A Bitter Aftertaste
When Alan Green almost proudly stated after our game against Bolton in January that Bolton play "Ugly Football", I just dismissed it as Greeny being Greeny, not only saying what he thinks (as he is paid to do) but also somehow "apologising" for the fact that Liverpool could only draw against them. However, after seeing Bolton play this weekend, it's not difficult to understand what Mr Green was talking about.
Say the phrase Ugly Football and images of Non-League style long balls, scrappy goals and the sort of tackles that make Roy Keane look like Elton John all spring to mind. However, Bolton appear to be putting an entirely new spin on this well worn football phrase. While their football is not Ugly in the traditional sense, they are Ugly in the way that they wish to play as little football as possible.
Their main line of "attack" in this regard is to play 5 across midfield. Not that stifling you may think. In fact, we played 5 across midfield many times last season but this was more out of the fact that we had no striking cover than for any ulterior motive, and certainly was never done in a way to restrict the other team playing as much as possible, or at least it wasnt the SOLE intention, anyway. The problem with Bolton's style of football is that IT IS their sole reason for deploying this style; their midfield almost acts like a chokehold, a tactic that brings them great success against lesser teams but when they come up against real quality, they're seen through quicker than a Vivien Westwood dress. And Sam Allardyce is seriously being considered for the England job. To quote a line, It's a Mad World.
While Sam Allardyce might like to think he is English football's great white hope, I'm afraid to say on this basis, he looks being England's next Graham Taylor. The sort of man who achieves success on a club level but is ultimately found out at a higher level. Such as against managers who've won the Champions League, for instance.
While Bolton have a manager with delusions of grandeur, we appear to have the most humble manager in the world, though even the most humble of men can make mistakes. Rafa's main one appeared to have to started with The Streetmap on the right hand side. While this worked well against West Brom and their aged defence, against someone as pacy as Ricardo Gardner, Djib never really stood a chance. The real problem with his performance was his apparent lack of interest with what was going on.
As Trevor Francis said in his analysis, if Cisse's touch was as good as his pace he'd be one hell of a player. Unfortunately, his apparent unwillingness to do anything about his performances means that he's almost certainly on his way next season. I feel sorry for him in a way. He spends almost an entire season out injured and then comes back and is expected to become the next Thierry Henry almost overnight. His attitude has been petulant at times though and I think Rafa's patience is wearing thin, if indeed it hasn't already been worn down completely. Still, Luis "The Enigma" Garcia didn't exactly shine when asked to replace The Streetmap, so I think some credit has to go Ricardo Gardner for doing a good job in defence. There we are, Me praising Bolton. It truly is a mad world.
Thankfully, while one striker was being shown the way to the exit door, another is being welcomed back more and more with each passing game. If nothing else, God has shown more effort and determination in recent matches than The Streetmap has for most of this season. While his third goal of the second coming is unlikely to bring him the new contract he clearly desperately wants, the ink cartridge on the printer is being warmed up with each passing week. Another two in the league before the end of the season and I think we'll be seeing the sight of "GOD, 9" shirts on the backs of fans walking down the Anfield road again come kick off time next season.
And let us Thank God because his goal was arguably the one highlight of what was a pretty poor performance by our own recent standards. Stevie G, in particular, did nothing of note the entire game. But again, this goes back to what I was saying earlier. One man against three midfielders is always going to come out the loser. Though on this occasion, as indeed with any game involving Bolton, football was the biggest loser.
Sky Sports proudly proclaimed our game to be the "Meat in the sandwich" of it's triple bill of games on Sunday. If it was the meat not only was it off, but it stank something rotten.
Say the phrase Ugly Football and images of Non-League style long balls, scrappy goals and the sort of tackles that make Roy Keane look like Elton John all spring to mind. However, Bolton appear to be putting an entirely new spin on this well worn football phrase. While their football is not Ugly in the traditional sense, they are Ugly in the way that they wish to play as little football as possible.
Their main line of "attack" in this regard is to play 5 across midfield. Not that stifling you may think. In fact, we played 5 across midfield many times last season but this was more out of the fact that we had no striking cover than for any ulterior motive, and certainly was never done in a way to restrict the other team playing as much as possible, or at least it wasnt the SOLE intention, anyway. The problem with Bolton's style of football is that IT IS their sole reason for deploying this style; their midfield almost acts like a chokehold, a tactic that brings them great success against lesser teams but when they come up against real quality, they're seen through quicker than a Vivien Westwood dress. And Sam Allardyce is seriously being considered for the England job. To quote a line, It's a Mad World.
While Sam Allardyce might like to think he is English football's great white hope, I'm afraid to say on this basis, he looks being England's next Graham Taylor. The sort of man who achieves success on a club level but is ultimately found out at a higher level. Such as against managers who've won the Champions League, for instance.
While Bolton have a manager with delusions of grandeur, we appear to have the most humble manager in the world, though even the most humble of men can make mistakes. Rafa's main one appeared to have to started with The Streetmap on the right hand side. While this worked well against West Brom and their aged defence, against someone as pacy as Ricardo Gardner, Djib never really stood a chance. The real problem with his performance was his apparent lack of interest with what was going on.
As Trevor Francis said in his analysis, if Cisse's touch was as good as his pace he'd be one hell of a player. Unfortunately, his apparent unwillingness to do anything about his performances means that he's almost certainly on his way next season. I feel sorry for him in a way. He spends almost an entire season out injured and then comes back and is expected to become the next Thierry Henry almost overnight. His attitude has been petulant at times though and I think Rafa's patience is wearing thin, if indeed it hasn't already been worn down completely. Still, Luis "The Enigma" Garcia didn't exactly shine when asked to replace The Streetmap, so I think some credit has to go Ricardo Gardner for doing a good job in defence. There we are, Me praising Bolton. It truly is a mad world.
Thankfully, while one striker was being shown the way to the exit door, another is being welcomed back more and more with each passing game. If nothing else, God has shown more effort and determination in recent matches than The Streetmap has for most of this season. While his third goal of the second coming is unlikely to bring him the new contract he clearly desperately wants, the ink cartridge on the printer is being warmed up with each passing week. Another two in the league before the end of the season and I think we'll be seeing the sight of "GOD, 9" shirts on the backs of fans walking down the Anfield road again come kick off time next season.
And let us Thank God because his goal was arguably the one highlight of what was a pretty poor performance by our own recent standards. Stevie G, in particular, did nothing of note the entire game. But again, this goes back to what I was saying earlier. One man against three midfielders is always going to come out the loser. Though on this occasion, as indeed with any game involving Bolton, football was the biggest loser.
Sky Sports proudly proclaimed our game to be the "Meat in the sandwich" of it's triple bill of games on Sunday. If it was the meat not only was it off, but it stank something rotten.
posted by The Smiling Assassin at
11:50 pm
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