Not sure why all the plaudits for Brightons football is coming from - the commentator was comparing them to Man City. They are decent but let’s be clear - we played with the most pathetic tempo and press I have seen in a long while - it was a stroll for them.
lost count of the amount of times their 2 CBs and deepest midfielder played triangles around one pressing attacker …others just kind of strolling to cut off lines. Rinse and repeat…ball into feet of an attacker dropping deep…same old same old…sometimes we man marked him and chased him into midfield and pressured him but not enough to make them rethink. Ball around the corner but more often than not to no one. Then for us - So many long balls - at Dunk and Webster!!! Jesus talk about bread and butter. We were shite and still had multiple chances.
Essentially, we allowed Brighton to play and they came up with very little. Fair play to them budget wise and confidence wise this season and as I said - decent footballing side…real PL quality. But they are like Arsenal at the start of this season, not good enough for teams to completely adapt and neutralise them so they are in a comfortable halfway house where they can beat lesser sides and catch out bigger teams that won’t adjust to counteract their strengths…
we never even tried to impose ourselves so the level that Brighton showed is really just expected of a PL side. We were just bodies on the field at times on Sunday. A fully fit side don’t let Brighton feel so comfortable in the first place.
I would worry for us without fresh legs to execute ETHs plan cause we can’t carry 4 or 5 unfit/undisciplined players in ANY game and expect a good performance.
Varane back for the final with Lindelof, Shaw back to fullback, Cas,Fred behind Bruno, a fit Rashford, Antony and Garnacho. Complete different energy on the pitch. Sunday was a stressful dirge orf a game.