A disappointment but certainly not a surprise and on both form and the balance of play, it was pretty much the right result. It was also a good illustration of the problems we have – and folks, we do have problems!
There is no simple solution – even ENIC and Levy selling would not change anything in the short term, (but would IMO go a long way to fixing a core, underlying deficiency in THFC). No, the problems are many and some are compound, i.e. you can’t just line them up and fix them one-by-one: the fix for one will change the dynamics of a fix for another.
THE PLAYERS:
There is no doubt that some players have switched off and are now going through the motions waiting for a transfer opportunity or for Jose to quit/get sacked. There appear to be white ants in the dressing room undermining the Manager’s instructions and working against what he wants to do on the pitch: I think the identity of some of these is evident in non-selection.
We have good players, but we don’t have all the right players.
THE MANAGER:
It’s easy to pile the blame onto Jose and in truth he should take some blame for strange team selection, spouting indiscreet crap about players on TV, etc., but he’s struggling to get what he wants from players who are unable or unwilling to unpick their game (which has served them in plying their trade) and re-assembling it. Clearly, Tanguy has, as has Harry, Serge, Hugo, Lucas to name a few; all have improved under Jose’s coaching, but we need more and to eliminate those who cannot adapt. Without being able to directly manipulate his squad, Jose is a toothless tiger.
Jose has not been given the carte blanche he has had in previous manifestations of his divinity; this time he’s having to do some work! I think he knew that when coming in, but I also think he underestimated the extent to which Levy would frustrate him. He wanted Skriniar, and he might have been the strong leader Jose wanted to build a defence around with enough other defenders in the squad to find the blend that worked. He didn’t want Bale, but he’s had to dance a dog and pony trot at every press conference about why he doesn’t pick a former star whose back legs are now decidedly squeaky.
He needs more strength in depth, and again he’s been frustrated (I think) by Levy’s inability to let players go: Levy will not take a 2-million loss on a player but will keep him and then pay 2 million-a-year wages for the bloke to do nothing. Without clearing out the deadwood Jose is stymied by Levy saying we need to sell to buy, but then not being prepared to sell!
THE TACTICS
Tactically we started well, containing and drawing sides out then striking lightning fast on the break, but they soon cottoned onto that and initiated their own tactics to stop our smash and grab game. We moved then to ultra-deep containment a stifling of games. That didn’t work: we don’t have the personnel. Strangely Jose continued down this path despite this, I don’t doubt coaching players how to kill a game, but without a receptive and/or capable squad.
I think he knows what he wants to do, and I can see merits in some of his ideas, but he needs several new players to achieve this as some of the current lot just don’t seem to get it.