Total Football: May 2007

Thursday, May 24, 2007

No luck and lack of incision cost Liverpool when it counted

Chris O'Keefe

Something in the air last night was different, the nerves, the expectations, the gut feeling if you like wasn't there. Even at three goals down in Istanbul, whilst others were leaving prematurely, I can honestly say I envisaged a fightback, perhaps not in the way it materialised.

The night before, I feared Milan would win but again not how it came about. My premonition was one piece of brilliance from Kaka being enough in a much more cagey affair. As it happened the piece of work did come from Kaka but only after Milan took a great slice of luck in getting in front.

Liverpool were shading the game in the first half against a rather ragged Rossaneri who were being tamed in attack and beaten in midfield by Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso. However, the wingers employed by Rafael Benitez to stretch Carlo Ancelotti's side were squandering the chances in the final third to give Liverpool an advantage. Balls into the box were at a premium from Bolo Zenden and Jermaine Pennant and clear chances didn't arise except from mistakes.

Liverpool's two best chances came from Milan mistakes. Pennant caught Marek Jankulovski in dwelling with the ball and shot across Dida but just lacking the power to truly test the Brazilian. The second came at a time when Liverpool were more desperate for the breakthrough. Gennaro Gattuso gifted the ball to Gerrard who beat Alessandro Nesta but, on his weaker side, needed to test Dida more than he did. Perhaps that moment was a sign that achievements in Istanbul weren't to be repeated here?

Fillipo Inzaghi's first goal was hardly instinctive, it was a body to deflect a seemingly innocuous Andrea Pirlo free-kick. It was the kind of luck Milan were going to need given the performance, and the kind of luck some Milan fans think was evading them in Istanbul. Jose Reina was helpless to stop it.

His second was very typical of the situation. Liverpool throwing men forward in search of a response, Kaka now without the Argentine Mascherano to shadow his every move, was free to find the pass the sliced Liverpool open. Inzaghi left the defence standing, only Reina to beat found a gap under the Spaniard's frame to put Milan in touching distance of the trophy.

Dirk Kuyt's header with only a matter of minutes left gave Liverpool fans inside the stadium hope of yet another comeback, but doing so for a third year running was asking a lot in the circumstances. Milan finally got the European Cup in their hands.

It's easy to pick at the things which didn't go right on the night. Should Peter Crouch have come on earlier? Should he have started up front to provide more help for Dirk Kuyt? Was Harry Kewell right for the situation? Hindsight, this wonderful that makes us better than those chosen to take those decisions in the moment itself!

From a personal viewpoint, playing Riise in an advanced role would still have been preferable to playing one up front. The point was that Benitez was right to play five in midfield and try to win that battle, the problem was getting the width to utilise the narrowness of the Milan midfield. Basically Liverpool had much the better of the game but lacked the creativity required to beat what was essentially an ordinary AC Milan side by comparison to the one that played in the 2005 final.

Rafael Benitez said that Liverpool lost to a good side, he may have been generous in his praise. What is perhaps more certain is that Liverpool lost what appeared a great opportunity and Benitez may think if only, like hindsight a great tool if you get hold of it beforehand!

Friday, May 18, 2007

Two games, different paths

Chris O'Keefe

The silverware is polished, the right colour ribbons are being chosen by the organisers, the fans descend on various destinations, if they can afford it. The scribes and orators try to offer an account of history that lives in the memory and those who can't be present occasions try to bear these accounts. The participants actually have more to think about than winning the cups.

Many futures will be shaped on the results of Wembley and Athens battles, managers secured and cast aside, players given the boot or given the chance to lace their boots in pastures new. Offered more money, offered second chances, perhaps they'll be at odds with one another and offered nothing. All these teams will change and evolve before August, no doubt, and these fixtures will map those evolutions.

Chelsea and Manchester United only locking horns in one final wasn't the prediction a month. Many were willing to say these would be the teams selling out the Greek theatre for 'old big ears'. Now both, each one trophy to their name have their achievements tainted somewhat by European failure, are playing for the FA Cup and the first helping of glory under the arch. United and Ferguson's season is still a success, regardless of Saturday's result. The league is back where the fans feel it belongs and those who frequent Old Trafford would've bitten the hands that feed for such an outcome!

