Boring game for me that. Couldn't see us doing much before and after the substitutions. I don't really balme Hughes for it either. He had to pick the starting 11 which he did as we've been playing very well for the last 3-4 weeks. In the first half, our system was too easy to play against and we ended up 2-0 down. Caicedo was doing well and holding up the ball but had no support, which made me question whether Hughes would push Robinho up top, take off Elano and bring on Petrov and switch Ireland to the right and go 4-4-2. He didn't and we didn't really do much all game. That's my only problem with Hughes...I think he should of gone 4-4-2, apart from that, it was as expected, we were beaten by a team who, not neccessarily wanted to win more than us, were just out and out better than us in every department. Our most effective players didn't show up today in Ireland, Robinho and Elano, and De Jong and Kompany were covering the wings too much to help our weak attacks.
Basically, our system doesn't suit a team playing away from home as it's too easy to break down and lacks fire power up top. Unless we play effective counter attacking football, i.e. Everton game, then it's no wonder we've hardly won away from home. Today was just a bit blah, no real threat from us and a real lack of quality.
Basically, our system doesn't suit a team playing away from home as it's too easy to break down and lacks fire power up top. Unless we play effective counter attacking football, i.e. Everton game, then it's no wonder we've hardly won away from home. Today was just a bit blah, no real threat from us and a real lack of quality.