"A bit crap" that was abject at best.
Sorry that was a bung every day of the week - I used to believe as you did, but nights like last night defy that. That was rotten to the core.
"A bit crap" that was abject at best.
Sorry that was a bung every day of the week - I used to believe as you did, but nights like last night defy that. That was rotten to the core.
What exactly did he do wrong? For the penalty, maybe he should have kept it out, but if he's bribed, surely he goes the wrong way or does that thing where they stay in the middle and act like they couldn't have got to it (see Friedel). The third goal was just bad anticipation in my book. Ofc there's a possibility that he was bribed, but I think we should give him the benefit of the doubt. If anyone was crooked in that match yesterday it was the ref
I'm just a grumpy old git this morning, who has sat and watched 13 world cups and games like yesterdays leave me fuming!
Rather than bribery etc, it's enough that:
a) The referee was weak, and easily pressured.
b) Pletikosa is just shit.
As silly as it may sound I was restless for the rest of the night and couldn't go to bed until 3am, so I can totally relate.
Another one for the conspiracy theorists. Brazil is home to the largest Japanese population in the world outside of Japan.
Still upset, but some quick points/thoughts (from a perhaps biased view, but ok):
- Never a pen (obviously!), and never a foul (Olic-Cesar).
- Full credit to Kovac for "going for it" and fielding a side without a defensive midfielder (against BRAZIL!). Brave. Maybe not the smartest decision, but I can live with that.
- We showed too much respect at times. Should have done more with the ball and kept it longer. When we actually pushed forward we looked dangerous.
- Pletikosa should have saved all 3 goals. Difficult to "blame" him for not saving a penalty, but if you actually get your hands there, you have to be stronger. He's been in good form this season and it's unfair to judge him on this one game alone (like many are doing). But in this ONE game, he was quite poor. Not a good time for it. You just cannot allow those two long range efforts to go in. You can live with wonder-strikes, but not balls that bounce 4-5 times before they reach the goal.
- Kovacic looked a bit overwhelmed and that is disappointing. Modric-Rakitic-Kovacic was our chance. I'm sure he'll get it going, but he definitely wasn't at his best.
- Vrsaljko eased any fears about his ability to adjust to playing left back.
- Mandzukic should/will make a difference.
Didn't Van Gaal use Pranjic as DM. If he could do it well that maybe the route to go down or VukojevicStill upset, but some quick points/thoughts (from a perhaps biased view, but ok):
- Never a pen (obviously!), and never a foul (Olic-Cesar).
- Full credit to Kovac for "going for it" and fielding a side without a defensive midfielder (against BRAZIL!). Brave. Maybe not the smartest decision, but I can live with that.
- We showed too much respect at times. Should have done more with the ball and kept it longer. When we actually pushed forward we looked dangerous.
- Pletikosa should have saved all 3 goals. Difficult to "blame" him for not saving a penalty, but if you actually get your hands there, you have to be stronger. He's been in good form this season and it's unfair to judge him on this one game alone (like many are doing). But in this ONE game, he was quite poor. Not a good time for it. You just cannot allow those two long range efforts to go in. You can live with wonder-strikes, but not balls that bounce 4-5 times before they reach the goal.
- Kovacic looked a bit overwhelmed and that is disappointing. Modric-Rakitic-Kovacic was our chance. I'm sure he'll get it going, but he definitely wasn't at his best.
- Vrsaljko eased any fears about his ability to adjust to playing left back.
- Mandzukic should/will make a difference.
Really liked the look of Vrsaljko actually and would be a great upgrade on Naughton in being adept playing left or right fullback.
Didn't Van Gaal use Pranjic as DM. If he could do it well that maybe the route to go down or Vukojevic