++ [ originally posted by Stuart ] ++
Come on, man! Capello's tactics against Liverpool weren't bad? Praise him for our success in the league if you must but Capello was nothing short of poor against Liverpool. In the second leg the team played with a lack of urgency instilled by Capello's insistence to be patient. They played like a team who were already through to the next round, as if a goal was surely going to come, as if it was only a matter of time. The tempo was frustratingly poor and in the last 15 minutes we played kick ball. If you don't think that it is the coach's responsibility to do something about those things then you haven't a clue. Would you mind refreshing my memory as to what chances we created in that second leg? Zlatan's miss from Zamboy's cross and Cannavaro's header from DP's set piece were all we created in 90+ minutes of football. Is that good enough for you? Well it isn't for me and that has to change in 05 if not we'll lose to a team that we are better than again.
Lets look at it this way:
The tactic was out there. It was strange, but if Capello played his standard 4-4-2 which obviously did not work against Liverpool, then we would all want his head. At least he tried to do something different- this tactic also help shut off liverpools Catenaccio. We were hardly threatenend by pool really, only if Zebina made a mistake if i recall correctly.
We were inches away from going through. I really cant fault capello for his tactics to be honest- if Cannavaro would of jumped one inch more to the right then we would of at least been in the Semis. It was also important to make sure liverpool did NOT score against us at home. If Capello would of used a so called attacking formation- and we would of conceded one goal on a liverpool counter attack- then it would of been curtains.
So can one really blame Capello for just searching for the one goal and no more? No, he doesnt take risks. Capello probably said to his players to keep playing their game and the chances will come. Which they did, few and far between, but we were unlucky and liverpool defended well.
Even so, unless we would of won the trophy- we would of had to make a mistake along the way. Capello did alot of things right- who expected us to go through against Madrid? Not I.
I also remember a fantastic chip by thuram to Zlatan- though he was an idiot and didnt get to the ball quick enough (or volleyed straight at dudek- dont quite remember)
So in the end Stu, remember our first leg game against pool- we created nothing in the first half because our 4-4-2 tactic was ineffective against pool. We were lucky in the second half to have the keeper gift us that goal too. Del Piero also had a legit goal chalked off. So basically, it was either play with the 4-4-2 and get squashed at home- play with a 4-3-3 and be caught out on the counter which liverpool are good at- or try an experimental tactic. That is at least the way i view it anyway.
Its amazing how quickly Capello's tactics against madrid were forgotten- even the best can slip up once in a while.