London is Blue Dispatch #019

An unbeaten run of four league games, with three wins (which should have been four vs Arsenal) was snapped in half by Brentford, after past mistakes and individual errors came to haunt us again. Here are a few things that went right and a few others that left us feeling badly stung by the Bees.

The Good

Throughout the game, we offered various solutions vs Brentford’s “endure-the-siege” mentality vs quality sides. As mentioned in the match preview podcast on London is Blue a few days before the game, our opponents usually retreated into a compact 5-3-2 block – the three central midfielders close together to protect the back five, but conceding pockets on either side on the midfielders, in front of the wide CBs.

Cole Palmer, one of the two left-footed right-sided attackers (Madueke the other) underlined his burgeoning credentials of a nifty creator. The first big chance of the game was crafted by him in the 19^th minute. Here, he picks the deeper pocket (adjacent to the two strikers and in front of the three CMs), utilizing that extra second to pick a gorgeous ball over the top for Cucurella, who scuffed it on his weaker foot.

Minutes after halftime, that same combination clicked again as Palmer picked out another lovely pass to Cucurella, this time between Brentford’s lines. His cutback was unfortunately cut out in a crowded Brentford box.

The right half-space pocket we highlighted was exploited by right-sided defenders. In the 34^th minute, makeshift RB Disasi received there and slotted in a throughball that was inches away from Jackson’s reach.

In the 88^th minute, Silva (RCB) waited, and picked out a superb throughball through that space for Reece, whose cutback should have been converted but deflected off Palmer and away from Washington.

There were nice individual endeavours up front too, with Gallagher coming off the left, playing a 1-2 off Jackson into that pocket to unleash a low shot that was saved by Flekken.

Sterling, often doubled or tripled up on by Brentford, had his moment when dribbling off the left, then quickly moving to the blindside of Brentford’s RCB, before fluffing the second of our big chances on the day.

The Bad

The naivety which plagued the two earlier losses against two frustrating setups vs Nottingham Forest and West Ham earlier in the season popped up again. Like in the strong showing vs West Ham in the first half, we negated Brentford’s ability to win second balls, denied them dangerous set-pieces (just the one corner) and forced their strikers deep to prevent dangerous breaks in the first 45. They had one shot, worth 0.08xG.

But with Brentford applying more pressure in the second half, a young, inexperienced team once again lost their composure and forgot to do the basics right. Brentford were even kind enough to offer warning signs for each goal. The one for the first came in the 50^th minute, when Palmer went to sleep, allowing his marker to shoot unmarked from the penalty spot, an effort that, luckily, was straight at Sanchez.

With Gusto leaving the far-post unmarked for Arsenal’s second, this time it was Disasi hibernating at rightback, allowing for the easiest of headers for Pinnock.

The second warning sign was in the 89^th minute, with an attacking set-piece somehow allowing Brentford to break away 4v2, with only Sterling and Maatsen tracking back furiously. Again, Brentford hit straight at Sanchez from a wonderful chance. Only seconds later, Maatsen was too easily wrestled away in his defensive third, allowing for a cross that Mbeumo hit inches wide of the post.

Those two disasters combined, with Maatsen losing a header on the edge of the box on a corner. Sanchez, up for the goalkick, showed some impressive recovery pace but Brentford’s breakaway duo broke no sweat in walking the ball into the net.

The Ugly

With Enzo and Mudryk out because of minor muscle injuries, Pochettino was left with 9 first team players out, further underlining just how far away we are from our strongest XI. The subs he made were more out of helplessness than necessity. Reece looked understandably rusty; Washington, who only turned 18 in June, did not attempt a single pass for the first ten minutes he was on the field. Ugochukwu was decent, but failed to cut away the vital second ball leading up to the second goal. Maatsen, unfortunately, had a downright diabolical day, making multiple errors which led to a chance and a goal. Barring Reece, captain and undisputed starter when fit, the average age of the three other subs was less than 20. None of the three were game-changing substitutions, which Mudryk could have been.

With Broja and Chukwuemeka still a few weeks away from optimal sharpness and Nkunku out till at least January end, there could be harsh(er) lessons in store for a young team learning on the fly. On the bright side, Tottenham, City, Newcastle and City will not retreat into stubborn blocks, all offer the chance of statement, season-defining wins and are historically the kind of sides Poch tends to do well against. Hopefully, the next London derby sees us make amends for the chance missed against another North London rival.