I feel like the super patient slow build up play is dependent on a number 10 who can create a bit of magic and unlock a defence, which we don’t have.
We didn’t have a shot on target yesterday, and most of the crosses were just hopeful drives across the box. Playing slow possession football nullifies the pace we have upfront but we haven’t got the magic to create anything against teams defending so deep, so we get a bit of neither.
Fair bit of that is down to Azaz, who isn’t that good. For me he has to work a hell of a lot harder as a starting point. We look garbage down the left, and someone in the match thread posted that Borges is being hung out to dry, which is true - Azaz doesn’t work that hard to support his full back either way. Hamilton at least got back after he came on and didn’t leave Borges one on one.
And it’s not like he’s even that creative in possession. He’s not like a Lee Tomlin, who didn’t defend but wasn’t capable of having a sensible touch of the ball, every touch was either an outrageous through ball or a trick, proper X factor. At best Azaz is a pretty passer but barely impacts games, drifts around and is lightweight, doesn’t create and isn’t that brave on the ball.
It seems to be our “tactic” to overload the right and leave the left to fend for itself, but we need to sort that out asap - and I think it starts with Azaz getting some time on the bench. We have to mix it up and play a bit more direct as well, Lath is rapid so use it.