I thought the performance was a good one. I did. In the grand scheme of things we lost, but after Monday night's effort I was looking for signs of improvement, and a performance more befitting of a Top side. I don't think they threatened a lot. Sure we offered up space, and they kept the ball reasonably well but I can't think of too many clearcut chances on their part. The goal was a fucking fluke. Things like that happen. I don't even think it was a free-kick in the first place.
As predicted, the side Rafa put out was a strong one. no fucking about with maybe's, could-be's, and possibilities. Just stick your strongest available side out and get the set up right. Our structure was interesting, if predictable. I don't think I've ever seen a side more determined to keep their shape and remain solid than us tonight. Every single time they got the ball there was a clear determination to get 8/9 men behind the ball. So fuck if they're in possession, they've got to play through you. Mascherano never left our half. Lucas for the most part stood no more than 5 metres from Mascher, Kuyt tucked in really really tightly, and Glenjo barely ventured forward. Solid as fuck. If anything, we dropped a little bit too deep in midfield on occassion. i know this was to prevent their strikers dropping deep and receiving and running at us, but it meant Torres was a little isolated, and the gap to the strikers was a bit too large at some points.
I liked the plan to free-up Babel. Don't think Glenjo didn't get forward because he's not fit enough to do so yet. Don't think Kuyt's lack of adventure was down to lack of interest. There was a clear plan to attack qucikly through Babel, and to alleviate him of defensive responsibilites. Getthe ball to him, shuffle the midfield across, bring Kuyt inside, and keep Glenjo at right-back. I thought it worked well. If Babel had have scored that first half chance, it would have been a fucking masterplan. Anyway, that's how to play Babel. Give him the ball early, and cover his arse the other way. He played well, and he'll start games from now to the end of the season if he keeps that up. There's simply no way you can play him and Aquilani in the same team though. Mascherano can only do so much. It's one or the other I'm afraid.
Torres is fucking me off. I've had more than enough of him falling on his arse, sliding about on his knees at the slightest of touches, and then berating the referee for fuck all. Why is he so concerned with the referee? Why does he need to go to ground so often? Someone needs to have a word. If you're going to laud his goals and contribution when he's on song, then he's gotta accept criticism the other way too. Nobody can tell me that bullshit is benefitting the team in anyway.
Lille aren't bad. They keep the ball well, move quite effectively, and break from midfield with aplomb. Interesting how the strikers drop so deep to receive possession, which caused a bit of a problem for the first 20 minutes. I guess that's to be expected if you've been playing in the Champions League for the last 6 years. They don't really hurt you though. I didn't see much guile or real killer threat when going forward. They're beatabale, and if we play well next week we'll show that.
All in all, I was content with that peformance. With 8 minutes to go I felt we'd done all the right things, just cos a fucking joke of a goal goes in doesn't mean we played badly. If we'd buried one of the handful of good chances we'd had we'd be very happy right now.
As predicted, the side Rafa put out was a strong one. no fucking about with maybe's, could-be's, and possibilities. Just stick your strongest available side out and get the set up right. Our structure was interesting, if predictable. I don't think I've ever seen a side more determined to keep their shape and remain solid than us tonight. Every single time they got the ball there was a clear determination to get 8/9 men behind the ball. So fuck if they're in possession, they've got to play through you. Mascherano never left our half. Lucas for the most part stood no more than 5 metres from Mascher, Kuyt tucked in really really tightly, and Glenjo barely ventured forward. Solid as fuck. If anything, we dropped a little bit too deep in midfield on occassion. i know this was to prevent their strikers dropping deep and receiving and running at us, but it meant Torres was a little isolated, and the gap to the strikers was a bit too large at some points.
I liked the plan to free-up Babel. Don't think Glenjo didn't get forward because he's not fit enough to do so yet. Don't think Kuyt's lack of adventure was down to lack of interest. There was a clear plan to attack qucikly through Babel, and to alleviate him of defensive responsibilites. Getthe ball to him, shuffle the midfield across, bring Kuyt inside, and keep Glenjo at right-back. I thought it worked well. If Babel had have scored that first half chance, it would have been a fucking masterplan. Anyway, that's how to play Babel. Give him the ball early, and cover his arse the other way. He played well, and he'll start games from now to the end of the season if he keeps that up. There's simply no way you can play him and Aquilani in the same team though. Mascherano can only do so much. It's one or the other I'm afraid.
Torres is fucking me off. I've had more than enough of him falling on his arse, sliding about on his knees at the slightest of touches, and then berating the referee for fuck all. Why is he so concerned with the referee? Why does he need to go to ground so often? Someone needs to have a word. If you're going to laud his goals and contribution when he's on song, then he's gotta accept criticism the other way too. Nobody can tell me that bullshit is benefitting the team in anyway.
Lille aren't bad. They keep the ball well, move quite effectively, and break from midfield with aplomb. Interesting how the strikers drop so deep to receive possession, which caused a bit of a problem for the first 20 minutes. I guess that's to be expected if you've been playing in the Champions League for the last 6 years. They don't really hurt you though. I didn't see much guile or real killer threat when going forward. They're beatabale, and if we play well next week we'll show that.
All in all, I was content with that peformance. With 8 minutes to go I felt we'd done all the right things, just cos a fucking joke of a goal goes in doesn't mean we played badly. If we'd buried one of the handful of good chances we'd had we'd be very happy right now.
