The fabric seems to be unravelling a bit and once again we face the problems of where to patch, where to darn and where to replace.
We are plodding along with a somewhat unimaginative program of trying to win by playing with an 8 man defence and a two man attack, hoping we can continue to capitalize on the synergistic efforts of Kane and Son in a strategy which as kids we used to call “kick and run”. Is this truly the best Jose can come up with?
We have no forward midfield that can create; our most creative player is played too deep. The idea we can just soak up pressure, suck the opposition forward and hope to get a goal on the break, then defend a 1 – 0 lead is a strategy used by Big Sam and other mangers of the perennial relegation fodder.
Oh and of course…………….we have the now somewhat predictable Kane injury which happens each January ….. kung hei fat choi……. its the year of the ankle again!
Is this Jose’s fault? Well sort of. I don’t doubt he’s identified by now what he has and what he hasn’t, and what he has to make do with or make the best of.
I think he has done some some good work so far; shoring up weaknesses, calling out bullshit which has started (tho’ still a long way to go) in toughening up our competitive mentality – (tho’ the second half on Thursday showed us up as still having a Spursy streak).
So what’s missing? Well in the summer we should have bought Skriniar or some such who could boss the defence: Dier is not that man and Toby’s legs are beginning to fray. But I think we do have sufficient squad quality in defence that a proper “boss” of the defence will bring the others into line – I simply don’t think they are being led as a unit.
We need a creative Number10, someone who can dictate play, move the play or hold the play – (sadly CE is not that player: he was at one time but for the last few years was only about 60% of that player on a good day).
Without someone who can transition from defence to attack Harry gets drawn back, which “can” work well if the opposition overextend, but more frequently leave us without a target man to clear to – and given there’s no transitional midfielder, we give the ball away or plant in into the stands – finding touch is the other code!
My guess is this is something Jose is painfully aware of and is probably highly disappointed some players have not stepped up (namely Dier and Alli) into owning those two roles.
So do we blame Jose? Not at this point I’m guessing he’s bent Levy’s ear about what he needs to happen to mould and keep the squad fresh. But still, he has to do better and be more consistent – as young Mr Grove says, he screwed up against Liverpool and its not the only occasion this season….
So what needs to happen?
Well in simple terms Levy needs to sell the players who we don’t want and replace them with players who can/will allow Jose to play the football he wants………….. and there’s the rub.
Again and as with Jose its not black and white. There’s no doubt that, as someone noted earlier, we are now aspiring top 4 not mid table aspiring for top 6. The club infrastructure is world class and but for Covid would have had us starting to roll in it. Levy has done a first rate job in positioning the club as a robust business for the future.
But Levy has never been one to over-invest in the playing staff despite all evidence pointing to the cost of under-investment. We will buy Lo Celso instead of Bruno Fernandes why? Because it was a better deal, but like buying from Aldi, it might be cheaper, but its less ………. robust/talented/injury free/aggressive (strike out according to the particular Levy deal you’re now thinking of).
We are about to see the window close and in all likelihood no significant change to the squad. Given the two year transfer lock-down when the stadium was being built, I expect that Levy will be unlikely to release funds unless we can sell, which we will find challenging as unsurprisingly, he wants to buy at Covid prices but sell at pre-Covid prices.
Given the above, I think we will see little or no squad refreshment, a style of play predicated not on what we would like to do, but on what we can do, whilst Levy/Jose groom youngsters to make the money Covid has denied us.
So what next?
I think we will see out this season trying to win a cup and staying high enough to get a berth in Europe next year. CL will be tough unless we win the Ropey.
I think the squad will continue to fray and unravel in parts and I think we will see a lot of undermining in the press and unsettling as places like Real Madrid work to unseat players: I think both Son and Kane will be under a lot of pressure this summer to leave. I also think Levy will look at the money being offered and try to talk Jose into accepting plastic instead of leather.
If Levy does not fund Jose, he won’t walk but he’ll undermine and damage and force Levy to sack him…its what he does! Nonetheless, I can’t help but admire the man: for so long we have needed someone who has the single minded focus to succeed. He’s good for this club.
So in summary, both Levy and Jose are coins with two sides – good and bad. The big question, and it still remains to be seen, is whether they will work to bring the best or the worst out of each other.