by Scottbot » Sun Dec 14, 2008 3:48 pm
the match was VERY frustrating yesterday. We started well, let in two SOFT SOFT goals but then the crowd got into it and the lads responded brilliantly and with a bit of luck we could have gone in 3-2 up. At 2 nil down i would have taken the draw but at 2-2 after just 35 mins I was convinced we had it in the bag. After the break we simply took our foot off the throttle and let them grow back into the game. the Manager talked about them being dangerous on the counter but in truth there wasn't that much to worry about except our left-back and keeping Geovani on his weaker foot. Rafa's post match comments indicate he was just as worried about losing the game as winning. there were some good performances yestereday, Gerrard, Alonso and Masch all played well, Riera had his moments and Arbeloa got forward and (defensively) was everything Dossena is not. It drove me nuts to watch two players (Bennayoun and Kuyt) completely fade from the game while £31 million of replacement sat on the bench. Our lack of a big man cost us again, we got a lot of crosses into the box from Arbeloa and Riera but Turner and co were rock solid (he impresed me a lot) and we desperately needed a bit of guille and trickery. Whether you like them or not, Keane and Babel are both capable of providing it.
Am sure it's cropped up again in other threads but isn't it about time Stevie saw a bit of time on the right hand-side? Even if it just comes towards the end of games like yesterday? I would have liked to have seen 2 up top with him on the right at the 60-70 minute mark yesterday.
Rafa has always baffled with subs at times throughout his time at the club. At least 4-5 times a season he has me utterly bemused and yesterday was one of those days. He normally makes his sub around the 60 min mark but yesterday he waited till the 75th min.
On the flip side though, there have been several time sin the past where I have thought, 'he's lost the plot completely', 'we're playing shi...te and there's no turning it around' only for the team to hit a purple patch and go on a winning run. unfortunately those winning runs have usually come at a time when we are already out of the running. That's not the case this year so I think it's hasty and sensless to talk about letting the guy go.