Pace and power...

[abc]

3 of our new recruits in Gonzalez, Bellamy and Pennant were brought in to inject much needed foot-speed. Kuyt and Bellamy offer power and aggression up front.

 

I would love to find out Rafa's mentality behind excluding two of the four from his 16, and I'm not so sure it's got anything to do with fitness of the players. Crouch, Alonso, LG, Sami, Fnnan and Gerrard all played midweek internationals, but Gonzales didn't. Riise was dumped back in after only just recovering from his ankle injury. Given the style of play we were forced to employ due to Everton's pressing game, the more direct and long approach, we needed to put players who could run with the ball, and quickly. Instead we had Crouchy and Robbie up front, and the lightweight Garcia on the left. Crouchy and Robbie should not be playing together in a derby, and frankly Garcia (who is one of my favourites) should not be playing on the left wing against strong opposition. At least not with Aurelio behind him.

 

I'm not having a go at the boss, it's just that he's left me scratching my head. In the latter part of the second half, our game was screaming out for Bellamy. Kuyt came on and made a massive impact; Robbie should have come off for him but I know Crouchy might have been tired. While Kuyt is not exactly pacy, he is strong and very agile and looks to be very aggressive in his attacking play. Perfect attributes for the English game, and especially a Merseyside derby.

 

I hope Rafa, after watching the match yesterday realises what in my opinion are three significant team/squad selection mistakes:

• playing LG on an already defensively suspect wing
  

• pairing Robbie and Crouchy when we needed at least power or pace up front
  

and lastly, not even leaving on the bench two players who each offer both those attributes As we have seen that Gonzalez and Bellamy are tough as nuts, can run with the ball at pace, and are very hardworking defensively, they would not have been initimdated by the pace and thunder of the derby. I'm in on way hailing that they are our best players in their respective positions but for what it's worth I thought yesterday's team was crying out for them.

 

Fair play to Moyes who worked out and effectively executed what our last opponents who gave us a mauling (scoresheet-wise) did; target Sami and isolate him into the wider areas on the counter. Mourinho used Drogba to superb effect in that manner last season at Anfield. We all dislike dogbreath with a passion, but he has both attributes and is a very good player. I think Kuyt is a player of similar style, and I'm pretty sure we'll see Dirk cement his place in the team sooner rather than later, just like the way Crouchy did last season.

 

With all that said, onwards and upwards. Scoreline did not reflect the game, it was just one of those days. You know it when the you have Poll as ref, you're not getting the roll of the ball (deflected shot has wicked spin and rolls into space for a blue to run into), Carra fluffs at clearances Bramble/Boumsong style, Gerrard hits two posts, Aurelio gets t***tted in the face twice by his own teammates, Riise coming on as a sub and then getting injured a minute after the third and final change was made. Oh, the final straw - we give away 3 soft goals to the sh*te. All in one match.

 

I don't wanna put the mockers on, but I think it'll only get better from here on...

[Owen1978]

Why was Belly not in the squad?

[Fitz]

3 of our new recruits in Gonzalez, Bellamy and Pennant were brought in to inject much needed foot-speed. Kuyt and Bellamy offer power and aggression up front.

 

I would love to find out Rafa's mentality behind excluding two of the four from his 16, and I'm not so sure it's got anything to do with fitness of the players. Crouch, Alonso, LG, Sami, Fnnan and Gerrard all played midweek internationals, but Gonzales didn't. Riise was dumped back in after only just recovering from his ankle injury. Given the style of play we were forced to employ due to Everton's pressing game, the more direct and long approach, we needed to put players who could run with the ball, and quickly. Instead we had Crouchy and Robbie up front, and the lightweight Garcia on the left. Crouchy and Robbie should not be playing together in a derby, and frankly Garcia (who is one of my favourites) should not be playing on the left wing against strong opposition. At least not with Aurelio behind him.

