I’ve spoken about this A LOT already this season - in regards to Alonso needing players in the team who manage moments, slow the game down and afford control in moments, it’s less about the system affording control, more about having players to decide the right moments to do so Since Caicedo’s return (excluding yesterday), we’ve seen an improvement in this area, with him and Henderson choosing moments to slow the game, resetting and giving those moments of control in the games against Bournemouth and Everton Biggest diffence in the game against Tottenham for me felt like the overall messaging (which I can’t be certain on ofc) - the gameplan felt pretty clearly built around attacking quickly when we gained possession, not giving Tottenham time to settle into shape Along with this messaging of being direct when we regained the ball to try and cause our damage - it felt like the messages were to go long from GKs or to play out using Tottenham’s jumps down their left (Penders -> Colwill -> Hato which triggered Kudus and Gray jumps with Van Hecke shuffling across), the quality lacked in those moments when trying to play out using the FB/s and the direct routes weren’t as effective as usual without JP and with Rogers acting as a centre-forward Again, whether this had reasoning with the weather conditions behind it, not wanting to build centrally with Henderson against De Zerbi’s pressing scheme, Penders first PL start, or a mixture of everything - the messaging was pragmatic and slightly fearful So in those moments where Alonso would normally want players to manage the moment of the game with control and possession of the ball, I think the messaging for the players felt mixed, resulting in these silly moments