I blame Howard Webb
Monday, August 22, 2011 at 11:01PM Okay, so this is going to be depressing.
There was a point in the game when I actually thought to myself we were competing really well and there was little difference between us and Utd other than perhaps just that little bit more zing in their play. Opening ten minutes, we kept possession well (just not as slick with the passing and movement as we can be) but United found their players with more intent in going forward and as the game progressed we retained that the same level of composure but didn't improve where it mattered. Meaning, when United stepped it up, they created and when they create then tend to score. Which they did. 1-0 would have been okay. 2-0 hurt. 3-0 was just taking the p*ss. We were hardly outclassed in the game in terms of start to finish, just outclassed when it mattered.
That despondent shrug we do so well. It made a flipping cameo. Which is hardly of surprise considering the location.
Whilst United are decisive up top, we dithered far too many times. Fairly limp, illustrating the necessity to announce and play our new forward (Adebayor) because any new forward will completely change the dynamics of how we play our football when charging forward. I know that is such a cliché to drop in a match review but I think we've been stale for too long upfront and players like JD will find themselves galvanised by having to compete for their place rather than settle into it when selected.
But just so that I'm not buried by some of you, I'm only stating what we all knew for practically the whole of last season. My 'bring in the new blood' war cry is just a continuation of that rather than singling out Defoe and using him as a scapegoat.
Our wingers still need to produce the goods in terms of finding the forward(s) but again, I wouldn't go mental on nit-picking the lack of productivity. It's just one game, 90 minutes, and the side was just not good enough in the end to contain and punish United.
Defoe, (I'm not picking on him here, honestly I'm not, just an observation on his performance) was unintelligent when in possession in and around the box. Just too eager to either lash the ball (not very well) or hold onto it for too long. Unlucky with the woodwork though.
The midfield worked hard. Impressed with Livermore simply because he did not appear to be overhauled although he was nothing more than a bog standard no fireworks Jenas, tidying up in midfield and fulfilling Harry's instructions. He grafted, unspectacular but it warms me to see a yoof player in Lilywhite and working his socks off. Niko is no Luka. And regardless of the reasons for his (Modric) absence it was telling. The team simply doesn't function in the same way.
We played football without any genuine impetuous and in the end all it took was for United to change gear. Sure, we had moments of attacking purpose but tbh I'd rather lose to a Howard Webb assist than lose this way. Midfield was simply not strong enough or industrious enough and certainly not capable of dictating tempo and pace. No fault of the players selected. You almost wish we were nearer full strength because < insert scenario that would have played out to our advantage in a parallel universe >.
Substitutions confused me, but then something was needed. Just felt the midfield was weaker for it. Fact of the matter is, there was no authority in the middle and no apparent influence. Harry citing characters in his post-match interview and the need for them. Diarra a character? What's that? Did someone just say Barton?
So, there we were living with United quite well. Used the space pretty well too when running into it but not quite using it as we should have when looking to play a final killer ball. Conceded one then came the dizzy spell then it was over.
I don't know, first game of the season at a notoriously impossible away venue where we get nothing season in season out. Should we really analyse this to bits or just wait for us to lose to City first?
Joking. Expect a more accomplished performance at the Lane. We'll probably dick 'em.
Some other footnotes:
Brad in goal, not sure I understand this. It's almost like saying 'we don't trust Gomes'. He played well though, no denying that. I guess Harry prefers him. For the moment, there is no doubting the selection. Defending for the goals conceded, not exactly oozing confidence and awareness. But then I guess that's why they scored. No grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck, collectively. You got that impression when United pushed forward (the scruffing of necks).
So convincing win for the home side, not so convinced of the need to knee-jerk. We have to fashion a working midfield in time for the next league game. The Lane has to be rocking when City come to town.
All in all, disappointing night but hardly end of days. Was actually confident pre-match and for a hefty chunk of the game you'd not have disagreed with me. But alas, it's out of our system. We never pick up points at Old Trafford. This hoodoo is not for breaking. Not yet. United, nothing special or amazing and you can see how they could get beaten by sterner opposition. Just that, there is very little stern opposition about these days so Fergie will be more than content his side will compete once more.
Anyways, someone let me know when it's safe to hit the forums again. Twitter is already a massive mess this late evening.
