Away @ Real Betis Sept. 26 2020

futbol_bill wrote:

halamadrid2 wrote:Benz terrible in front of goal today. He is dead, we have 2 other strikers. Put them on once in a while

It seems most of you are expecting team in full throttle in just 2nd game of season. Not only is this only the third game (there was one practice game) after a very short vacation.

I never expected them to have a flying start. We've started our seasons poor for quite a while now, and we haven't even had a pre-season this time around. I do think our finishing problem is well established by now, though. Aside from Isco and Ødegaard coming off injuries, there's also the absence of Hazard, and I won't be surprised if he looks more oval once he returns to action.

Things can only improve from here on out, but we definitely need a goalscorer. I don't have much faith in Jovic at this point, but I've observed that he performs quite well when he doesn't have to interact with the rest of the team. When all he has to do is to sprint towards the goal and beat the goalkeeper, his ball control, decision-making and physical attributes shine, and it's almost a bit tragi-comical that he's even missed 2-3 of those rare chances due to various circumstances.

As much as I doubt it will happen, I hope he'll find some degree of good form this season, because I'd rather see Ramos moved further up the pitch than to expect Mayoral to decide our matches.

I think the most disappointing thing about Jovic is that he's been here for a season already, and it looks like he just arrived. He's so out of sync with the rest of the team, and I would've expected that issue to have been addressed by now.

Valverde, best player on the pitch.

So much energy, so much intelligence.

His decision making is one of the best in the team.

How he doesn't start every match is beyond me.

If Jovic does not pick up the pace, he will be gone next summer.