A lot of fans are underestimating the task at hand for Jose.
In the past we had two nimble players who could not only recycle the ball, but protect the defence in wanyama and dembele, but especially dembele, who was a leader amongst our squad, the driving force, a player who set the standard.
Today we have no one who can do the same, coupled with a shocking defence.
In the past you could play dembele or wanyama with eriksen in a two and still be strong in the middle of the park.
Sissoko is neither a matic type or van bommel type of midfielder to smell the danger, or a kante and winks, similar, although a tidy player, who i think with a stong enforcer, might just be okay a squad player.
Jose, has already dropped Ali on a few occassions from the restart, as he's probably aware, that without a erikssen type of player, his contribution to the team is next to nought, and this dilemma, "no erikssen" has also affected the contribution that our other attackers are contributing.
The fact we are out of the top four running is good, as now is when the real work begins, and until the transfer window i hope to see winks and skipp as as a two with le celso in front, and wide forwards in son and stevie wonder, with Ndombele replacing winks aroud the hour mark.
This summer with any luck we lose the services of Aurier,Sissoko,Sanchez,Dele and Moura [jose did mention at the onset of taking the job, that Sissoko is not, one of his prefered players in a midfield two].
Someone mentioned in another thread about Woolwich and everton as comparision, everton, have better squad depth and balance thru out their squad and Woolwich's, real archilles heal is their defence, the attacking unit is fine, their midfield is ok not spectacular, but better balanced, they have two ball winners in gendouzi and terriera and a play maker in xhaka, if xhaka was a bit more athletic, they would be peach in midfield.
Our team biggest problem is a lack of thinkers,good decision makers, players who can concerntrate for a least thirty minutes at a time, and do not have a ricket in them everytime they play.
Only the current llloris,kane and le celso, you know what you will get from them.