Written by Kirsikka
Just the nine changes from Saturday then. Although that could be seen as slightly misleading given two of them were Christie and Kluivert, both fit enough to start. Eyes would be on Adli, Gannon-Doak and Kroupi Jr, all of whom were making their full debuts for us.
And on that note, let me say there’s not too much to say about the action in that match, so this part will be relatively brief. I doubt many of you want to relive it, though. Congratulations in advance to anyone who makes it to the end.
The evening’s standards were set when Adli nearly gifted them a goal with a sloppy pass to a striker, but he shot wide. Brentford didn’t need to worry about not taking that opportunity. Another defensive calamity was coming.
They sent in a high, looping cross to the edge of the area. The kind of ball that never comes to anything because defenders and attackers cancel each other out wrestling for it and nobody gets a clean head on it. Only, for some reason, Diakite went charging towards it and then didn’t challenge whilst Soler watched on. It gave Ajer a lovely chance to head into the danger zone.
There, Hill and Christie joined the other spectators in defence, letting the Brentford striker run onto the ball unchallenged to knock it into the net.
If any one of the four players had done their job, that wouldn’t have happened. Dreadful defending. Really dreadful.
Their second, during the second period, was also a comedy of errors. Scott dawdled on the ball and was robbed near the halfway line. It was passed forward centrally and all the defensive cover (three players!) were dragged like magnetised iron filings to the man on the ball. That meant when he passed, there were two completely free Brentford players waiting to tap it home.
I’m sighing out loud just thinking it back through. Horrible all around. Again.
That was pretty much it from Brentford, who had little interest in the match and seemed surprised to find themselves in front when they’d been briefed to play for penalties from the first minute. I expect they were practising them all week, so will feel a little let down they didn’t get the chance to show off their skills from the spot.
Our response was to dominate possession and do the square route of feck all with it. Actually, that’s unfair. We dribbled down a lot of blind alleys. We sent in a bombardment of crosses into the box, which were almost all met by the cast of Brentford giants as our team gazed up at them helplessly. We had set pieces galore, but we know how they end.
When we did have an attempt on goal, they were soft. Yeah, the keeper made a few saves, but about the only one worth mentioning is when Evanilson robbed a defender and hit a snapshot. Apart from that, they were about as routine as an army schedule.
Oh, Brentford did nearly score an own goal. That would actually count as probably our second-best effort. So… yeah… not great stuff.
In a match where everything looked off and where we were about to get knocked out of a cup, the only way to add a cherry to that cake would be a pointless red card. Enter Araujo.
I don’t really have anything good to say about that performance. I can’t think of a single player who impressed me.
Selected Player Watch
—– Adli —–
He looked lively and dangerous in his cameo at the weekend. He looked the opposite out there tonight. I’m less forgiving of him than certain others because he should be a senior pro. I understand he still needs to adjust to the English game, that he’s barely touched down and so on, but was poor. Very poor.
—– Kroupi Jr —–
A nice early effort and some good touches give me hope he could grow into being effective in time. Faded out of the game. No problem with that from a 19-year-old in his first start here.
—– Gannon-Doak —–
Another young one where we shouldn’t read too much into it, but he struggled out there. Seemed completely stumped by a deep-set defence. Almost every time, he’d try and dribble into no space and end up turning around and passing it back. Needs coaching and patience.
—– Diakite —–
First match, I thought he looked clumsy, second improved, but tonight was a step backwards. He wasn’t the only one to blame for the first goal, but if he’s going to charge over toward a high ball like that, then he at least needs to put in a challenge.
—– Scott —–
He’s having a bit of a ‘mare start to the season. So sloppy to give away the second that killed off the tie (maybe better termed as “put the tie out of its misery”), and not much came off for him going forward. Will find himself on the bench on Saturday, and he can have no arguments about that.
—– Araujo —–
Stupid sending off. Utterly brainless. I’m possibly more annoyed about that than I should be, given the match was essentially over, but that somehow makes it worse in my mind.
AI and Tactics Watch
What is it about Brentford? That’s eight matches now without beating them and I don’t really know how to describe it. I won’t mince words when I say Brentford were dogshit. And yet we contrived to hand them a comfortable victory.
They offered almost nothing for the whole evening, so to let them score two through two defensive howlers is annoying. However, this wasn’t a case of us up against a well drilled low block as they were messy at the back. We just did nothing with the ball to challenge them. If we did fashion an opening, the attempt was soft and easy for the keeper.
Yes, I know it’s a cup game. Yes, I know we made nine changes. Yes, I know they did the same. Two teams of almost strangers playing means flowing football might have been a big ask, but that was up there with our worst cup performances for me. Because they were so bad… and yet we let them coast to a win. I doubt their manager will have an easier victory in his career. To play so poorly and win so easily? Sheesh.
New faces, returning players and all that, but even so, we were rubbish.
It means nothing come Saturday because the team will look more familiar and, hopefully, another few days of training will get more of the newcomers on board with the system.
Still, I have huge sympathy for anyone who forked out for a ticket to watch that.
I want to be absolutely clear, I’m not writing anyone off. Not by a long, long, long way. It’s such early days. However, I am saying that, for a club like us, when we spend £25-30m+ on a player, we have to get it right. Teams like West Ham and Everton buy duds and simply replace them with another year’s income. We don’t have that same luxury. We need the big signings to be right.
No need to single anyone out since it now applies to five or six players, but we’re carrying a lot of investment on the pitch and I have a raised eyebrow about some of it tonight. A storming performance on Saturday could go a long way to allaying my fears.
Yes, I know how impatient that sounds. Classic keyboard warrior stuff. Especially given I posted yesterday about how it usually takes until the season after big investment for it pay off on the pitch. I’m a total hypocrite. I know, deep down, it’s going to take time. Still… I’m venting because that match gave me nothing to shout about.
One of the two trophies where we might have had a chance to compete, and we faceplanted at the first hurdle. Now we have lots of squad players without much chance of bonus game time until January. What a waste.
Some of those players should hang their heads in shame. It wasn’t a game where we got overrun or battered by another team. It was a game where gift wrapped a victory to an opposition that looked confused about how to play football. Yikes.
The commentator described us as “tame” and it’s the perfect word for that performance.
Tame.
Your say…
TCherry said…
Having forked out for a ticket (now I remember why I don’t go to Cup games..)
Just some thoughts on that performance.
I thought Kluivert started off brightly but was then worn down by those around him.
I know Christie hasn’t played the best part of a game since April, but I thought he had a mare of a game.
I think Kroupi will come good eventually in a season or two. Aldi and Doak couldn’t cope with their defence and are I feel quite a way from PL level, though to be fair, Adli played well against Wolves.
Good to see Senesi come on, a measure of calm and authority.
Not sure what Scott brings, lost the ball on the half way line prior to their second goal. I thought Hill was more responsible for the first.
I don’t think Araujo is going to cut it in the PL from what I’ve seen. Deserved red card.
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