No doubt we'll hear Bielsa trot out the usual we had the possession and chances to win and there's an argument for that although I thought today was a disaster both in our performance and the manager's tactics. At half-time he did what a lot of fans have been asking for and played 2 up front with Bamford and Eddie but then quickly abadoned that and took off Bamford and put on Roberts. In that seccond half we were all over the shop and yes Bielsa did go for a Plan B but it's obvious that he doesn't like doing it but more importantly it's obvious he hasn't a clue what the hell is going on when he's playing. Instructions were being handed to the players by paper and Bielsa and his entourage were all pacing around arms in the air frustrated for most of the second half. We had no central midfield in that 2nd half. Philips sat deep in a back 3 but everytime he got the ball he had no outlet in front of him. All out play had to come down the wings and that just didn't happen today. Helder Costa has been most fans choice to start but today's performance maybe tells you why he hasn't. He was bloody awful. Little chips, dinks, crosses - all to a red shirt and he was unable to take on his man. A real luxury player today we could have done without. On the other wing you've got Harrison, who arguably was are most effective player - he was ineffective but he saw more of the ball and got into more good positions than anyone, Charlton were poor but they had a bit of pace and lots of fight in them and they frustrated the hell out of us. Second half was appalling time wasting but we could have still be playing all night and wouldn't have scored today. We ended the game with a left and right winger who can't cross a ball, two players who are not match fit (Forshaw and Roberts) and a midfielder in Klich who has just completely forgotten how to shoot. He was the biggest disappointment today for me and I think his position should be rethought. Is it all falling apart ? No. but today there was panic and confusion around the team and the way we just stopped playing through midfield second half was terrible. Bielsa will no doubt point to the fact that an extra attacker means being less effective in midfield - yes I get that but being totally ineffective in midfield with one les player has to ask questions around players like Klich who are suppose to be playing in midfield. Scores: Kiko - 2. That goal was a nightmare. What was he doing trying to punch a ball as low as that. Dallas - 6. Showed good energy to get forward but every final ball and every shot was terrible. Allioski - 5. Tried to get forward first half and had one decent shot that was well saved. Cooper - 6. Played the second half a left back in a back 3 and didn't do it very well. Did you a lot of good defensive things. What is going on at corners ? White - 7. Our best defender but again I'd ask about his contribution to defending corners Philips - 5. Struggled against a bit of pace first half which really highlighte how pedestrian he is. Second half he struggled at the back. His passing was off today with many passes going astray. On the positive side, he did get through a hell of a lot of good work and tackles. His set pieces were also decent towards the end. Klich - 4. Poor. Costa - 2. Poorer. Bamford - 4. Should have scored with a point blank header first half but it's just to happening for him. He's obviously frustrated and for me he has to be dropped. Shackleton - 5. He got forward a few times in the first half bu tlike Derby he didn't do anything to impact the game. Was taken off at half-tme. Harrison - 4. Last ball poor all day. Subs: Eddie - 6. Lively. Needs to start - we need to be scoring early. Roberts - 5. One or two nice touches Forshaw - 5. Nearly scored at the end but like all his chances it was a nearly scored. This was a worrying performance because we were all over the shop and I'm not sure where it all leaves us for Tuesday against the Baggies. I'm absolutely gutted. Beer time.
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