To be fair, Dier looked like he’s was trying hard. For all his limitations we would have lost 4-1 / 5-1 without him
Dier and Toby worked bloody hard but still, they were slow and not good enough.
Not having that. Their selfishness at sitting back was one of the big root causes for how the game played out. Toby should know better, making everyone compromise their game to protect his weaknesses.
I meant they worked bloody hard in throwing their bodies on the line, but I agree with what you say as well.
The main reason they played like that though was because Hojbjerg thinks he's some kind of roaming, deep-lying playmaker who doesn't have to guard the defence and Winks spent most of the game hiding or getting sucked in to covering for Hojbjerg who was too far forward and casually jogging back into position.
I like Hojbjerg as a guy but he has been an abysmal player for us in 2021.
But I do think Hojbjerg takes a lot of flak on Toby's behalf. Toby is the old, experienced head that should be pushing Hojbjerg up and getting the defence up with him. Probably tells us what I've always suspected, that it was Vertonghen who was the true leader in the back four. Toby just does his job,
Unfortunately, what tonight also showed was how flat Hojbjerg and Winks are as a pair. Winks should be a schemer, always close to where the ball is all over the pitch. Instead he's now had too many years sitting and never taking a chance.
The entire thing was totally depressing tonight.
If I was to even think of a man of the match , which I wasn’t , it would have to go to Dele .
At least he tried . He got on the ball , if his passes were poor it was because nobody was running into space for him .
I used to coach under elevens years ago .
I made them “ walk “ a game . It exposed the weakness of the man with the ball if nobody moved into space for him to pass to .
So Dele , who wanted the ball, worked for it , tracked back for it , and won it .... is my MoM
Just seen Hoj is 2nd most dribbled past player in Europe.
As he has 3rd most tackles in the league is this down to the system exposing him or lack of ability?
That's a hilariously bad stat to have against your name.Just seen Hoj is 2nd most dribbled past player in Europe.
As he has 3rd most tackles in the league is this down to the system exposing him or lack of ability?