I know we scored 4 against a pretty good side, but I don't think we played that well. We've played better this season and lost. Football huh? Some great individual performances - Kuyt, Carra, Kyrgiakos - but bar that we more more solid than spectacular. Certainly I was worried after the opening 15 minutes when Benfica pinned us back and gave us little time on the ball, but results are a lot easier to come by when you take your chances. Kinda like the anti-Sunday really, when we couldn't kill Birmingham with a multitiude of excellent goalscoring opportunities.
Interesting approach from the Portugese to start the game. Man-on-man pressure rather than a determined team approach. Closest player to the Liverpool player in possession pressured. Sorta like United in the opening half hour last night or Barca at the Emirates last week, only not quite as manic and as a result - not as effective. Cardozo is a throwback stirker. Postions himself between the two centre-backs and rarely deviates from there. Behind him, Aimar and the rest of the midfield pushed forward to deny us playing out from the back, which we love to do. Reina had to clear long more often in the first half than I've seen him do in ages. We sit deep enough as it is whenever Kyrgiakos is in the back four, that combined with decent applied pressure meant we defended from the edge of our box. A marked contrast to how we set up when Agger and Carra are the defensive two on other days.
As a result Torres was isolated, and frustrated in my opinion. If Benfica were top top drawer opposition they'd have beaten us tonight. The Aimar of 5 years ago would have done more with the space afforded him in behind Cardozo, and had they an attacking outlet on the right wing to match Di Maria on the left, we'd have been up shit creek. They don't move the ball quickly enough either. A bit straight and flat. Look at how Gerrard opens space for himself in midfield; quick passes around corners, looking to link with whomever's closest to him. Quick ball movement doesn't have to be a zipped pass out wide. Anything done neatly and effectively in triangles opens space.
A few small things that happened which pleased:
- Gerrard's corners. Much much better. Whipped in fast on top of the keeper's head.
- Our defending from corners. We were under serious pressure there at times, and held our shape very well.
- Glenjo's defending. Up against quality opposition there, and held him.
- Carra's celebration at the final whistle. Anyone else see that? Surprised me.
- Scoring 4 whilst having two defensive midfielders (sorry, couldn't resist)
I was actually calling out for midfielders to break forward in support of Torres and Gerrard for most of that first half, in the way Gibson and Fletcher did last night. Then, out of nowhere Lucas gallops forward and gets the second. I preffered his role in the build-up to the 4th more than his actual goal though. A fucking thumping tackle won in the middle of the park that led to Torres through on goal. He used to get (unfair) stick on here for being a bit of a shithouse, but he can tackle. Usually stays on his feet to do it which I like, but isn't afraid to fucking crunch (as much as Lucas can actually 'crunch') someone when the moment arises.
Still - Good move, run and finish for his goal. The frustrating thing about it was the absolute fucking simplicity of it all. Why doesn't he do that more often? I like Lucas, as you all know, but he can offer more. It's not like he's inhibited by a lack of ability, cos he's got good technique, and a decent brain, I just worry that he's held back by a lack of drive and/or confidence. Perhaps it's Rafa's instructions. But his aim should be to emulate a Fletcher. Hopefully that goal shows him what he could be.
And from there the game's open, and should have been over. Bar the scare after their free-kick goal, we never looked dreadfully under the cosh. A couple of outstanding performances from the two centre-backs, really really impressive. As mentioned, I'm not a fan of how deep we defend when the Greek plays, but performances like that (and the many others he's given this year) highlight the bargain he was at 1.5M odd. Carra too; his contribution might have gone unnoticed, but he was superb. Resolute, strong, and a leader. Nobody does backs-to-the-walll better.
And Dirk. From his super takcle on Di Maria at the corner of the 6 yard box in the first 3 minutes, to his goal, his set-up for Torres' first, and his general all-round play. I could go on, but I won't. I love him though.
