Few things I learnt from last night

[Guest Ant]

Lucas is going to be continuously hard to ignore as the season progresses, I was really impressed with his performance and his composure was something to admire, getting the ball and producing some moments of brilliance. He did fade out last night towards the end but overall it was a good test for him and I hold high hopes for him.

 

I can see why Babel hasn't been played upfront but when he switched to the right wing he was brilliant, he is so focussed in getting the ball and advancing forward he did look abit sloppy at times but this goes with match practice.

 

Arbeloa is not a RB

 

Fabio Aurelio should play LM he played really well considering he hasn't featured in a while.

 

Benayoun is better than I thought he would be and for a signing some said as being 'Not Title-Challenging focussed' he really seems to be showing otherwise, he's fast, skillful and direct.

 

Oh and Kewell's going to be good as well.

 

Also I hate to add abit more to the Rafa fire but one thing I struggle to understand, I talked about this with my Dad on the way home...

 

Where is the consistency in Benitez 'Tired' excuse?

 

Think about it the beginning of the season, when Torres didn't play we where told he was tired along with Babel. We played what some would say as our 'weaker' players ahead of Torres i.e Voronin and Crouch v Pompey and leave Torres out of the squad.

 

We where told he was tired, however let's think about it Gerrard and Carragher played today in the lesser competition yet in them positions we are losing crucial players in Agger + Alonso. Yet he still plays our two best players. They have played week in week out, but they have not been deemed tired and are very crucial to us considering the injuries we have?

 

Look at Javier Mascherano tired been home little than a day from the South America, plays in the Derby away, and then flies to Beskitas....

 

Compare this with Torres a few months back, how can he says Torres was tired when he only played a game in Spain, but say Javier was not when he played v Everton and then Besiktas

 

I don't see the consistency....

[honourablegeorge]

I get the impression Rafa says things like "tired" and the like mainly because he can't be arsed explaining to the muppets that are the press what he's trying to do, as it'll only get misquoted, twisted ans sensationalised anyhow.

[Bailo]

Or.....players tire at different rates, times of the season.

[Leroy]

Also I hate to add abit more to the Rafa fire but one thing I struggle to understand, I talked about this with my Dad on the way home...

 

Where is the consistency in Benitez 'Tired' excuse?

 

Think about it the beginning of the season, when Torres didn't play we where told he was tired along with Babel. We played what some would say as our 'weaker' players ahead of Torres i.e Voronin and Crouch v Pompey and leave Torres out of the squad.

 

We where told he was tired, however let's think about it Gerrard and Carragher played today in the lesser competition yet in them positions we are losing crucial players in Agger + Alonso. Yet he still plays our two best players. They have played week in week out, but they have not been deemed tired and are very crucial to us considering the injuries we have?

 

Look at Javier Mascherano tired been home little than a day from the South America, plays in the Derby away, and then flies to Beskitas....

 

Compare this with Torres a few months back, how can he says Torres was tired when he only played a game in Spain, but say Javier was not when he played v Everton and then Besiktas

 

I don't see the consistency....

 

Good analasis thought the same about Mash when he was in S/America.

[cymrococh]

Ant, you're talking as if every player is at the same level of fitness at the same time and also that tiredness effects every player the same way.

 

That isn't the case.

 

We wouldn't have won last night without Gerrard and Carragher.

 

'Not Title-Challenging focussed'

what does that mean?

Edited November 1, 2007 by Paul Caruso

[Kahnee]

Or, Gerrard played because Momo was ill. And Carra played because Sami's need of a rest was greater.

 

And "abit" is two words...

[Guest Ant]

Or.....players tire at different rates, times of the season.

 

Or Maybe in that case Torres is a lazy b*****d

 

Just a thought if Mashcerano can do what he did during that spell then Torres can play v Pompey in my eyes.

[Bailo]

Or Maybe in that case Torres is a lazy b*****d

 

Just a thought if Mashcerano can do what he did during that spell then Torres can play v Pompey in my eyes.