Chelsea had higher ambitions this year, to which the league was a minor component. A quadruply they cried, but the immediate ambition was clear when Shevchenko and Ballack pulled up on the King's Road. Abramovich saw Athens with eyes gleaming. Two signings apparently made for Europe, unfortunately not for Anfield and the ghosts that still resonate over the Chelsea from that goal of 2005, or was it? They were helpless against a wall of noise, a "12th man", Anfield at its finest!

Mourinho, only a League Cup to show for more spending, constantly linked with Heathrow's departure lounge and mooted successors linked with arrivals. What price a Mourinho swansong and a bidding war from more destinations than Judith Chalmers could ever visit? Perhaps a swansong too far off, with Chelsea held together by sticky tape, limping in to face Rooney and Ronaldo, hoping to recover pride and with more to lose from their season without winning at Wembley?

Liverpool, now in search of number six when fans were screaming for an assault on number 19. Slow starts, new faces finding their feet and league chances cooked before the Christmas turkey. Cup finals are not to be sniffed at, four in three years and another success may finally attract the personnel that brings the Holy Grail back to a home it once stayed with such regularity.

AC Milan progress is noted especially for the fact that it nearly failed before the season began, with scandals of match fixing that threatened to bring the Italian game to its knees. Milan, began points off and with a place. Next year, they could be European Champions, favourites for Serie A and at the beginning of rebuilding the dynasty.

Of course, all these things are ifs buts and maybes. What is for sure is that these two results will help map the course of the clubs involved and their campaigns next year.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Manchester United...champions and rightly so!

Chris O'Keefe

I was "taunted", I say taunted it didn't feel too down about it being a Liverpool fan and the progress I've enjoyed in Europe (unless you fell victim to the Champions League ballot this week). However, it has to be said, the best side won!

Throughout the season, United played better football than Chelsea and should have been further clear in the title race before last weekend. Chelsea can bemoan injuries, and the usually take such opportunities to moan, but United's performance, minus Van Nistelrooy and no full time replacement was fantastic at times and it's down to the midfield.

Christiano Ronaldo, the first player to win the PFA's Player and Young Player of the Year awards since some small time commentator called Gray, was exemplary in all aspects except as opposing fans eyes. He scored 17 goals and 14 assists. Ronaldo was unstoppable at times, as opposing defenders will testify. Equally Wayne Rooney, a veteran of the game at 21, 14 goals and 12 assists were no less valuable. Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick were no less important either.

But one man always seems to pull proverbial rabbits out of hats at important times. Sir Alex Ferguson, if remembered for one thing this season it may be the coup of getting Henrik Larsson, a Champions League winner only six months earlier with Barcelona, to turn out at Old Trafford for a few months was a crucial signing. Ferguson has had a knack of pulling good players out of nowhere for relatively little or no transfer fee (although Larsson wages were said to be huge). Think Cantona, Schmeichel and even Roy Keane, once a British transfer record but £4million seems a snip in modern over hyped price tags.

His hunger, his hairdryer, his continued ability to get the best out of his players. I don't like comparing managers to one another. Most compare to Paisley, Shankly or Busby to name just three, all great in their own ways. Perhaps best to say he's a great manager and leave him in his exclusive pantheon rather than desperately search for some new pedestal.

Better teams may make dimmer spectacle

Champions League Final Preview

Chris O'Keefe

A lot can happen in a fortnight and usually does in football. However, both sides in the Champions League Final this month in Athens will be aware of what they did wrong last time and how to seal those cracks.

Both sides are certainly of greater quality than the sides that played out the epic Istanbul final, and the sequel may be pulsating but mistakes are likely to be at a premium which means a six goal thriller is unlikely to be on the cards. Milan of course will guard against the kind of display that allowed Liverpool to mount that great comeback and well Liverpool will look to make sure that kind of comeback isn't required

One thing Liverpool will need to do is try and keep Kaka contribution to the game at an absolute minimum. What Manchester United's display against the Brazilian showed that it needs perhaps a man marking job, and preferably a defensive midfielder rather than a centre back. Which would suggest the first name on the team sheet is unusually not Jamie Carragher nor Steven Gerrard but Javier Mascherano.

Liverpool's biggest problem in Istanbul was the inability to stop Kaka and with it Milan's attacking impetus. Gennaro Gattuso and Clarence Seedorf may provide the industry and Andrea Pirlo the calm foot on the ball, but its Kaka that gives Milan a cutting edge. When Dietmar Hamann came on for Liverpool at half time and started to break up those attacks, the game changed and with it the result. Mascherano has shown so far in his Liverpool career that he some of those virtues that may thwart the Brazilian.

