THE NOTAPRODDYGAL – 6/10 – “Don’t select that team,” we said. But he did. Yet it was tweaked, just a bit. But also restrained by the Brodge ‘barber’ philosophy – “short back and sides is better than long forward and creative, ya hippy bass” So we toiled until he got more adventurous and might have won it. And maybe lost it, too. But it still all reeks – three seasons in – of less calculated strategy, and more like random dice-rolling.
MIBBERY – 5/10 – Kind of flaked-out deep in the second period with some bizarre calls but overall didn’t let his meth-craving damage our night.
OVERALL – 7/10 – A credible point? Guess so. A dynamic European performance? Less so. Difficult to critique the first-half showing as anything less than competent but dull ; you could see we were out to assert ourselves and starve them of possession and hope, take the sting out the crowd. All very well. But sometimes the players have to be brave enough to take the game to very beatable opposition and mercilessly finish them off. Or, the manager has to be brave enough to ask his players to do so, more like.
That wasn’t going to happen here for a while. When we did get at their throats, they bared them for a period of fifteen opening minutes after the break and we made enough chances to kill the game stone dead. Their keeper kept them in it then we got turned with some pace and pinned in until they got their goal, and a lift.
We definitely had their measure but lacked the concentrated intensity to really put them on their knees. Is that down to quality, tactics or mindset of the players? Maybe a little of each. In the end a fair point you might have taken beforehand but as always, the nature of the actual match has us a bit rueful of an opportunity let slip.
Go Away Now.
Sandman
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It’s very clear that “progress in Europe” in the mind of Brendan the elite is not getting hammered 5-0 every game. Unfortunately, he is using domestic games as training sessions for this and the result is the most boring, anti-football performances we have seen since he last fucked off from the hot seat. You can see it with the players on the park, they are having to fight instinct to follow the stifling tactician’s instructions and it is to the detriment of the end product. Tierney is comfortably the best player in that squad. Compare his performances since returning to any he has put in at any club until he returned. He drives at defenders, makes runs into the box and supports high up the park. What has he done since he camr back here?
Can’t see Ralston getting back in the starting line-up. CD was brilliant last night and already getting European experience. If Liam Scales passing accuracy improved what a good defender we would have, he’s OK but needs to sort out his passing. I would play Maeda on the right. Yang is a liability. Inheacho is a player, once he’s 100% fit we’ll have a class act.