the only down side today was when we went 1-0 up i think they were there for the taking and we seemed to take our foot off the pedal.
Very true that. It was our downfall today that.
The confidence of our team is not right. We get a lead and then we start bottling it. Nothing to do with Rafa, it's the players on the pitch at the time. Passes started going astray, we were launching the ball up the pitch to no one and in turn we invited an average team of expensive players onto us.
The irony of Babel getting injured. Because we needed a player like Yossi on the pitch. And he came up with the goods.
Kuyt, Lucas and Insua were my problem players. And Gerrard faded in the second half.
Kuyt needs dropping. He's having a sh*t season so far and for me, he doesn't deserve a given starting place lately. But who've we got to come in ahead of him on the right?
Lucas was poor in my opinion. A good few times I noticed the ball drop out to the edge of the box when we were on the attack. Rather than anticipate it, he was camped out on the centre circle. Ridiculous.
Insua is another one who's having a bad season. More and more people seem to be getting the better of him. His pace doesn't look like it once was and his attacking play is not having too much of an effect.
Given Gerrard is coming back from injury and that he did have a decent first half, I thought he drifted in the second half. He knows when he should up his game though and I have all confidence in him being his usual brilliant self next game.
Feels like a defeat doesn't it?
But it wasn't. It could have easily been, but it wasn't.
Great to see a defender chip in with a goal. Great to come back level. Just a shame we couldn't get that winner.
We'll come good us soon though. We're getting better, gradually. And whilst other teams around us are dropping the odd few points, things aren't as desperate as some people would have you believe. Once this injury curse has lifted and we have a full squad to choose from, we'll click into gear, the confidence will rise and we'll get on a winning run.