Masuaku – had something to answer for on the Murray goal
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Arthur Masuaku’s return from international duty – where he is reported to have sustained a “very minor injury” – presents an interesting conundrum for Manuel Pellegrini.
I have no doubts the manager will update us on the situation ahead of the Spurs match at his presser but it may aid a decision which has been on the mind of many since Brighton.
Many words have been written about that Arthur performance and whilst it would be wrong to blame him entirely for Glenn Murray’s winner no one can deny his non reaction to acute danger in front of goal was a major factor.
My own worries right now extend beyond his apparent inability to defend. The reality is that whilst he looks decent on runs from the edge of our box to the opposition’s once he arrives absolutely nothing – or at best very little – happens.
The lack of those killer crosses coupled with the defensive frailties has one wondering just what his role is within the team right now.
Don’t wanna be harsh because we can all have bad days at the office but if Pelle is true to form – remember Rice and Sanchez after poor games were dropped – I see Arthur sitting this one out.
Aaron Cresswell isn’t the player he was but deserves a run out or two given the form of the current No 1 left back leaves something to be desired.
Either way I’m in total agreement that a new left sided defender or real substance is required in the winter market.
It may be that Arthur is more tentative with his attacking play now that there are only two centre backs .He certainly can cross sweetly, eg the pass for Marko’s goal v Southampton.
He looked decent v Manure but, along with others, certainly did not do his job against Glen Murray.
My concern for Cresswell would be a lack of match fitness, especially with the international break.
Arthur is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a defender. He simply is incapable of defending – that has always been the case – & led me to question why we had bought him in the first place. I have always been a severe critic of his “defending”. But then, he suddenly appeared to be quite a reasonable winger; & I thought that, maybe, I had been a little harsh on him. But, this season I am back to the opinion that he is almost a complete waste of space. If we are going to play him – & he might still have a future as an attacking wing back – he should on NO circumstances be used as a defender.
The thing us yes, hes not great at defending.
however IMO his essential if you want to play out from the back. He is allays involved in bringing the ball out from the back, passing with Anderson. creswell cant do that,.
I don’t feel that he is the best option. Yes, he is positive going forward but he is constantly leaving us exposed and with Anderson not great at defending either it leaves the left-hand side completely exposed…
Cresswell is slightly better at defending but has been very uninspiring of late, Ogbonna might bring some defensive solidity but will not be good as an attacking option…
A new Left Back should be our number 1 priority…
If you watch the positioning when Arthur plays and the positioning when Cresswell plays you will see the Cresswell is a lot tighter to the left CB eg Diop whereas Arthur is always wide so much so that there is a chasm between them and often a straight pr angled pass between them creates an easy overlap to draw a fould or get in behind. If Cresswell plays they can still get in by going wide where there is space but the back 4 is a lot more compact. There are plusses and minuses to both players, Arthur has more pace,is better at carrying the ball out and has better close control but argueablly Cresswell is a better defender, more accurate passer and more creative offensively in that he is a more accurate crosser of the ball, he also offers an option from dead balls that Arthur doesn’t. Truth is I expect Arthur to start, Pelle seems to think he is better for his style of play if not he would have been dropped by now but lets see…