Analysis of the goals conceded against Manchester City (11/11)
Aguero’s goal – Walker’s deflection falls kindly for Aguero, who skips inside Caulker and finishes with his left foot.
Tom Huddlestone has possession wide on the left, and with Bale looking to make a run over the shoulder of his marker, he tries an extravagant pass.
Huddlestone’s pass is under hit, and Adebayor cannot retain possession. Suddenly Vertonghen’s advanced position becomes a problem.
City break forward through the centre, with David Silva driving forward.
Toure breaks forward alongside David Silva, and takes possession.
Toure’s attempted pass is intercepted by Walker…
…but his touch takes the ball into the path of Aguero, who has got in behind Huddlestone, who was covering at left back.
Aguero checks inside Caulker, who sells himself too easily.
Friedel had been expecting Caulker to show Aguero down the outside, and had taken up a position accordingly. With Aguero now cutting inside, Friedel is showing him far too much of the goal.
Aguero strokes the ball into the goal – with Friedel not covering nearly enough.
Dzeko’s goal – Dzeko receives the ball in the channel, cuts inside, exchanges passes with David Silva, before smashing home on the turn from close range.
City again counter after a failed Spurs long ball, and Dzeko is played in down the channel.
Dzeko cuts in and…
… despite Spurs having plenty of players back, none of them have picked up David Silva.
David Silva receives the pass, and Dzeko continues his run.
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There’s so little pressure on David Silva, that he’s able to look up and clip a ball over the top for Dzeko, who has run between Dawson and Caulker.
Dawson attempts to throw himself between Dzeko and the goal, but Dzeko hammers his volley in on the turn, and it goes like a rocket between Friedel’s hands.
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But, overall , it seems that Huddlestone is simply too slow to really handle the position especially in a game where you need him to be more defensive-minded. Throw in the fact that the rest of his game has really fallen off, I dont understand how he keeps getting starting opportunities. He reminds more and more of Jermaine Jenas......no productivity. no purpose.
Yet again , a needless turnover of possession and then you watch him stroll back as Aguero gets the ball w/ Caulker there. If Huddlestone is doing his job and working his hardest to get to the ball, Aguero would not have a shooting lane in the first place. Watch the replay and he had loads of time to get back , but he didn't want to. Apalling stuff
And guess who should be on Silva ? huddlestone.......Instead of closing down yet again, he gives a world class player time to loft that perfect pass
He has no business in the starting 11 currently and is just as bad as Jake Livermore.
If you have the quality like Dembele or Parker to work a 4-2-3-1 , then use it.........If you dont, then play to your team's strengths.
4-4-2 w/ Bale and Lennon moving a bit back to cover the flanks, Sandro in the middle as a true CDM & a capable CM to set up Ade and Defoe up front....Carroll would be the closest thing to this at the moment since he can actually possess and pass .