But the point remains that VVD isn’t in the side to help dictate our tempo, that’s not his job and not what he’s in the side for. The fact he ended up with the highest number of passes shouldn’t automatically elevate him to some kind playmaking role.
There were three midfielders ahead of VVD, one of which is the captain, who should have been taking over this responsibility, getting the ball off him and circulating it.
Dictating the tempo of the play may not be his key role and should be that of a midfielder I agree. But every player in the team has a certain degree of control or a role in keeping the play moving. Every player has a certain degree of control over the tempo right? All it takes is for one player to slow things down when the game is moving quickly for the entire tempo to shift. Are we agreed on that? VVD, Alisson, Firmino or any other player has to an extent a certain degree of control and a part to play in maintaining the tempo of play.
I'm not using the fact he made the highest number of passes to state that he should dictate the tempo of the game. But it means he would've had a significant degree of control in it.
There were instances when our attacks were being recycled in the second half (like a header from Maguire returning possession to Roberton deep in their half an he passed to VVD near the halfway line). We got possession back and a quick pass to an available Keita, Ox or Fabinho would've gone nicely to keeping the attack going. Instead we ended up back in our half and United back in formation having to go through their entire shape all over again.