Frustration is watching it
all unravel on the BBC!
Neil Turnbull reflects on the UEFA Cup first leg in Athens
I WATCHED THE MATCH against AEK
on TV last night and must admit that I found it a totally unsatisfying and
frustrating experience. There just is no substitute for actually being there.
Watching my team on TV, especially when they get beat, leaves me completely
frustrated. At least in the stadium you can shout for the team and vent your
spleen. Short of kicking the TV, you just can't get the frustration out in
your front room. I can watch football matches where I have no real buy-in on
TV without any problems but watching Hibernian last night was agony. How some
people can claim to support a team but only ever watch them on TV defeats me
absolutely. I went to bed in a foul mood.
In the cold light of day, what can you say
about the match? Firstly, it was a fair result - AEK deserved two goals for
the possession they had and the chances they made and we never really looked
like scoring at any time. Secondly, AEK were happy with that result as they
took their foot off the pedal and even time wasted towards the end. They
clearly feel, with their European experience, that they can come to Easter
Road with real confidence on a 2-0 lead. The match left me with the impression
that a team used to playing at this level was satisfied that their
inexperienced, but initially awkward, opponents had been dealt with.
Ian Murray - Athens might have turned his career? (sns)
How well did Hibs perform? I felt we looked
quite comfortable and composed in the first half although you are always a bit
concerned when you have to do that much defending. However, we were reeling
during that onslaught in the first part of the second half. It is easy to be
clever, watching on TV, but you have to say that the back line sat in too
deep. We were asking our midfield to do an immense amount of work because the
area between that back line and the strikers was huge at times. We missed
Sauzee for sure - someone of his experience was needed during that period when
we were on the ropes. The second main problem for me was that we asked them no
questions at the back. When a team is that comfortable in defence, they feel
far more confident about committing players to attack.
How good are AEK? I was impressed with them,
I must admit. Tsartas was superb - he ran the show and looked so composed with
the ball at his feet. The fact that they chose to substitute him at 2-0
confirmed my suspicion that they were quite happy to sit on that result. The
little striker, Nikolaidis, gave us problems all night and thoroughly deserved
a goal. But AEK were more than these two players - they looked a very composed
and competent team throughout. When you take into account the fact that this
was their first competitive game of the season then you can't help but be
impressed. And you can't help but think that they will know how to handle the
second leg.
Ulises de la Cruz - we know he is capable of much better (hibs.net)
Who played well for Hibs? I thought Jack,
O'Neil and the much-maligned Murray were excellent in the midfield and put in
an awesome amount of effort. I felt all the strikers did well but because we
never flowed forwards as a team, their work was largely about holding up the
ball and giving our defence a rest, rather than causing AEK problems. I was
particularly impressed with Luna when he came on - this performance coupled
with his brace on Saturday makes a strong case for a starting chance for the
Spaniard very soon. The defence took a pounding and you had to feel for them
at times as they dealt with wave after wave of attack. The only players that I
felt were below their best were Laursen and de la Cruz - they are capable of
much more and hopefully will make amends in the return.
Can Hibs still go through to the next round?
It is going to be incredibly difficult, make no mistake about that. AEK know
what they are about and if they score one goal at Easter Road, which they are
well capable of, the tie is finished. We go out having to score three to win,
knowing that any one lapse at the back leaves us with no chance. So our
concentration has to be top-rate but at the same time we have to rattle them.
Very difficult but if we can score a goal early on then the whole complexion
changes. We have a chance and with a big crowd to roar the team on it is still
possible to progress.
Now I can't wait for Sunday to come. My
frustrations of last night can hopefully be shed at Easter Road by watching
the team in the flesh against St. Johnstone. You can't beat the real thing -
TV football, no thanks. |
