23 Jan 2017 14:28:04
I'd like to give funds mori and Joel a mention Blues. I for one was not convinced by either player.
Fines mori looks good to me in the 3 also adds balance as he can use his left peg. Still unsure on his distribution but as a defender he does well. He was taken out the side and has come back strong.
Joel - who I think has impressed over the past 4 games or so has had dips and looked brilliant at times especially away to Leicester. Still makes silly decisions in rushing his kicking an sometimes punches which is a bread n butter catch. But I'm on board with him we aren't going to win the league we aren't getting the cup final. So give him the rest or the season to prove himself and also give Walsh an extra term to find a replacement if needed.
Thinks it's looking bright for the blues under this new structure and I'm on board for the journey.
RK harsh and Moshiri deep pockets.
I'm sold.
COYB
23 Jan 2017 16:40:56
I echo most of the points made in your post Jimbo. Although for me, Mori worries me when a long ball comes over the top. There was 2 instances in the City game where Funes Mori was caught trying to be clever by stepping up and attempting to play offside, which allowed the runner to get in behind. The most notable of the 2 was when De Bruyne played a ball over the top to Sterling who got on the end of it and fired a very tame volley at Joel (could have easily been a goal) . He didn't communicate with the backline so was the only player attempting to play the trap and it was nearly costly. Also in the Palace game he didn't do enough to shephard Benteke under the ball when his header rattled the bar. Obviously with hindsight these mistakes weren't costly but on another day the could have been. Perhaps I am being too cynical because other than those instances, I think Mori has performed to a good standard and has merited his place in the starting 11.
Just a note on Joel, I think he's been brilliant since he has come in the past 5 games or so. He was crucial in the Palace win with that save from Dann and coming to claim the corner in the dying seconds. Also he was commanding at key times in the City game, such as rushing out at Silva who was left completely unmarked in the box, causing him to dither and ultimately lose the ball. The question is whether he can keep this standard up from now til the end of the season. I would still like to see a keeper bought in as Stekelenburg does not convince me.