Originally Posted by
IBK
Actually, I think we got schooled by a horrible bunch of shithousers, aided and abetted by a ref who bought almost every bit of bollox from Porto.
Their late goal wasn't the result of any tactical brilliance on Porto's part, but it was sure as hell naive from us. Nothing in the preceding 90+3 suggested that we were going to get through their defence and score (did we even have a shot on goal), and while I'd agree that we largely retained control of the game it was naive for us to risk losing possession at the death. 0-0 would have been a fair result and preventing them from scoring at home would have been a creditable result for our team that was sub-par all night. Porto and the crowd were looking for a grandstand finish - and we served it up to them on a platter.
But IMO Porto were very good at executing a game plan based around nullifying our set piece threat (by feigning fouls); isolating our wingers; breaking up play (albeit assisted by our profligacy and lack of zip in completing passes); and generally taking very few risks when playing out from the back. I think that this was savvy on their part, and contributed to us looking strangely flat.
I think that maybe another contributor was fatigue - and as I've said before, this can be mental as well as physical. While I have no particular issue with our starting line up, I think that the manager's failure to change anything after 60 - when a clear pattern had emerged, was a mistake. I don't think that we would have run any significant risk in subbing off Trossard or Martinelli - who were anonymous and ineffective respectively - as well as bringing on Jorghino earlier. This would at least have given the opposition something new to think about. As it was they looked comfortable - and were able simply to carry on doing their effective blunting job.
This game showed that we still have a turgid; stale performance in us. I'm not getting too despondent about this - it happens. But I am now more fearful for Saturday after a very short rest - and we have a job to score 2 or more against this lot at home next week.