[Albion] The first goal

[Bozza]

Strange one.

When Carlos Baleba is on the pitch, and he usually is, he's the cover when we have set pieces and throw the defenders up.

With Baleba not playing, that role fell to Diego Gomez, who I noticed was on the receiving end of some short shrift from JPvH in the immediate aftermath of the goal.

First of all his positioning was all wrong - he just didn't have the run of Rashford covered, which left Lewis Dunk in a foot race he was never going to win.

He also appealed for offside, both as Rashford made his run and immediately after he scored, with Verbruggen joining in too, despite the Villa man being well inside his own half when the ball was played.

Terrible goal to concede.

 

[Si Gull]

Extremely poor defending for this level. You'd be embarrassed getting caught out like that playing down the park. We do have a habit of just switching off defensively, and it happens too often.

 

[A1X]

Big fan of Gomez but he seems very naive defensively compared to his rivals for his place (Baleba, Wieffer, Ayari)

 

[Soton Seagull]

Bart's indecisiveness also meant there was no chance of saving it or forcing him.wide.

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

Big fan of Gomez but he seems very naive defensively compared to his rivals for his place (Baleba, Wieffer, Ayari)

I think he'll be worth an absolute fortune in a couple of years. Really like what I'm seeing.

But yeah.. he's got some learning to do.

 

[Simster]

Bart's indecisiveness also meant there was no chance of saving it or forcing him.wide.

There's absolutely no way that goal is in any way on Bart. None.

He has issues with his keeping for sure, but that goal came from rank bad defending. There's no way it should have come to a one on one with Verbruggen in the first place.

 

[Soton Seagull]

There's absolutely no way that goal is in any way on Bart. None.

He has issues with his keeping for sure, but that goal came from rank bad defending. There's no way it should have come to a one on one with Verbruggen in the first place.

Not in build up, no. However he stuttered in decision making about whether to advance or retreat, very clearly changing his mind and ended up stood in no man's land.

Terrible goal overall and he was last line of defence, sadly he made it easy for the goalscorer by not giving him a decision to make.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

A good keeper reads the danger and mops that up

 

[trueblue]

What the pictures can’t show is that Dunk was already flat out sprinting by that point too - busting a gut to get back from attacking the corner. Glad he’s not getting the stick. Inexperience from Gomez, caught ball-watching. He’ll learn and be a superb player I think.

 

[Milano]

Not in build up, no. However he stuttered in decision making about whether to advance or retreat, very clearly changing his mind and ended up stood in no man's land.

Terrible goal overall and he was last line of defence, sadly he made it easy for the goalscorer by not giving him a decision to make.

This.

If you swapped keepers last night then IMO we don't lose that match. In goalkeeping terms he's still an apprentice.

 

[RandyWanger]

That'll be a fun one for them to analyse and reflect upon this morning

 

[Bozza]

I think Verbruggen could have got to that before Rashford did.

In the first still he's on the edge of the D outside his box, and the second still is where Rashford takes his first touch, which is 4-5 yards from Verbruggen's starting position.

 

[Bozza]

What the pictures can’t show is that Dunk was already flat out sprinting by that point too - busting a gut to get back from attacking the corner. Glad he’s not getting the stick. Inexperience from Gomez, caught ball-watching. He’ll learn and be a superb player I think.

Yep - in real-time from the WSU I noticed Dunk in that very distinctive flat-out sprint of his before I clocked the danger from Rashford and uttered "oh, shit" under my breath.

 

[Springal]

I think Verbruggen could have got to that before Rashford did.

In the first still he's on the edge of the D outside his box, and the second still is where Rashford takes his first touch, which is 4-5 yards from Verbruggen's starting position.

View attachment 199452

View attachment 199453

That was my view at the time in real time, or at least don’t give a ‘world class’ striker a load of space and time to slot home

 

[portlock seagull]

I think he'll be worth an absolute fortune in a couple of years. Really like what I'm seeing.

But yeah.. he's got some learning to do.

What if he doesn’t improve with time? Many don’t after all. Evan Ferguson for example. Aaron Connelly…It’s incredibly tough at the top. Anyway, first time I saw him in the flesh last night and wasn’t impressed. Bad night all round though.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

It's all CASHIN'S fault, I think you'll find.

 

[The Optimist]

It's all CASHIN'S fault, I think you'll find.

Absolutely. If he was better and quicker he’d have been on the pitch and caught Rashford. Cashout on him now!

 

[tstanbur]

There's absolutely no way that goal is in any way on Bart. None.

He has issues with his keeping for sure, but that goal came from rank bad defending. There's no way it should have come to a one on one with Verbruggen in the first place.

The goal is largely Bart’s fault. That wasn’t a difficult decision to make to come out and clear the ball, he would have got there way before Rashford.

And Bayern supposedly looking at him to replace Neuer, the ultimate “sweeper keeper”.

Bart will get another pass, because he’s “young”. So many errors leading to goals this season now.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Gomez starting position from the corner is the problem. The player guarding the counter attack is usually stationed right on the half way line. Gomez is well forward of that, leaving the space for a 60 yard foot race

Verbruggen should have come. He would have got there. But having decided to stay, there was nothing he can do when Rashford's shot bobbled over his arm. That bit was just luck

 

[Si Gull]

That was my view at the time in real time, or at least don’t give a ‘world class’ striker a load of space and time to slot home

Had Bart committed to it I'm pretty sure he'd have got there before Rashford, or at least put some pressure on him. As soon as Bart hesitated it gave Rashford a free run on goal, and you'd expect him to score more times than miss, in that situation.