Honestly, hand on heart, no drugs, still think a top 4 challenge is well within our ability. Just call me a loon. We'll make those signings and we'll push on. Certain of it. Just a downer it ended 3 nothing in the end.
This weeks podcast should be a joy to record.
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Reader Comments (81)
Spooks, wake up and get real, City will walk through our mid field - we have no mid field other than a midfield 2 that can pass sideways and backwards.
Our fitness level was very poor as well. look at the midfield 4 when United broke for the 2nd goal. I tell you what - the quicker we get knocked out of the Crap Cup the better - we will never be able to cope with this, its too difficult for a bunch of brainless twats. Oh yes, the team was tired, we played on Thursday as well and they are not use to this format!
Its going to be a hard season im afraid and im really not looking forward to this season. Heads will drop, Modric is laughing and Bale, Lennon and Co are thinking - sod this- im next out of here - why, because we are so far f###ing behind the top 3-4, its now a joke to think we can compete - lets get real for Gods sake - lets not kid ourselves.
You know what, i'm not going to work tomorrow, i do not feel mentally prepared!! My heads mixed up, im confused.
We need these signings everyone is saying are going to happen. That still haven't happened.
You do know we have injuries and a player sulking back at home? You do know that the same set of players dragged us within points of getting top 4 last season and got us top 4 the season before? You do know we're no longer a mid table side?
We're going to compete this season. Tonight was shit, it was limp and it was disappointing but the reality is - if you take out important players the team wont tick tock clockwise.
We never win at Utd. I was deluding myself to think we could. Let's just move on and get behind the team and hope that someone slaps the fuck out of Luka in time for the next game.
I thought Kaboul was good and would like to see him and Samba or Cahaill in CD. Nikko and Jake fly weights in a heavy weight bout. Lennon and Bale poor. Vdv tries to hard at times and his passing was piss poor. We were to static and not intelligent enough on the breaks. Please get fit soon Sandro. Modric, you just get of your sulking arse lad and play for the Spurs. Please Danny bring in Samba, Barton, Diarra and Adebyor and either Rodellga or Odemwhinge, that will do. We could be ressurecting the 2 points from 8 games T shirt. Danny get Gus Poyet lined up for a long haul at the helm.
If we can get Diarra and Ade or players of similar quality they will give us a massive boost and we will compete for 4th. Without fresh blood I fear for our season.
I think the person Harry was referring to is Parker and on the evidence of tonight he would be a better captain than Dawson.
We have been crying out for a captain/leader for years and are still doing so.
As regards Gomes, he managed to look dodgy against Hearts so the risk of him getting injured/having a mental breakdown/going awol or injuring one of his teammates tonight was too great.
I'm with you Spooky. You absolutely cannot make any judgments on a season opener at OT. There were certainly concerns, for sure, but it's the first 'real' game of the season. Things happen.
For 55 minutes Spurs looked okay. VDV looked shite all night, he's not fit, Lennon looked afraid to look up whenever he skinned a United player, Defoe, well looks like too much shagging has left him drained. We should have the two new players by Sunday and the Croat might be considered, then we will have some chance of staying the distance. I wasn't too dissapointed tonight, Harry will get us into gear by Sunday.
united were missing some players as well if u havent noticed. those gooners too the other day. tbh i'd be perfectly content with 5th place.
Facebook reply to mates status at Halftime:- Holding our own but not really threatening...niko and livermore just about getting away with...we got a weak central mid and they got our wide play in their pockets because of it, they've worked out our midfield who cant get the ball (sandro) and can't distribute the ball (modric)
modric's sulking and not turning up wont have instilled his "current" team mates with any confidence. he should be fined a weeks wages for not turning up. even melted face nasri put on a performance for those who shall not be named.
No bite and determination from the team tonight and i wish someone would punch our mouthpiece of a manager in the chops and tell him to shut his fucking cakehole for once.
Though we did play well in the first half, the amount of times we passed a ball directly to a united player was ridiculous! I too thought after the first half, we may get a draw here or even steal a win. I think we offered as much as they did for a while, admittedly every time they broke forward I was crapping myself! At the 90 minutes I was disgusted, not that we lost to them, cos anything else was going to a bonus but because we just let them win! No real positional play no getting close and harrying them, we just, as always gave up!! DIdin't think we would win but hoped, but in the light of day we pretty much write off those 3 points every season anyway. Still one down but heaven awaits COYS!!!!
