kirsikka
UTC Legend
If the Arsenal match saw a gladiatorial performance from our players, last time out against Liverpool we were like a bunch of unarmed Christians thrown to the lions. Which version would turn up today?
The line up saw Zemura drop out completely, contract issues was the rumour and not a bad decision if he's indicated he won't sign. Between now and the end of the season we can take the chance to review our other options. However, the biggest news was on the bench, with the return of Brooks. Headlines writers were licking their lips in anticipation, hoping for the fairy tale finish to the day that would make their life a doddle.
The change in formation to the more regularly seen 4-2-3-1 indicated that we were interested in a more attacking outlook. A positive message to the team of belief in them, and one I was glad to see! Maybe part of the work on their heads needed after last week's gut wrencher?
The game started as has often happens in these matches against the six. Dominant possession from the opposition and chances, only this time they didn't manage to get that all important first 20 minute goal. It did require an excellent goal line clearance from Lerma and some decent saves from Neto to keep it level though.
At the other end, Ouattara had a glorious chance when put through but a heavy touch when he tried to take it around the keeper meant it was wasted. Fear not though, as our recent provider in chief wasn't finished.
The more the game went on, the most we exerted an influence, Billing continuing his form from last week as a the forward fulcrum through which almost everything was going and still chipping in with winning the ball back.
When the goal came, a ball over the top from Smith was met with some excellent skill from Ouattara who made Van Dijk look like a pound shop Senesi on his way to cutting it back for Billing to slot home. Delirium.
As a marker of how things had changed, at one point in the first half we'd shifted the possession stat from 75% Liverpool in the early stages to overall around 50-50, if the on-screen graphic was to be believed. A huge turnaround in how we approach a game like this. More importantly was the confidence that seemed to be flowing through the team. Little link ups, pass and move and causing the much-lauded Liverpool genuine problems.
Another piece of skill from Danjo pinged in a ball to Solanke but his first touch (a really tricky one) wasn't quite up to it. Then Senesi juggled the ball at back post, making Alexander-Arnold look like a clown, before laying off to Dom who hit a first time shot that was unstoppable but too high.
VAR didn't give us a penalty in the first half, although the challenge was outside the area so fair enough no pen was awarded this time. Quite how the ref didn't give a free kick for the challenge though shall forever remain a mystery. It was as blatant as they come and an unquestionable yellow card, an important factor given how we'd been breaking at pace as it would have put some doubt in the defenders mind. I'll need to watch it back, but suspect it was Konate who escaped that yellow, who then stopped us going clean through on goal by pulling down Solanke just as he was about to pass in the second half. Instead Liverpool got away with one at the behest of the ref again. That's a story we've seen before in matches against these teams.
Meanwhile, there was never any doubt the VAR decision would go against us in the second. Even if it was 70-30 in our favour they'd still have given it based on this season. As it was, under the current rules, it probably was a penalty. We still haven't saved one but kudos for Salah for one of the worst taken penalties I've seen in a while. Love it.
There was still the elephant standing at the corner flag. We continued to look vulnerable every time they got a set piece, be it a free kick or corner. Van Dijk could easily have scored a couple. We escaped by luck, not design. There have been so many improvements in recent weeks but this is still a weight dragging us down in every game. Please. Please. Please. Get some outside help. Its the grown up thing to do and may just make the difference. A top class set piece coach would cost peanuts compared to what we pay for a player but could be the difference in saving us £60 million+. Please. Do I need to go on my knees and beg? I'm not proud, if that's what it takes I'll do it. Please. Did I say please?
In the second half, the important period was again the first fifteen and even though they came after us, we restricted them to one chance which Neto easily saved. Then Liverpool started to run out of ideas. Even when we started to sit really deep, they didn't create much. I'll be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of that approach as it's failed so many times but we got away with it today.
We were fortunate, or defended well, to not give away too many set pieces in this spell, as that felt like the only way Liverpool were going to score today.
The prior results made this run of games more important than they should have been but still, what we needed was performances even if results didn't come. Performances we've got in the last two, and an unexpected three points to go alongside them. Let's hope that's a springboard for the rest of the season.
As the middle game in between some tough fixtures for them, it seems Liverpool thought they could turn up with a rotated team and cruise to victory. Much like their ridiculous magic eye shirts though, that picture never came into view.
