Oh well, phase one of the title challenge has been completed. Our first 90 minutes under Roy Hodgson and a well deserved point in the end. The first half was something to forget, our play consisting of erratic passing and a severe lack of fluidity. I'm not going to dwell on it though, it's a transitional period for the next couple of months, we have to be understanding of the predicament our manager and players find themselves in. After the first 45 minutes you'd have thought that Arsenal were the home team, we didn't get into them as I thought we would. NGog missed a few chances and his first touch was relatively poor. Cole looked lost, though that's understandable at the moment, again, players are settling in and forging new partnerships. A classic example was the quick free kick that Gerrard took and Cole had his back turned, it will come though.
Then came the turning point of the game, the Cole sending off. It was most definitely not a sending off, but Twatkinson thought otherwise and off he went. How we reacted was pivotal to what Roy has been trying to implement since his arrival. Had his confidence building work been enough to stem the tide?, or would be fall in on ourselves and display self pity?. Thankfully it was more than that, we responded magnificently and the lads did us proud, well they did me proud anyway. The togetherness, the fight, the desire, the mental toughness, it was there for all to see.
The NGog goal was a sublime finish, a superb pass from Mascherano, yet it shouldn't have been his first goal, he should have scored at least one before that. We were in the ascendency now, the team with ten men that were taking the game to Arsenal!. That's what I'm trying to get across here, we were down to ten men yet we were still taking the game to Arsenal!. I understand that Torres is not fully fit, but I would have gone with Torres from the off today and then substituted him in the second half. The difference in expectation levels when I see Torres or NGog on the teamsheet is like a gulf or chasm. That's no disrespect meant to NGog, it's just that the difference in class should not be that wide between 2 first team strikers. Far too often NGog is wasteful with the ball and we can't afford to have a striker like that in the side. We desperately need another striking option.
Jovanovic was solid, he is a colossus on the wing and has given us that harder edge to the side. Skrtel and Carra were solid also, though they will face sterner tests during the campaign. Johnson played well overall, a couple of minor blips but we have to accept this I feel if we wish to keep that attacking option down the right flank. Agger was immense, playing through the pain barrier, I am slightly perturbed that he will soon become pissed off at left back though. We must sort the left back berth out soon as Agger is wasted at left back. Gerrard was all over the place and the fire was clearly back in his belly, some awesome passing that was world class at times, a shame we don't have the full quota of top class players to compliment his visionary prowess.
Mascherano was absolutely f**king awesome, when we went down to ten men his tenacity shone through like a beacon in the mist. Not forgetting his Alonsoesque pass to NGog for that goal. Kuyt, as industrious as ever but we need more from him. As important as work ethic is, Kuyt has to start bringing more to the table. Torres when he came on was understandably off the pace, just glad to see him back for us. We know what this lad can do, we don't have to go on about his potential as he's the real deal. Reina?, so unlucky with that goal, our bad luck and in no way do I blame him, that save from Rosicky was vintage Reina.
In a nutshell, we were substandard during the first half. We wasted chances that Torres would have put away. Cole got sent off unfairly. We were galavanised by the sending off, we raised our game. We didn't go into ourselves, we reacted like warriors. We stood our ground, we fought for the cause and so very nearly won the battle but for bad fortune. We may have been injured in the battle but the war is far from over.
We took a small step today, we fought as a unit and not as individuals. Shoulder to shoulder, and for that I am extremely proud of the lads. The most important thing about that step?, it wasn't that it was small, it was that it was forward. A lot of teams would have folded against Arsenal, we didn't, and that's the biggest positive I could have hoped for.
P.S. Mascherano was f**king awesome! He is an absolute beast of a player and anyone who has stated that he is easily replacable will regret those words. Players like Masch are one of a kind, ever the consummate professional. His possible loss will strike a devastating blow to the heart of this team, though I have a feeling he's going to stay. To put in a performance like that when he is having to deal with family issues is testament to the man that he is. If Mascherano was to play the Elephant Man he would say this, "I'm not a human being, I'm an animal!".
YNWA. IRWT.
« Last Edit: Aug 15, 2010 11:14:17 pm by hardcoresoldier »
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