 

I'm not having a go at the boss, it's just that he's left me scratching my head. In the latter part of the second half, our game was screaming out for Bellamy. Kuyt came on and made a massive impact; Robbie should have come off for him but I know Crouchy might have been tired. While Kuyt is not exactly pacy, he is strong and very agile and looks to be very aggressive in his attacking play. Perfect attributes for the English game, and especially a Merseyside derby.

 

I hope Rafa, after watching the match yesterday realises what in my opinion are three significant team/squad selection mistakes:

• playing LG on an already defensively suspect wing
  

• pairing Robbie and Crouchy when we needed at least power or pace up front
  

and lastly, not even leaving on the bench two players who each offer both those attributes As we have seen that Gonzalez and Bellamy are tough as nuts, can run with the ball at pace, and are very hardworking defensively, they would not have been initimdated by the pace and thunder of the derby. I'm in on way hailing that they are our best players in their respective positions but for what it's worth I thought yesterday's team was crying out for them.

 

Fair play to Moyes who worked out and effectively executed what our last opponents who gave us a mauling (scoresheet-wise) did; target Sami and isolate him into the wider areas on the counter. Mourinho used Drogba to superb effect in that manner last season at Anfield. We all dislike dogbreath with a passion, but he has both attributes and is a very good player. I think Kuyt is a player of similar style, and I'm pretty sure we'll see Dirk cement his place in the team sooner rather than later, just like the way Crouchy did last season.

 

With all that said, onwards and upwards. Scoreline did not reflect the game, it was just one of those days. You know it when the you have Poll as ref, you're not getting the roll of the ball (deflected shot has wicked spin and rolls into space for a blue to run into), Carra fluffs at clearances Bramble/Boumsong style, Gerrard hits two posts, Aurelio gets t***tted in the face twice by his own teammates, Riise coming on as a sub and then getting injured a minute after the third and final change was made. Oh, the final straw - we give away 3 soft goals to the sh*te. All in one match.

 

I don't wanna put the mockers on, but I think it'll only get better from here on...

Great post. I think Rafa made a mistake not playing any pace up front.

[Guest Paris 81]

Great post. I think Rafa made a mistake not playing any pace up front.

 

Eassy to say in hindsight. Maybe if Carragher hadn't defended like a schoolboy during a period when we were well on top, we might have had a chance, and having no pace upfront wouldn't have been an issue.

[lawrie]

Eassy to say in hindsight. Maybe if Carragher hadn't defended like a schoolboy during a period when we were well on top, we might have had a chance, and having no pace upfront wouldn't have been an issue.

 

Hindsight???? The obvious lack of pace up front must have been the first thing that struck you when you saw the team sheet.

[Maldini]

We played a "weakened" team against Chelsea and Rafa was hailed as a genius.

[mickdundee]

when i see the team yesterday our left side was a worry

[Benito7]

We played a "weakened" team against Chelsea and Rafa was hailed as a genius.

 

He was but that is the tightrope he is choosing with a rotation policy. When it works you look a genius but when it doesn't you look foolish. IMO you should always play your strongest team in a Merseyside derby.

[galés rojo]

We played a "weakened" team against Chelsea and Rafa was hailed as a genius.

 

but that team had balance, the problem isn't always the quality of the player but the type of player that they are.

[Guest Paris 81]

Since when was pace upfront compulsory for winning fotball matches?

 

We won 20 odd games last season with Crouch, Morientes and Fowler upfront.

[galés rojo]

Since when was pace upfront compulsory for winning fotball matches?

 

We won 20 odd games last season with Crouch, Morientes and Fowler upfront.

 

it's not but genuine pace in at least one area of attack is required, be it up front or on the wings. Yesterday we had neither.

[Guest Paris 81]

genuine pace in at least one area of attack is required

 

I ask again, since when?

 

Did Shearer and Sheringham have any pace?

[galés rojo]

I ask again, since when?

 

Did Shearer and Sheringham have any pace?

 

and i told you attack isn't just about the two strikers ,you don't need pace up front if you have pace on the flanks etc but you do need some pace inyour team somewhere.

 

Also Shearer in his youth was no slouch.

