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Why do we have such a poor record against the big sides?

RafaShanks

By RafaShanks
in Liverpool FC

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RafaShanks

RafaShanks

Posted
Posted (edited)

Dunno what the stats our under Rafa, but no doubt they are not good.

 

Only beaten Arsenal twice and Chelsea once at Anfield. Might be wrong, but never won away at their grounds.

 

Now we have played all three at Anfield and only picked up 2 points of nine.

 

Is this down to Rafa or the players not having the big game mentality?

 

Very frustrating. :hmm:

Edited by RafaShanks
alias75

alias75

Posted
Posted (edited)

Dont have enough world class attacking players that can make the difference in these close games. Until this season we only had Gerrard now at least we have Torres too, but Utd have 3 or 4 world class attacking players and that usually makes the difference in these close games. Players like Crouch or Kuyt or Benayoun are fine for 95% of games we play but against the real top sides we need at least 1 more top class attacking player.

Edited by alias75
Jim D

Jim D

Posted
Posted

The Mancs are doing what we did against them under GH, keeping it tight, solid at the back and in Midfield and then nick a goal on the counter or from a set play. That is precisely what has happened for the past three games against them. Would Rafa need to adopt similar tactics to overcome the big teams?

Scorpion

Scorpion

Posted
Posted

Mentality.

 

Obviously our team may not be as good as the top 3 but the main thing is the mind set of the team

 

Manchester United are a group of winners.

Ferguson has a mentality of winning, accepting nothing but a win and not playing down important games. He constantly gets results against the big teams. Tactically, Benitez is better equiped and this shows in Europe in comparison of the two teams. Ferguson also he never plays down big games. He assembles squads of winners with character. Gary Neville, Ronaldo, Giggs, Tevez, Rooney are all winners. This gives them the edge in winning big games and in winning trophies. Milan are another example. They are full of winners and leaders. Cafu, Nesta, Maldini, Gattuso, Seedorf, Ronaldo. That is why they are always getting results against big teams and why they are winning the trophies.

 

We may have two winners in our team.

Earl Hafler

Earl Hafler

Posted
Posted

Under Evans we were often top of the Top 5 mini league. Under GH we did well too. Not sure what it is under Rafa but i often look at how we play and wonder what we're trying to do. Torres appeared isolated today and we hit far too many long balls at him. Get the ball on the ground, use the wide players and support from midfield with Gerrard but he seemed to want to sit back today

 

The mancs defended solidly and won from a set piece again - something we did under GH.

 

When we were winning titles i remember the games against United being difficult and sometimes losing them but it didn't matter as much because we were winning the league. I remember one easy game around 1990 when Whelan scored one of the greatest own goals ever. but we still won comfortably.

 

I think we need more consistant, reliable players in the side. Kuyt, Kewell, Benayoun, Crouch, Voronin are all good squad players but they're slightly lacking in class and as a team we seem to lack consistancy in our passing, attacking play.

 

The Mancs forward line didn't play well today but Tevez took his chance, Rooney missed a sitter. Kuyt had a decent chance but connected poorly with it. Torres didn't have much but was poor a couple of times when through.

 

Difficult to compare today with the overall picture because it was another smash and grab

Swipe

Swipe

Posted
Posted

I love Rafa but I fear for him a little.

 

Most of us on here were bit disappointed by the signings in the summer, and today it looked justified.

 

We've too many players just not good enough to make us champions.

 

We all no who they are.

 

Whether Rafa will get anothe chance in the summer to rectify this, we'll have to see.

 

Whether he's capable of doing it, is another question.

Cunny

Cunny

Posted
Posted

we are still lacking top class wide players (how many years have we been saying this?) and another top class forward to play with Torres.

Babel maybe one of these players in years to come.

 

Look at the mancs in those positions - Ronaldo, Giggs, Rooney and Tevez.

Only Torres for us is comparable.

alias75

alias75

Posted
Posted
we are still lacking top class wide players (how many years have we been saying this?) and another top class forward to play with Torres.

Babel maybe one of these players in years to come.

 

Look at the mancs in those positions - Ronaldo, Giggs, Rooney and Tevez.

Only Torres for us is comparable.

 

Id put Gerrard in there with Torres IF he doesnt play in the middle of midfield. he isnt as much of an attacking threat from there. But i agree with your general point, its world class attacking players that usually decide these games and we have 2 and Utd have 4. Once they scored first it was always going to be tough to break them down, plus they're very dangerous on the break.

 

The frustrating thing is you can tell during the general play that we're very close to Utd but we just dont seem to be able to win this type of game and they have 1 or 2 more match winners in their side.

 

The squad is very strong we need to add top quality like Torres but we've been saying the same for years.

Kite

Kite

Posted
Posted

We lack players of composure currently - some will grow into it - but, repeatedly, we've played over-anxiously in key games. Gerrard often doesn't help matters by blistering around the place but today he was more subdued than anything. Was very disappointed Rafa chose Arbeloa fro RB too as, again, he lacks composure and nous and his display today demonstrated his main weaknesses. Likewise, something similar could be said of Riise on the other side. And then Kuyt's display was also dominated by huff and puff but little end product of class. So I guess it really just comes down to the personnel being picked on the day to play rarely meet the standards of the other "big four".

Earl Hafler

Earl Hafler

Posted
Posted
Id put Gerrard in there with Torres IF he doesnt play in the middle of midfield. he isnt as much of an attacking threat from there. But i agree with your general point, its world class attacking players that usually decide these games and we have 2 and Utd have 4. Once they scored first it was always going to be tough to break them down, plus they're very dangerous on the break.

 

The frustrating thing is you can tell during the general play that we're very close to Utd but we just dont seem to be able to win this type of game and they have 1 or 2 more match winners in their side.

 

The squad is very strong we need to add top quality like Torres but we've been saying the same for years.

 

 

-----XABI----LUCAS / MASCH-----

GERRARD----KEANE------BABEL

--------------TORRES-------------

 

Those three behind Torres all have the ability to switch.

Guest RedLegend

Guest RedLegend

Posted
Posted
It should be Babel time permanently from now one. He's still learning, he'll make mistakes, but he's an incisive player and has serious matchwinner potential

 

Only had 20 minutes today but probably scared the mancs more than any of our other players in that time. Unlucky that his shot just went the wrong side of the post. If he can extend the impact he makes during his sub appearances to full games he's in business.

Guest sniffer

Guest sniffer

Posted
Posted
because if we're realistic only 2 (gerrard and torres) would get in their side. Maybe mascherano maybe not. They have better players than us

 

Mascherano would definitely get in their side.

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