mpickard2087
Patient Zero
- Jun 13, 2008
- 21,889
- 32,562
These are human beings, for a cup final to be tense and cagey is to be expected more often than not, the heat might lead to it being played at a slightly slower pace, but you cant use excuses. Last night was very disappointing and we froze on the big stage unfortunately.
I've given my take in a couple of threads already, but the opening moments of the game are for me extremely disappointing and just not what teams who win things do. They must have talked about starting the game well, being switched on, winning your first few duels and laying a marker etc etc. But what we got was like five players consecutively making a little error/second best for their first action and it ends up in our penalty area and then a handball. Sport is often separated by the finest margins, you've got to be at it from the first whistle. You've got to better than that, I don't see that happening to other teams. And we need to get a grip on it in future and set some better standards.
After that the game settled into a pattern that lasted for basically the whole 90 minutes. Liverpool, though I'm not sure Klopp wanted them to, decided to sit on this 1-0 lead and preserve it. Formed a medium-low block in their half and played ultra-cautiously, often just clearing their lines and hitting the ball long for us to start again. We had plenty of possession, but often in deep areas and ended up going nowhere and very rarely building any impetus to our play.
Both tactically and individually there just seemed to be a lack of ideas and clarity as to what we were trying to do. Our back four and centre mid's were often deep recycling the ball trying to play out, whilst our attackers were high up field half hidden in amongst their defence, and so the play was very disjointed. Our attackers were all usually very narrow too, you could have thrown a blanket on them, and didn't work hard enough to find space. You cant always just look for the long diagonal over the top.....
And it went on and on and on. And on. And on. Attackers largely stumbled around and wasted it if the play did reach the final third. We had a few half openings but no glorious chances. And all the while you just waited for us to find a bit of spark and have a go, but it didn't really happen.
Eventually they killed the game. Didn't think we defended this one particularly well either. Had about three attempts to clear the ball, Dier's header is rubbish, Vertonghen looked like he bottled it a bit, Origi has so much space, good finish but still - opportunity was there to clear the ball.
There are ways to lose, that wasn't a great way. I'm sure the players will be disappointed and have regrets. Well its up to them to learn and regroup next season. We've got to get better.
Lloris - Did ok, but I look at the likes of Allison and Ederson etc. and remember he used to play like that and command anything within 30 yards of his goal...
Trippier - Switched off a little in minute one, which did open the door for Mane, but apart from that had a solid game.
Alderweireld - Very solid performance.
Vertonghen - Didn't always look comfortable but did alright.
Rose - Was also pretty solid. Gave away the corner pretty needlessly but seemed fairly clear he didn't get a call.
Sissoko - Thought he had a fairly bad game. Penalty decision seemed to affect him and he never settled down and just went ultra safe in everything he did.
Winks - Did ok. Nothing spectacular but no way he should have been sacrificed compared to what others were doing.
Eriksen - Probably the most competent of our attacking quartet, but that isn't saying much.
Alli/Son/Kane - Bar the most sporadic of moments, a total let down.
Subs:
Moura - Had a couple of involvements but didn't really offer much.
Dier - Ok.
Llorente - Won a couple of headers.
I've given my take in a couple of threads already, but the opening moments of the game are for me extremely disappointing and just not what teams who win things do. They must have talked about starting the game well, being switched on, winning your first few duels and laying a marker etc etc. But what we got was like five players consecutively making a little error/second best for their first action and it ends up in our penalty area and then a handball. Sport is often separated by the finest margins, you've got to be at it from the first whistle. You've got to better than that, I don't see that happening to other teams. And we need to get a grip on it in future and set some better standards.
After that the game settled into a pattern that lasted for basically the whole 90 minutes. Liverpool, though I'm not sure Klopp wanted them to, decided to sit on this 1-0 lead and preserve it. Formed a medium-low block in their half and played ultra-cautiously, often just clearing their lines and hitting the ball long for us to start again. We had plenty of possession, but often in deep areas and ended up going nowhere and very rarely building any impetus to our play.
Both tactically and individually there just seemed to be a lack of ideas and clarity as to what we were trying to do. Our back four and centre mid's were often deep recycling the ball trying to play out, whilst our attackers were high up field half hidden in amongst their defence, and so the play was very disjointed. Our attackers were all usually very narrow too, you could have thrown a blanket on them, and didn't work hard enough to find space. You cant always just look for the long diagonal over the top.....
And it went on and on and on. And on. And on. Attackers largely stumbled around and wasted it if the play did reach the final third. We had a few half openings but no glorious chances. And all the while you just waited for us to find a bit of spark and have a go, but it didn't really happen.
Eventually they killed the game. Didn't think we defended this one particularly well either. Had about three attempts to clear the ball, Dier's header is rubbish, Vertonghen looked like he bottled it a bit, Origi has so much space, good finish but still - opportunity was there to clear the ball.
There are ways to lose, that wasn't a great way. I'm sure the players will be disappointed and have regrets. Well its up to them to learn and regroup next season. We've got to get better.
Lloris - Did ok, but I look at the likes of Allison and Ederson etc. and remember he used to play like that and command anything within 30 yards of his goal...
Trippier - Switched off a little in minute one, which did open the door for Mane, but apart from that had a solid game.
Alderweireld - Very solid performance.
Vertonghen - Didn't always look comfortable but did alright.
Rose - Was also pretty solid. Gave away the corner pretty needlessly but seemed fairly clear he didn't get a call.
Sissoko - Thought he had a fairly bad game. Penalty decision seemed to affect him and he never settled down and just went ultra safe in everything he did.
Winks - Did ok. Nothing spectacular but no way he should have been sacrificed compared to what others were doing.
Eriksen - Probably the most competent of our attacking quartet, but that isn't saying much.
Alli/Son/Kane - Bar the most sporadic of moments, a total let down.
Subs:
Moura - Had a couple of involvements but didn't really offer much.
Dier - Ok.
Llorente - Won a couple of headers.
