We played very defensive. Zamora was too negative and Riise out of the game. Bobby is getting too big for his boots some times! Positive figures were Frei and Etuhu. Negative also the two injuries to Duff and Dembele. Hope not too serious.
Why so defensive? Probably because we were playing away (which isn't our favourite thing) against one of the better teams we'll face this season. Didn't do us any favours though.
The only times we looked dangerous was with Frei running at them and AJ running in behind. One incident Frei took on the defender got past him and played a lovely ball across the 6 yard box with nobody attacking it. Bobby did next to nothing and didn't seem to be bothered, some worrying signs. More of the same on Monday night and we're certain to lose.
I'm really not sure why he played the team he did, it was quite a strong team, with a lot of the older players. Surely this was a game to use as an experiment and test the younger players to see if they can gel against a tough opponent and give more players a rest before the Liverpool game. It was like watching paint dry, very painful slow build up or a hit and hope long ball up for Zamora who was marked well throughout the game. Now what will Jol do against Odense in a must win situation, play the old guard again ?
With you all the way SuperBri. Having watched last night's game, I have resisted commenting till now and will temper my feelings with brevity - If we had gone out with the younger players and had a go and still lost, I would not be a fraction as disappointed as I am now.
C58 and SBM that's my disappointment as well... We never really looked that we were going to hit the game! Odense will be a tough game...
Odense is a clearly winable game. The future is in our own hands and I trust MJ and the team to take the right approach. I note that ManU need for a draw in Basel in order to progress in the CL and am reminded that 2 years ago this month, 1200 of us went to Basel for a must-win match in order to progress to the later stages. A 2-3 victory was delivered in the snow and the route to the final was set. An aside - on that day, Roy held-back Brede on the bench.
having seen the lineup chosen being so strong i felt that Jol was looking to win them game, so we could get a better seeding for the knockout stages. To see us then play the way we did was very suprising. maybe it was more down to the players than the manager? The only time all match Bobby seemed bothered was when he was subbed.
