Accra Hearts of Oak sufferd a 4-0 loss at the hands of Esperance in the first leg final round of the CAF Confederations Cup tie on Sunday. Who is to be blame over-here?
THE COACH:
Herbert Addo must take a chunk of the blame as he got all wrong from the selection of players to the strategy he mapped to the tactics he played. Many Sports Journalist in Afria advised him to close the game than rather opening for fluid fotball, it must be emphasized that, the fluidity of the game never matters at this stage of the competion when you are chassing a qualification.
It sad to believe that Herbert is not proving his coaching skills well, he is not proving as the coach known for conceeding 17 goals in 30 league matches at Aduana.
North African teams are always known of their 1st 30 minutes of football with a goal or more which allows them to win the game before the second half begins, so what prevented Herbert Addo from closing the game rather than opening with this naive players. Herbert Addo could have Closed the game with a 5-4-1 formation rather than the 4-4-1-1 (4-4-2) which made him concede that whooping scoreline. Hearts of Oak needs a video analyst to do some of these jobs, rather than conceed such cheap goals in the future.
THE PLAYERS:
It seems the players were having fun because to some, it was their first time in Tunis, while others had never played under flood lights before amongs other things. The commitment level of the players was low, as compared to their opponents. They played as if they were training with some experience players.The wide men in the game lost their positions, midfielders were out played and couldn't even possess the ball or swing two-three passes. The defenders where caught perfectly for
their inexperience marking, very poor that that and had to be punished dramatically. Awful position was the front-line, both strikers were Poor than any of the players that day. All the players must step up in the return leg or say bye bye to this competition.
It seems the players were having fun because to some, it was their first time in Tunis, while others had never played under flood lights before amongs other things. The commitment level of the players was low, as compared to their opponents. They played as if they were training with some experience players.The wide men in the game lost their positions, midfielders were out played and couldn't even possess the ball or swing two-three passes. The defenders where caught perfectly for
their inexperience marking, very poor that that and had to be punished dramatically. Awful position was the front-line, both strikers were Poor than any of the players that day. All the players must step up in the return leg or say bye bye to this competition.
Now, how can you turn 4:0 to 5:0 at Accra Sports Stadium in this modern day football with these inexperience players. The hearts of oak management claim they have youthful team but their inability to possess the ball in the game make one wonder why.I will be happy if there is a miracle but I am not seeing that happening. At this stsgr every Ghanaian will expect a miracle for Hesrts to qualify. To this end, Ghanaians will not buy any excuses. It is rather ironic hkw the hearts of oak team went into the game with so much confidence, knowing very well they were the weaker side in the game, come two weeks time, we shall witness how the Never-say-die club will bounce back, if not to qualify at all, to redeem the name of Ghana.
By: Derek Dapaah
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