The way we play really does draw teams out. None of the sidways passing at the top of the box stuff, which is way better to watch. We need CBs that are better on the ball, a new LB, replacements for Xhaka, Ramsey, and Ozil, and a wide player to pull this off at the highest level. That's the kind of spending spree City and 'pool have been on for a few years. If we don't do that, it's not on Emery, it's on the club.
The only thing that's worried me about Emery so far is team selection, not tactics. Starting Lacazette shows some progress, at least. I'm not so sure that he actually believes Guendouzi is the best choice, but that he might be thinking in a long term way that I'm a bit annoyed with. I don't see how he and Xhaka could every be effective together, it just doesn't make sense as a partnership.
CBs will be absolutely crucial to making the system work (as they are for any system, really). We don't have what we need there, but that doesn't mean scrap the system. We should continue to play it, develop the players we have as much as they can be, and move them on when we buy replacements. Same with fullbacks.
I like the way Ramsey was running the inside left channel, while Lacazette was running the inside right today. Auba really needed that goal as I think his confidence is low for whatever reason, and making space for him by dragging the CBs out to either side makes a lot of sense. If your wingers are going to cut inside like this, you have to make room for them.
I did think we were less open today than against West Ham, but anticipating danger is still not there. Torreira is excellent at this, Xhaka will never learn, and Guendouzi is young and not really that type of player anyway. Maitland-Niles could play the role excellently, I feel, but Torreira just has be to starting. Drop Xhaka, drop Guendouzi, I don't care which, just play Torreira. He can at least help in the middle of the park, even though we'll still be susceptible to the early cross. Cech hasn't really imposed himself in the box and has become more and more reliant on good positioning to make the save, rather than athleticism, speed, or reflexes. This makes sense for him, but not for us.
Something has to be done about CB and GK, internally. We're so poorly placed to know what might work, but Emery's gotta use the Europa league well and foster a sense of competition in those positions.
I'm fine with Welbeck as a late sub, but Mkhitaryan is just more effective than Ozil right now. I won't pretend to know the best way to manage Mkhi, Aaron, and Mesut, but so far I'd say the German looks like the odd man out, purely in the footballing sense.
