Just back from the match....

[David Hodgson]

.....tell me they've credited that goal to Suarez !

[madaboutlfc]

they have

[Epic Swindle]

Birtles reckons it was an own goal. Think they'll take it off him. I was dying for him to score another.

[Cheesecake]

shot was on target, defender deflected it onto the post, went in - key bit being that the shot was on target

 

Goal for Luis!

meanwhile Benzema heads over from2 yards with the goal open. Sign him up Fergisc***

Edited February 2, 2011 by DPD1973

[David Hodgson]

  On 02/02/2011 at 23:26, Epic Swindle said:

Birtles reckons it was an own goal. Think they'll take it off him. I was dying for him to score another.

 

It looked an own goal to me. Praying it wasn't though.

[Bootle Buck]

Thought we did well considering the new system. Great start for Suarez and well in Kuyt for playing the way a CF should do. Fernando Who?

[Sion]

Taking it off him would make no sense.

It was on target, the stoke player won't want it on his record

 

So the premier league will probably do it.

[David Hodgson]

Hated the new formation until we scored. Against two banks of four it simply couldn't work. The wide men were always isolated. It reminded me of the frustrations of the Evans era. Once in front, fine, because it's a great system to counter with, and a good one away from home. Don't want to see it from the outset at home again. Bold move but let's learn the lesson.

[Cobs]

  On 02/02/2011 at 23:34, David Hodgson said:

. Bold move but let's learn the lesson.

 

 

yeah Kenny, FFS !

[carrafan]

We can never look toothless with Suarez upfront.

 

 

See what i did there?

[Falconhoof]

  On 02/02/2011 at 23:34, David Hodgson said:

Hated the new formation until we scored. Against two banks of four it simply couldn't work. The wide men were always isolated. It reminded me of the frustrations of the Evans era. Once in front, fine, because it's a great system to counter with, and a good one away from home. Don't want to see it from the outset at home again. Bold move but let's learn the lesson.

 

I liked it against Stoke. We wore them down.

 

Same again at the Bridge on Sunday ?

[Epic Swindle]

  On 02/02/2011 at 23:34, David Hodgson said:

Hated the new formation until we scored. Against two banks of four it simply couldn't work. The wide men were always isolated. It reminded me of the frustrations of the Evans era. Once in front, fine, because it's a great system to counter with, and a good one away from home. Don't want to see it from the outset at home again. Bold move but let's learn the lesson.

 

Agreed. I think we helped them first half by not moving the ball quick enough, but I thought we grew into it as the game wore on, especially when Suarez gave us a new dimension in attack..

 

Not sure why Kenny doesn't trust Merieles a bit deeper but he seems intent on playing him further forward, though I thought he and Gerrard interchanged well.

[Cheesecake]

Meireles is on fire at the moment - 3 goals in 4 games, given that I'm all for KK playing him that far forward

[Gunga Din]

thought we got out of the blocks slowly, first half hour we were poor, then we started passing better. the one thing that seems very noticeable after a few games with Kenny in the hut, is how much more we value possession. if we have the ball in their half, rather than an aimless punt or pass someone into trouble, we go back and start again if there is nothing on. it can be frustrating if its 0-0 and we havent created much, but eventually it wares teams down. i thought after the first half hour we played very well, had we won 6-0 stoke would have had no complaints. and its worth remembering, stoke battered us a few months ago at their place.

[Mike]

  On 02/02/2011 at 23:34, David Hodgson said:

Hated the new formation until we scored. Against two banks of four it simply couldn't work. The wide men were always isolated. It reminded me of the frustrations of the Evans era. Once in front, fine, because it's a great system to counter with, and a good one away from home. Don't want to see it from the outset at home again. Bold move but let's learn the lesson.

 

it took roughly 30 minutes to settle. for the 15 minutes up to half time we battered them.

[downunder]

  On 03/02/2011 at 01:02, Gunga Din said:

thought we got out of the blocks slowly, first half hour we were poor, then we started passing better. the one thing that seems very noticeable after a few games with Kenny in the hut, is how much more we value possession. if we have the ball in their half, rather than an aimless punt or pass someone into trouble, we go back and start again if there is nothing on. it can be frustrating if its 0-0 and we havent created much, but eventually it wares teams down. i thought after the first half hour we played very well, had we won 6-0 stoke would have had no complaints. and its worth remembering, stoke battered us a few months ago at their place.

 

Wayne i think your last point shows how much Kenny has changed us. Stoke will have started the game thinking they can do us again, but they didn't get a sniff.

 

I don't really like the formation, but it shows having possession, simple pass and move and not constant long balls will get results.

[johngibo YPC]

  On 03/02/2011 at 01:05, Mike said:

it took roughly 30 minutes to settle. for the 15 minutes up to half time we battered them.

