At the start of the season when we were in the Champions League, I really couldn’t be arsed with it at all. I saw it as a distraction and a hinderance to our league form. After going so close to the title last year I wanted another taste of that, so bollocks to the Champions League. When we went out, the biggest problem I had with it was that we would have to go into the Europa League, so we’d still face the same fixture congestion only it would be worse because of the whole Thursday/Sunday thing.
In the break between the group stages finishing and the knockout starting we got our act together and began to look like a team again. Suddenly winning the Europa not only looked like a real possibility, but it was an attractive idea as it carries with it an automatic spot in next year’s Champions League. In short, I was now all in. I was gutted we went out. Gutted and pissed off.
Having slept on it I’m still angry about some of what happened but I’m not gutted anymore, in fact I’m almost relieved. Realistically, we probably needed this to happen. I say that based on how knackered we looked at Southampton last week and even more so in this game. We did ok in the first half but the longer it went the more tired we looked. Could we really sustain any kind of run at 4th place, win the FA Cup and keep progressing in the Europa? Based on the past week I’d say it’s more likely we’d end up falling short on all fronts. Something had to give and hopefully it will allow us to compete domestically.
This was shite though, really shite. Easily as bad as we’ve played since we switched to three at the back, although the back three were actually terrific, it was everyone else that was the problem. Well not quite everyone else, some of them were ok but it’s tough when your two best players are stinking the place out. That’s the worst I’ve ever seen Sturridge play, he was truly shocking and a complete liability. Sterling was no better and didn’t even look like he was trying half the time. I’m fuming with both of them.
The pair of them were giving the ball away constantly. I was pissed off with them from early in the first half but by the end I was fucking steaming, especially as Balotelli got hooked despite offering a hell of of a lot more than either of them. Look, Mario wasn’t great either and I’m under no illusions about how he was playing. He was ok, nothing more. It’s just that “ok” was fucking miles better than what Sturridge and Sterling were offering and taking him off was baffling.
I felt sorry for Mario. He worked hard and created the best chance we had all night when he unselfishly played Sturridge in only for him to completely overdo it by trying to beat his man three times instead of just taking a touch and hitting it. He’s been doing that a lot lately. Whatever happened to the guy who scored on his comeback with one touch and a great early shot? I miss that guy, this greedy, over elaborating fucker is getting on my tits.
Don’t get me wrong, I was worried Balotelli was going to end up getting sent off after he picked up such an early booking. It was stupid, there was no need to dive in the way he did and after that he was walking a tight rope. They tried to wind him up and he was on the receiving end of some rough treatment, but to his credit he never looked like he was going to react and get into trouble, generally he just laughed whenever he was fouled. The longer it went the less worried I was he’d get into trouble, and to say I was annoyed when he was subbed would be something of an understatement. The booking wasn’t even a factor at that stage so why take him off when he was the only member of the front three making any kind of contribution?
The thing is, we were ok in the first half and had Sterling and Sturridge not been so shite we’d have put the tie to bed as no way were we going to concede three the way our defence was playing. All we needed was one goal but they didn’t deliver and in the second half we were completely under the cosh. The defence were really solid and organised though - even Lovren looked pretty secure - and all Besiktas were able to muster were a series of shots from distance that Mignolet dealt with easily.
That they were able to have so many shots from outside the box suggested to me that we were tired and couldn’t press them as we normally would. Allen and Can looked dead on their feet during the second half and in extra time so I can understand why our performance flagged so much. What I can’t understand is Rodgers’ reaction to it. Manquillo for Ibe was fine as it looked like the kid had a knock, and besides, he was a complete non-factor in the game as we weren’t doing any attacking.
So of his other decisions were questionable though. Firstly, I don’t understand why Sturridge was even in the starting line up given that it probably means he won’t be able to face City on Sunday. We had a lead, we didn’t need to chase the game so just play Borini and keep Sturridge on the bench in case he was needed.
Secondly, leaving him on for 105 minutes would have been irresponsible even if he’d been playing well. Leaving him out there for so long when he was by far the worst player on the pitch (along with Raheem) was bordering on madness. He didn’t do a thing right all night and was not helping the team in any way shape or form. Quite the opposite in fact. Balotelli on the other end, was at least showing for the ball and managing to find a red shirt.
