- Oct 19, 2004
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Just been watching the second half again. (Properly this time). Gallas is 2/3 yards deeper than any of the rest of our boys for Podolski's goal. He also tries to block the shot with his swinger.
Also, whoever said Levy was smiling after the game couldn't have been more wrong. He looked like someone shat in his bed.
He is a yard deeper as a result of Vertyonghen taken a step forward that moment because Giroud does and Gallas is tight on Podolski. You could argue that he should step up that instant and try and catch Podolski offside, and you'd maybe have a case, but that would be taking a chance, and sticking up the arse of his man and not leaving him in that passage of play is I think forgivable. If you look in slow mo, he actually gets a good block and it ricochets back off podolski's boot. So bar shit luck he'd done his job.
The bigger problem IMO in that passage of play is identical to Dzeko's goal last week. Look where Huddelstone is and how much time Arteta has on the ball because Huddelstone instead of reading what's happening and moving his arse out to press the man in possession is stood where he was last week on the fucking penalty area doing fuck all. meaning Sandro has to try and race across from just pressing over on the left flank with no hope. That is where Huddelstone should be, pressing the ball.
Also look at Bale's absolutely nonchalant effort at closing Sagna down twice in that passage of play. The second time before he passes to Arteta Bale just ambles to about 5 yards and stops.
And no-one picks up Arteta's run (sandro just gives up having sprinted over from the left to get to him) past Podolski at all, which would have beaten any offside trap. Again, through no credit to Gallas, just pointing it out.
For the third goal look what Defoe does when the ball comes out. Completely bottles it. If he just puts in a challenge it may have saved us a goal.
Vertonghen is marking Giroud by the way, but Gallas again is unlucky in that the ball goes through his legs.
You can nit pick about Gallas all you like, and I honestly think that's what people are doing, Gallas's errors aren't huge, not like the errors others are making, there are much bigger problems in that move, in our defending as a team in general, endemic of much of what is wrong with us for a long time, IMO.