daredevil Strong on paper but the left side has suffered a fair bit this season, especially early on when Havertz at left 8 was tried.
Havertz was in lousy passing form for a long time, but the problem that remains now he's come on isn't unclear: Havertz is an off the ball specialist, so his natural game is to drift away from defenders, rather than drawing them and creating space a winger or an overlap can exploit. There's no Jesus "master of chaos" effect. And Rice by his own account is still learning the ropes of a more advanced role.
No need to bin any player but for the moment I'd understand it if Jesus, Zinchenko, Kiwior or Martinelli was put up for sale as part of a fix for this.
We'd benefit greatly from a player whose natural game multiplies that whole left side. The desirable traits are athleticism and physicality (fitter than Trossard), elite ball control (better one on one than Martinelli) and goal threat from distance (unlike Jesus). Could be a winger, an 8 or a left back depending on who else we place our trust in.
Sure it'd be lovely if Rice or Martinelli just found the next gear, but is that hope realistic? Jesus won't threaten the goal enough, and Trossard is not a 90 minute player.