Some of the posts baffle me.
Friedel was incredible in goal.
Walker sick? How is that allowed to burn a sub?
Dawson solid. Kaboul at fault for the second but otherwise solid.
BAE's poor clearance caused the first but otherwise did ok.
Bale was lazy as was Lennon. If you are not going to go on a mazy beating 4 players run or cross the ball in the general vicinity of the loan striker it is YOUR JOB to track back and cover.
Livermore did well in my opinion but Krancjar was shocking. Modric he isn't. Away off up to Sunderland with him in the morning.
vdV looked wasted after 90 mins. But at least he was trying.
Defoe, push the ball one step to the right and belt it, oh look the defender thought you might do that and blocked it.........he is not the lone striker target man but then neither is Crouch - Pav would have been better in that role.
Huddlestone did ok when he came on, you'd wonder if he could have been on earlier.
Pav worked and tried hard. Corluka - does exactly what it says on the tin.
'Arry must have some responsibility for tonight. First he says pre-match, the chairman says he is not going so that's it but let's hope the transfer window closes and that we keep him - within 30 secs of each other.
Picking Walker at right back if sick, burned a sub, although I would have Walker starting ahead of Corluka or Hutton. Krancjar was woeful all through so was he just trying to up the price from Sunderland or what, cos that performance won't have added any zeros. Surely he saw that the central midfield was getting nowhere going forward even if Livermore was holding his own. Defoe again. I must have my faves at all costs.
Then afterwards he says in it up to 60-70 mins, fair enough and then goes on about getting in characters like "characters" would have changed the scoreline in that 90 mins.
It was OT, it was Utd but they showed that they were on for a 0-0 for an hour cos even though it was open season on De Gea from 30 yards plus, it was from inside the box where he was weak tonight and that only happened once maybe twice.
Sell the dross (Jenas, Crouch, Defoe, Krancjar, Hutton) and get 2-3 maybe 4 in and do it asap.
While it hurt pretty bad watching that tonight after what looked like some swagger against Hearts (yes, i know it was Hearts), I am holding off too much knee jerking until the end of the TW. If we don't have a few players in to give us some life and someone the opposition will be afraid of up front, I'm afraid it could be a long season and very damaging. On another note, I love Van Der Vaart but why is fitness always a problem for him, he looked like he was on cold medicine? thought surely this year with the break he would be ready? Most disappointing was just the poor passing, decisions, speed, etc.
If we get the players in the window I am with you on the top 4 spot.
I think the team is there, dare I say even if Modric goes. I did feel much better with Brad in goal and if we could have scored just one early I think we defended well early and could have hunkered down a bit and maybe pulled out a win or draw. The end of the game just felt too much like last season when you knew nothing was coming good. Now off the lick the wounds.
COYS and lets make Joe Hart cry!
I meant lone striker obviously......
We can't go away from home and have Bale and Lennon so wide leaving two non-midfielders trying to cover the whole of midfield. That's a big pitch too. Shame we couldn't just close up in the second half and play out that draw.
Sure, not glory glory, but realistic. We were always going to tire first.
Loved seeing Walker and Livermore get some quality time. They worked really hard, and for that, I tip my hat. The Steed Malbranque school of football - work your ass off.
Kaboul was solid...until he had a slouch moment and gave up that goal. I like seeing him go ball-out into a tackle (take notes, CMs), but letting strikers go unmarked inside the box is a trademark of Spurs defenders, typically Corluka, and must be punished.
Spurs NEED, I stress, NEEEEEEEEEEED a possession-type CM to control flow of play FROM THE INSIDE-OUT. NK just isn't that guy. I await the return of a Modric-Sandro pairing in midfield.
Defoe and Lennon - please try harder. You look silly.
Oh, and how come we don't go and f*cking kick people when they have the ball. We just stand 2 metres away from them, waiting for them to size up a pass. Whenever we get the ball, everyone just comes and tries to get it off us - I mean everyone does, not just Man U.
Is it that they're actually better than us and if we commit they're likely to get past? I just don't get it.
If and only if we get some new blood can we possibly challenge for fourth. Otherwise we will have to fight like hell for 8th.
If and only if we get some new blood can we possibly challenge for fourth. Otherwise we will have to fight like hell for 8th.
so, i know he didn't have much help, but VDV was definitely playing the "lampard" role tonight... take enough shots and hope one goes in. definitely could have looked for another option on a few of those. can't blame him for spewing at lennon for missing him open in the box though, jesus.