[Tonto]

I think Crouch and Fowler did ok and there wasn't a whole lot wrong with the team that was picked.

The problem was that while Crouch and Fowler were playing a lot with their backs to goal, something they can both do effectively, there was no one breaking forward from midfield to support them. I don't know how many times Crouch knocked the ball back into that central area maybe 30-40 yards from goal and there wasn't a Liverpool player in camera shot, where, presumably Gerrard or Garcia was expected to be running on to it. We played that way a lot last season away from home with a lot of success. Using Crouch to hold the ball up and play in midfielders, particularly Gerrard, breaking forward. When Gerrard did get forward we had chances, but too often the midfield was far too deep to support.

[Guest Paris 81]

and i told you attack isn't just about the two strikers ,you don't need pace up front if you have pace on the flanks etc but you do need some pace inyour team somewhere.

 

Also Shearer in his youth was no slouch.

 

So if we'd won the game yesterday with no pace upfront or on the flanks you'd still feel the same?

[galés rojo]

So if we'd won the game yesterday with no pace upfront or on the flanks you'd still feel the same?

 

we didn't win did we?

[abc]

I ask again, since when?

 

Did Shearer and Sheringham have any pace?

 

Shearer had power, and as mentioned was no slouch when he was younger. Sheringham wasn't a soft touch was he? And what the f*ck did England win anyway?

 

Read my post carefully, I emphasized that Fowler and Crouch had neither pace nor power, and Garcia is lightweight. Not the best combination when playing away, even worse in a derby when the sh*te are well up for it, everything is going at 100mph, and the challenges coming in that bit quicker and harder.

[Guest Paris 81]

Shearer was slow as f***. He had the agilty of panzer tank.

Edited September 10, 2006 by Paris 81

[abc]

Shearer was slow as f***. He had the agilty of panzer tank.

 

You are a WUM...

[Guest Paris 81]

Because I don't agree with your amateur theories on the game?

 

Trot on.

[kop205]

Shearer had power, and as mentioned was no slouch when he was younger. Sheringham wasn't a soft touch was he? And what the f*ck did England win anyway?

Read my post carefully, I emphasized that Fowler and Crouch had neither pace nor power, and Garcia is lightweight. Not the best combination when playing away, even worse in a derby when the sh*te are well up for it, everything is going at 100mph, and the challenges coming in that bit quicker and harder.

 

at the bit in bold. Quality, and absolutely spot on.

 

Can't think of many teams in the modern game prospering without pace and one of the reasosn people we're so pleased with the summer transfer activity was because it brought pace in abundance - so it was puzzling to to see it not used yesterday.

 

Obviously agreeing with you makes me an amateur as well though, so I'll 'trot on' too.

[Maldini]

 

it's not but genuine pace in at least one area of attack is required, be it up front or on the wings. Yesterday we had neither.

 

Yeah that Gerrard lad is dead slow...

[Guest Paris 81]

Buy Linford Christie in January.

Edited September 10, 2006 by Paris 81

[realtarragona]

Rafa Benitez believes his summer changes at Liverpool will reap big rewards, especially away from home with an injection of Valencia-style wingers.

 

"It was difficult at times last season because, in terms of pace, our only option up front was Djibril Cisse," Benitez told The Sunday Mirror.

 

"Now we have so many different aspects to our game.

 

"We have the intelligence of Peter Crouch and Robbie Fowler and also the pace of Mark Gonzalez and Craig Bellamy.

 

"Pace isn't everything. The most important quality is football ability, but in modern football, it is a fact that it is more difficult to succeed if you don't have that real speed in your team.

 

"What you need is a balance of good pace and good movement and also players who can make the most of those qualities."

 

He added: "It is important for any team with ambitions to have these different options.

 

"Now we should be able to do much better away from home against those teams who play high up the pitch and leave space behind.

 

"I think we can win some games that we didn't last season.

[Ombudsam]

 

 

I don't wanna put the mockers on, but I think it'll only get better from here on...

 

yeah, or we'll get relegated