Fuck that.
This thread needs a bit of realism.
We played shite against Spurs and the lads' performance were rightly lambasted. Don't forget we penned Spurs back in their own halves for pretty much of the 3rd and final quarter of the match. We always only start playing once we were a goal behind, chasing the game. My point is that we could've done so much better against an ordinary Spurs team, if only we fought a bit harder.
Did we play well against Stoke ? Frankly speaking, we were incohesive as a team and the beginning of the season's rustiness was evident. But this was excusable due to us playing with a make-shift defence as well as learning to adapt to Alonso's loss.
However, the 2nd half marked a drastic improvement. We were passing better, movement off the ball was commendable although still not fluid enough (again, that will take a few games to move up a gear), our growing confidence was telling but come on...let's admit it, it was a pretty shite Stoke team and any good team would've easily steamrolled them on that day.
And we're more than a good team that is gradually overcoming pre-season lethargy.
But there are a few gaping weaknesses that need to be addressed quickly because once the other good teams click into gear, we may not be as fortunate against Stoke when they failed to exploit our weaknesses.
2 key areas that need to be addressed quickly :-
1) Our midfield - we still lack cohesion, especially someone who has that extra speed of thought to turn defence into attack with one slick pass, as well as to calm things down when it gets all too congested. Lucas isn't that person to fill Alonso's role. While he does what is required satisfactorily, he also lacks that array of passing abilities that Alonso possesses. And because of that, the ball doesn't move forwards quickly enough, so Stevie G is obligated to fall back deeper to try to take control of things and initiate attacking moves. This leaves Torres somewhat isolated at times. This was very evident in the matches against Spurs, Ath Madrid and in patches (1st half, esp. after we scored) against Stoke.
Personally, I can't wait to see Aquilani in action.
Also, I'm hoping Riera comes back fast because he offers us balance. Yossi doesn't, simply because he has a tendency to cut in-field and while this usually initiates quick one-two attacking moves (which is good), he also loses the ball quite a lot. When that happens, our left side becomes empty. Yossi is more suited in the 'hole', not on the wings. If he has to play on the wings, he's more reliable on the right than the left.
2) Defence - Ayala did ok against Stoke but he's still raw and slow as fcuk. Against pacy runners (remember Aguero in the Ath. Madrid match), he will be destroyed and we will be fcuked. So unless Skrtel and Agger returns quickly, we will need to get a more experienced CB.
This thread needs a bit of realism.
We played shite against Spurs and the lads' performance were rightly lambasted. Don't forget we penned Spurs back in their own halves for pretty much of the 3rd and final quarter of the match. We always only start playing once we were a goal behind, chasing the game. My point is that we could've done so much better against an ordinary Spurs team, if only we fought a bit harder.
Did we play well against Stoke ? Frankly speaking, we were incohesive as a team and the beginning of the season's rustiness was evident. But this was excusable due to us playing with a make-shift defence as well as learning to adapt to Alonso's loss.
However, the 2nd half marked a drastic improvement. We were passing better, movement off the ball was commendable although still not fluid enough (again, that will take a few games to move up a gear), our growing confidence was telling but come on...let's admit it, it was a pretty shite Stoke team and any good team would've easily steamrolled them on that day.
And we're more than a good team that is gradually overcoming pre-season lethargy.
But there are a few gaping weaknesses that need to be addressed quickly because once the other good teams click into gear, we may not be as fortunate against Stoke when they failed to exploit our weaknesses.
2 key areas that need to be addressed quickly :-
1) Our midfield - we still lack cohesion, especially someone who has that extra speed of thought to turn defence into attack with one slick pass, as well as to calm things down when it gets all too congested. Lucas isn't that person to fill Alonso's role. While he does what is required satisfactorily, he also lacks that array of passing abilities that Alonso possesses. And because of that, the ball doesn't move forwards quickly enough, so Stevie G is obligated to fall back deeper to try to take control of things and initiate attacking moves. This leaves Torres somewhat isolated at times. This was very evident in the matches against Spurs, Ath Madrid and in patches (1st half, esp. after we scored) against Stoke.
Personally, I can't wait to see Aquilani in action.
Also, I'm hoping Riera comes back fast because he offers us balance. Yossi doesn't, simply because he has a tendency to cut in-field and while this usually initiates quick one-two attacking moves (which is good), he also loses the ball quite a lot. When that happens, our left side becomes empty. Yossi is more suited in the 'hole', not on the wings. If he has to play on the wings, he's more reliable on the right than the left.
2) Defence - Ayala did ok against Stoke but he's still raw and slow as fcuk. Against pacy runners (remember Aguero in the Ath. Madrid match), he will be destroyed and we will be fcuked. So unless Skrtel and Agger returns quickly, we will need to get a more experienced CB.