Depresing but inevitable start to the season. Agree with Spooky, far too early to write the season off on the strength of one game, at the home of the current EPL Champions. We were well in the game up until they score and it all went downhill from there. Modric may have made a difference, but really Bale & Lennon looked half-sharpe. Anyone that thinks Diarra & Adebayor are gonna make that much difference are deluding themselves, we need to do better with the talent we have... COYS
Despite the score line, I thought Friedel was a beast out there.
Honestly Spooky, I'm going to have to disagree about us not deserving to go down 3-nil.
Yes, there were moments where we showed we too could pass the ball and move up the field quickly, but the players just seemed lazy. They couldn't make any runs off the ball which was truly annoying.
My issue lies with two people.
1) Lennon: was he told this wasn't a training match? VDV had a 95% chance of scoring that missed opportunity. Where / who was he passing to?
2) Dawson: I love the guy and no one deserves to wear the arm band more, but come on. Command your team. Show some of that screaming spirit you used to have. He had no control over them. If I was him, I would have seen how pissed off VDV was, ran up to Lennon and grabbed him by his shirt and let him know that he needed to stop sulking and grow a pair.
Infuriating stuff, still being honest though in that I knew we would not leave Old Trafford with 3 points. Oh well, only one game under our belts and we can turn a lot around (hopefully) in the coming weeks.
Kyle Walker is piss poor. I thought he was our only poor player at Hearts but I ...gave him the benefit of the doubt. Yesterday he was f*ckin pathetic! And, he was not sick at all; Redknapp just used that as an excuse to haul him off because he realised...the new "England International" is crap at defending.
He was worse than Hutton at his worst; but I guess his spot is sort of guaranteed on account of his newfound "England Internationalness". Jeez!
elwehbi...
Dawson is overrated.
Samba & Cahill ASAP...that's what we need.
WE DROP POINTS AND GET CONFIDENCE WHACKING DEFEATS BECAUSE WE LEAVE OUR SIGNINGS UNTIL LAST MINUTE! MODRIC ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED, THIS WHOLE SCENARIO IS A DISGRACE! ALSO YET AGAIN, REDNAPS SUBS WERE AWFUL, CANNOT MAKE A SUB TO SAVE HIS LIFE. THERE IS NO BRIGHT SIDE, WE DESERVED THIS!
AND KRANCIAR CANT PASS A BALL PROPPERLY
Firstly, only WBA came away from Old Trafford with any points last season. All 18 other teams lost there.
I'm not surprised we lost, or at they way we capitulated after the first goal.
We can go on about players we had missing through sulking or injury, but look at the list of names missing from United's team. If both were full strength we'd still have lost.
I actually thought we were in with a chance of snatching something for the first 50 or so minutes. We had good spells of possession, but our efforts were from distance. There was that move where we started with a counter attack, but eventually, despite passing it however many times, it ended up back with Dawson & Kaboul.
Lennon was infuriating and I'm surprised VdV didn't go and grab him by the throat. That said, VdV would probably have sent an effort high, wide and not so handsome.
Oh, and look at our next fixtures - City, Wolves, Liverpool, Arsenal.
Anyone else think we could be bottom of the league after 5 games?!??!
Limp, lifeless, weak, impotent, pointless even trying...I haven't had sex for months.
As for the game, well at least that's out of the way.
And I even admit to this one - when it went 1-0 I couldn't bear to watch anymore and starting channel hopping.
It's interesting how people read games differently.
I thought Kaboom and Dawson were all at sea for the goals we conceded. The two headers had our centre backs too far apart - Kaboom getting sucked out wide like a full back, with Dawson unsure which man/blade of grass to pick up. If he'd have stayed on his feet for the Anderson goal then maybe the "audacious" back heel would have come to nothing.
Biggest worry is the lack of creativity through the final third. Bale was playing like one of Zonal Marking's much loved inverted wingers - which meant he was usually in the wrong place when we had the ball. Lennon is a travesty as a winger - what good is all the pace in the world if you can't pass a ball?
As for our glorious boys up top. Ah well, at least they were generous enough to aid a keeper in his bid for some form.
