Effort is not the problem (though I admit to being concerned at seeing the team celebrating after the Norwich game like it's already done. It's not.) We passed them the ball, directly, fifteen times in the first half alone. (I'm in Spain, the Spanish commentators counted and reshowed them). If you do that against any team in the Premier League, you'll lose, and you'll make them look good. If you do it against a team that's already good, you'll get humiliated.
Also there were, what? Eight fouls in the entire game? I don't ask or expect us to beat teams that have been assembled for the price of a small country's economy, but I do expect us to try to compete. Snap at them, try to ruffle a few feathers. At least try to pass the ball to a teammate. This stuff should not be beyond Premier League players no matter who the opposition is. (Look at Valladolid's performance against Barcelona tonight for an example. A similar gulf in quality and budget but a world of difference in the approach. And the result.)
We have been too soft for years. The top teams take you out if you threaten, we run alongside and admire the skill