So I'm about to be very harsh but I think it is the truth.
I am normally the one who says if they pull on a Liverpool Shirt we must just get behind them, but tonight against Arsenal we showed how weak we are.
How many times must Babel miss a tap in till he gets a right kick in the pants or better yet sold. In all honestly tonight is not the first or second time that Babel has missed a tap in because he went with the wrong foot. someone should tell him it is legal to use your left foot. I don't know if this has tried to be corrected in training or not but he is not worth a place in this squad. I for one would much rather have someone like Pacheco or Nemeth in the squad, lets be honest they could not have have done any worse. They also have the right attitude and a game like this would have helped their development, while Babel does not seem to have the capacity to learn or grow. Nor does Babel seem to have the desire to try and I'm fed up.
Plessis celebrates a contract extension by not have any positional sense or discipline what so ever and really made Spearing work harder than he should have against a very good young team. He did not tackle well and seemed to have know idea what to do when going forward. Now I'm just trying to work out why he got an extension? It is beyond me right now!
Spearing would have had a much greater and positive influence on the game if Plessis could play football.
Degen seems to just run straight and then what?He is not good enough to play on a game console never mind a real field. He did not cover his position and on more than one occasion Kuyt had to move to right back because
degen was missing. I think what made me mad about his performance tonight was the fact the he could not make a simple back pass and just played into touch. What the hell kind of player is that. Kelly at 19? id already twice the player Degen is and I'm sure that must make him feel like sh!t and so it should. Degen is not needed in this squad when we have Kelly and Darby who can both play right back better than him.
Voronin did allot of running tonight, it is just a pity he could not play football. He showed no real awareness through the game. He was also at fault for the goal, he really needs to learn to clear a ball or maybe it is just that he can not pass more than one foot from himself. I like the one dummy he played as well, it was just a pity he dummy-ed himself!
Cavalieri looked for the first time that I can recall, dodgy. The less said about his performance the better.
N'gog has allot of potential and did well, but we were carrying to many players tonight which meant there was no one who could help support him.
What a goal from Insua. I hope this give him some confidence to take a few more shots.His technique was fantastic, to get that dip, a real class goal.
We were well out played tonight by a very good arsenal team. Take nothing away from them, they should have won by more.
Our problem was that we carried to many players and we had to many players trying to play for two and this did not let us play our game. I think we need a major change to the squad as soon as possible. I know that is not easy with the budget that we have to work with and i'm not saying that we need world class players, but we do need a few consistent players who can carry their own weight against a young inexperienced team like tonight. That would not be to hard to change, at least I don't think so.
A special welcome to Aquilani for a debut. While short you could see the reason he was bought. Having not played for nearly 7 months you can expect him to be a bit rusty, but still had some great touches. I believe he will be a fantastic player for us this season.
Lets hope our first team stay fit and we should really have good go at the league this year.
Till I calm down......
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
WOW, what a performance!
So I was worried about the game yesterday, but what a performance and what a response by the players, to give a fantastic performance full of pride and passion. Each and every player who played if for a minute or the whole game played with passion and pride and did the club and fans proud.
So I wanted to break it down a bit, lets take a look:
Pepe, had a great game. A good save from a Rooney header, but it was not a great header, but still a good save. He was a bit weak on some of the corners, he does not seem to command the box like you think he might be able to, but that is being very critical of him. So a solid performance from him, but there was not to much to worry him in truth.
Our defence looked more like last season. They were all very solid and didn't allow them to get anything. What I did notice about the defence was that they tried and did tackle very early. They did not allow any of the United players to take the ball on a first touch without being challenged for the ball.
Johnson proved all his critics wrong with a fantastic defensive game. He had to keep quite United's best player in my opinion in Ryan Giggs and he did keep him quiet. He also had to deal with a very attacking Evra. Beanayoum did his fair share as well to help Jonson but that is also his job to help out with the defence. While he was not as adventurous as he has been in other games he was available to help in attack but his main duty in this game was to defend and he did that very well.
Carragher was but to his Istanbul best. He did not loose anything. He tackled cleanly and quickly and for his life would not let anything pass him. Back to his best or better than the best he has ever played. What a leader in the absence of our regular captain and truly led by example.
Agger for me is our best defender to partner Carra. He is very calm under pressure and he reads the game as good as anyone in the game today. Very assured on the ball as well which will allow us to build from the back. He will be a key part of any success that this club will have over the next few or many years. He tackled very well and his covering and positioning was excellent.
Insua, while still young I think had a good game. Along with Aurelio in defence they kept Valencia very quite and I can only think of two crosses that came in the whole game from the right. He did well for a young lad in such a big game and has a very bright future and I hope he will stay with this club for many years to come. Like the other full back he did not get to advanced into the oppositions half, but still managed to contribute at times going forward.