We need - we need - I think, realistically we need to all agree what our objectives are this season. If we are chasing Diarra and Adebayor then we are most likely going to be chasing players in the same position next season. Will Adebayor score 30 goals a season for us (once in 10 seasons) and will Diarra play the sort of passes that will unlock defences? I remember the days when we would have been happy with a UEFA cup run - 4th looks such a distant prospect right now.
I will not be watching Sky Sports News next Wednesday. If all we are bringing in is two players their clubs do not want, we should have had that wrapped up days ago. If we are being bullish, but agree that every player has a price on their head - I await news of another Berbatov type deal when I wake on Thursday morning.
Joy to the world.
I know Corluka is slow, but I think he was wearing concrete football boots when he came on yesterday. An oil tanker turns quicker.
United roasted him time and again 2nd half, and although the goals didn't come from his flank, that's what started to give United the momentum and impetus that eventually led to them making the breakthroughs.
All this talk of needing 2 players...i'm sorry but we should be talking 4 or 5. What happens if Bale gets injured (as he will), what happens if Lennon gets injured (as he will)? In my view, the squad needs - 1 centre back, 1 right back, 1 centre mid, 1 left winger, 1 right winger, 1 striker.
Sell Jenas, Crouch, Hutton, Bassong, Bentley, Dos Santos and more.
A few nice bargains have slipped through the net, why? Wes Brown or John O'Shea - ideal for right back or centre half, Seb Larsson, yes an ex Gooner (but when did that stop us recently?) ideal cover for lennon at right wing and was on a FREE TRANSFER.
I accept that it is mainly quality that is needed, but I do think that we also need a bit of quantity in some particular positions!
We we need is a complete management overhaul.
*What (not wee wee)
Don't take the piss out of Nintendo Arry
Glad to see the noble art of knee jerking is alive and well!!
When I saw the fixture list a few weeks ago, I like most wrote this one off! i also thought we'd earn a point at home to the toffees but Tottenham got closed till further notice - So this 'brothers' was our first game....forget Hearts - that turned out to be five-a-side bish bash affair!! My only concern from last night was VdV.....my diagnosis is that his legs are no longer part of his limbic system. very sad!
Anyrode..... Harry now seems to have arrived - albeit late - on the same page as Levy and the rest of us - FFFT!! And so this can only mean on thing 'THe LIIttLE onE wiLL sTaY'
I agree with most posts above and can I give an honourable mention to Brad in goal who was immence! Forget Kun it was one of the best debuts ive saw over the last week. I reckon Gomes has saw his best days in a surs shirt too many clangers at the back end of last season which cost us 4th. Charlie was piss poor when he came on the turning like a bus scenario is all too predictable, Walker granted didnt have a good game but at least he charged (not too far) up the flanks to support Lennon. Niko im sorry to say isnt good enough he is too much of a luxury in CM, ill be sorry to see the back off him though. VDV took the shoot on sight policy a bit too seriously, granted he had a few chances but instead of playing it to feet an effort from over 30-35yards wasted possession. Bale and Lennon were poor but it was Utd away and they'll have a field day at home to City. Defoe wasnt good enough either he's not a lone striker nor should he be our num one, some comp in that position please Arry.
Positives, Livermore who was composed, overawed in the second half but like ive said before it was Utd away. Looking forward to see if he gets a chance at home to city if Hudd still isnt fit. Brad again, excellent. Dawson tried his best but id prefer Ledley in there with Gallas, im still not the biggest Daws fan, he's 27 now and I just dont think he's a top four defender. Anyway onwards and upward im expecting a romp at home to City put the Manc's (well what there is of them) in their place. COYS
Harry can't do the kidology half as good as he thinks he can. Talking non-stop is not clever. Getting defensive in post-match interviews to protect the Redknapp brand, equally not great.
This is no knee-jerk. Just what we have always known about Harry. When we lose, we just like to nit-pick more so than when we're winning.
In 10 days time, we'll know everything we'll need to know.
According to French newspaper L'Equipe, we're signing El-Hadji Ba from Le Havre this week, with a medical on Thursday.
He's an 18 year old defensive midfielder.
Long drive home last night for sure..
Don't think anyone can knock vdv, he seems to me to be the only person who isn't afraid of long shots, everyone else tries to walk it into the net and look where that's getting us..
Lennon's play was a joke yesterday where he thumped it at the defender instead of knocking it across, and although I haven't seen any replays I thought Defoe should have put in the one that hit the post.
