RE: our tactics

[Ginu]

What did Rafa do tactics-wise that was really unique this match? Other than Agger shadowing Drogba? To me we played a standard 4-4-2 and Zenden played a blinder. Did anybody see anything special that we did differently?

 

P.S. Imagine if Fowler wins the Champions League. When he returned last January he must have been saying to himself, if only it was a year earlier. Now he has another chance. He must be livid right now!

[San Diego Red]

Stevie's fantastic ground pass in the box from a free-kick. Must have been practised.

[£440,000]

P.S. Imagine if Fowler wins the Champions League. When he returned last January he must have been saying to himself, if only it was a year earlier. Now he has another chance. He must be livid right now!

 

Absolutely furious I should imagine.

 

[Ginu]

Stevie's fantastic ground pass in the box from a free-kick. Must have been practised.

 

True, but a set play is different. Tactics extend over the entire 90 (and in our case 120) minutes.

[Conor]

What did Rafa do tactics-wise that was really unique this match? Other than Agger shadowing Drogba? To me we played a standard 4-4-2 and Zenden played a blinder. Did anybody see anything special that we did differently?

 

Rafa did absolutely nothing to beat Chelsea on tuesday. Sack him. And who Brought him in? Parry?? Sack him too.

[stressederic]

We sheparded Chelsea into positions and actions which suited us. How many times did you see Kuyt or Stevie force the ball out to Ashley Cole? Inevitably the midget then sent a long crossfield ball and who was there waiting for it? Riise with Zenden or Masch just off him, and Agger tucked in close as well.

[San Diego Red]

True, but a set play is different. Tactics extend over the entire 90 (and in our case 120) minutes.

Fair enough.

[Ginu]

We sheparded Chelsea into positions and actions which suited us. How many times did you see Kuyt or Stevie force the ball out to Ashley Cole? Inevitably the midget then sent a long crossfield ball and who was there waiting for it? Riise with Zenden or Masch just off him, and Agger tucked in close as well.

 

Interesting. My how Ashley Cole has fallen from grace.

[fyds]

For almost the whole game, the team we put out succeeded in playing the way Rafa wanted them to play...in other words, although Rafa will tweak tactics as per the opponent, what we got particularly right was playing the game the way he wanted it played.

 

Big thumbs up to Bolo too - played very well, worked like a pig and took a cool-as-ice penalty.

[Bootle Buck]

He sat on the ground crossed-legged for the penalties. That was enough.

[kacangpool]

He sat on the ground crossed-legged for the penalties. That was enough.

 

heh that must have fecked with cech's concentration.

[San Diego Red]

(Kuyt/Crouch)

Gerrard

Kewell.Mascherano.Alonso.Pennant

(Riise/Arbeloa).Agger.Carragher.(Finnan/Arbeloa)

[Ginu]

I still don't understand the tactical advantage of using Zenden over Riise.

[richt71]

I still don't understand the tactical advantage of using Zenden over Riise.

 

Possibly as Chavski started narrow it allowed Riise to come on the outside of Zenden and create width from full back?

[Ginu]

Possibly as Chavski started narrow it allowed Riise to come on the outside of Zenden and create width from full back?

 

The only reason I see Zenden playing (and he played well) is that Rafa didn't think Alvaro was table to cope on the left side against Chelsea.

[Guest Sabre]

I still don't understand the tactical advantage of using Zenden over Riise.

 

I do when there's no other option for left back and Riise is our best left back.

[yellow jumper]

he dropped alonso, his most trusted centre mid, and a player chelsea always target.

 

thought gerrard's extra mobility through the middle meant we invariably had at least two players threatening their defensively fragile full backs. the free kick for the goal came from just such a situation.