I started by asking which version of the AFCB Colosseum team we'd see out there. It was neither. We were strong, but didn't need the same desperate fight we had to show at every moment last week. We contained them. This was a victory against the odds but, on the balance of the match, it was well deserved.
----- Positive Performances -----
Billing - What can you say? First half he was the fantastic going forward and in defence. Faded a bit second half. I hope the sub doesn't mean he's picked up an injury as he's suddenly in the form of his life just when we need it.
Ouattara - I continue to say he isn't the finished article but he gave them torrid moments at different times of the match and also got his head, boot and body in the way as he got stuck into his defensive work. Excellent. How many assists is that now? 4 or 5. Chewy, I've got a good feeling about this.
Senesi - Simply superb out there. Head and shoulders above all the others in a defensive sense, on a day where we looked much more organised. The cheeky ball skills were a bonus, but it's for his rock solid work in defence that he deserves praise.
----- Room for Improvement -----
Smith - Went down too easily searching for cheap free kicks in the first half and nearly cost us a couple of times. Should have learnt from the first one that the ref wasn't going to give those against Liverpool. Usual back post story for him with the penalty. Came off at the time he should have last week.
----- GON Watch -----
Performances have been on the upturn, and he's got the result he has deserved based on the last two matches. He's learning and was much more decisive with the subs in the countdown (although the aborted Solanke substitution looked a little amateurish. What on earth happened? Not sure who was at fault there.)
I still felt we were inviting Liverpool onto us too much without leaving a man up from 80 onwards but when it works you can only say that on another day that will cost us. Today it didn't, and what a glorious three points we have to savour.
I said after last week the key was getting into the heads of the players and making them believe they could repeat that, without the tragic ending. They did that and more, we were significantly better today and ran out worthy winners. Well done to GON. Well done to everyone, in fact.
Now we need to build on this. Approach every game with the same belief and intensity and we're going to give teams a hard time in the run in. Teams will know we're going to give them a game if we turn up like this, and it's congested enough down there that I wouldn't be surprised if we can snaffle enough points.
Still need to work on defending those set pieces though...
Today was one for memory banks. One for GON to relish. One for the players to be proud of. One for the fans to treasure. But most of all, one for David Brooks. Welcome back.
The line up saw Zemura drop out completely, contract issues was the rumour and not a bad decision if he's indicated he won't sign. Between now and the end of the season we can take the chance to review our other options. However, the biggest news was on the bench, with the return of Brooks. Headlines writers were licking their lips in anticipation, hoping for the fairy tale finish to the day that would make their life a doddle.
The change in formation to the more regularly seen 4-2-3-1 indicated that we were interested in a more attacking outlook. A positive message to the team of belief in them, and one I was glad to see! Maybe part of the work on their heads needed after last week's gut wrencher?
The game started as has often happens in these matches against the six. Dominant possession from the opposition and chances, only this time they didn't manage to get that all important first 20 minute goal. It did require an excellent goal line clearance from Lerma and some decent saves from Neto to keep it level though.
At the other end, Ouattara had a glorious chance when put through but a heavy touch when he tried to take it around the keeper meant it was wasted. Fear not though, as our recent provider in chief wasn't finished.
The more the game went on, the most we exerted an influence, Billing continuing his form from last week as a the forward fulcrum through which almost everything was going and still chipping in with winning the ball back.
When the goal came, a ball over the top from Smith was met with some excellent skill from Ouattara who made Van Dijk look like a pound shop Senesi on his way to cutting it back for Billing to slot home. Delirium.
As a marker of how things had changed, at one point in the first half we'd shifted the possession stat from 75% Liverpool in the early stages to overall around 50-50, if the on-screen graphic was to be believed. A huge turnaround in how we approach a game like this. More importantly was the confidence that seemed to be flowing through the team. Little link ups, pass and move and causing the much-lauded Liverpool genuine problems.
Another piece of skill from Danjo pinged in a ball to Solanke but his first touch (a really tricky one) wasn't quite up to it. Then Senesi juggled the ball at back post, making Alexander-Arnold look like a clown, before laying off to Dom who hit a first time shot that was unstoppable but too high.
