A belated post due to other commitments..Anyway...
So the new man's reign starts with a win, which is of course good. Presumably leaving Shearer on the bench won't immediatly cost him his job. It wasn't the most convincing of things though, lifting us upwards in a wave of optimism. It was more a game of frustration. Against a side we knew we should easily beat we struggled to put any fluidity together, not helped by the oppositions obvious spoiling tactics (which the officials seemed perfectly content to allow to pass). The first goal was symptomatic of our play. Scrappy and fortunate to end up in the net but at least Kluivert demonstrated his instincts (later, when left up front alone, he also demonstrated the talents he lacks which mean he isn't Shearer). The second was better (and hasn't Robert been revitalised now he's realised he better put some effort in or be out on his ear). But the third goal never game.
The scrappy first half led to a worse second half where the Israeli had seemingly been told to just try kicking us. That actually allowed them to take some little control, something which should have swiftly ceased with the introduction of Butt. Presumably his (while admitedly somewhat provoked given the amount of fouls flying in) actions are a sign of the new manager's much heralded discipline. At least it brought the game to life. That sort of atmosphere cannot help us though. Two goals against a team who threatened almost nothing other than a hospital trip should be enough, but in the foreign lands of Tel Aviv it would have been much safer with the three or four we should have had. It should do and we should comfortably progress...but we've been at many should do's and job done's before only for them to turn into calamity. Hopefully not this time eh.
Oh, and again to his credit, Souness knows he has major problems in defence and has done pretty much the only thing he can (given the wonderful timing of the managerial change) without devine intervention. Ronny Johnsen is old but at least experienced and if nothing else may be able to instill some sense into the back line. Again, let's hopt so.
(@15:09)
