Game 7, Cruz Azul v PUMAS....all about it...

Couldn't get tickets so far, obviously, so will go down to the ground early doors Saturday, might get some off a tout.

We both lost our last games, both of us missing crucial overseas players to injury (Cesar Delgado and Leandro Augusto), who, I believe will both be fit for this game (saturday 5pm). So its important for us both to get back into winning ways, should be a good encounter. I think there is some sort of "curse" on Cruz Azul to do with losing two on the spin, anyone heard of this?

Last season they stuck 8 passed us, I was at both games, and the home leg was the most depressing, 5-0 if you can bear to remember it. I really hope it can't be that bad this season....

So whats going to happen?

 

Game On:-

Got up nice and early (on a saturday!), but the $80 you see isnt quite what I paid for them.... not even close.... never mind, still dirt cheap for someone used to premiership and la liga prices.....

Leandro is back! but Delegado too, and we have never beaten them when he plays, the paper says, although that is only 4 games, and we did draw one... although he has scored 5 against us in those 4 games... Also el "conejo" has never lost v Pumas at the Estadio Azul, still thats all history.

I think Tuca will go 5-3-2 on this one, and I think Reinaldo will get the nod ahead of Gonzalez, I know we all agree about predictions, but I'm sticking me neck out anyway, 1-1... although if we start and stick with 4-4-2, it might be something like 4-2 to them.... anyway, at least I will be there!!

 

It was indeed, great to be there, enjoyed it no end.

To be fair to Sideshow, he does ok, played better again, until his heart-stopping error near the death. He is NOT a central defender, and that is not his fault. Those one or two fatal errors every match do not get noticed when he's playing defensive-midfielder. What may change this season is that when we play with four at the back, Moreno may start to get the nod over Pikolin:- or we may see an experienced central defender come in at Christmas.

anyway, this is how I saw it:-
Bernal - nervous-ish game, good save from Delgado

Castro – often playing too forward, and a bit inside, but good defensively and good going forward.
Palacios – That last minute error!, but did have mch better game.
Veron – sound game, what we expect
Moreno – solid (subbed 59)
Velarde – good game, Chelito switched sides because he got no change out of him.

Sancho – too little time (subbed 12 injured).
Leandro – MOM - faded a bit first half, but overall very good, you can see what we have been missing, visibly got frustrated with lack of movement at times
Pareja – got knocked about a bit second half, but looked keen, skilful and troublesome, worked hard again.

Scocco – runs, jinks, TWO goals took them both well. Beginning to really link up well with Parejita
Reinaldo - needs to have more to him to fit into this system, looked slow today, must be running out of opportunities. Static. (subbed off 70 mins)

SUBS
Espinoza – 12 mins – excellent game, impressive, lovely cross for the goal.
Iñiguez – 59 mins – ineffectual
Alanis – willing, but a lot to learn. It is interesting to see Tuca trusting his Cantera, rather than his big signings, the Ariels, Lopez and Gonzalez.

DT
Tuca Ferretti – spot on, formation correct for this game, and has obviously worked hard on getting his players to understand it. Went for the throat when Huiquis sent off.

Overall, the concentration level was high again, an amazing improvement from Pachuca, lets hope that was just an abberation. Sometimes wonder if our patient buiding is that, or negative thinking, just need to keep on top of it really. If it hadn't have been for Pikolin's error, would have been a lovely display of how to play when 1-0 up.

 

I only really understood the first half of that ! but he is dead right, not sure the enormity of this win has sunk in.. to beat that team in their place, especially on the back of a terrible performance v Pachuca, it really is top class, a result v Monterrey Wednesday night would really see us on a roll...

 

I am very happy with 5-3-2 for tricky away games, and even against good sides at CU, especially as the players seem to understand it more, and Leandro can be a great link, and also with Pareja teaming up with coco well.... also, to be fair to Tuca, I think there was great understanding between him and the players as they went for the kill after the red card.... also, as you say, we really made the most of the extra man, we haven't done that for a long time, and its a skill that continues to elude many many teams all around the world...