Anyway, Atletico next. Winning the Europa Cup is a bit like winning gold at the Commnwealth games isn't it? The pleasing thing we can probably take from it is that we'll have to beat some decent sides to do it. And if tonight's anything to go by, we mightn't even have to play to our best to do that.
Interesting approach from the Portugese to start the game. Man-on-man pressure rather than a determined team approach. Closest player to the Liverpool player in possession pressured. Sorta like United in the opening half hour last night or Barca at the Emirates last week, only not quite as manic and as a result - not as effective. Cardozo is a throwback stirker. Postions himself between the two centre-backs and rarely deviates from there. Behind him, Aimar and the rest of the midfield pushed forward to deny us playing out from the back, which we love to do. Reina had to clear long more often in the first half than I've seen him do in ages. We sit deep enough as it is whenever Kyrgiakos is in the back four, that combined with decent applied pressure meant we defended from the edge of our box. A marked contrast to how we set up when Agger and Carra are the defensive two on other days.
As a result Torres was isolated, and frustrated in my opinion. If Benfica were top top drawer opposition they'd have beaten us tonight. The Aimar of 5 years ago would have done more with the space afforded him in behind Cardozo, and had they an attacking outlet on the right wing to match Di Maria on the left, we'd have been up shit creek. They don't move the ball quickly enough either. A bit straight and flat. Look at how Gerrard opens space for himself in midfield; quick passes around corners, looking to link with whomever's closest to him. Quick ball movement doesn't have to be a zipped pass out wide. Anything done neatly and effectively in triangles opens space.
A few small things that happened which pleased:
- Gerrard's corners. Much much better. Whipped in fast on top of the keeper's head.
- Our defending from corners. We were under serious pressure there at times, and held our shape very well.
- Glenjo's defending. Up against quality opposition there, and held him.
- Carra's celebration at the final whistle. Anyone else see that? Surprised me.
- Scoring 4 whilst having two defensive midfielders (sorry, couldn't resist)
I was actually calling out for midfielders to break forward in support of Torres and Gerrard for most of that first half, in the way Gibson and Fletcher did last night. Then, out of nowhere Lucas gallops forward and gets the second. I preffered his role in the build-up to the 4th more than his actual goal though. A fucking thumping tackle won in the middle of the park that led to Torres through on goal. He used to get (unfair) stick on here for being a bit of a shithouse, but he can tackle. Usually stays on his feet to do it which I like, but isn't afraid to fucking crunch (as much as Lucas can actually 'crunch') someone when the moment arises.
Still - Good move, run and finish for his goal. The frustrating thing about it was the absolute fucking simplicity of it all. Why doesn't he do that more often? I like Lucas, as you all know, but he can offer more. It's not like he's inhibited by a lack of ability, cos he's got good technique, and a decent brain, I just worry that he's held back by a lack of drive and/or confidence. Perhaps it's Rafa's instructions. But his aim should be to emulate a Fletcher. Hopefully that goal shows him what he could be.
And from there the game's open, and should have been over. Bar the scare after their free-kick goal, we never looked dreadfully under the cosh. A couple of outstanding performances from the two centre-backs, really really impressive. As mentioned, I'm not a fan of how deep we defend when the Greek plays, but performances like that (and the many others he's given this year) highlight the bargain he was at 1.5M odd. Carra too; his contribution might have gone unnoticed, but he was superb. Resolute, strong, and a leader. Nobody does backs-to-the-walll better.
And Dirk. From his super takcle on Di Maria at the corner of the 6 yard box in the first 3 minutes, to his goal, his set-up for Torres' first, and his general all-round play. I could go on, but I won't. I love him though.
Anyway, Atletico next. Winning the Europa Cup is a bit like winning gold at the Commnwealth games isn't it? The pleasing thing we can probably take from it is that we'll have to beat some decent sides to do it. And if tonight's anything to go by, we mightn't even have to play to our best to do that.
