we lost 4-0

6.

Honestly? I'm not sure what we can do other than waiting for Vicario to come back. Unless we just play Archie Gray in goal? If we're gonna concede 5 anyway, might as well play someone who will do well in build up 😂

Our other usual route of progression, the piercing pass from CB to the 8, relies on additional players being around to bounce pass to. But with the FBs being wide, these attempts were quickly snuffed out due to Liverpool's quick press and a lack of quality in the pass and retention.

This MIGHT be fine if we had Van de Ven's pace against quick dribblers or Romero's anticipation to step up against long passes, but no.

Meaning wide progression attempts are always our full-backs quickly passing down the touchline to an attacker.

So since our midfield is empty and our full-backs are pulled wide, if (more like when) we lose possession, the counter-press is nonexistent AND the centrebacks are 2v4 or 5

Dragu stepping up to whiff a header doesn't help. It's like we're torn between being overly aggressive and overly cautious. You can't have both. If we're stepping up to press, everyone needs to do it. If we're blocking, everyone needs to do it.

3 acktually it's "middle-third recoveries" because it's describing the recoveries, we'll update the style guide.

He is getting some middle third recoveries in and finding the right passes afterwards.

The ideal scenario is he gets to come on for Maddison or Kulu and has freedom to roam and create in a relatively low pressure position. But these days he's coming on for Bissouma to handle deep progression and circulation. Much tougher role.

Dangerous overload if it works, dangerously overloaded if it's turned over. And usually we don't find our way through.