épieur

I give Iraola plenty of credit for the game today. We were the better team until the red card, and the back seven were doing everything we could ask from them. They took control of the game and outperformed the city team in their part of the pitch. Things broke down in the final third because the front four offered nothing at all, except a bit of tenacious direct running from Munoz. Top points for mentality from Munoz and Koumas, but they don't have the quality to back it up in a game like this. Zero points for mentality from Wirtz and Barcola. Wimps who didn't want to play the game. Munoz' performance would have been fine as a squaddie filling in and doing his job if surrounded by better players, but it's tragic that he was our best attacker by some distance.

All I want from him is Coutinho levels of tenacity. I am not expecting Mane levels of "your ass is mine today" aggression on the ball, or Salah levels of dogged persistence, let alone Suarez levels of "with or without my teammates im winning today" all out mentality. Just get on the ball and make the opposition worry about you whenever that happens. Stop waiting for the game to happen to you.

I think he's one of those players who found an extra level in his head, by sheer composure. Except that composure hit a hard ceiling in the Premier league. It's not just that he's struggling with the physicality and pace. He's bungling touches and passes that he shouldn't be. When he's played well (sometime last year) he's looked like a quite clever player with good technique. But also someone clever about his technique moreso than God given talent. I just don't think his technique is where is it needs to be at to overcome his mentality and physicality struggles.

Compared to our successful attackers. Salah was relentless and would just keep going through attacking work. Mane had real aggression and absolutely loads of bottle when the chips are down. Firmino worked hard but also constantly sought to get on the ball, wanted to make something happen for others. I just don't see the part of his mentality that is going to make it click for him. The timidness is overwhelming.

He works hard most games. He just doesn't put the effort to particularly good use and it's a personality problem. He doesn't seek out the game as it happens, has no desire to be the one that other players give the ball when something better needs to happen, makes no attempt to try and bend the game to his will. No tenacity, no swagger, no aggression, no desire.

And a manufactured red card.

Easy way to not be a scapegoat. Don't stink the place out.

Thought I was going to have at Vlad here, but nothing that happened in that game matters.

I am not angry, just genuinely hurt. Like, hurt that the game is not a sporting affair while they are still in the league. I don't think I'll watch another game until they are expulsed. It's tragedy on display here in a way that goes way beyond my team losing a game.

This game has been an absolute embarrassment for the league. Shameless stuff from maresca.

The chant that should have started the first minute

What a surreal experience this game is. I've been upset and angry before but this doesn't even feel like a sporting event. Absolutely meaningless spectacle.

At least he was where the action is for once. But blimey, he needs to go through a lot more good work in a game than he does to make up for that kind of decision making. Macca and grav have been good.

Think it'll have to be koumas when he's gassed.

Poor touch from Wirtz but at least it had a smidgen of ambition.

Yer what? Coutinho, Mane, Salah.

I don't know if coward is exactly right but it's something adjacent to it at any rate. He doesn't want to know what the game is asking for.

If only Wirtz had your confidence to back his own play.

Smicer was the same age when he joined us as Wirtz was when he joined. I'd sub on a fit 23 year old Smicer for Wirtz right now.

Munoz has tried but can't do it alone. Koumas also tried but can't really do much of anything. Barcola has simply lacked quality and character. I don't know wtf is going on inside Wirtz head playing like he doesn’t. A complete mystery to me. I expect also a mystery to himself based on his performance.

All eyes have been on Barcola and Wirtz. Probably the worst players on the pitch. The definition of damb squib.

Wirtz is Smicer in all the ways that matter. Except Vlad would probably have been better if not for the injuries.

Hard to see where the quality for a goal is going to come from. Munoz could get one from dogged tenacity but that's all I am seeing.

"decides to win the foul". Just say dive, ratface.