Just Back from the match

[Gunga Din]

right

 

this can be looked at one of two ways

 

Every season, since the dawn of time, there have been games each season that we have drawn 0-0 at home with who are s****. it happened the great teams of the 70's and 80's, it just happens. today could have been one of those days, its just a bad day out, nothing worked, and but for a bad decision we would and probably would have won by a cricket score

 

or the second way

 

We cannot break down and always seem to struggle against teams who defend deep, it was that way last season, it is that way this. four 0-0 draws already this season from 8 games says all you need to know. against these teams we dont need players who will hound and harrass, we need players who will run at players, pass and move, players with pace who will get in behind, stretch the opposition. yet we start with Kuyt on the right and have Babel on the bench, we have Alonso again sitting on top of the back four, we take an age to get the ball forward so that by the time we do we are facing 11 defenders, and then we dont have the ability to break them down. And the more i see of him in a red shirt, the more i think we got mugged on Robbie Keane. £20mil quid, and he is no better as a second striker than Kuyt.

 

it feels like a defeat today, it really is annoying. we are far too predictable, everything about us is predictable, even as far as the first sub appearing on 65 minutes, thats how predictable we are.

[Jim D]

right

 

this can be looked at one of two ways

 

Every season, since the dawn of time, there have been games each season that we have drawn 0-0 at home with who are s****. it happened the great teams of the 70's and 80's, it just happens. today could have been one of those days, its just a bad day out, nothing worked, and but for a bad decision we would and probably would have won by a cricket score

 

or the second way

 

We cannot break down and always seem to struggle against teams who defend deep, it was that way last season, it is that way this. four 0-0 draws already this season from 8 games says all you need to know. against these teams we dont need players who will hound and harrass, we need players who will run at players, pass and move, players with pace who will get in behind, stretch the opposition. yet we start with Kuyt on the right and have Babel on the bench, we have Alonso again sitting on top of the back four, we take an age to get the ball forward so that by the time we do we are facing 11 defenders, and then we dont have the ability to break them down. And the more i see of him in a red shirt, the more i think we got mugged on Robbie Keane. £20mil quid, and he is no better as a second striker than Kuyt.

 

it feels like a defeat today, it really is annoying. we are far too predictable, everything about us is predictable, even as far as the first sub appearing on 65 minutes, thats how predictable we are.

 

Based on our performances this season and some of our results at Anfield last season I think we are looking at the second way here. We are very predictable in these types of situations and lack any sort of creativity/imagination to break teams down when they put eleven men behind the ball. I'd be more convinced of the first way if their goalkeeper made loads of great saves and we hit the woodwork a few times but despite dominating possession, Sorenson hardly had nothing to do.

[Guest GrandpaSimpson]

Four 0-0 draws from 8 games is staggering and not a coincidence.

[Bootle Buck]

Our forwards don't look like they have a goal between them right now. Torres and Keane are way off form and our shooting was atrociouis. How Rafa can watch every set peice fall aaprt and still allow the same time after time baffles me. Every one of our 73 corners were the same. It's bad enough aimless crossing into a box with 8 Giant Stoke Players but not even getting over the first man is infuriating. Why does Rafa contiously take notes and shake his head only to let the same things keep happening. For too long we have been relying on a bit of magic from Torres or Gerrard, today it never looked like happening.

Edited September 20, 2008 by Bootle Buck

[Barnesy_10]

I agree about Keane. I think we got done and the money could have been better spent elsewhere. I think the money could have gone on Barry and Babel could have been put into Keanes position, I can't see him doing any worse.

[Guest GrandpaSimpson]

Keane was brought in to unlock tight defences like today, but unfortunately his Liverpool career hasn't got going yet.

[Gunga Din]

Keane was brought in to unlock tight defences like today, but unfortunately his Liverpool career hasn't got going yet.

 

 

i'll nail my colours to the mast and say it wont ever get going. he isnt good enough

[Guest GrandpaSimpson]

i'll nail my colours to the mast and say it wont ever get going. he isnt good enough

 

 

I hate to say I told ye so, but I said that when we signed him.

[Bootle Buck]

I agree about Keane. I think we got done and the money could have been better spent elsewhere. I think the money could have gone on Barry and Babel could have been put into Keanes position, I can't see him doing any worse.

 

It seems a bit curse on new forwards signed at Anfield. The likes of Diouf, Cisse and Morientes and even Kuyt(as a goalscorer)never looked the same player as they did prior to signing. With the exception of Torres we seem to struggle finding their previous scoring boots. Maybe they are asked to play a different role or play out of their regular position too much, or maybe they were big fish in a small pond. Keane doesn't look the same player in a Liverpool shirt.

Edited September 20, 2008 by Bootle Buck

[Barnesy_10]

i'll nail my colours to the mast and say it wont ever get going. he isnt good enough

 

I think he will regret the move, as will Rafa.

Gerrard and Torres need to revive that partnership, and fast.

Edited September 20, 2008 by Barnesy_10

[Gunga Din]

I hate to say I told ye so, but I said that when we signed him.