Oh well, onwards and upwards!
We exposed arguably our weakest central midfield for years to the Champions in our first league game of the season with little to no back up to call on from the bench. Although we played extremely well for 60 mins we will never repeat the feats of 09-10 season without a leader on the pitch. And when the changes were made it's pretty clear that Hudd is still nowhere near being match fit and I'm not even going to go there with Pav?
At least throughout all of last season we could count upon the character of the team as a whole to never give up, not one team gave us a drubbing (apart from RM away), even when we were down the team ethic never crumbled, unfortunately i saw none of that team spirit last night once that first goal went in and that is a worry.
I was looking at Daws to see how he would man up and lead, it didn't happen. I actually felt sorry for Friedel as i think he wanted to get stuck into a few of them but in all honesty it seemed pretty pointless him shouting and trying to organise that shower of shit ambling around in front of him, very sad.
It's clear we need to freshen the squad up with at least 3-4 new faces with character and mental toughness, cos to be honest it looks like we've gone backwards. Yes we're missing a few but that means the rest of the team should step up and prove their worth, the work rate dipped and so too the effort and application as a whole, we gave up and that's not good enough no matter who you are, or who and where you're playing.
Still, it's only the first game, yes it was away at the Champions but you at least want to see some positives and after a collapse like that I'm beginning to fear the worst for this season.
Not looking for excuses just trying to find a reason for the disparity in effort and commitment since going out of the CL... Levy has some serious work to do over the next week and i blame him for leaving this squad exposed at the start of the season. Everyone around us (bar Le Scum) has invested and improved, it looks like we're going nowhere fast... he's gotta get his arse into gear and sign some fucking players pronto or we'll soon see a mass tapping up of the rest of our best players.
Perhaps Levy is happy with our lot? Not wanting to speculate it appears he's focusing on on trying not to lose too much money on players that we paid over the odds for in the first place and ensuring if he does put his hands in his pockets that he gets a healthy return when they get tapped up as a result of him not striving to continue improving the talent we need in the squad to remain competitive. Instead of pushing forwards and adding at least a top drawer striker and a leader in the middle of the park, Levy's sat on his hands for the last 2-3 windows... just the 2 players would've made a massive difference over the last 6 months, that's all, i'm not asking for the moon on a stick ffs, just 2 quality players.
Not knee-jerking, just massively concerned.
COYMFS!
DY - Levy told Harry he wouldn't spend £8 million on Scott Parker as there's no sell-on value. That's the exact reason we are not progressing in the transfer market once again.
Harry wants players with experience, while Levy will only splash if he sees a future return on investment.
It's not a good situation to be sat in, but following the high value signings of Keane, Palacios & Bentley, all 3 of whom are now worth a lot less than we paid, you can kind of understand.
Levy wants to spend as little as possible this year by the look of things. At this rate he'll get a massive return on investment when all our quality players get sold in January/next summer.
@Chris King re: "Will Adebayor score 30 goals a season for us (once in 10 seasons) and will Diarra play the sort of passes that will unlock defences? "
Diarra won't play those sort of passes, but he'll stop other midfields playing those passes through us so easily.
It will also allow a fit Hudd or VdV to do the passing.
Spooky, you're a loon !
This is no knee jerk reaction, the issues we are discussing have been with us for more than one season and our transfer policy (last minute.com) has been with us for years.All this is hurting us big time.
i still think the biggest problem we have is VDV. the need to include him in the line up stops us from playing a natural 442. Furthermore, his "grab" for glory everytime he gets the ball must be very frustrating for all who play with him.
Hud and Pav should have been on earlier in the game, Im afraid you are too late Harry - subs, transfers - what else?
Walkerboy - but if we do lose Modric, it seems daft replacing him with Diarra - unless we are replacing Palacios with Diarra and expecting Hudd/Livermore etc to fill the Modric sized hole?
Redknapp is all about Redknapp. His agenda is the priority and the past few seasons it has largely had a direct and positive effect on this team. We need to rise up further.
Reality is, there's money but not the ilk that can be thrown at anything that moves. Also, targets (mainly thanks to this country and price tagging and Man City) are proving tricky because we're ambitious so we aim for top drawer players - meaning that we are competing with CL clubs and clubs with no wage restrictions.
