- Feb 18, 2004
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- 321
In defence of the way we sat back and defended deeply, it''s not the way I want to see us play generally but with the paceless Dawson and rapidly slowing King as centre backs playing high up the pitch would have certainly brought Bellamy and later Suarez in the game in behind us, Kaboul's pace is vital for us to play more proactively higher up the park, and also VDV helps us keep and recycle possession better as a team. As it was, sitting deep negated the pace of in form Bellamy, and Suarez when he came on although it did mean Carroll was a threat with his knock downs. Play high up the pitch against Carroll you render him useless but I would have winced seeing Bellamy and Suarez getting in behind Daws and King.
We defended compactly, and weren't particularly troubled by them. Put Kaboul, VDV and Sandro in that side - and Ade holding the ball up better then we could have played more proactively and taken the game to them. I still look at that as a decent well earned point.
I agree they didn't trouble us that much; and that it was a decent point all in all. But we didn't play well and we only really troubled them once. With Parker and Livermore in the side I'm disappointed Modric, Walker and BAE didn't get more forward to support Bale, Kranjcar and Ade. As it was we really missed VDV and his ability to link the midfield and Ade. Kranjcar was decent but has nowhere near the vision of the Dutchman. A lot was left for Ade and Bale to sort out on their own and neither had particularly good games. I'm fine with the point, and I can see why we sat back and let Liverpool do some of their absolutely inefficient passing back and forth between midfield and defence, but we really didn't trouble them at all on the counter and should have been able to keep the ball a lot better. Really hope VDV, Kaboul, Lennon and to a lesser degree Sandro will be back soon as VDV and Lennon in particular were missed dearly yesterday. Looking forward to Newcastle, should be a good game and 3 points.