Glenda's Legs
Paul Walsh
Looks like Walker is 'off message' on the training intensity thing
You know what? Props to Poch, he cared today. Put out the strongest side he could (a stronger side than even than I suggested), was constantly up and down the touchline shouting and cajoling...really backed up what he said throughout the last week.
Well done. It's a shame it didn't come off, but then Gent brought an extra man and slipped a black shirt on him before chloroforming the real ref pre-game, so there's little we could have done. We made a lot of individual errors, yes. Poch's subs were iffy, yes. Our players let Poch down..yes.
But Poch backed up his words, did what he said he would do and treated this competition seriously. After the surrender against Dortmund last year and our iffy performances in the cups over the years, this was a welcome change. I hope he keeps it up for the FA Cup.
Let's hope you are one of his biggest defenders here if/when we drop points vs Stoke on Sunday...the effort the players put in tonight (both physically and emotionally) will have an effect eventually...
You know what? Props to Poch, he cared today. Put out the strongest side he could (a stronger side than even than I suggested), was constantly up and down the touchline shouting and cajoling...really backed up what he said throughout the last week.
Well done. It's a shame it didn't come off, but then Gent brought an extra man and slipped a black shirt on him before chloroforming the real ref pre-game, so there's little we could have done. We made a lot of individual errors, yes. Poch's subs were iffy, yes. Our players let Poch down..yes.
But Poch backed up his words, did what he said he would do and treated this competition seriously. After the surrender against Dortmund last year and our iffy performances in the cups over the years, this was a welcome change. I hope he keeps it up for the FA Cup.
I agree, but I think it showed/highlights the weakness of our squad, with only one attacking player out injured (Lamela) who I dont think would make the first 11 when he plays the 532 system. Our bench lacks anyone to come on and really make you think will affect the game.Great post, apart from the middle bit.
There was a lot of positives to take from tonight .
One moment if bad luck, one poor piece of defending and one act of sheer lunacy killed us.
Yet the team should heart and fight tonight,
In the past we would have rolled over.
Tactically inept in Europe.
Tactically inept in Europe.
You know what? Props to Poch, he cared today. Put out the strongest side he could (a stronger side than even than I suggested), was constantly up and down the touchline shouting and cajoling...really backed up what he said throughout the last week.
.
But Poch backed up his words, did what he said he would do and treated this competition seriously. After the surrender against Dortmund last year and our iffy performances in the cups over the years, this was a welcome change. I hope he keeps it up for the FA Cup.
Great post, apart from the middle bit.
There was a lot of positives to take from tonight .
One moment if bad luck, one poor piece of defending and one act of sheer lunacy killed us.
Yet the team should heart and fight tonight,
In the past we would have rolled over.
“Always football is about quality. And being clever.”
I think as always it’s our job as a club to find the right profile and player that can play for us.”
Tactically inept in Europe.
Soldado was bought to play under a different manager and his criteria.So did/do Soldado, Njai, Nduko, Sissoko and Jansen fit that criteria?
Tactically inept in Europe.
Not so sure about that. Firstly, as soon as Son came on for Davies he started creating havoc down the left. But then for some strange reason he switched to the right where Walker was already pulling their defence apart. From that point on Son was mostly subdued although he did get one clear chance which unfortunately he fluffed.It wasn't Poch's tactics that got Dele sent off or made us make two sloppy mistakes in defence. If we look at tactics on Thursday night, it is hard to see how he could have got them more right.
Not so sure about that. Firstly, as soon as Son came on for Davies he started creating havoc down the left. But then for some strange reason he switched to the right where Walker was already pulling their defence apart. From that point on Son was mostly subdued although he did get one clear chance which unfortunately he fluffed.
Secondly why take off Dembele when he was still dominating in midfield? It felt like a pre-planned substitution on the basis that he would not last 90 minutes but I felt it changed the dynamic and we lost some of our impetus going forward.
Lastly what was the point of bringing on Janssen with just one minute of normal time remaining? It's not as though we needed to kill time and it was hardly a vote of confidence in someone who has failed to score from open play since his arrival.