AS Monaco (A) | CL | Post Match Thread

[St.Pauli support]

I thought we played quite well, as people have said if it wasn't for the bar and a soft penalty decision we'd be chuffed with a 4-1 win away in the CL..I thought we passed the ball well and our pressing was better. Still think Gonzalez's shirt was tugged as he was trying to get the ball, made his foot go a bit higher.

Agreed.

But honestly, high foot and a close opponent's face will be an invitation for most refs for dangerous play. It's a no go.

Nico and Josko didn't get their bodies in Dier's way and then Nico made that nonsense. It's his mistake and we should take it and move on.

Good performance, bad luck twice, away point is ok.
Get it done next time at Villarreal.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

I was encouraged by the game, but disappointed by the result. Don't think there's much can be done about the penalty - Nico's boot was high, but what is he expected to do? - not attempt to play the ball? In the first half we did seem to be vulnerable down our right side - just a shame Kusanov was not fit. I do think we need to buy another specialist right full back. The game illustrated how little cover we have there.

Exposed John Stones, unfortunately, which makes one wonder if that extra year will be forthcoming. Might save a transfer fee for a year, but at his wages and the number of games he can play, isn’t worth it?

The Barnsley Beckenbauer looked a pale imitation of the John Stones we have all known and loved, and at one point, after a run forward, simply stopped in place, put his hands on his hips and huffed and puffed trying to recover while standing still as the game went on around him.

Might be time to bring back/up one of the young defensive stars we have in the background, and blood them. Why we haven’t kept Reis as a back up at RB and RCB is beyond me.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

But honestly, high foot and a close opponent's face will be an invitation for most refs for dangerous play. It's a no go.

The problem is he saw it as it happened and was literally RIGHT THERE, and didn’t give it. In fact, no-one, except Dier, who tried to make a meal out of it, seemed to be protesting.

That Dier who went down pole-axed was a far cry from the tough as nails Dier who climbed into the stands to take on all comers threatening his family while at Spurs, wasn’t he?! Fucking joke.

 

[St.Pauli support]

The problem is he saw it as it happened and was literally RIGHT THERE, and didn’t give it. In fact, no-one, except Dier, who tried to make a meal out of it, seemed to be protesting.

That Dier who went down pole-axed was a far cry from the tough as nails Dier who climbed into the stands to take on all comers threatening his family while at Spurs, wasn’t he?! Fucking joke.

I totally understand,
but in the end it's high foot and I would prefer we don't do that too often as I can right now predict the outcome for any future high foot.

 

[Gumzy97]

For those saying we played well. Our own world class striker has come out and said we didn't deserve the win, not a fan Haaland has come out with it, saying we were not good enough

 

[Manncity]

When gonzalez or Bernardo are on the pitch we are not at our strongest, both on at the same time then we look significantly weaker…

 

[Eaststander1]

You can believe it's a pen but why are you making up a weird narrative about it? He clearly had control as he's looking at the ball, aiming for the ball and got it; he would also have seen Dier as he's being dragged back by him

He never had any control over it, he couldn't have had as he was clearly off balance and falling backwards .... all Dier did was lean in towards the ball ...... Gonzales stuck a high foot out and took a risk as he stumbled, and in a crowed penalty area what were the chances of him not accidentally kicking somebody ???

 

[Gorton_Tubster]

What happens if Nico doesnt go for that tackle? I mean obvs he used his foot because he couldnt get his head there but are we suggesting he leaves a free header because the "ref" might be one of those who gives it? Crazy

 

[Paladin]

In soccer, a raised foot near the head is a foul called "playing in a dangerous manner" or, more colloquially, a "high boot". A referee can call this foul even if no contact is made, as the action itself is a threat to a player's safety.


For those confused by the rules

Also for those confused by the laws (rules). Apologies if this is already discussed.

 

[Eaststander1]

The problem is he saw it as it happened and was literally RIGHT THERE, and didn’t give it. In fact, no-one, except Dier, who tried to make a meal out of it, seemed to be protesting.

That Dier who went down pole-axed was a far cry from the tough as nails Dier who climbed into the stands to take on all comers threatening his family while at Spurs, wasn’t he?! Fucking joke

The ref wasn't as quick to act on it as VAR was, that's for sure, but he DID review it on the monitor and he did award it in the end ..... at the end of the day if a player lifts his boot so high in a crowded penalty area then a referee is always likely to eventually award a penalty for 'dangerous play', as he will take VARS advice on the matter almost every single time.

Contrast that to Haaland earlier raising his foot just as high in the penalty area to lob the ball over the Monaco keeper, but nothing was said because no Monaco player suffered any 'harm or contact' in that incident , and so it was not considered to be dangerous play.

 

[ono]

One moment of class - after Phil hit the bar, there was zero reaction from him, just followed the ball as if nothing had happened. Top players do this.

So often players stand there, head in hands as if they've never hit the woodwork before.

