Ratings v Portsmouth

[ArneSlot4PM]

I didn't see the game but i'm still giving it a go.

Reina 8 (I assume that Pepe played to his usual excellent standard)

Aquilani 9 (I watched farky's clips....wow)

Torres 8.5 (2 goals)

Rafa 9 (Good team, great result)

 

[Sunny]

[quote author=Insignificance link=topic=39314.msg1070583#msg1070583 date=1268740832]
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=39314.msg1070579#msg1070579 date=1268740334]
[quote author=Insignificance link=topic=39314.msg1070575#msg1070575 date=1268739730]

So you would rather go back to the "controlled" gameplan we had against Lille? We have to take more chances. That will sometimes expose our own goal yes.... Sadly but true. But no matter what there is a risk loosing any game...

[/quote]

And where, exactly, did I say that ? We can be more attacking yet still defend better than we did last night. I'd much rather we play more like last night but we still have to tighten up at the back a bit more.
[/quote]

For us that will mean play Lucas and Kuyt for a starter... It takes the pace and fun (for those who underestimates fun look at the bodylanguage of the players during the Wigan and the Pompeys game) out of our game. Completely. But the pressure and control will be bette in Rafas eyes.

To be frank I would rather play and try like yesterday and loose 14 games this season than to play like we have and loose 14 games this season as we allready have. But if we played like yesterday and were exposed a little in defence and lost 14 games the reason would be that we were to naive tactically....

Having said that: Of course you are right. We should be able to tighten more in defence. We should allways be able to improve defensively..... No doubt about that!
[/quote]

I don't think we need to play Lucas or Kuyt. I just thing it's about finding the balance and tightening up a little bit more. Insua is an issue for sure as he's easily beaten and most of the danger comes from his side. The lad needs dropping. Question is - who do we bring in ?

 

[Insignificance]

[quote author=Sunny link=topic=39314.msg1070592#msg1070592 date=1268741391]
[quote author=Insignificance link=topic=39314.msg1070583#msg1070583 date=1268740832]
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=39314.msg1070579#msg1070579 date=1268740334]
[quote author=Insignificance link=topic=39314.msg1070575#msg1070575 date=1268739730]

So you would rather go back to the "controlled" gameplan we had against Lille? We have to take more chances. That will sometimes expose our own goal yes.... Sadly but true. But no matter what there is a risk loosing any game...

[/quote]

And where, exactly, did I say that ? We can be more attacking yet still defend better than we did last night. I'd much rather we play more like last night but we still have to tighten up at the back a bit more.
[/quote]

For us that will mean play Lucas and Kuyt for a starter... It takes the pace and fun (for those who underestimates fun look at the bodylanguage of the players during the Wigan and the Pompeys game) out of our game. Completely. But the pressure and control will be bette in Rafas eyes.

To be frank I would rather play and try like yesterday and loose 14 games this season than to play like we have and loose 14 games this season as we allready have. But if we played like yesterday and were exposed a little in defence and lost 14 games the reason would be that we were to naive tactically....

Having said that: Of course you are right. We should be able to tighten more in defence. We should allways be able to improve defensively..... No doubt about that!
[/quote]

I don't think we need to play Lucas or Kuyt. I just thing it's about finding the balance and tightening up a little bit more. Insua is an issue for sure as he's easily beaten and most of the danger comes from his side. The lad needs dropping. Question is - who do we bring in ?
[/quote]

There are probably 15-20 cheap left backs that could do a job easily... The problem is that Rafa is not the man to find them, as they are not spanish (too expesive) nor have an italian agent....