Lets not kid ourselves, this was a dire performance and a dire game we were lucky to win. Also, I’m not going to blame just the players. Zenden and Garcia were poor all night, with neither offering width. Finnan who started on the right looked like a fullback converted to the wing, quelle surprise. He would later be subbed abd replaced by Garcia. Garcia is not a winger and to expect him to play the traditional right-winger is unfair. Zenden is more worrying. Brought in to offer guile and crossing skill, so far he has done neither. Essentially, during the summer, we have strengthened areas we were already strong in (midfield and goals – Carson is as good as any premier keeper and Dudek, the much maligned is more than capable). Both Reina and Sissoko are fine players, but these weren’t the positions we needed players in. we also bought Crouch and a raft of kids who won’t see first team action for two to three years. The jury is still out on Crouch, but since we already have a top class targetman in Morientes, I don’t see why we needed another striker.
So to the game and the problems from last year are still in evidence. With lack of quality on the wings (can either Riise, Zenden or Garcia knock in a semi-decent cross? The best cross of the night was from Cisse) Morientes was left to forage on scraps, throwing himself stupidly at balls straight down the middle, chasing back to help his midfield, meaning there was no forward option, even having to chase and harrying 4 defenders on his own. Totally daft. In the middle, Alonso and Hamann were in complete control. Defensively, Josemi was good for half an hour before lack of matches caught up to him. Thereafter he looked out of puff and consistently fouled Moscows best player Carvalho, giving away a series of needless free kicks. Hyppia was leaden footed and highlighted the urgent need for a new centreback. Carragher was Carragher, performing heroics. Riise and Zenden both had a go at fullback and left wing, neither convinced. Finnan was dogged but uninspired on the right, while Garcia was awful.
My biggest concern is with the manager’s substitutions. Why replace Alonso, our most creative player with a destroyer like Sissoko? Our problems were not in the middle. Finnan went off for Pongolle. Not a bad option, accept of course Pongolle is totally match unfit and what was really needed (obvious to anyone watching) was pace to get behind the defence. When Cisse finally came on, his impact was immense. Two goals and an assist says it all. On a personal, I think it would be criminal to sell Cisse, even if it was to fund a right winger and centreback. Before anyone starts suggesting this would be a good idea, I would like to point out that it’s the mark of a mickey mouse club to sell key personnel to fund the purchase of replacements.
Sadly, it looks like this season will closely follow the last. Turgid, uninspired football, bogged down in the middle of the park stuff. Fine against the big boys who will come out to play, but I fully expect us to scrape bad draws and concede three points in piss poor one nils to player heavy defences we will be incapable of breaking down. That’s right, prepare for another season of ‘analysts’ bemoaning our lack of width, cutting edge and pace in defence. And to be perfectly honest, they are right.
I agree with all of that. I was going to write something similar but you've done it better. I was hugely disappointed with tonight.
So far I've thought Zenden has performed well, but tonight was very poor. Width and good crosses would have broken that defence down tonight. We had neither and it really showed. Its our biggest problem.
What is NOT our biggest problem is a 20 goal a season natural goalscorer! Just give Jibby a chance, I'm sure Moro would find all his deft touches and lay offs served well by Cisse's snap finishes.
I am a huge fan of Jibby and you can tell he loves the club and will always try his best. On top of that, he is a superb player. Given the chances that Moro has been given already this season I think he'd be the player everyone would be raving about.
Lil Luis had a shocker, but everyone has off nights and he damn well kept trying, and got his rewards in the end. I hope it was down to the pitch and just one of those nights. But I really can't see him and Moro working as an up front pairing. All the formations and signings has made me worry about exactly where Luis is going to fit in, and I'm still no clearer. Rafa obviously sees him as being just off, but I think Moro/Cisse Crouch/Cisse will work far better. Of the choices Garcia/Moro is the worst, and its so far proven to be so.
Flo Po should be strongly considered for the right, but will need to change his game quite a bit.
The pairing of Hamann and Sissoko against Sofia was a puzzler and I can only put it down to resting Zenden, Alonso. I really think we missed a chance to try Zenden in the middle, once Kewell comes back we'll have plenty of choice there.
The key point though is tactics to break down 7-10 behind the ball defenses. The answer is at least partly, width, helped on with Cisse's pace and Moro/Crouchs lay offs.
