Michail Antonio insists we must take the positives from yesterday’s game and he’s right!
Frustrating, annoying and disappointing though the last two games have been, something is becoming increasingly apparent.
Finally , the team are starting to show they are getting the Pellegrini way of playing and although – as all will readily admit – too many goals are hitting the net, some style and approach is at last starting to show.
We are passing the ball well, losing possession less and controlling long periods of each game. All of that looked some way off even a couple of months ago.
We need better players in certain areas of the pitch for sure but the self belief is starting to show and although we will need some patience it looks as though things are on the up.
A line leader and strong central defender are essentials this summer but a fit and firing Lanzini will take the pressure off midfield signings where Yarmolenko will return.
Antonio meanwhile added: “We did play well and dominate the game. We scored goals and we had the fight and the grit this week, but we just didn’t manage to get the three points that we need. Next week, hopefully we can.”
“We dominated the first half and we tried to come out in the second half and do the same thing again, but they came out and showed why they’re in the Premier League as well.
“As a professional footballer, you can’t take your eye off it, but all you can do is go out there and give your best to try and get three points from every game, then we’ll see where we finish. We have got to keep going, keep pushing and try to give something to the fans until the end of the season.
After very poor performances against Cardiff, Huddersfield and Everton, the fans deserved to see an improvement and more effort. The team have now played nearly 40 competitive games under Pellegrini so to suggest they are finally getting how to play the Pellegrini way is laughable. How long does it or should it take? We haven’t won an away league game in 2019 and conceded 4 goals to Wimbledon. Is this improvement or the same old West Ham. Sadly I think it’s the latter. The highlight of the season for me was our home win over Man Utd but we couldn’t maintain that level of performance.
I think the problem John is the inherited players none of which have the ability to play the way Pellegrini wants until we replace them all we will never truly play the way MP wants, of those he inherited the only one that fits his style is Rice, possibly Lanzini and Zaba, Arnautovic is ineffective as a striker in a possession based style, his strength is on the counter attack and he was the most technically gifted of those he inherited. Despite that on the ball he has made the most of what he was left, its without it we continue to leak very soft goals.Hopefully he will continue to be backed and some of the youth players will step up, Holland, Silva etc Diangana is definitely not ready a season on loan required to improve his decision making possibly ? Holland makes good passes and scores at U23s level hopefully he can translate that in the seniors.
Look I am not saying I don’t like Rice, but in my opionion he lacks speed and his passing is not that great. He can improve passing but you can’t improve speed. 70 million is a ridiculous number and if they offer it, take it. I do not want Perez as a starter next year but you see when he is on the pitch he thinks like a striker and makes goals. Marko doesn’t think like a striker, maybe we keep him and move him.back to midfield and get some good strikers. As for luck, at some point you got to make luck, quit buying gimpy players for crying out loud and we need a better squad rotation.
Marko is not a striker he had a good run but we need a real striker, Perez proved that today. Defensively we need better players. And honestly if someone comes in for Rice at 70 milion, I say sel him, he is not as good as the hype. If we sell him at 70 mill, we can buy him back when people realize he is a player who is maxing out his talent not a player that will get better.
Perez has been good off the bench & tho doesn’t look great he has scored poacher goals now has 6 avg around goal around evryo 100mins tho most mins & 3 goals in cups. His brace was huge for us in PL & this goal. But he wants regular football & would sell with age & high wages in summer tho I would not sell Rice keep at least another season bc you take him out team not only do we lose he great protection, break up play but he always pkay all 90 & is key in linking defence & mid to attackers without him I really think we would be battling relegation this season. Bc he has been that DM we’ve needed for seasons & Obiang Wilshere or Noble can’t do that job.
And very hard & expensive to find a player like him. That’s why players like Rodri cost a lot.
M’Vila I like but not as replacement we could of for on free last summer or Jan when Turkey club let him & others go.
Looking at frees forget Medel we should get someone like Enock Kwateng from Nantes only 22 is like Wan Bissaka very good quick strong defender only has one assist but can get fwd at 22 can get better at that but is great defender & CB cover we need stronger back line. That’s a Free I would have & wagwa wouldn’t break bank & no injury issues. Our big money will be on CF but for 2nd CF we can grab class from Ligue 2 like Diallo 20 goals 23yo. Hopefully China come back in for Arnie & IMO we don’t really need more wingers.
I think we have been a lot better. A month ago we were the most improved team from last season w Arsenal behind us but seems like we’ve been stuck around 40 points all year. And we have had bad luck like Man U & a lot of injuries & Armies issues didn’t help. But we bought a lot of injury prone againg players Yarmo who I like but 30 had injury issues £100k, Sanchez £70k, Wilshere younger but even when fit doesn’t look what we need. Another reason I’d stay away from Shelvey especially at £20m. RB as I’d mention in a free I’d grab Enock Kwateng only 22 I s quick strong great defender a lot like Wan Bissaka & versatile. Not a Medel or Dzeko who is not free tho some think is.
One of our main issues is shipping goals in last 10-20minutes we have seen that too many times.
And with MP’s style missing a reliable 10+ or really 15+ CF is what we need we have wingers. Spend the bigger amount to get Mitrovic or Haller & then get some smart buys def need box to box CM.
But we are better. Be nice to have £50m Kitty tho plus sales. Bc I wouldn’t sell Rice as mentioned he has been crucial to our play & would be hard to replace took out years to get a DM like him & we can’t afford a Rodri.
Wingers we are fine on IMO. Hoping China even offer £30m for Arnie again bc if do we should not think twice. Bc our other players besides Felipe or ones we would sell are at best £10m like Obiang lucky to get that priba be more like £7m.
So have to do so smart recruiting & there I talent in lower leagues Ligue 2 even & Bundesliga 2 worth a £2-4m punt as extra CF Diallo. Liga MX have some players Guzman CM, Edson RB CB, Brasil. Husilloa will have work to do. Hopefully find some gems
Wow, we finally have a young academy player who is excelling every week and yet apparently we all need to realise that he aint that good and will prove it. What chance do we have with that attitude? Maybe he is maxing out his talent, but we can’t say for a fact that he won’t improve. The evidence so far suggests he will.
I agree with No 32, Pellegrini is trying to implement his football with half a squad who aren’t capable and some who can but have been unable due to injury. The question is, will the board support him for another summer so that he has a chance of turning the club around? Time and investment is needed to make it work.