We started our Champions League campaign with a win over Athletic Club, thanks to a brilliant goal from Martinelli and another one from Trossard. We go again today against Olympiacos, hoping we repeat the performance and keep our winning run. With the new format, it’s going to get complicated after the group stage when only the first 8 teams qualify for the next round, while next 16 teams would have to play 2 extra games among each other to qualify for the next round. We saw some big names eliminated last year in the group stage, and we certainly don’t want that for ourselves.
So, a win is a must.
Here’s the problem with Champions League though. Teams from other leagues do not necessarily play your crap possession based football. They can park the bus, play on counter, lose 2 players in the opposition box for whole 90 minutes, which creates a conundrum for the managers like Pep and Mikel. The possession based, high pressing football only works if the other teams play the same way – primary reason we have been able to play good football against the City and Liverpool but do not have any answers to the low blocks. Galatasaray stunned Liverpool last night and Tottenham had to share points with Bodo/Glimt – so it already has started.
So, what’s our options? Go and have fun with an attacking mindset and free Gyokeres from the defensive duty. Someone (I think Neville) pointed out that with a back 4 of Timber, Saliba, Gabriel and Calafiori, you don’t need your forwards to do the dirty defensive work. Now, this goes against the principle of Mikel but lets just try out.
Playing XI is out
MLS is back in XI, which was expected considering Calafiori is starting every Premier League game. Odegaard is back, while Rice sits on bench. I have changed my mind, I think Rice should be the one starting as DM instead of Zubimendi with Merino and Odegaard on either side. But, it is what it is.
Saka gets some rest, he still needs to get back his fitness. Martinelli starts at the RW, Trossard keeps his place while Gyokeres starts up top. It’s good to see Ben White back in the line up, hopefully Martinelli gets some support from him.
Right, I will keep it a very short one today, game is about an hour away. I will go with a 3-0 to the boys, Gyokeres grabbing 2 of them and Martinelli scoring the third.
See you in the comments.
fuck we were lucky that Teremi wasn’t ready for that silver.platter cross…they said he’s already scored 4 times off the bench this year
the only place you couldn’t strike that ball…our piss-poor finishing in a nutshell
loved that diagonal ball by Eze though…we need more of that shit
just when you think Oly couldn’t get any smaller fucking 27 comes in and proves me wrong…it’s like he escaped from the Chocolate Factory
it’s hard to believe that this Greek squad is a more skilled passing side, in the final third, than our billion+ group…thankfully Saka just finiahed them off…even so, it says something about MA’s piss-poor roster construction/tactical approach
3 points but hardly convincing…not a bad watch though if you were a neutral
I still think that when Noni comes back we need to play him on the right and Saka on the left…furthermore, we should deploy Eze and Ode together and only have one of either Rice or Zubi starting
Olympiacos are no mugs , their style of football is similar to ,PSG without the end product.
The opening half hour we played probably our best football of the season with Odegaard pulling the strings and Gyokeres linking the play well, but once olympiacos settled into the game they were a constant threat with Raya showing his outstanding quality.
To be honest our subs never really stopped the flow of the olympiacos attacks , their intricate passing and movement caused us problems until we killed the game at the end.
I can’t see anything other than Arteta starting with Rice , Odegaard and zubimendi in midfield in the majority of games as he would have been concerned at our lack of control as the game progressed and we know how much Arteta likes to feel his team controls the tempo of the game , this didn’t happen last night so he won’t be fooled by the 2-0 scoreline.
I’d expect the usual back 4 to start v west ham with a front 3 of saka , gyokeres and Eze , but again the subs may prove to be the deciding factor if west ham park the bus , after the victory v Newcastle it is important to maintain the momentum that is building with hopefully a convincing win though the west ham wide players Bowen and summerville may prove to be a handful .
Forest fans calling for the manager to be sacked already. Nuno must be laughing his arse off.
Marc
Postecoglu will be laughing as well given he’ll get a huge payoff.
Celtic will be daft enough to take him back too when they fuck Brendan Rodgers off in the next few weeks.
Talking about results, not performances, were in pretty good shape after that tough set of fixtures and the Carabao and CL games. No excuses, it has to be a comfortable win with a Leeds type performance against the ⚒️ on Saturday. Are you going?
Hi Kroenke,
Hope you are keeping well mate.
Yeah I’m going tomorrow. I’m feeling cautious about the game Nuno will have a mix of the new manager bounce and a week with the players plus West Ham do love to throw a spanner in our works. Its supposed to be dry but quite windy which could also affect the play.
On the other hand it could easily be a comfortable 3 nil we really are capable of managing any result.
Kroenke
The thing for Forest is how long before the fans really start going at the owner? I can’t remember a manager being under pressure so early on in his time in charge.
Enjoy the game Marc. I reckon even the most dispassionate onlooker would see a massive difference in quality between the two teams, on paper that is. The gap has arguably welcome been wider. I think your second scenario is most likely, but a red card or defensive lapse is always possible. It’d be pleasing to see Declan dominate, and get a free kick opportunity just outside their box. He hasn’t really had any since those two against RM.
Any post match observations will be most appreciated as usual. I guess you’ll be getting on a train straight after the game to Manchester for this year’s Tory party conference….😂
Kroenke
I don’t think Badenoch’s bothering with the Tory Party Conference this year – they’ve become the Norwegian Blue Tory Party.
New post.