If it was easy, do you not think we'd have signed players with far more comfort? Sure, Levy has some rather self-serving quirks when it comes to the way he looks to do business. But the reality might also be that players take a look and decide to say 'no' to us because they can earn more elsewhere.
Let's be positive. The problems we have, they are hardly of the same we experienced during our midtable years. That doesn't mean we accept and take it on the chin. But we need to appreciate that work has to be done and its in the process and we should perhaps wait another 10 days before we go mental over something that might not happen.
We have a good squad of players and had we not drawn so many home games you'd all be looking forward to another season of CL.
I guess that why people are angry. We gave it away. You might argue it was because of Redknapp. In some ways, it was. In other ways it was because of certain players under performing. The point is, the team failed but the margin was very very small.
We'll have another chance this season. Look around you, you honestly think the teams just ahead of us are millions of miles better?
The EPL is in transition.
As for Redknapp, he remains and idiot who is more bothered with his own brand and image. When it works, it benefits us, when it doesn't he goes on the defensive and attempts to detach himself. That's Redknapp and he's been like that since forever.
He wont be with us for that much longer so don't fret. As long as the club remains stable, we'll have a strong foundation to build on.
I cannot believe I stayed up at 3am to watch this.
Still, looking at the negatives of the game:
1. We needed to change our gameplan once we did not show any penetration with Lennon, Bale, Defoe and Vdv. I discount Niko and Livermore, who were a makeshift duo due to injuries.
We have no ability to vary our approach. This I blame HR.
2. We needed to "batter" the young back line a la Drogba. Frighten Evans. He looked like a scared rabbit at times. The rest of the defence were either experienced (Evra) or looked like they have something to prove (Smalling, Jones, De Gea). So there was no point in pussyfooting around them, and trying to pass the ball into the net.
3. We also need to learn to relax and slow things down at the appropriate time. And use our pacy wingers well. Play our own game, and not be sucked into playing the opponents' game.
Now, the positives:-
4. Good to see Walker and Livermore get a run-out at such an important game. They can only get better, and would like to see them fluorish. Home-grown talent.
5. Friedel looked assured (at least until the goals).
6. Niko needs more game time. Many forget he was left to rust so often last season, he needs to get used to the system.
7. We were not expected to win. So much was made of their young defence that people forget such comments make them doubly determined to do well. I believe the motivating powers of Sir Alex also helped. We have a bad track record there anyway, and like some have said, almost no one comes away with a point.
Pre-Season
The Modric saga obviously dominated, but why did we not get rid of more unwanted players (Bentley, Dos Santos, Hutton, Jenas, Palacios etc) to free up funds?
We bought some talented youth (Coulibaly?) but I would have liked to see more of our own youth squad promoted. At least that's what I thought was the main reason for our quiet summer.
People have to realise that quality is hard to come by. Furthermore, moneybags clubs like Man Citeh will be slow to sell their cast aways to main rivals for CL places. You need to pick on clubs with money problems and full of talent. Not many around.
The group of players who would do a good job for us: Hungry young talent. Good players who are eager to please and would run their socks off in eternal gratitude for a first team spot, and not some complacent seasoned pro with nothing left to prove. If we have nothing of that sort in our academy, then scour the Championship, the Scandinavian leagues, or even the Dutch/Belgian leagues for such talent.
The Next Game
This is crucial. We need to show our credentials against one of the pretenders. A battling win or outsmarting them is essential. HR must realise though we cannot play Citeh at their game. We need to play our game. Our game the last two years was built on pace, power and panache. Skin the fullback, whip in a cross and let Crouch / Pav knock it in. Or Modric / Vdv going on a mesmerising run, then at the edge of the box, passes to Huddlestone or Niko who lets fly from 20 metres.
I do hope someone in charge is paying attention and doing something about this. We need to create a fortress at WHL.
Maybe we need to create a siege mentality and persuade the players the whole world is against them......
Apart from a few good saves(that wouldn't have troubled gomes), what did brad do that was so good and gomes wouldn't have done.... I can't see it. But everyone is saying he was "immense" and words to that effect, so I must be wrong.
Apart from a lucky cup run, we've no chance. Not only this season, but ever. It's all about the money. Capitalism.
Any chance of Sturridge coming over in a Modric deal? How about Modric, Crouch, Palacios money funding moves for Ade, Diarra, Parker, and Samba or Cahill?