I think I'm the only one that thinks...

[saveferris]

Tactics were good, but he should have started with Crouch, when he was signed he was for those "tricky away fixtures" of which I would have included Blackburn. Maybe an on form Kuyt could have created problems but not the one playing at the moment.

[bigfooty]

Ah you replied, good boy

Ok so we start with Crouch what happens?

Firstly the Blackburn defenders can now distribute the ball a lot easier as they have more time on their hands allowing them to have more possession and time thus control of the game.

With no natural width in the team we are sending in diagonal long balls to Coruchie so defenders only have to mop up the second ball.

Crouch gives away a hell of a lot more free kicks now than he did when he started withus.

Gone is the leech that is Kuyt snapping at defenders heels hurrying them into squandering possession and hitting the ball out to concede needless throw-ins (this happens countless times lads watch out for it) defenders see the Dutch bull coming full backs cant use the line in case they get caught in possession.

I would have started with Crouch and Kuyt, stuck Gerrard on the right and played either Babel or Yossi on the left.

With regards to Blackburn's midfield their best two central players are Savage and Tugay, neither of which started on Saturday. Throughout their good run in the league one has usually always started, sometimes both, with the other being introduced as a sub if needed. Instead we matched up against David Dunn and Emerton which Momo and Mascher should more than comfortably be able to take on their own without the need for Kuyt and Gerrard tracking back.

Of course Blackburn tired, they don't have the squad depth that we do, have injuries and have been playing almost as many games.

[einar]

No he isn't.

It's a good question.

As he says himself in post nr. 73 Rafa did not set the team up tactically to have one shot on goal. How many shots on goal a team has has to do with allot more then tactics. Hence he is over simplifying.

[einar]

That's both overly cautious and daftly risky.

If it wasnt for the woodwork, we'd have been 2 down by then.

It strikes me that if we're often guilty of missing chances (and we are), any plan which involves us only having ONE shot on goal in HALF of the game doesnt really give us a great chance of winning.

In any case, i refuse to accept that it was part of Rafa's masterplan for us to offer zero threat for 45 mins or more.

I may be nitpicking, but the woodwork does nothing.

They missed the target.

[El Jefecito]

...that Rafa got his tactics spot on against Blackburn.

We kept things tight the first 60-65 minutes and then when Blackburn got tired and ran out of ideas then Rafa decided to start to attack them.

We couldn't play an attacking game from the start with Hyypia playing but we could do that when Blackburns strikers got tired and slower.

Sissoko and Mascherano took out all energy from Blackburns midfield and it would have paid off if we had not missed chance after chance the last 15-20 minutes.

Kuyts hard work made the Blackburn defenders scared and in the end they hoofed away the ball because he were everywhere. That gave us more possession and better control of the game. Blackburn also made a few rushed mistakes because they got tired at the end of the game.

Kewell has been out a long time and Rafa can't take any chances with him so he couldn't let him in earlier.

Blackburn away is a difficult game and even more difficult with Agger, Alonso and Torres out injured.

I don't buy into this. I can't see Rafa telling SG to go out and play in a position at which he is crap on purpose.

I think Rafa miscalculated in thinking that SG could play ahead of the ball. It didn't work.

Once he went back to 442, we had SG in his natural role he got much better and Kuyt (finishing aside) was much better more involved.

I don't think we will see that formation with that set of players again.

[pezzzer]

rotation will work, we just wont see the rewards till the end of the season.patience?

[Craig_H]

rotation will work, we just wont see the rewards till the end of the season.patience?

What if we're 15+ points behind by January?

[El Jefecito]

What if we're 15+ points behind by January?

What if we are top?

[enema of the state]

What if we're 15+ points behind by January?

then well have had a remarkeably bad november and december - wed have had to play so badly that no tactics could save us.

the bottom line is that everything that went wrong in the blackburn game was about individual execution.

the tactics were appropriate and had the desired overall effect

you seem to somehow imagine the fact they hit the woodwork twice is a direct result of our tactics - it isnt

[Craig_H]

What if we are top?

Yeah, that looks likely...

[Craig_H]

then well have had a remarkeably bad november and december - wed have had to play so badly that no tactics could save us.

the bottom line is that everything that went wrong in the blackburn game was about individual execution.

the tactics were appropriate and had the desired overall effect

you seem to somehow imagine the fact they hit the woodwork twice is a direct result of our tactics - it isnt

No i dont.

But defensive 'sit back' tactics invite pressure.

[tomasjj]

No i dont.

But defensive 'sit back' tactics invite pressure.

FLMAO!

Those were the only chances they had!

[Craig_H]

What are you arguing with tomas...

That defensive tactics DONT invite pressure?

[red g]

What are you arguing with tomas...

That defensive tactics DONT invite pressure?

the truth is that we still had the best chance in the first half.....they nearly scored from a wonder strike which could happen at any time......

[El Jefecito]

Yeah, that looks likely...

As likely as being 15+ points behind? More likely me thinks.