the standard. We had a good last window, but we desperately need a RB and RW with pace to seriously challenge European places. Next summer we can move on more deadwood and hopefully add a new GK and back up to DCL.

Very true. All the top sides in the league have pace except us; Sterling, Mane, Rashford, Vardy, Pulisic, Son etc. We need a player who can play on the shoulder and burn defenders for pace. I thought Richarlison could maybe be that player but doesn't look like his game at all, he wants the ball to feet instead.

 

[jamieni]

Very true. All the top sides in the league have pace except us; Sterling, Mane, Rashford, Vardy, Pulisic, Son etc. We need a player who can play on the shoulder and burn defenders for pace. I thought Richarlison could maybe be that player but doesn't look like his game at all, he wants the ball to feet instead.

The way we’re set up makes it difficult for Richarlison and DCL. No full backs getting forward or runs from midfield to take defenders away. The pair of them are quick but they are having to play with their backs to goal a lot I think. Desperately need a right back.

 

[rochdaleblue]

Very true. All the top sides in the league have pace except us; Sterling, Mane, Rashford, Vardy, Pulisic, Son etc. We need a player who can play on the shoulder and burn defenders for pace. I thought Richarlison could maybe be that player but doesn't look like his game at all, he wants the ball to feet instead.

I look at our team and compare it to other teams and what stands out is the pace they possess and the quality they have in the middle of the park to dictate games. We have neither.

 

[jamieni]

I look at our team and compare it to other teams and what stands out is the pace they possess and the quality they have in the middle of the park to dictate games. We have neither.

I think the midfield we have is set up to play in a system with full backs providing width. We need someone in CM who can drive forward. I guess Doucoure could do that but he’s probably having to cover for Davies in there.

 

[GwladysBlue]

Lol

when was the last time we were “really good”?

half a game against Fulham in 3 months.

I think we we very good against Chelsea and Leicester and professional against Arsenal and Sheff United.

In the midst of that, we’ve been extremely poor against Man Utd and again today.

 

[jamieni]

I think we we very good against Chelsea and Leicester and professional against Arsenal and Sheff United.

In the midst of that, we’ve been extremely poor against Man Utd and again today.

Would agree. Inconsistent but that can be levelled at most teams this season. We need more quality.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

I don't think we've produced two good halves of football for a long time. We might have a good half, but the other is usually less stellar. Ancelotti picks up points, but there's a way to go before he's got a squad who can dominate a game.

 

[mccole]

He has some pure rubbish to pick from and we are still 4th.

I don't think James was anywhere near match fitness so a bit disappointed in that but players like Coleman, Davies and Tosun will not get us Champions League spots.

When Moyes did it, we had a huge stroke of luck and players who fought plus we also added in the January window, Arteta and Beattie while we lost Tommy to Real.

I'd love to give him £300m but sadly that won't happen.

 

[jamieni]

He has some pure rubbish to pick from and we are still 4th.

I don't think James was anywhere near match fitness so a bit disappointed in that but players like Coleman, Davies and Tosun will not get us Champions League spots.

When Moyes did it, we had a huge stroke of luck and players who fought plus we also added in the January window, Arteta and Beattie while we lost Tommy to Real.

I'd love to give him £300m but sadly that won't happen.

The gap in quality from our 1st XI and squad players is too big. If we had a fully fit James, Digne and Allan tonight I think we win that game.

 

[billyblue80]

Very true. All the top sides in the league have pace except us; Sterling, Mane, Rashford, Vardy, Pulisic, Son etc. We need a player who can play on the shoulder and burn defenders for pace. I thought Richarlison could maybe be that player but doesn't look like his game at all, he wants the ball to feet instead.

We loaned out two

 

[riddick]

I'm not blaming Carlo but I really have to again ask what it is we do in training. We just have such little... Everything. We've gotten better defending but what in Earth do they do in terms of any attacking? They pass to someone and then just stand there. They don't make themselves available or move to pull others out of position. We're just crap in so many facets of the game.

 

[mccole]

The gap in quality from our 1st XI and squad players is too big. If we had a fully fit James, Digne and Allan tonight I think we win that game.

We maybe do but coming into this game, we should've been steamrollering West Ham.

Our first choice XI isn't as good as it's suggests, Coleman really? Iwobi?

We need better and our manager knows this come the summer I fully expect to see less of:
Tosun
Davies
Sigurdsson
Bernard
Coleman for starters.

 

[rochdaleblue]

I think the midfield we have is set up to play in a system with full backs providing width. We need someone in CM who can drive forward. I guess Doucoure could do that but he’s probably having to cover for Davies in there.

He brings athleticism to our midfield I’m not sure he provides the quality with his passing and positional sense to dictate games. I agree the full backs is a major issue particularly the loss of Digne.

 

[rochdaleblue]

We maybe do but coming into this game, we should've been steamrollering West Ham.

Our first choice XI isn't as good as it's suggests, Coleman really? Iwobi?

We need better and our manager knows this come the summer I fully expect to see less of:
Tosun
Davies
Sigurdsson
Bernard
Coleman for starters.

If Brands/Carlo have their way it won’t be a case of seeing less of them, we won’t be seeing them again.

 

[roy vernon]

The lack of quality squad depth, plus injuries to key players, has caused a number of players to have played too many games in too short a time. There was a lack of energy in tonight’s performance, I don’t think it was a lack of effort, but rather a team in which too many players are running on empty.
It is an indication of just how poor our squad depth is when, once again, Tosun gets on the park. If he really is the best striker we can have on the bench then all I can say is Simms must be abysmal.
This is my only real criticism of Carlo tonight, he knows that he will get absolutely nothing from Tosun who has absolutely no pace and very little desire, surely it is better to give Simms the impact striker substitute role, you never know, his pace and desire to prove himself might produce something for us. What we do know is that we will get nothing from Tosun.
Anyway, all that said, if somebody had have told me a year ago that we would be in 4th place on New Year’s Day 2021, I would have thought they were nuts.