Are you a fitness coach? It's kind of simplistic to assume all player's physical conditions are the same, all the time.

 

Can someone please furnish us with Football Manager stamina scores for Gerrard and Torres?

[honourablegeorge]

Torres has neve rhad a European season before. Not even UEFA. He'll be busier this year than ever before. Somethigng to remember.

[Guest Ant]

Ant, you're talking as if every player is at the same level of fitness at the same time and also that tiredness effects every player the same way.

 

That isn't the case.

 

We wouldn't have won last night without Gerrard and Carragher.

what does that mean?

 

I know different players have different levels of fitness, but it's hard to understand why in mentioned games important players whose levels of tiredness 'logically' should be better than players who have done much more travelling and played much more games have not played? Yet the others have? but if what you say is true it's arguable as I have said that Torres is a lazy b*****d.

 

If we wouldn't of won without Gerrard and Carragher last night, then I'll say we would of won with Gerrard + Torres v Pompey and Torres v Birmingham

 

Either way I really don't think Carraher or Gerrard should of played, Carra more so.

 

And I mean when we bought Benayoun it was more cover than a sign of intent in my eyes but it's proving the later more so now.

Edited November 1, 2007 by Ant

[johngibo YPC]

We didn't have alot of choice last night

We had to play Gerrard and Carra

It was more important to give Hyypia and Masch a rest

There was noone else we could have played, if we wanted to give ourselves a good chance of going through

[johngibo YPC]

If we wouldn't of won without Gerrard and Carragher last night, then I'll say we would of won with Gerrard and Torres v Pompey and Birmingham.

 

Gerrard played 90 minutes against Birmingham

[Kahnee]

If we wouldn't of won without Gerrard and Carragher last night, then I'll say we would of won with Gerrard and Torres v Pompey and Birmingham.

 

Either way I really don't think Carraher or Gerrard should of played, Carra more so.

 

HAVE

 

 

 

Is this helping?

[Benitez]

I get the impression Rafa says things like "tired" and the like mainly because he can't be arsed explaining to the muppets that are the press what he's trying to do, as it'll only get misquoted, twisted ans sensationalised anyhow.

 

 

And not just muppets that are the press.

[cymrococh]

There's no evidence that Torres is lazy, and plenty to the contrary.

 

And as someone said earlier, I suspect Rafa uses the words 'tired' and 'resting' as cover to avoid being harangued about rotation by know-nowt journos.

[Rich Gobey]

I'm tired of reading 'of' when the poster means 'have'.

[Guest Ant]

So essentially what you are saying is Rafa has been lying to us?

Edited November 1, 2007 by Ant

[Clay Davis]

Arbeloa isn't a right back?

 

I know he's been good at left back and he can play centre back but isn't his natural and self-confessed favoured/best position right back?

[Benitez]

SACK HIM HOW! HOW DARE HE LIE TO THE IDIOTS!

[Guest Ant]

Arbeloa isn't a right back?

 

I know he's been good at left back and he can play centre back but isn't his natural and self-confessed favoured/best position right back?

 

Very True, but he has seemed much more composed at LB than RB.

[Guest Sabre]

So essentially what you are saying is Rafa has been lying to us?

 

Where's that clapping smilie when you need it?

[Redwire]

Either way I really don't think Carraher or Gerrard should of played, Carra more so.

 

Did you leave at half-time then ring 606?

[Benitez]

Arbeloa isn't a right back?

 

I know he's been good at left back and he can play centre back but isn't his natural and self-confessed favoured/best position right back?

 

 

He was a centre back during the time he played for Castilla. But he got shifted to right back at Depor.

[Mike]

things i learnt last night.

young ant enjoyed himself and enthusiastically supported the reds which was good to see.

however, shouting where's your european cups at the cardiff fans has tarnished my match cred slightly

[cymrococh]

So essentially what you are saying is Rafa has been lying to us?

grow up, every (clever) manager lies in press conferences.