I am not surprised by this display at all.
People were getting excited about the post lockdown form, but we were still boring as fuck to watch. We had a couple of nice counters that highlighted the skill we do have in our attacking positions, but it glossed over the real issues, the desire to sit in a shell, and utilize the counter as the only option.
Today we were outclassed by a manager that put his players in the best position possible. Sure, we could have scored a couple, but they could have put away 6 or so if Richarlison was Kane.
Ancelotti got his creative in James. He protected him, cause he isn't much of a grafter, with Doucare behind him, Allan even further back, and Gomes protecting the other side of the field.
This is exactly how we should be lining up, but instead, Jose puts 2 in the center that are not DMs and have trouble reading the game from a defensive point of view. PEH is a runner who likes to press up the pitch. He is not a Wanyama who can sit there and read the game and make last-ditch tackles. Winks, well we know what he offers defensively. So what do we do? We sit there for 75 minutes just hoping that we can hold them and find a counter.
I am sick and tired of excuses. The squad is built to be competitive. It may not be a title-winning squad, but look how Leeds approaches a game. They are free-flowinging. They take it to the opposition. We were utter shit and that comes from the manager. They are told to play the way they play and it brings the worst out of the players we have in our squad.