Champions League Matchday 1 Which was more irritating?
Champions League Matchday 1
PSV 0-0 Liverpool
Which was more irritating - the defensive match, the satellite feed that froze every 4 seconds, or Tommy Smyth? It was the feed, then Smyth, then the match.
Tommy highlight: As Rafa gave tactical instructions to substitute Steven Gerard, Tommy said, "there's only one instruction u can give to Stevie G., 'Get out there and play the way you can play'." He must be a great coach that Tommy, who also failed to mention over the course of the match that Liverpool was playing a defensive tactical match and not really committing anyone forward besiddes Kuyt and Bellamy. Incidentally, Stevie G did play the way he can play and almost won the match in the 89th minute with a great strike from a Kuyt flick.
Finally, in the 65th minute, Derrick Rae, whom I like, mentioned that 'you know a draw might not be a bad result for PSV here.' Of course that is true for a PSV side which has lost like 8 key players to transfer in the last month and is playing the best team in their group on matchday 1.
And Rafa and Liverpool, reeling from a few bad performances, fielded a defensive side and seemed happy with a ship-steadying road draw. Both teams content with a 0-0 result had to be the biggest fear for neutral fans going in, yet Derrick only kind of came to this in the 65th minute (As Bellamy and Pennant repeatedly went 1 on 3 (with Kuyt blanketed by 2 more in the center). It is more Tommy's job to do that, but Derrick is often left to do color and background when Tommy is lost in the ol' onion bag.
I will limit analysis of a game that froze on my TV every few seconds, but I agreed with Tommy that Bolo Zenden was a disaster - I have never liked this guy in my 4 or 5 years of watching him at Chelsea, Boro and now Liverpool. He seems a coaches and commentators fave, but I just don't get it. It seemed Bolo was sort playing a holding central role - I like him there more than out wide, but he still did preciously little of note.
They were not very effective as a strike duo (no goals), but I kind of liked Bellamy and Kuyt together up front. As mentioned before, they got NO support and were left to take on numerous PSV defenders. With support from missing attacking midfielders Gerard, Garcia and even Alonso, I think these 2 might work quite well together and I expect to see more of this pairing from Rafa.
Mendes of PSV, who Derrick tipped as a guy to watch, looked a very interesting player with some real skill and creativity (and a scorching shot from 40 yards that almost beat Reyna).
I also thought PSV's new signing, Salcido had a solid game in the back (including a sprinting lunging tackle to deny Kuyt on a burst). The Mexican international defender impressed me at the World Cup and I am interested to see how he fares in Europe - I think quite well.
PSV 0-0 Liverpool
Which was more irritating - the defensive match, the satellite feed that froze every 4 seconds, or Tommy Smyth? It was the feed, then Smyth, then the match.
Tommy highlight: As Rafa gave tactical instructions to substitute Steven Gerard, Tommy said, "there's only one instruction u can give to Stevie G., 'Get out there and play the way you can play'." He must be a great coach that Tommy, who also failed to mention over the course of the match that Liverpool was playing a defensive tactical match and not really committing anyone forward besiddes Kuyt and Bellamy. Incidentally, Stevie G did play the way he can play and almost won the match in the 89th minute with a great strike from a Kuyt flick.
Finally, in the 65th minute, Derrick Rae, whom I like, mentioned that 'you know a draw might not be a bad result for PSV here.' Of course that is true for a PSV side which has lost like 8 key players to transfer in the last month and is playing the best team in their group on matchday 1.
And Rafa and Liverpool, reeling from a few bad performances, fielded a defensive side and seemed happy with a ship-steadying road draw. Both teams content with a 0-0 result had to be the biggest fear for neutral fans going in, yet Derrick only kind of came to this in the 65th minute (As Bellamy and Pennant repeatedly went 1 on 3 (with Kuyt blanketed by 2 more in the center). It is more Tommy's job to do that, but Derrick is often left to do color and background when Tommy is lost in the ol' onion bag.
I will limit analysis of a game that froze on my TV every few seconds, but I agreed with Tommy that Bolo Zenden was a disaster - I have never liked this guy in my 4 or 5 years of watching him at Chelsea, Boro and now Liverpool. He seems a coaches and commentators fave, but I just don't get it. It seemed Bolo was sort playing a holding central role - I like him there more than out wide, but he still did preciously little of note.
They were not very effective as a strike duo (no goals), but I kind of liked Bellamy and Kuyt together up front. As mentioned before, they got NO support and were left to take on numerous PSV defenders. With support from missing attacking midfielders Gerard, Garcia and even Alonso, I think these 2 might work quite well together and I expect to see more of this pairing from Rafa.
Mendes of PSV, who Derrick tipped as a guy to watch, looked a very interesting player with some real skill and creativity (and a scorching shot from 40 yards that almost beat Reyna).
I also thought PSV's new signing, Salcido had a solid game in the back (including a sprinting lunging tackle to deny Kuyt on a burst). The Mexican international defender impressed me at the World Cup and I am interested to see how he fares in Europe - I think quite well.
posted by the idiot at 1:18 PM
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