Vs Ludogrets (A): Post Match Thread

[danperkins]

Yeah Lucas sold himself for the first goal.. i thought he had a good game but he did rush in to few challenges and get bypassed. Bit rusty but done well. Toure same thing did well but made a few mistakes. Mignolet was at fault though. As for Allen, i thought he ran around alot but not much else... his effort is commendable though.

[DannyMan2006]

Lucas was far more to blame for the first than Toure

Yeah he made a few mistakes but I think he was spot on in bollocking Lucas and Allen over competing for second balls they were absolutely dreadful in this department

That first goal, if either of Mignolet, Lucas or Toure don't **** up they don't score. All at fault. Comedy of errors that hardly inspired confidence.

[Lecter]

Yeah Lucas sold himself for the first goal.. As for Allen, i thought he ran around alot but not much else... his effort is commendable though.

[DannyMan2006]

I still have massive issues with that midfield

The failure to compete for second balls is criminal

I think they competed. But the issue all over the park is that Ludo have far more energy (and pace, younger legs) & when we did go aggressive, they were clever enough to con the ref and fall over. It left our players (& coaching staff) visibly frustrated and it did mean they were too hot & cold with challenges for fear of giving a free kick away.

[danperkins]

Ludo i thought had a fairly dodgy defensive tonight but they had a smart & very workmanlike midfield. Gave us trouble on the flanks too.

[Lecter]

I think they competed. But the issue all over the park is that Ludo have far more energy (and pace, younger legs) & when we did go aggressive, they were clever enough to con the ref and fall over. It left our players (& coaching staff) visibly frustrated and it did mean they were too hot & cold with challenges for fear of giving a free kick away.

If they did compete they didn't win any

Personally I think they were dreadfully lacking and we really have fallen from grace if that level of competing for second balls is in any way acceptable

[Ams12]

The ref gave them plenty of soft free kicks in the first half. This is a contact sport ffs!
We are a premier league team (just about!) we should be attacking them & make them defend.
They bring on strikers towards the end & we bring on defenders!
Why do we allow teams to attack us, especially at the moment when we are not so good at defending!
Just have to make sure we win our last game against basel at Anfield & we are through to the next round, although not that we can say we deserved it much!
Im off to watch the Apprentice on iplayer

[Doc_Piptorious]

That first goal, if either of Mignolet, Lucas or Toure don't **** up they don't score. All at fault. Comedy of errors that hardly inspired confidence.

Toure got a block in during the build up to the first goal, it was his brainless partner in the centre who had wandered off marking fresh air as he is prone to doing most games.

[McDermotX]

Toure got a block in during the build up to the first goal, it was his brainless partner in the centre who had wandered off marking fresh air as he is prone to doing most games.

Fairly crap block all the same................but you can never legislate for keeper **** ups.
Although, we probably should given who is getting selected every week.

[McDermotX]

[Vermilion]

Mashing the potatoes in the sack he's in ?

[Leyton388]

Smashed it

[Tee]

So far only a 2 page post match thread after a disappointing CL game? Says it all really.

[Kenneth]

It was started a fair bit after the final whistle.

[calvoboy]

I think that was a minor step forward. The midfield still isn't functioning, and I don't think it will now with Gerrard in it unless we go back to last year's diamond. I still think he's a great player for us at times, but accommodating him harms us if we haven't got two energetic players with the license to get forward ahead of him, and tonight played further forward I thought it was painful to watch him being completely bypassed when they had the ball when you think of how he used to play there.

Our pressing was better though, particularly around the edge of our own box, and on the odd occasion where we were able to play throught the midfield and get set in their final third we did actually look dangerous. We're basically ****ed until we can get a striker in January though, so we're going to have many more frustrating games before then. A new keeper is fast becoming essential too - it's reaching the point where Brad Jones must be thinking of knocking on the manager's door now.

Our set piece defending is far too linear for me. It's focused on having a strong line attacking and winning the first ball, with a mixture of zonal and man-marking, but if the opposition ever manage to flick it on then we end up with far too many players having sold themselves forward. Happened tonight for their equaliser, happened against Chelsea for their first goal. Similarly if the first ball clearance is poor we end up with a shambolic line of defenders that, having charged out to try and compete for the ball, are easy to play through unbalanced and out of position for the follow up. We need to sort this quickly, and it shouldn't be hard to do with a decent defensive coach - that's what's so frustrating.