Crusaders (H) 25-07 Build Up

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

Last night was infinitely better than the last 'European' game I was at - losing at home to Ascoli in the Anglo-Italian Cup!

 

[Aikiwolf]

There's also the fact that Crusaders CBs can deal with crosses all day long. You have to do something different, play 1/2 touch around them or run at them and make them commit and make a stupid error. Didn't think we tried enough from range either, there were loads of opportunities for that too.

Btw did anyone have a better view of our penalty shout in the 2nd half? I completely missed it.

Right in front of us and I thought it was probably a pen. Wasn't a cast iron pen though due to the pace on the ball and distance, not seen a replay though!

 

[The Bear]

Struggling against a well organised defence isn't just something only we struggle with. Every team in the league does, even Man City (against us for example). With better players will come more chances at breaking them down, but we'll continue to struggle with this for at least another couple of seasons.

 

[The Bear]

That handball was never ever a penalty. His arms were down by his side. Coupled with the new rules it's never going to be given in a million years.

 

[Kenny]

Thought the ref was decent last night. Expected to see loads of niggly free kicks given but he kept the game flowing.

Only odd moment was for the handball that led to Neves hitting the worst free kick he has ever taken. Ball hit the lads hand and he waved his arms as if to say no then 10 seconds later gave us the free kick

 

[machin05]

Thought the ref was decent last night. Expected to see loads of niggly free kicks given but he kept the game flowing.

Only odd moment was for the handball that led to Neves hitting the worst free kick he has ever taken. Ball hit the lads hand and he waved his arms as if to say no then 10 seconds later gave us the free kick

Seemed to be signalling that his assistant made the call so must have thought he was better placed to see it. Fair play to him, imo.

 

[Kenny]

Seemed to be signalling that his assistant made the call so must have thought he was better placed to see it. Fair play to him, imo.

It was the right call in the end and even if he had let play go on (Neves probably wished he did) it wouldn't have been a big mistake. Nice to praise a ref for a change

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

It was a bit odd how he blew for half time just as we'd launched the ball into their box though.

 

[Kenny]

It was a bit odd how he blew for half time just as we'd launched the ball into their box though.

Time was up though (Not sure what the ruling is these days but some refs will hold off if the ball is pinging around inside the penalty area)

 

[darlowolf64]

It was a bit odd how he blew for half time just as we'd launched the ball into their box though.

Doesn't matter where the ball is, half time is half time. What was odd was the fact he called half time exactly on 45 minutes, no added time despite the, at least, 2 to 3 minutes that should have been added

 

[Sniffer]

Doesn't matter where the ball is, half time is half time. What was odd was the fact he called half time exactly on 45 minutes, no added time despite the, at least, 2 to 3 minutes that should have been added

Clive Thomas likes this post.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

Clive Thomas likes this post.

For those under 40.

 

[Monstrum]

Didnt think traore had a great game, but anyone who doesnt think he was our most offensive and creative player is dillusional. Drew and went past defenders, tons of decent crosses and corners... is it his fault we couldnt finish?

 

[lemonjelly]

I haven't read the thread, but watched the game last night.

Aiki/Lycan, it really wasn't a penalty from my view.

I did have a skim of the thread last night after the whistle had gone, and wondered if people watched the same game as me.
I thought we were really good. I struggle to think of any starter who had a poor game, indeed there were a lot of positives for me from last night.
Defensively we were sound.
Moutinho is still phenomenal.
Dendoncker was probably my motm. He did so much, and when Neves went off, initially took over his role. OK, he might not have the wand of a foot for the passing, but in every other aspect he covered Neves' role really well I thought.

I also noticed we kept having moments of sharp interplay (similar to how we tried vs cardiff at home) and it was effective.

I thought MGW had an industrious game, and was unlucky not to score. Last night I saw a lot of unreasonable criticism for him. Personally, I thought he did well.

Jota is still absolutely phenomenal.

We had 30 shots on goal FFS. One every 3 minutes of the game. We had 80% possession, and never, ever, ever looked like conceding.

Watching the team/line up/formation after reading Nuno's recent interview was interesting, as he implies we play with Neves as an extra line. Actually, Coady is the extra line, the formation allows Coady to be last man, Neves is inbetween Boly and Bennett, the Jonny Moutinho, Dendonker and Traore, then the forwards.

All in all I thought we were really good in a potential banana skin. We managed the game well, and you could see the coaching team have worked with a number of the players.

 

[darlowolf64]

Didnt think traore had a great game, but anyone who doesnt think he was our most offensive and creative player is dillusional. Drew and went past defenders, tons of decent crosses and corners... is it his fault we couldnt finish?

My only problem with him last night was he just stood waiting for someone to give him the ball. A couple of times, especially in the 1st half, Moutinho and Donk drew out the Crusaders defenders leaving a huge gap behind the left back but he just stood there instead of making a run into the space. I'm sure that will come as he is improving the more he plays in the rwb position but it won't be a quick fix.
As for the rest of his game, he turned the full back inside out and even when they put two players on him, he did the same.

 

[lemonjelly]

Just read the thread back, and as well as scratching my head, I now realise my own lack of match sharpness in missing andy & stan having a ticket available and I failed to swoop on the offers!

LJ needs to up his pre-season...

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Needs to stop talking in the third person too.

Why our fans are so negative blows my mind.

 

[lemonjelly]

If I have to start imposing a matchday dress code then so help me God, I will.

Should I ask your perspectives on housecoats in said dress code sir? Or is that a given?

 

[lemonjelly]

Needs to stop talking in the third person too.

Why our fans are so negative blows my mind.

Will try.
Genuainely, I watched online and thought we were pretty fucking good. After the final whistle I scrolled through a couple of pages of the match thread, then turned the PC off thinking it was probably me. Glad to see it isn't!

 

[Wolvensam]

One thing I did notice is our fans aren't half as urgent when it is still 0-0 twenty minutes in. But my god: Neves, Jota and Jimenez are essential to how we play. That system is built around them to maximise their strengths and minimise their weaknesses. We didn't dictate half the play when Dendoncker/Saiss were in Neves' position.