You mean that liverpool team that was on its worst home run in about 50 years in a stadium with no fans.... that game.?
yea, that's the one. They were still league champs and finished 3rd.
Look at how that Everton team lined out. 3 at the back, 2 wing backs making a back 5 when needed, 3 in midfield with James floating in front of them and Richie up front.
There's no way Ancelotti would have put 2 midfielders (one still getting match fit) up against their 3.
I'm not saying Ancelotti was flawless, he clearly couldn't set his team up to play on the front foot at home. But watching that team, I wasn't really sure how to fix the issues.
With this guy I can see the issues with the way he sets up and the subs he makes a mile off, and if someone like me can see it, we've no hope.
He's built a team to play 4-4-1-1, use the wide men to hit the striker. Once teams figure that out, go long and hope the striker can hold it up and get others involved. Both easy strategies to nullify.
Then look at the Wolves game. Look at Allan and Keane shouting at each other because there was too much space between the midfielder and the defenders. Wolves used that to pick us apart and the game was done before Rafael addressed it.
Look at last night. It was clear he should have started Delph and switched him for an attacking player (Townsend) if needed. Instead he did it in reverse WTF??
we're two down, lets bring on a holding midfielder for a winger.
He subbed Gordon off against Watford citing that he couldn't play 90 but funnily he was well able to the following game. He was showing no signs of tiring and on trots Iwobi and we concede 4 in 15 minutes. Poor subs caused that.
Look at city, sure, you're probably not going to get anything from that but to have their fans say we are the worst team to play there in ages was embarrassing. On top of that, players like Digne came out and said that Benitez was telling him to stay back more. Christ, his best asset is getting the ball in the box. Use Delph or Godfrey to fill the gap if he's too far forward.
Rondon did well last night but I cant imagine the harm that persisting with a striker who has 0 goals in 10 does in the dressing room or to the morale of younger players trying to make the step up. Why put Begovic and Lonergan on the bench when you could give another academy player (even a keeper) one of those spots for the experience.
He has improved none of the existing players. Last season Ancelotti was getting a tune out of the likes of Davies and Gomes at times. None of the squad Rafael inherited have improved. Holgate is a confidence player and can play right back. He's had a rough time of it but no one is getting a sniff ahead of Seamus. He's destroying Colemans legacy before our eyes.
I know that that liverpool side are a different class but we shouldn't have been steamrolled. Our starting XI was made up of 9 internationals from places like France, England and Brazil. The only two uncapped players are possibly our best two players of the season. There's no injury crisis. He didn't pick Mina every game when he was fit, same with Davies. So DCL is the only certain starter missing. Our dependence on him is another strike against Rafael. You'd swear he was Gary bloody Lineker
so yea, lets stop the rot, quickly.
