If we are dropping deep to accommodate the soft playing out from the back, then it doesn't do much good if we aren't able to make a quick turnover in possession. Against Sheffield today I think it worked pretty well, because we kept possession and had creative players to feed our trio. However, a lot of times this season we have played our way out of soft pressure too deep, too slow, just keeping possession in defence for no reason. To me it isn't very calming or helpful if a defender is stressed in the moments that count, plays a good possession game very deep and is pondering on the ball when going forward. This has happened a lot this season. No point in keeping possession in defence just to always end up in welcomed by a wall of defenders sitting deep once you go forward, it's hard to break down a team that isn't out of balance. I get that it's a learning curve too for the team, but to say Lindelof has brought any calmness is weird. He is hoofing and clearing balls, heading balls to opposition players, losing duels no different to most CB's and our team has to drop back deep quite a lot due to him not being able to intercept and tackle higher up the pitch. Almost every time he tries to be aggressive he gets outmuscled or turned and the opposition gets a break off it.
He was really good today and did a lot of good things. I didn't enjoy all of it, but he displayed a controlled defensive performance. He really only pondered on the ball one time late in the game, that isn't a lot so it represents good progress if he can keep that up.