Written by kirsikka
A big day that needed some big selection calls, with Kerkez, Huijsen and Tavs all unavailable for one reason or another. I suspect mindful of wanting a pacey attacker on the bench in Dango, AI boldly parachuted Soler into the starting XI with the welcome return of Senesi from his long-term injury the other big call.
Man of the Match against Man City (FA Cup)
Kepa
Kepa
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Evanilson
Evanilson
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Senesi
Senesi
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Kluivert
Kluivert
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Someone else
Someone else
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Early feisty start getting stuck into them without creating anything but matching them at least
Our early, feisty start was brought to a sharp stop after 11 minutes when a ball in the area was volleyed at close range near Tyler Adams only to his inexplicably raised arm. Only one possible outcome. As for the gazillionth time since the start of Feb, we needlessly gave away a penalty.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Having not saved any of the recent batch, Kepa went low to his right and saved. Brilliant.
We were almost architects of our own downfall again shortly afterwards when a terrible backpass turned into a perfect through ball for Haaland, but he knocked his finish over the bar. It was a huge let-off.
During this time, our press was in action, and it paid dividends when pressure on their full back caused him to play a poor ball across the middle, which Cook intercepted. He flicked it to Brooks, who dinked in a delicious cross. Kluivert knocked it goalward and past the keeper, and Evanilson arrived for the 10cm tap-in, preventing any last-ditch clearance. 1-0.
Kepa was called into action to make multiple saves, and he was more than a match for most of them but Semenyo also looked a danger against their makeshift right back.
Man City spent most of the rest of the half trying to remove chaos from the equation, controlling the ball but it was mostly two teams sparring until the break.
Half time saw them ring the changes to try and alter the way the match was being played and it had instant results. We immediately we looked vulnerable down our right but didn’t heed the warning of the first two breaks as, on the third the ball was played across goal on a plate for Haaland to get the equaliser.
Given how the pendulum had swung so dramatically – it was total one-way traffic – AI responded earlier than usual with his subs but nothing changed.
In fact, it got worse. Semenyo couldn’t cleanly clear a ball and the ball was flicked on by Man City to the sub striker who’d been on about 10 second and his shot crept under Kepa. A moment where he should have done better, but given the rest of his performance, it would be churlish to criticise him.
And, to be honest, that was the match. Man City could and probably should have scored more – Senesi cleared one off the line, and another hit the post – but they also spurned lots of opportunities to shoot or finish.
We looked like a team with nothing in the tank and, if I’m honest, we didn’t cause them a single problem in the second period. They were completely comfortable. Was that down to them, their tactics or us, our missing personnel and players looking burned out? Probably a combination of all of those.
Game over and still no FA Cup semi-final for AFCB and I can’t really say we deserved anything else than the defeat today.
Selected Player Watch
—– Soler —–
Looked a little unsure at times, but come on, it was a big occasion and he was dropped directly into the heavy fire zone. Given all that, he did just fine and what a learning experience for him.
—– Senesi —–
Put straight back into the action after a long layoff and pretty much did his job.
—– Kepa —–
He’s had a poor run lately, but it looks like he’s reset over the break because he was superb today. Yes, the penalty save, but even apart from that, he was excellent. You could argue he should have done better with the second goal, but given the rest of his performance it would be harsh on him. Our MotM.
—– Cook —–
The longer the experiment has gone on, the more I think he’s looked exposed at right back. Now Smith is back, I think we’ll only see him there when we’re chasing a game and want to put a ball player there at the expense of defensive nous. Again, not his fault as not his position. And I don’t think he was helped too much by some of the defensive work in front of him.
—– Christie —–
You’ve got to wonder if his engine has blown for the season or if the injury is significantly hampering him since he was nowhere in the second period. It’s a big worry.
AI and Tactics Watch
Watch the first half and you’d be more than satisfied. True, we gave up some chances but we also caused them occasional problems and looked completely in the game. Watch the second half, and you’ll be deeply disappointed as it was one way traffic.