VAR didn't give us a penalty in the first half, although the challenge was outside the area so fair enough no pen was awarded this time. Quite how the ref didn't give a free kick for the challenge though shall forever remain a mystery. It was as blatant as they come and an unquestionable yellow card, an important factor given how we'd been breaking at pace as it would have put some doubt in the defenders mind. I'll need to watch it back, but suspect it was Konate who escaped that yellow, who then stopped us going clean through on goal by pulling down Solanke just as he was about to pass in the second half. Instead Liverpool got away with one at the behest of the ref again. That's a story we've seen before in matches against these teams.
Meanwhile, there was never any doubt the VAR decision would go against us in the second. Even if it was 70-30 in our favour they'd still have given it based on this season. As it was, under the current rules, it probably was a penalty. We still haven't saved one but kudos for Salah for one of the worst taken penalties I've seen in a while. Love it.
There was still the elephant standing at the corner flag. We continued to look vulnerable every time they got a set piece, be it a free kick or corner. Van Dijk could easily have scored a couple. We escaped by luck, not design. There have been so many improvements in recent weeks but this is still a weight dragging us down in every game. Please. Please. Please. Get some outside help. Its the grown up thing to do and may just make the difference. A top class set piece coach would cost peanuts compared to what we pay for a player but could be the difference in saving us £60 million+. Please. Do I need to go on my knees and beg? I'm not proud, if that's what it takes I'll do it. Please. Did I say please?
In the second half, the important period was again the first fifteen and even though they came after us, we restricted them to one chance which Neto easily saved. Then Liverpool started to run out of ideas. Even when we started to sit really deep, they didn't create much. I'll be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of that approach as it's failed so many times but we got away with it today.
We were fortunate, or defended well, to not give away too many set pieces in this spell, as that felt like the only way Liverpool were going to score today.
The prior results made this run of games more important than they should have been but still, what we needed was performances even if results didn't come. Performances we've got in the last two, and an unexpected three points to go alongside them. Let's hope that's a springboard for the rest of the season.
As the middle game in between some tough fixtures for them, it seems Liverpool thought they could turn up with a rotated team and cruise to victory. Much like their ridiculous magic eye shirts though, that picture never came into view.
I started by asking which version of the AFCB Colosseum team we'd see out there. It was neither. We were strong, but didn't need the same desperate fight we had to show at every moment last week. We contained them. This was a victory against the odds but, on the balance of the match, it was well deserved.
----- Positive Performances -----
Billing - What can you say? First half he was the fantastic going forward and in defence. Faded a bit second half. I hope the sub doesn't mean he's picked up an injury as he's suddenly in the form of his life just when we need it.
Ouattara - I continue to say he isn't the finished article but he gave them torrid moments at different times of the match and also got his head, boot and body in the way as he got stuck into his defensive work. Excellent. How many assists is that now? 4 or 5. Chewy, I've got a good feeling about this.
Senesi - Simply superb out there. Head and shoulders above all the others in a defensive sense, on a day where we looked much more organised. The cheeky ball skills were a bonus, but it's for his rock solid work in defence that he deserves praise.
----- Room for Improvement -----
Smith - Went down too easily searching for cheap free kicks in the first half and nearly cost us a couple of times. Should have learnt from the first one that the ref wasn't going to give those against Liverpool. Usual back post story for him with the penalty. Came off at the time he should have last week.
----- GON Watch -----
Performances have been on the upturn, and he's got the result he has deserved based on the last two matches. He's learning and was much more decisive with the subs in the countdown (although the aborted Solanke substitution looked a little amateurish. What on earth happened? Not sure who was at fault there.)
I still felt we were inviting Liverpool onto us too much without leaving a man up from 80 onwards but when it works you can only say that on another day that will cost us. Today it didn't, and what a glorious three points we have to savour.
I said after last week the key was getting into the heads of the players and making them believe they could repeat that, without the tragic ending. They did that and more, we were significantly better today and ran out worthy winners. Well done to GON. Well done to everyone, in fact.
Now we need to build on this. Approach every game with the same belief and intensity and we're going to give teams a hard time in the run in. Teams will know we're going to give them a game if we turn up like this, and it's congested enough down there that I wouldn't be surprised if we can snaffle enough points.
Still need to work on defending those set pieces though...
Today was one for memory banks. One for GON to relish. One for the players to be proud of. One for the fans to treasure. But most of all, one for David Brooks. Welcome back.
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