Thirdly, we were getting completely over run in midfield and desperately needed another body in there. It looked at one point like we were playing 5-4-1 and had completely given up on competing in midfield. Can was shattered and Allen must have been too. Both of them gave their all but they needed help and it never arrived.
Lastly, from the moment they got back on level terms this one was nailed on for penalties, so why would you take off your best penalty taker when he was far from being one of your worst players? There seems to be something personal here. The attack by Rodgers on Balotelli after the first leg was baffling, unnecessary and more than a little snide. Substituting him in this game was one thing, but what was with the ignoring him as he came off? If you didn’t know he’d been subbed, you’d have swore he’d been sent off the way Rodgers just stood ten yards away and refused to even look in his direction, let alone shake his hand. Balotelli looked at him as if to say “fuckin’ knobhead” which is funny as that’s exactly what I said when I saw it.
I’m not trying to make a martyr out of Mario here, he’s been generally pretty shocking and I’ve ripped him for that frequently. It’s not personal though and when he does well I’m happy to acknowledge it. I’m not sure Rodgers can say the same. I just don’t know what’s going on here at all but it doesn’t sit well with me. Even Gerrard ripping him after the first leg was strange, and all I can assume is that Balotelli must be really taking the piss with his attitude in training or around the club, otherwise I just don’t get it. And if he is that bad in training, why is he anywhere near the field? Something doesn’t really add up here.
Anyway, virtually nothing happened in extra time and once it went to pens I thought we’d lose. Then again, I usually feel that way. Not because of a lack of confidence in the players, it’s more a law of averages thing. We never lose shoot outs so it’s inevitable that eventually we would come unstuck sooner or later. With this being in the Ataturk it felt even more likely that we’d be on the wrong end of it. We used up all outr luck in this stadium back in 2005.
The first nine penalties taken were all excellent. Mignolet had absolutely no chance with any of theirs and they seemed to have a gameplan to put them high and out of his reach. He usually went the right way and got close to two or three but they were unstoppable. Fair play to them.
Our pens were good too. Lambert, Lallana, Can and Allen all held their nerve but then Lovren rocked up to take number five. I didn’t see that coming, but if he was going to be one of the five then send him up to take two or three, not the decisive fifth. I’d have had Kolo or Mignolet take it myself, but maybe they didn’t volunteer? Credit to Lovren for having the balls to do it, but you really have to hit the target. If the keeper saves it, ok, but don’t put it over the bar for God’s sake.
Of course the question a lot of people are asking is where the hell was Sterling? It’s valid, but I’d counter that by saying that I assume he was 11th in line, and if he wasn’t then he damn sure should have been as he’s the last person I would have wanted taking one. Still, it’s not unreasonable to assume that a forward whose representatives reckon he’s worth 150k a week should be capable of taking a penalty in a shoot out. That he’s not capable (coupled with the brutal performance from him on the night) merely shows just how much developing he still has to do and makes a mockery of the demands his people are making.
In hindsight we’d have actually been better off if Ba’s effort in the last seconds of normal time had gone in and not come back off the bar. Extra time was the last thing we needed with the City game coming up. The likes of Sterling, Sturridge, Allen, Can and Moreno are all going to be goosed after this, and who knows how fit the injured lads who didn’t travel are going to be. I’m not expecting much from that City game, but hopefully we can somehow pick up something and then push on in the remaining games we have. This result is a setback but I don't think it is cause for any concern. We've been terrible in pretty much every European game we've played this season, it doesn't make us a bad team as we're looking ok domestically. The City game might be a problem for us because of the tired legs, but beyond that I reckon we'll be fine and will put this behind us.
Not having to play on Thursday nights anymore certainly makes things a hell of a lot easier in the league, but it also makes progress in the FA Cup even more important now as we really need to be winning something this year. The next week is massive for us now as we have three games in six days. After that it will get much easier and despite this disappointment we can still have a good end to the season. We’ll need the real Sterling and Sturridge to show up though.
Team: Mignolet; Toure, Skrtel, Lovren; Ibe (Manquillo), Allen, Can, Moreno; Sterling; Balotelli (Lallana), Sturridge (Lambert):
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