With Blues at the moment, it just feels like everything’s coming from the bench, and that’s killing the flow a bit. Players look like they’re waiting for instructions or approval instead of trusting what they see in front of them, so moves slow down, the ball gets recycled, and you don’t get those natural combinations or bits of initiative. It reminds me of how Grealish was almost coached into playing within himself under Guardiola , loads of control, but not much freedom, and how different he looks when someone like Moyes gives him licence again. Structure obviously matters, but when it starts to override instinct, you end up with a team that’s organised yet predictable, and that’s pretty much where Blues seem to be right now.
