Post match thank you Bendtner thread

[MattB]

Nonsense. Whilst we were on the back foot a lot of the time, so were the Mancs in the league. They come away with a similar result after (admittedly more polished) counter-attacking & take the praise, yet we are condemned for it? Ask AC Milan how hard it is to go there & get a result.

Of course we rode our luck, but then other teams have against us & it is about time we had some.

We did what was required & that was a lot. We weren't brilliant, but we didnt allow them to be either. No more, no less. A typically professional away Euro performance by us- the likes of which have seen us to 2 finals in 3 years.

Agree. First leg is about jostling for position, which I think we have acheived rather well - no more goals and we are through

[Exiled_red]

It was a terrible pass and I don't think he could have reached it, but we like to see people chase lost causes all the same.

It was a bad pass but even if he couldn't have got the ball he would have been able to put arsenal player under pressure, the fact he had fresh legs but barely moved for it I found frustrating

[breffniboy]

I agree that it's a fine margin (& football often is at the highest level) & that we are a little defensive as present. However I think we have the basicas of a great side. Over the summer I am hoping for the arrival of at least 2 out of 4 1st team players for the FB positions & wide positions that will fit into our current 4231 formation so that SG & Torres get a lot more support up top & the switch between defense & attack is significantly more fluid & effective. It will mean we are more likely to get 2 ahead & will also mean that teams will be more careful about throwing everyone up against us due to the increased threat we represent.

Only with these players will we then be able to replicate the more balanced way Valencia were in their whole team unit attack & defence approach. Now we defend as a unit, but dont really attack as one (like Scum & the Gooners do).

These players need to be top drawer, but I think we finally have the squad to bed them in. Reading that interview with Rafa also reassures me he feels the same.

Spot on. We're trying to play the Valencia system without the correct offensive personnel to carry it off. Next transfer window and funding is absolutely vital, we're just trying to push back the tide otherwise.

[Roboklopp]

Spot on. We're trying to play the Valencia system without the correct offensive personnel to carry it off. Next transfer window and funding is absolutely vital, we're just trying to push back the tide otherwise.

...which is why we need DIC in to cough up, cos those type of players aint cheap.

[DannyMan2006]

It was a terrible pass and I don't think he could have reached it, but we like to see people chase lost causes all the same.

No, he wouldn't have reached it, but chasing the ball down would have put pressure on the defender.

I can see why Rafa brought Voronin on instead of Crouch, Arsenal were piling men forward and Voronin has the pace to get behind them, nearly did on a couple of occasions to.

Bringing on Crouch earlier in the game would have helped though, the amount of balls we lumped forward and all it did was come straight back at us. Maybe him on for Alonso instead of Lucas, switching Gerrard to CM.

[Roboklopp]

No, he wouldn't have reached it, but chasing the ball down would have put pressure on the defender.

I can see why Rafa brought Voronin on instead of Crouch, Arsenal were piling men forward and Voronin has the pace to get behind them, nearly did on a couple of occasions to.

Bringing on Crouch earlier in the game would have helped though, the amount of balls we lumped forward and all it did was come straight back at us. Maybe him on for Alonso instead of Lucas, switching Gerrard to CM.

Once I got over not putting Crouchie on (remembering the threat he cause d the Gooners last year),I thought it was about Voronin's mobility too & backed the decision.

But the fact was that he really didnt look arsed about tracking back or being the 1st line of defence & that really really pissed me off.

[El Jefecito]

Maybe he was told to stay high to hold up the ball if we got it ???

[DannyMan2006]

Maybe he was told to stay high to hold up the ball if we got it ???

I would have thought so, he would have brought on a defender otherwise. But a decent amount of closing down in the Rush/Fowler mould would have been expected.

[Skillz]

Maybe he was told to stay high to hold up the ball if we got it ???

Surely not?

[Slim]

To be fair, I was one of those 'dickheads' until someone explained it to me last night. No excuse for the telegraph though

As it happens the goal would not have stood as the linesman had flagged thinking - incorrectly as Sami Hyypia was on the goal-line too - that Bendtner was in an offside position

No offence intended mate. I should have added that the dickheads in my work are all Man U fans, therefore dickheads by their very nature. They were revelling in our "luck" until I pointed out the rule to them!

[Scratch]

Just a note on the Bendtner thing. If he had evaded the ball, and not made contact with it, would the goal have stood, as he was not interfering with play in that neither Hyppia nor Reina would have got near it? Only when he touched the ball did he become active, no?

[AFII]

Just a note on the Bendtner thing. If he had evaded the ball, and not made contact with it, would the goal have stood, as he was not interfering with play in that neither Hyppia nor Reina would have got near it? Only when he touched the ball did he become active, no?

No one really knows that, not even the refs and that is the problem with the "new" offside rule.

[MattB]

No offence intended mate. I should have added that the dickheads in my work are all Man U fans, therefore dickheads by their very nature. They were revelling in our "luck" until I pointed out the rule to them!

None taken mate

[tommyg]

That was a penalty though.....Kuyt clearly dragged his arm across and referee was RIGHT infront of it...cant believe he didnt call it to be honest

[MattB]

That was a penalty though.....Kuyt clearly dragged his arm across and referee was RIGHT infront of it...cant believe he didnt call it to be honest

Look at it closely. He does make contact but it's nothing like as big a contact as Hleb made out (even when it is across Hleb's arm, Kuyt's hand is open - i.e. his fingers are not wrapped round his arm). Hleb was looking for it, **** him