I tried to start a thread of it's own but it got binned. So any positives at all? I thought we were excellent first half and knocked it about with purpose and looked dangerous every time we went forward
Out of the new lads Enrique and Downing were probably our two best players. I'm sure it'll come for Hendo when he settles into a position
Lots of positives, but we didn't win so of course the sky is falling for some.
Our new left side looks really good. Enrique looked exactly the player I thought he'd be though he needs some attacking license. Suarez is still a monster player. We should probably have won that game, with more 'balanced' officiating we would have won it in the first half. IMO that was nothing like our 'first choice' right side either, what with Kuyt, Johnson and Kelly waiting to come in.
Lots of new players making their professional debuts, some players rusty after the summer, the team is still gelling and learning to play together.
Personally my real negatives are that our midfield showed in the second half it doesn't know how to play together properly yet, and we need to integrate our new players into the team without unbalancing it as a unit. Wouldn't be surprised if Kenny experiments what with Meireles, Aquilani, Spearing etc waiting to come in too. We've plenty of options/formations to try out until we get it right.