First post in a while just had a mad busy last couple of months but should hopefully be able to post regularly again
One of our poorest displays under Bielsa just everything was wrong about yesterday:
1. The performance yes we started the game quite well but I genuinely can't think of us creating any big chances or seriously testing the Charlton backline and in the second half we just ran out of ideas.
2. The selection of Shackleton over Forshaw or Roberts, Shackleton has got loads of potential but isn't ready to start games for us imo and i'm not convinced CM is his best position.
3. The substitutions- the change to 3-5-2 was unnecessary we just looked totally unbalanced and made the wrong changes to allow that system to work anyway imo. Harrison at LWB? when some of Alioski's best performances have come from that position and i'm by no means an Alioksi fan. A back 3 as well of White, Phillips, Cooper made me a bit nervous just always feel when you change to a back 3 it's crucial you have a full back in the 3 who is comfortable defending the wide areas especially with how far we push the wing backs forward, Berra should have come on. Charlton had they been braver on the counter attack could have easily got another goal with the spaces we left. Then Costa in the 10 role? Forshaw coming on who hasn't scored in 3 years coming on before Roberts in the middle despite being a goal behind?
We had controlled large periods of the first half just needed to make some attacking changes within the 4-1-4-1 shape to allow us to look more dangerous in the final 3rd. Roberts for Shackleton, Clarke for Harrison and Eddie for Bamford.
Player Ratings:
Casilla 4/10 awful awful piece of goalkeeping, making far too many errors considering how few shots he has to face thanks to the impact of Ben White
Dallas 7/10 another solid display got forward well tried to make things happen and didn't put a foot wrong defensively although was a little disappointed he wasn't more involved when he went to RWB in the second half.
White 6/10 as much as I praised him before he was partly to blame for the goal lost his marker (although recovered his run and very nearly got a block on the initial shot) again a solid performance and good on the ball again.
Cooper 7/10 solid display and complements White well.
Alioski 7/10 thought he played well provided plenty of energy and did little wrong defensively.
Phillips 5/10 when KP switched to CB he really struggled some woeful passing on a rare off day for Kalvin.
Costa 5/10 showed some lovely touches and turns at times but didn't have any impact on the game and hardly noticed Costa in the second half.
Shackleton 6/10 battled in the middle but has the lost the ball too easily in the middle too often during his run of games here.
Klich 6/10 started the game really well and found his range of passing including two wonderful passes into the final third that should have led to more. Very quiet second half, however.
Harrison 6/10 worked hard but just wasted so many crossing opportunities, far too often looked for the easy pass
Bamford 4/10 poor display far too easy for the centre backs and should have been sent off for his challenge in the second half. Defended Bamford all season but can't defend yesterday it was like a Bamford performance from the end of last season.
Substitutions:
Forshaw 6/10 tried to get on the ball but didn't really change much in the game.
Nketiah 5/10 a few half chances but never really got going.
Roberts 5/10 too big an ask putting Roberts on with 20 minutes to go expecting him to change a game when we were struggling to pass the ball 10 yards all the momentum had gone.
Just don't feel we are at the levels of last season going forward or performance wise and too many players are not showing up or at their levels from last season.