The overall play is very good, and like thenakedshades, I thought Fred was our outstanding performer this morning. Didn't give 80% of his passes away like in the past, but have to hope it's not a one-off. Some of his passes started counter-attacks, very good to see.
Recall the Bournemouth game where JoshKing juggled the ball backwards and then scored the goal. Oh so similar. And someone please go watch the replay... and explain to me why our captain-material star defender is shouting and looking at a direction away from where the ball is and thus unable to react when the ball is suddenly juggled back. Yes yes, I know he is trying to organise the defence, but surely you don't do it until the ball is seen high up and heading out of the penalty area? So exasperating to see the whole defence flatfooted by one single action. We turned into wooden statues and made that move look brilliant.
I thought MasonG and JesseL were the lowest contributors up front, not much link-up play through them. I guess maybe they helped to pull defenders away to make more space for MarcusR. The pace of MarcusR's shot is deadly in the box - it's so fast. Hope to see him and DanielJ have some freedom in switching sides to confuse opposition fullbacks.
While ScottM wasn't exactly outstanding last night, I think his partnership with Fred is a decent one. Has there been a game where JuanM was the No. 10 with them 2 behind? AndreasP and JesseL are hit-and-miss in that position (more M than H).
Are we are now officially a mid-table team? Seeing how we raise the game against the big names but capitulate and struggle against other mid-table teams.