Quote:
Originally Posted by Jagger
Toni is actually a useful striker, given the service, as is Crouch actually. Crouch is not a Benitez favourite but can be a decent player given half a chance. He just looks really awkward due to his ridiculous lanky frame. Toni was left isolated beyond belief. He had no chance to perform to an adequate level due to the all out defending tactics utilzed.
Locke sumarised it perfectly; you play for pens, you die by pens. I like that!
|
It's the old argument:
Person A: Crouch is a great striker, he's always getting into scoring positions.
Person B: Crouch is awful, he can't finish when he's in a good positions.
I just rewatched a bit of the game (had it in the background as I'm doing some work) and I'm not sure the Italians played purposely for penalties. It wasn't their mentality I don't think. They're just an awful team. It's not that they didn't have any ambition to attack, they just had no skill to do so. Everytime they got the ball they tried to play it forward but they just did it in the wrong way.