It was a match won and lost at half time and through the respective benches. They made a change that totally changed the complexion of the game and we simply didn’t have an answer. Despite AI throwing everything available at it, players and tactics, nothing shifted the pattern of play after the break and no attacks seemed to stick.
Funny how Cunha had such an oversized impact on both this and the last match. If Kerkez hadn’t been suspended then we would have looked a different proposition down that side throughout the ninety. Instead, the full-backs on both sides were mostly toothless as an attacking force.
That’s no criticism of those who played there – an out-of-position central midfielder, a youngster making his second appearance for us, a guy coming back after months out injured, a winger playing out of position and a centre-back dropping in there since there was nobody else. You can forgive all of them as it isn’t really their role, but you can equally see what a difference having that natural dynamism there makes. Something worth noting for those who think Kerkez will be easily replaced.
I can’t help but feel frustrated because even though we haven’t got the results in recent weeks, we’ve been giving teams trouble. However, we let Man City off lightly today. Is this the price being paid for having no sub options available in January? The press all but disappeared in the second period. If I’m honest, we were sitting so deep it was almost GON like at times. Credit Man City, of course, but that isn’t how an AI team approaches things. There was no snarl. No in-your-face aggression. No relentless chasing.
To be fair to the players, I think the occasion got to some of them. There were a lot of misplaced simple passes that meant we never built up a head of steam or really got into them. Instead we just watched the ball immediately come back time and again after we played it forward, mostly directly to them.
There’s still a lot of perspective to be had. I don’t think anyone is here because we expected to see our team winning FA Cups. Yet, we were most definitely in the conversation this season. That’s something to enjoy.
And there’s still the league to go back to. One final push to pick up the points needed so this doesn’t end as a season with great memories and dreams of what might have been.
For AI, he needs to spend the next couple of days getting into the heads of those players. They have the ability, they have the tactics, they have the will, now they just need to return to the belief they had back in January.
Even though it’s been a poor couple of months in terms of results, I think they’ll do it. As painful as it is being knocked out at this point again, I believe it will give the players a jolt and we’ll finish the season strongly.
Not to be today, but it’s a shame it ended with the whimper of an un-AI like half. Roll on Wednesday so we can put this behind us.
Your say…
table said…
Where to begin? Well, regardless of the second-half display, we were 45 minutes away from a Wembley semi and knocking what should be the biggest club left in, out : )
I think our herculean heroic performances caught up with us in the second half. Unlike earlier in the season when Man City stepped up a bit, we were unable to match them, see that out, then go again. I feel Christie and Semenyo are playing through some pain, and it’s starting to affect them earlier in matches. I hope they don’t burn out completely.
The depth of the squad, suspensions and injuries all combined to put us at a big disadvantage 2nd half. The way we play, we need to replace fit players that have given their all for 60 minutes, with players as fit as them. We just didn’t have it yesterday.
Good to see the return of Senesi and Smithy. Lewis Cook is now available for midfield duties (even if Smithy only last an hour, Cook drops back and Christie comes on). Now Soler is back in the fold, Dango no longer needs to be kept in the “Emergency Left Back box), he can start or replace Semenyo. Christie and Semenyo regain full batteries and show us why they’re undroppable : )
Not a massive fan of Man City or Pep, just about got all the shithousery black arts covered. They are certainly not as good as Man City were, no longer the boring toppy-tappy stuff. Some of it was quite direct back-to-front, big guys all over the pitch, feigning injuries, playing up to the ref, playing for free kicks, just like Pulis with a Spanish, not Welsh, accent : )
What has happened to Foden and Grealish? Foden, I sort of noticed the first half, then only noticed when he was subbed. Grealish? £100 million for someone to come on to kill the game? He had so much talent, able to beat players, create something from nothing with his skill. Now, it’s dribble slowly towards someone, hold the ball up, get fouled or pass it sideways and back. Wasted talents from an English point of view.
Better leave it there, got to catch up on all the things that didn’t get done last week. I’m not sure I could have taken the emotional/nervous tension of the build-up to a Wembley Semi or possibly a Wembley Final (although I’m willing to give it a go next season) : ) – To join the conversation, please click here.