Ever feel like you’re stuck in a time loop? A trip up north, a blunt looking strike force, midfielders looking less than potent, a late goal against and a 1-0 defeat.
To be fair, Everton probably edged it – a draw would’ve been a fair result but then if either side deserved to sneak a winner it had to be them, especially after hitting the woodwork twice. The sharpness wasn’t there at the other end.
So what can be said that hasn’t been said before? Aliadiere and Baptista aren’t scoring, in fact they aren’t looking like scoring, Rosicky doesn’t look at the races after a season blighted by injury, Hleb seems short on confidence after a tough few weeks, and our only goalscoring midfielder, Gilberto, is playing a centre back.
As for set pieces, our corner taking is still poor and this is an area that must be worked on for next season. We concede so many goals from this area that it really should’ve twigged in the manager’s mind that set pieces are a potent weapon.
On the plus side, after Fabregas admitted he needs to score more (he hasn’t scored in the Premiership this season), there was evidence to show that these weren’t empty words – he was prepared to test the keeper with a couple of good efforts. It’s certainly good to see someone following through with their own constructive criticism. Good stuff, Cesc.
Wenger still claims he will not add much to the squad this summer, while also talking up the potential of his young squad. I agree to an extent – this is a long term project and buying four or five players to get in ahead of these players would be foolhardy. But a couple of experienced players need to be brought in to help the kids along – we’ve lost Pires, Bergkamp, Vieira, that thing at left back, amongst others, which is an extraordinary about of experience to lose, and Jens may leave in the summer. It doesn’t stop the young players coming through to add a bit of know how.
I would imagine one or two players will be signed this summer, certainly a wide player capable of utilising the bigger pitch at the Emirates, and perhaps a keeper to replace Lehmann.
As for the strikers, there’s a full article on them on the way.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.