Nick_ wrote:Anyone who thinks Bilic can't see the issues with Antonio at right-back must have an incredibly low opinion of him. He's aware that Antonio is a defensively limited player, but in the absence of a top-class right-back it's possible that it's worth the risk of playing him in order to give us an extra attacking edge, especially if the rest of the defensive unit are fairly solid.
I can see the logic in this, even if it hasn't worked out and I wish it would stop. But the gamble is on Antonio at right-back giving us a net-positive contribution end-to-end that Byram wouldn't (plus that would create selection issues further up the pitch).
Yes I can see the logic. That's the same conclusion I've arrived at as well. When everyone is fit, he'll have a hard time occupying any of the wing spots.
Today's game just shows how dangerous it is to lose/not to have possession against a team like Man. City. We were left chasing shadows every time we lost possession and between the likes of Tore, Antonio and Valencia(whom did quite well today I thought), we definitely like to cough up possession in the worst of positions.
I reckon once everyone is fit, the ability of our midfielders in Lanzini, Payet and Feghouli to keep possession in the middle will allow us to use Antonio exclusively as an overlapping runner, much like how Payet always stands off on the edge of their box waiting for Cresswell to overlap(funnily enough that was what De Bruyne and Silva did to us all day today - that through-ball behind and out wide for the cutback).
Payet and Feghouli can play the facilitator role to Cresswell and Antonio the same way De Bruyne and Silva did today. Our attack will look a lot more fluid and potent once we can play with some width.
Antonio, for his part, will need to curb his instincts to initiate the attack. Rather than trying to bulldoze pass 2-3 banks of set defensive lines from deep, he just needs to pass out to Noble/Lanzini to set up our midfield.
He needs to get into those positions where he can receive the ball and have only one more man to beat. All the midfielders bought in can all pick a pass, so if Antonio can improve his reading of the play - which is an underrated aspect of Cresswell's game. Cresswell just seems to know when to join an attack - he should be the recipient of some passes in positions where he can do the most damage.