Great to have him back, slightly more arrogant (in a good way) with each match.

He's looking loads better, but his passing in the number 10 position isn't good enough. Messed up 3-4 chances to thread the ball through to Haaland. I know people will reference his through ball against Napoli, but I don't honestly think he meant to play the pass so it rolled through to the other side of the defender. I think Haaland turned into a brilliant pass personally. Looks much sharper on the turn though and is getting in position to pull the trigger. Just wish his passing was more consistent.

 

[waspish]

Any side who play Savinho can't complain about diving, also Bernie & Doku do it too, oh and Grealish made a career out of it.
All sides have divers, some worse than others

Doku you having laugh if he was a diver why didn’t he go down at weekend hey? Grealish Bernie occasionally maybe but that’s two players! You look at other teams every player dives are good at it we ain’t! Look how balls go in the box of a defending knows he may not get it they dive! And we the only club who call it out am saying we shouldn’t we should play the game like 95% of other teams do!

 

[King Jay]

Almost every time Monaco attacked they beat us for pace and I think when Khusanov is fit he is our best defender.

That’s better.

 

[waspish]

The ref wasn't as quick to act on it as VAR was, that's for sure, but he DID review it on the monitor and he did award it in the end ..... at the end of the day if a player lifts his boot so high in a crowded penalty area then a referee is always likely to eventually award a penalty for 'dangerous play', as he will take VARS advice on the matter almost every single time.

Contrast that to Haaland eralier raising his foot just as high in the penalty area to lob the ball over the Monaco keeper, but nothing was said because no Monaco player suffered any 'harm or contact' in that incident , and so it was not considered to be dangerous play.

One angle that looks the worse look side in never touched him! Players are wiser now a player see a high foot they go to it with there head half heartedly then rolls around like he been booted in it!

 

[SamBlue]

Not a disaster at all, but we have a bit to go to get the air of inevitability back. We looked very slow at the back and midfield emptied too much, leaving Rodri exposed, could have played him and Niko there last night and protected Rodri a bit more.

You mean invincibility? Only inevitability with this team is that they will stop playing at some point in the game and then concede......and concede again if it is necessary!

 

[B\connellblue]

The style of football we play now even when we're winning is incredibly boring for the most part. At the end of the day it's supposed to be entertaining. Hardly edge of the seat stuff for the last 18 months or so. How we accumulated so many slow players is baffling. Monaco are a poor side make no mistake about it. No way we should have dropped points there regardless of the penalty decision. We should have been out of sight had we showed any urgency.

 

[ono]

Not sure if it’s been mentioned but looks like we still don’t have a penalty-saving goalkeeper. Committed himself way too soon.) Thought Dyer would side foot it so it was only going one way (and not the way Donnarumma went!) Hopefully we don’t concede another one on Sunday! Probably would have taken a draw before kick-off but very disappointing not to see it out (and not for the first time this season!)

Prior to joining, he has saved 7 of the last 15 he has faced.

 

[Eaststander1]

What happens if Nico doesnt go for that tackle? I mean obvs he used his foot because he couldnt get his head there but are we suggesting he leaves a free header because the "ref" might be one of those who gives it? Crazy

As the cross came in there were two city players immediately to Diers right who were probably better positioned to challenge Dier for the header than Gonzales was, but Dier deliberately 'leant in' towards the ball and made it difficult ..... maybe Donnarumma would have dealt with his header even if he had got it on target, we'll never know now.

It won't be the last time we see an incident like this, that's for sure.

 

[ono]

The style of football we play now even when we're winning is incredibly boring for the most part. At the end of the day it's supposed to be entertaining. Hardly edge of the seat stuff for the last 18 months or so. How we accumulated so many slow players is baffling. Monaco are a poor side make no mistake about it. No way we should have dropped points there regardless of the penalty decision. We should have been out of sight had we showed any urgency.

It's the persistence with slow plodding defenders coupled with a high line. Teams commit more men to counter attacks because they know they can outpace us and could have a realistic chance of scoring a goal. They also know that if their attacking move breaks down, it's not a huge problem because we won't utilise the transition against them anyway, so they can get back into position reasonably comfortably. We simply cannot have a backline that has Dias, Gvardiol and Stones in it and still play high - especially when we are still figuring out our own pressing triggers.

 

[the blue panther]

We played pretty well and should have been out of sight well before the ref and VAR decided to balance things out. As for Haaland's comments - good for him; what do you expect him to say? He wants us to drive-on, as he quite rightly should. Pep has said before that we have to be SO good that we take the officials out of the equation.

Yes, things could be better here and there, but overall we played some good stuff and still have much to keep building on. A mate of mine - hammers fan - watched it and thought we played some great stuff.

Too much negativity for me about last night. We can all see where we're still lacking in various areas. Hopefully we can get something at Brentford and then power-on after the international break (Assuming that we don't get another cart-full of injuries!)