 

Indeed. the formation worked fine once we got our passing going, and abandoned the balls up to Kuyt to hold up

It will work even better with a proper strike force

[theredfella]

  On 03/02/2011 at 01:02, Gunga Din said:

thought we got out of the blocks slowly, first half hour we were poor, then we started passing better. the one thing that seems very noticeable after a few games with Kenny in the hut, is how much more we value possession. if we have the ball in their half, rather than an aimless punt or pass someone into trouble, we go back and start again if there is nothing on. it can be frustrating if its 0-0 and we havent created much, but eventually it wares teams down. i thought after the first half hour we played very well, had we won 6-0 stoke would have had no complaints. and its worth remembering, stoke battered us a few months ago at their place.

 

Spot on. The speed of the passing was slack intially and whilst we finished the first half a lot better than we started it, the timing of the first goal was crucial as it allowed us to get into stride early in the second half.

 

Definitely more of a buzz about the place than in recent fixtures.

[abc]

  On 02/02/2011 at 23:34, David Hodgson said:

Hated the new formation until we scored. Against two banks of four it simply couldn't work. The wide men were always isolated. It reminded me of the frustrations of the Evans era. Once in front, fine, because it's a great system to counter with, and a good one away from home. Don't want to see it from the outset at home again. Bold move but let's learn the lesson.

 

I loved it. We controlled midfield, passed it about.

 

The only problem we had was a lack of backup out wide, and sometimes nobody to play it out wide to.

 

Kelly at times was seen ahead of play around the edge of the box lined up like a forward. Johnson was in the 6 yard box to head Kelly's cross.

 

Agger had license to roam forward and won the free kick that led to the opener.

 

Thought it was excellent.

[badtodabone]

i wasnt at the match (working but watched it on t'internet) so i bow to the judgement of anyone who was there , but i seems to me that our whole movement off the ball is far better than its been for a long long time ,everybody seems to be looking for the ball as opposed to trying to get rid.

[Epic Swindle]

  On 03/02/2011 at 01:56, badtodabone said:

i wasnt at the match (working but watched it on t'internet) so i bow to the judgement of anyone who was there , but i seems to me that our whole movement off the ball is far better than its been for a long long time ,everybody seems to be looking for the ball as opposed to trying to get rid.

 

It is. I always felt under Rafa and then Roy that shape was more important to them than movement. We're taking more risks now.

[JRC]

  On 03/02/2011 at 01:02, Gunga Din said:

thought we got out of the blocks slowly, first half hour we were poor, then we started passing better. the one thing that seems very noticeable after a few games with Kenny in the hut, is how much more we value possession. if we have the ball in their half, rather than an aimless punt or pass someone into trouble, we go back and start again if there is nothing on. it can be frustrating if its 0-0 and we havent created much, but eventually it wares teams down. i thought after the first half hour we played very well, had we won 6-0 stoke would have had no complaints. and its worth remembering, stoke battered us a few months ago at their place.

Absolutely. Blerts in the Moan Stand were complaining bitterly when we didn't just lump it in but went back to start again as you say, but it was all about patience and valuing possession, which unquestionably was 'The Liverpool Way'. We struggled with the formation at first, and passing was not quite up to the movement at times, but from 35 minutes in we looked lively and creative.

[David Hodgson]

  On 02/02/2011 at 23:36, Cobs said:

 

yeah Kenny, FFS !

 

I was pleased he tried that formation, but Stoke made it difficult to make it work. Our wide men, the wing backs, barely touched the ball for 35 minutes. Also, for the first time under Kenny we weren't getting men in the box as quickly. Our possession was total but we couldnt penetrate. Too often the system looked a congested 3-6-1, rather than the adventurous 3-4-2-1 that we initially set up as.

 

Tbf we did get to grips with it in the end, and it made more sense when Stoke had to come out after conceding, and it looked better still with two proper front men, when Suarez came on. I'd like to see us try this system away more, as I can see it being one for keeping the ball better with, and well set up for the counter attack.

[Toni]

Good game from us...loving our football and mentality of the players

 

sadly from thr bief cameo i v seen from suarez he would have been the perfect foil for torres.

 

on the plus side he looks quality.

[Earl Hafler]

  On 03/02/2011 at 08:02, David Hodgson said:

I was pleased he tried that formation, but Stoke made it difficult to make it work. Our wide men, the wing backs, barely touched the ball for 35 minutes. Also, for the first time under Kenny we weren't getting men in the box as quickly. Our possession was total but we couldnt penetrate. Too often the system looked a congested 3-6-1, rather than the adventurous 3-4-2-1 that we initially set up as.

 

Tbf we did get to grips with it in the end, and it made more sense when Stoke had to come out after conceding, and it looked better still with two proper front men, when Suarez came on. I'd like to see us try this system away more, as I can see it being one for keeping the ball better with, and well set up for the counter attack.

 

The first time the players have been asked to play that system and they grew with confidence as the game progressed. Early on, what was lacking was running from midfield and players committing themselves into the area. Towards the end of the first half they were doing this.

Stoke are a well organised, physical side and we were comfortable victors.

 

I think it's interesting because against Chelsea, that could really work. The system allowed Gerrard and Agger to do what they do best.

 

 

Can't believe how much more i'm enjoying the games at present. The confidence shown in Kelly can only be good for everyone and he, like the rest of the side, must be buzzing.