Ajax 0 Liverpool 3 (Oct 26 2022)

[tlw content]

 

 

 

Report by

Dave Usher

 

Job done although it was a little hairy in the beginning. Technically we can still top the group if we beat Napoli by four, but even if that were possible (almost certainly not, assuming Napoli don’t field the reserves) the cons of trying to do that far outweighs the pros of somehow doing it. 

 

The main thing was to secure qualification and render next week’s game essentially just a dead rubber. And we did that. It may have been different had Ajax not missed a sitter inside of two minutes when Bergheus somehow hit the post with the goal gaping. Ajax had their moments in the opening half an hour but after that we seemed to figure out what we were doing and we dominated the last hour of the game, scoring three in the process.

 

The early teething troubles were probably down to the latest change in formation, plus the nasty habit we’ve developed of starting slowly. Our first half form has been an issue for most of the season really, and this was shaping up to be another one to add to the list. The sitter we gave up was a little unlucky as it comes about from a deflected ball that fell perfectly for them. It looked a certain goal and another one of those nightmare starts we’ve had so often. This time it didn’t go in and we didn’t have that hill to climb.

 

It wasn’t good for half an hour though. In fact, it was awful. We couldn’t get any kind of a foothold in the game because we had no control of midfield and there were spaces everywhere. Not because of any individual failing, but we were playing a new system and it wasn’t exactly orthodox. I said this on the pod, but the best way to describe how we played was it was that weird, wide diamond that you see on Footy Manager but don’t use. It always freaks me out looking at it, with the two on the side of the diamond so far wide, leaving the entire middle of the field to be covered by the poor bastard at the base of the diamond (in this case Fabinho). Any time I’ve used that diamond on Footy Manager (or FIFA for that matter) the first thing I do is tuck those two side players inside more because you just can’t have the middle that wide open.

 

But watching us, it was weird because Elliott and Henderson looked like they were playing the wide positions in a 4-4-2. They weren’t of course, but it often looked like it. I don’t think we suffered defensively from it as it’s not like Ajax were just running amok through the middle, but we seemed too far apart when we had the ball and could barely string three passes together.

 

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[sir roger]

We need to get Bergwijn on every opposition we play, as Robbo  quite clearly hated him and it seemed to spur him onto his best performance of the season.

 

Don't think the Berghaus chance was anywhere near an empty goal either, watched from the camera behind the goal Ali was only a fingertip away from the actual effort that hit the post.

 

There's a good video on the Echo's ( absolutely shit ) website showing Bajcetic whacking a pass right into Milner's gronkers and then running off to avoid him while Konate is pissing himself.

[dockers_strike]

Good report Dave. Agree about how people are looking at Darwin. Said it before, if that gammuck down the East Lancs was playing like he did at Dortmund, he wouldnt be getting the attention nor Darwin being compared to him.

 

I think we've been slow starters at the beginning of a half for years and it's not recent.

 

The second half goal within 2 minutes in the EL Final. The goal at the emptihad in the first CL game when Virgil was robbed in the first 2 minutes. Same in the cup semi final start of the 2nd half against city, conceeded within 2 minutes. Napoli, arsenal, there are more games Ive forgotten.

 

It nearly happened again last night. I dont get why the coaching staff havent recognised it and done something about it after 7 years.

[alles ist gut]

Top, top Uruguayan national characteristics analysis there, Dave.

[aws]

Excellent read. A 3-0 against Napoli puts us top on away goals which is achievable if we score first so I think we’ll start with a strong side and pile the subs on if things aren’t going to plan. 

[Manny]

Couldn't give a shit about him going down after the brush to the face. I had to sit through countless sage pundits calling Joachim Andersen "clever" and "streetwise" when he did something not altogether different.

[piphomer]

When is Harvey going to get "My boy" status?

[DaveT]

3 hours ago, sir roger said:

We need to get Bergwijn on every opposition we play, as Robbo  quite clearly hated him and it seemed to spur him onto his best performance of the season.

 

Don't think the Berghaus chance was anywhere near an empty goal either, watched from the camera behind the goal Ali was only a fingertip away from the actual effort that hit the post.

 

There's a good video on the Echo's ( absolutely shit ) website showing Bajcetic whacking a pass right into Milner's gronkers and then running off to avoid him while Konate is pissing himself.

I don’t think Ali’s getting enough (any?) credit for getting his angles spot on. View the chance from behind the goal and Ali’s leaving him very little to aim at (he probably should still score though)

[Barnesey]

It is easier to make runs when the opposition want to play but this was the difference from satdee. 
 

Looking at the other groups I think coming top is likely to provide a much easier fixture than second (not always the case) so we may well go strong next week. Especially as spurs need to play their best team. 

[Razoray]

Just to post this. Bobby is just so nice. Mad, but really nice

[Section_31]

Why did their manager look exactly like Ten Hag? Have they got some kind of manager cloning facility?

[Reckoner]

Top top borderline xenophobic analysis there Dave.

Edit- just joking! Great report as ever.

[UnwelcomeinPeru]

8 minutes ago, Section_31 said:

Why did their manager look exactly like Ten Hag? Have they got some kind of manager cloning facility?

I thought exactly the same thing, even down to the nasty little pants and naff jumper combo.

[dave u]

5 hours ago, aws said:

Excellent read. A 3-0 against Napoli puts us top on away goals which is achievable if we score first so I think we’ll start with a strong side and pile the subs on if things aren’t going to plan. 

 

Did we score in Naples? I thought it was 4-0.

[dockers_strike]

6 minutes ago, dave u said:

 

Did we score in Naples? I thought it was 4-0.

Diaz scored, Dave.

[Trumo]

"Jimmy Bullard in goal". I was wracking my brains trying to think who he looked like. That's close to spot on.

[Kevin D]

12 hours ago, aws said:

Excellent read. A 3-0 against Napoli puts us top on away goals which is achievable if we score first so I think we’ll start with a strong side and pile the subs on if things aren’t going to plan. 

Behave, Andrew.

 

They could have had us for 8 in Naples and we’ll be even more open at Anfield.

 

They’re a proper team and will run the legs off us, in the middle of their 13 game winning streak.

[Kevin D]

I think you’re underselling how poor we were in the first 40 minutes.

 

Before our muscle memory kicked in and we got down to Kloppian business it was as an alarming a performance as we’ve had in 7 years. 
 

Obviously we kicked it into high gear and showed these punks how it’s done, but in isolation it was a very worrying game of football.
 

I do think we’ll show Leeds, Derby and Southampton who’s boss and position ourselves strongly for the second half of the season, but I think Spurs and Napoli games have the potential to be ugly.

 

I mean 30 posts from Daisy, FrenchEyeGlass and Grinch ugly.

[Guest]

 

[Barnesey]

15 hours ago, Razoray said:

Just to post this. Bobby is just so nice. Mad, but really nice

If he was that nice he would have put the ball into the net and offered to carry the bags of our physio

[sir roger]

12 hours ago, Trumo said:

"Jimmy Bullard in goal". I was wracking my brains trying to think who he looked like. That's close to spot on.

I thought he looked like an owl being subjected to a rectal probe.