Has the defeat re-focused our plans?

[kenny7]

To start with last night I felt empty after the defeat, didn't watch Milan lift the trophy, I wasn't though disappointed with our effort or tactics more so the result. In the cold light of day though, would a victory last night (Which is what I wanted, and I'm not saying I'm glad we got beat) have meant we got carried along for a few vital weeks, thinking everything was great, and only a couple of changes would enable us to challenge for the title. I guess what I'm thinking is that a defeat last night might end up having a greater benefit for us in the long term. Those players that are clearly in Rafa's long term plans will be more determined not to want to feel like they obviously did last night, again in a hurry, and those players not in Rafa's long term plans will be moved on quickly, with new players coming in with virtually immediate effect. This has possibly been highlighted by this mornings events, regarding statements about players leaving, and new players arriving.

In short what Im saying is that had we won, I don't think we would have been as ruthless in the cull of players, a cull which, hopefully looking back in a few years, will signal our rightful return to the top.

 

Just my thoughts on things anyway.

[Guest ziggystardust]

our effort was not a problem, if we would have equalised i think they would have been dead in the water. They got their break we didnt get ours simple as.

[Sion]

I was in bed last night, not being able to sleep. I thought to myself, the league is ours next year. At the time I felt so sure, I still do. This will give us the hunger - although to be honest we should already have it. We need to learn from this and make ourselves stronger.

[kenny7]

our effort was not a problem, if we would have equalised i think they would have been dead in the water. They got their break we didnt get ours simple as.

 

I probably didn't make it clear enough, but I agree thought our effort and tactics were good last night, Milan were hardly threatened our goal.

[RafaShanks]

Has the defeat re-focused our plans?

 

Don't think it has to be honest. Rafa said that there was gonna be a cull of the squad well in advance of last night's game and top notch players were needed as their replacements to sustain a title charge.

[JimmyF]

I was going to post a topic on this idea, I couldnt sleep last night the thoughs of the game I couldnt get out of my mind and I know we all feel s**** right now but maybe in the long run losing wont be the worst thing in the world, 2 years ago we won it and the club didnt move forward like we had hoped it would of, this expectation that Rafa can do this whilst shopping in Tesco's when the elite shop at Harrods - Who knows that may have been a pervading thought again this year.

 

Now everyones mind is clear in terms of what needs to be done, we all know this team need 2/3 class players that can put us over the top, if Rafa can secure these then we will be back again and again. Having this taste of defeat will serve them well the next time

[Magic8Ball]

Right tactics, wrong result. It sometimes takes a bit of luckTony Cascarino: Analysis

Graphic: Bill Edgar's tactical analysis

 

Rafael BenÍtez got the first half as right last night as he got it wrong two years ago. AC Milan were outsmarted, simple as that. How ironic that Milan were worse than they were in Istanbul and Liverpool so much better.

 

It?s just that luck can be such a huge factor. There?s pure dumb luck, such as Milan?s first goal. Then there?s making your own luck - and that?s where Liverpool fell short.

 

There were not enough bodies in the penalty box to make the most of Liverpool?s dominance, to snap up a loose ball, punish a lucky break. That was because BenÍtez, the Liverpool manager, chose not to play Peter Crouch up front with Dirk Kuyt.

 

I wonder if Crouch felt insulted. As a former striker, I would have in the same circumstances. Crouch, an England forward, left out in favour of a midfield player. Not just anyone, of course - it was Steven Gerrard.

 

Fears that BenÍtez would adopt a defensive game plan seemed justified when the teamsheets came out and showed that Kuyt was the only striker. In theory, yes, but in practice it was two up front because Gerrard played as a centre forward. There were times when he was more advanced than the Dutchman.

 

The aim was presumably to use Gerrard?s running power to pull Milan?s centre backs out of position, and it worked reasonably well, though Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini are too experienced to let themselves be tricked. It was obvious, though, that Gerrard had the legs on them and he had space in the final third of the pitch. Another tribute to the Liverpool captain?s versatility: put him at right back, right wing, centre midfield or in attack and he impresses.

 

But why not play Gerrard, Crouch and Kuyt? What do you lose? BenÍtez could have asked his captain to play a more disciplined role. Kuyt was asked to do what Crouch does - hold the ball up and win aerial battles. But he?s not as good at that as Crouch.

 

It defeated the point of using two wingers. Time and again, the crosses went in but there were not enough red shirts to aim at. In the Barclays Premiership, Liverpool have one of the best crosses-to-goals ratios. With Kuyt, Gerrard and Crouch on the pitch, finally, Liverpool had a headed chance and scored. Too late.

 

It was frustrating because Milan were a huge disappointment. It was shocking to see them play so poorly when they were so devastating for three quarters of the semi-final against Manchester United.

 

Kuyt, Gerrard and the rest snapped at Milan?s legs and they hated it. The Italians are uncomfortable when they are under pressure. They can?t find any fluency. Time and again, weak clearances were gobbled up to underline that Liverpool were the more athletic and powerful side, even though Milan?s second goal came after Jamie Carragher seemed to run out of gas.

 

Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso sat deep, giving their more attacking teammates licence to attack, which they could do with confidence because Mascherano was solid, playing with his head as well as his heart and looking far more experienced than he is.

 

The decision to play Jermaine Pennant paid off richly because it revealed Milan to be vulnerable on their left. On the other side, if Boudewijn Zenden - replaced by Harry Kewell - had Pennant?s pace, he would have carried a similar threat.

 

Milan?s awesome midfield were subdued, especially in the first period. They didn?t see much of the ball and when they did they were in the middle third, a long way from goal. They were not advanced enough to hurt their opponents. Gennaro Gattuso simply charged around the pitch, fouling recklessly.

 

It?s a shame that Alonso isn?t a better tackler, as his poor challenge gave away the free kick for Inzaghi?s lucky goal. Conceding that free kick was just about the only cardinal sin Liverpool committed.

 

For all the good fortune of that deflected goal, Milan are so menacing when they have time on the ball that when they are within 25 yards of goal, it?s better to let them run and try to block the shot than to risk bringing them down. In defence of Alonso, Milan are masters at winning free kicks.

 

Despite the blow of going behind, Liverpool should have been upbeat at half-time and should have smelt blood - Milan were there for the beating. If Crouch had played from the start, or come on soon after the break instead of for the last few minutes - when any losing team is panicked into abandoning its tactics in favour of route-one football - it might have been different.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle1832530.ece

[charlie clown]

In short what Im saying is that had we won, I don't think we would have been as ruthless in the cull of players, a cull which, hopefully looking back in a few years, will signal our rightful return to the top.

 

disagree with that entirely. It suggests that Rafa is building his strategy around one-off results - that may be the way some people on here would build the team and manage the club but its hugely disrespectful to Rafa and not the way he works at all. The reason the stuff about a cull has come out this morning is much simpler than last night's result: it was the last game of the season. Rafa can now openly talk about who is in and who isn't without affecting morale for the next game.

Edited May 24, 2007 by charlie clown

[Guest JV]

Don't think it has to be honest. Rafa said that there was gonna be a cull of the squad well in advance of last night's game and top notch players were needed as their replacements to sustain a title charge.

Correct

[Flight]

If we had have won it might have made the new owners think our team is better than it is. They will surely feel the need to now focus on making every player worthy of Rafas tactical genius - some simply weren't last night.

[nvdm]

Focus is pretty much the watchword for me next season. I want to see real hunger, real focus and real passion in every league game.

 

The players have to want the league.