Assuming that Milan follow their trend in this years competition, Carlo Ancelotti will select one forward, either Alberto Gilardino or Filippo Inzaghi. Barring a surprise this leaves Rafael Benitez with options. Benitez should, injury permitting, pick Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger, but his options may be interesting. We may see Benitez ponder a bolder three man defence pushing Riise into midfield and leaving room to accommodate Xabi Alonso, left out of the semi-final starting line-up.

Whilst Liverpool could also free up extra attacking options, they should be weary, not necessarily of Kaka, but a less obvious threat, the trio of Gattuso, Pirlo and Seedorf. With two sidesunlikely to give too much away this time, ability to work well in small spaces may be key. The tough tackling Gattuso, the clever passing of Seedorf and Pirlo as well as the set pieces of the latter will give a few headaches throughout the night.

However, this Liverpool side is better equipped than two years ago. One writer who shall remain nameless felt it was the worst English side to play in a European Cup Final. That individual probably felt a tad sheepish but the same won't happen here. It will be far from easy and Milan will be out for revenge but this is a Liverpool side in search of immortality and trying to create a dynasty to make even Shanks proud, they'll have a point to prove too!

As for the game, itself it may not keep the scoreboard as active as last time but the football purists should still get a kick out of it.

Possible line-up (3-1-4-2)

Reina

Finnan Carragher Agger

Mascherano

Pennant Alonso Gerrard Riise

Kuyt
Crouch

Thursday, May 03, 2007

Same atmosphere, same victor, same disgruntled manager

Chris O'Keefe
at Anfield

No talk of “ghost goals” this time, although Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho did try to persuade the public his side were again the best in a losing cause against Liverpool.

However, the only sense of Déjà vu compared to that much vaunted night in 2005, when Anfield apparently scored the only goal of the semi-final en route to a fifth European Cup, was the atmosphere of the ground. Not an identikit night to that one, but there were more than enough hints of the roar which reduced well hyped, well paid trophy hunters to a role of mere mortals.

Daniel Agger’s goal electrified Liverpool and probably exercised more confidence from a crowd all too aware of the dangers of an away goal at that stage. Unlike the much derided decider of 2005, no arguments to the merit of this finish! A well worked set piece, which Liverpool have fell victim to in the past of the ball played deeper to oncoming players to have a clear shot. Remember Maldini’s effort in Istanbul? It seemed Benitez’s men paid attention and executed the same plan, Petr Cech helpless, a rare sight in his Chelsea career as the ground erupted.

Jose Mourinho, rather bizarrely dusted down the 2005 post-match thoughts of ‘we were the better side’. It may have had merit then but looked an anomaly in this event.

He said: “Chelsea showed the appetite to win the game and in a difficult place to play with a great atmosphere, Chelsea played to win.

“The players are very, very sad, especially because they feel they did absolutely everything.”

Those sentiments were odd because, on the Liverpool seem to edge the game in normal time, having more possession and five decent chances to finish the tie, including a Dirk Kuyt header which beat Cech but not the woodwork. Cech had earlier stopped Peter Crouch from scoring with a fine low save, when a goal looked ominous.

Chelsea’s game plan was odd at times. Didier Drogba, a constant thorn in Liverpool’s side at Stamford Bridge, was seemingly pre-occupied with trying to entice fouls out of the centre back pairing of Carragher and Agger, rather than focus on how to beat Reina who only had one meaningful save to make in the whole game.

Lampard was anonymous for large parts of the game and work at free-kicks, when they blaze high and handsome, were of little consequence to Chelsea’s quest. The best players on either side were probably Claude Makelele and Javier Mascherano, both defensive midfielders both produced endless running and cool heads in a tense situation. As the game wore on, penalties looked inevitable!

When Chelsea players stepped up, the crowd were suddenly a cacophony of intimidation, and it didn’t help that the opposing goalkeeper has a habit of repelling spot kicks. Only Lampard could make an impression on the scoreboard, as Arjen Robben and Geremi, a penalty taker of fair reputation in the past, missed.

Liverpool, on the other hand, were inch perfect. Zenden, Alonso, Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt, who ran himself silly with little reward, finally put the seal on another great in Liverpool’s history and a place in the final.

Although both AC Milan and Manchester United are sides to be reckoned with, Liverpool great tradition and following will be a huge task to overcome as they look to maintain an imperious record in the European Cup.

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