 

 

you wont be telling me i told you so. i've been saying it since we were linked with him

[Bootle Buck]

You can also add Dosenna to the list of poor signings too. He has looked very average and no improvement over Riise.

[dorgie]

I'm with the second way. Playing Kuyt on the right at home to Stoke, and worse still, leaving him on for the whole game, is not was required, imo.

 

I think (or maybe hope), Keane will come good. He is struggling a.t.m, but the way the whole team are playing hardly helps.

 

5 games in, has a Liverpool player yet score within the first 70 mins or so of a league game ? That's rather sad tbh.

 

Oh, and our corners are still s***.

 

Depressing.

[usualsuspect]

Definitely second way. What started as a potential 100 goal party for our skipper slowly turned into an air of frustration. We repeated the same moves and regardless of which wing we attacked from you could sense any cross would be adequately dealt with followed by a long range shot. A long range shot over the bar/wide.

 

Sadly even the "but we are top of the league" choir will be silenced tonight as Ar$e take pole position. Our shortcomings could not be clearer... we are useless at set pieces and have shown no improvement in +2 seasons. You would hope even if all our other facets are stumbling we can consistently threaten from corners/free kicks etc. Amazing how many times we fail to beat the first defender on corners.. amazing!

 

Lets hope we sort it out quickly or that Manc conquest means nothing.

 

Also agree about Keane. A good player but with our static attacks we will never see the best of him.

Edited September 20, 2008 by usualsuspect

[Gunga Din]

You can also add Dosenna to the list of poor signings too. He has looked very average and no improvement over Riise.

 

 

he played very well today and linked up well with Riera. i reckon Dossena will be ok.

[dorgie]

We repeated the same moves and regardless of which wing we attacked from you could sense any cross would be adequately dealt with followed by a long range shot. A long range shot over the bar/wide.

 

Regardless of which wing we attacked from, the only player within 8 yards of the goal to receive the cross was Torres. What's the point of crossing the ball high when its 5 defenders against 1 attacker ?

Edited September 20, 2008 by dorgie

[alias75]

I think we just need to find the right players for this type of game as someone else said when teams park the bus its less about work rate and more about quality to make a killer pass or beat a man.

 

So for this type of game i do think we need to look at players like Babel and even Benayoun starting and we need to start pushing 4 / 5 players forward at all opportunities. I think someone like Mascherano should be used in these games, have him and the 2 centre backs defending and virtually everyone else pushing forward.

 

..................................................Reina.............................................

 

Arbeloa....................Carra......................Skrtel...................Dosenna

 

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Mascherano......................................

 

Babel........................................Gerrard................................Riera

 

...................................Keane.....................Torres.........................

 

 

Gerrard needs to forget about being a traditional central midfielder and do what he does best, which is get forward as much as possible. As for Keane i still think hes going to be a good player for us he just needs to get some confidence into his game and play a bit more with Torres.

[Hightown Phil]

If that's the only disappointing home draw, it's ok, they happen.

 

If it's one of 4 or 5, it's not ok.

[dorgie]

If that's the only disappointing home draw, it's ok, they happen.

 

If it's one of 4 or 5, it's not ok.

 

It's the home game that would have put a bit of pressure on the Mancs though. Had we gone 9 pts ahead of the Mancs, that's significant. But we sent out a message today that we haven't addressed the problems we've had over the past several seasons, and that's what really pains me tonight.

[Paul_LFC]

There is nothing wrong with Dossena, he did alright today and hasn't done anything wrong since he arrived. I think he'll turn into a great signing.

Edited September 20, 2008 by Paul_LFC

[usualsuspect]

If that's the only disappointing home draw, it's ok, they happen.

 

If it's one of 4 or 5, it's not ok.

I would agree if we had pounded their goal and failed to score. We didn't really create too many quality chances. We will easily see that again.

Edited September 20, 2008 by usualsuspect

[Gunga Din]

If that's the only disappointing home draw, it's ok, they happen.

 

If it's one of 4 or 5, it's not ok.

 

 

today was a huge game. As important as last weeks. we have just undone all the good work of last week. a win would have put us into a great position going across the park next week. Thats of course if we have real aspirations of winning the title. now we have to go there needing to win to stay in touch, rather than going there as leaders of the pack.

[MFletcher]

Stay in touch?

 

The season is five games old.

 

Let's get some perspective.

[Dan]

today was a huge game. As important as last weeks. we have just undone all the good work of last week. a win would have put us into a great position going across the park next week. Thats of course if we have real aspirations of winning the title. now we have to go there needing to win to stay in touch, rather than going there as leaders of the pack.

 

It wasn't. Last week was a 6 pointer.

[Guest Ant]

today was a huge game. As important as last weeks. we have just undone all the good work of last week. a win would have put us into a great position going across the park next week. Thats of course if we have real aspirations of winning the title. now we have to go there needing to win to stay in touch, rather than going there as leaders of the pack.

 

Exactly, whatever we achieved last week counts for f*** all now.

 

I said today was a must win game, and I'd take a win and a draw v Everton and Chelsea. Now we need to win both.