I didn't want to watch this game. But hey, it was Friday night, I was around and it is the weekend that football is back. So I took the bait. I sat down to watch the "encounter" between PSG and Lille. I assumed this would be a very easy victory. But when Rabiot got sent off then, there was perhaps a teenie-weenie chance that this could perhaps be a contest. After all, PSG are a man down and Lille are playing at home. Nope, PSG in fact kept the ball better and played better with this restriction and it was that Chelsea Champions League match all over again.
I am not sure if Lille actually forced Mr. Trapp to make a save once PSG had that man sent off...but I could be wrong, but doubt it.
The goal scored was purely a clear example of the gulf in class that exists between PSG and the rest of the Ligue 1. Lucas, is Brazilian and PLAYS like a Brazilian unlike many of his compatriots who embarrassed themselves at the Cop America. He initiated the attack, and what was a great through-ball by the underrated Matuidi found Lucas one-on-one with my man Enyeama, and it only took one touch to beat him and slot the cookie into the cookie-jar. From then on, the match was over. Lille were not coming back, because PSG do have amazing quality in keeping the ball with players like Veratti and Matuidi in the middle of the grass...but that defense is really something, with Thiago Silva being the General and not letting even an ant's newborn child to pass through.
Lille could have been more direct. Michael Bay should have dropped down his camera, and told his players to be braver in the way they attacked. Take more shots, make more runs, carry the ball more, and move the ball quicker to try and create half-chances. It was far too predictable with too much wing-play which made it easy for PSG to defend and thwart any attempts Lille tried to make into their 18-yard area.
This is why I cannot give Blanc any credit for what he achieved last year with this team. They are far too good for the league. Each individual in their starting eleven would be the best player in their position in any of the other French teams. None of them have even a hint of the dough that PSG have, and in this line of football, even if you are the great Diego Simeone, you cannot compete if you do not have the required personnel at your disposal. So if Blanc does not cleanup again this season, with Di Maria added to perhaps make things easier for the others....then he should have his ass sacked and should be BANNED from coaching any other team.
Blanc will be judged by that Champions League. That is why this team was built. All this money was not spent to be kings of France. That was a foregone conclusion. The cheddar was put down so that they would be the lords of Europe and dethrone Barcelona as being the elite club in the world. That has not happened and they have not even sniffed the semis, which is an insult with the kind of players they have. So please, I beg you, if Blanc does not reach the Final of this year's Champions League, then he should finally be fired, because I am sick and TIRED of seeing his grey goatee just standing there whilst these players go and smack that ass in Ligue 1.
HH