Our midfield was great in this game as well. They controlled everything and did not allow two of the best center midfield player to string together many passes. They also were creative going forward and not many teams will create that many chances against a good United team, so they deserve allot of credit for that.
Kuyt as always ran allot had some good moments and not so good moments but he is ever reliable ans you always know that you are going to get a solid performance from him. Perhaps if he had controlled Lucas pass a bit better it could have led to a goal scoring chance.
Benayoun was very good, he had a fantastic game. Always a threat and always creating something. If only he would have shot a couple of time in the game he might have had a goal or two. He also did his fair share of defensive work and did it very well. a constant threat and always looking like he was going to destroy that defence. He had a good shout for man of the match as well. And it has to be said that pass for Torres was absolute class, what a player he has become for this club.
Aurelio was absolute class, nothing else. He was everywhere and controlled the left side of the field. He help Insua in defence and in attack he very nearly scored with his head. He has fantastic control with his feet and is very good technically on the ball. He has a great delivery both from open play and from a set piece. Hid combination with Insua could be fantastic especially against smaller teams who park the bus. He also has to in with a shout fo man of the match with that kind of performance. Pure class!
Mascherano was his usual fantastic destructive self. He broke down the play very well and with Lucas controlled the midfield. He was superb in covering the full back and defending. He was also good going forward some nice neat passing. I just with he would either learn to shoot or just not shoot but he has only hit the target once that I can recall. But a solid display form him and With his foot that high off the ground I don't think he could complain that much about his sending off.
Lucas finally showed the reason why we bought him. He had a very very good game. He passed forward very well and made some very good and intelligent runs forward and had a good opportunity to shoot, but it went wide. If he can get into those positions a bit more and get a few goals, it would really create another threat in our team for the opposition to worry about. Hid defending was great as well. He made some very good tackles and his positioning was good. The only defensive criticism I have of Lucas is that he give away to many free kick close to edge of our box. Considering how bad we have been this season at defending set plays, it could cost us big time. But his display aside from that was excellent. Now I hope he can push on and perform like that on a consistent basis and he will improve and we will have on hell of a player.
Torres was not fully fit as we only found out after the game, but by his display you would not have known that. He took his goal very well. He showed again that he is the best out and out striker in the world. He showed he has pace, power, good positioning and can finish incredibly well. When he runs at defenders they must be so scared to actually try tackle him. It give me such joy to watch him run at them.
Skrtel had very little to do at the end, but help defend at a time when we needed him and did a solid job for the time that he was on the field.
N'Gog looks such a good prospect to me. He could and should have a very productive future at this club. He can hold the ball up well, has good strength and showed he can finish. With a bit more experience and learning I believe he will become a very good striker.
A very special mention tio the entire team and staff for getting our defending at set pieces right. Evrytime they had a free kick or corner I got worried but we handled it very well. A tribute to the team a s a whole.
Well done to the whole team and all the staff. I just hope the they will be allowed to play like that more often. Pressing high up the field like that really didn't allow them to settle at all which set the tone for the rest of the game as they never really come to terms with it. At the end of the game we were not pressing as high and they started to come into the game a bit more. I just hope Benitez can see this and allow us to press higher up the pitch in our other games as well......
Well done let carry this spirit and good play forward throughout the season.
So I wanted to break it down a bit, lets take a look:
Pepe, had a great game. A good save from a Rooney header, but it was not a great header, but still a good save. He was a bit weak on some of the corners, he does not seem to command the box like you think he might be able to, but that is being very critical of him. So a solid performance from him, but there was not to much to worry him in truth.
Our defence looked more like last season. They were all very solid and didn't allow them to get anything. What I did notice about the defence was that they tried and did tackle very early. They did not allow any of the United players to take the ball on a first touch without being challenged for the ball.
Johnson proved all his critics wrong with a fantastic defensive game. He had to keep quite United's best player in my opinion in Ryan Giggs and he did keep him quiet. He also had to deal with a very attacking Evra. Beanayoum did his fair share as well to help Jonson but that is also his job to help out with the defence. While he was not as adventurous as he has been in other games he was available to help in attack but his main duty in this game was to defend and he did that very well.
Carragher was but to his Istanbul best. He did not loose anything. He tackled cleanly and quickly and for his life would not let anything pass him. Back to his best or better than the best he has ever played. What a leader in the absence of our regular captain and truly led by example.
Agger for me is our best defender to partner Carra. He is very calm under pressure and he reads the game as good as anyone in the game today. Very assured on the ball as well which will allow us to build from the back. He will be a key part of any success that this club will have over the next few or many years. He tackled very well and his covering and positioning was excellent.
Insua, while still young I think had a good game. Along with Aurelio in defence they kept Valencia very quite and I can only think of two crosses that came in the whole game from the right. He did well for a young lad in such a big game and has a very bright future and I hope he will stay with this club for many years to come. Like the other full back he did not get to advanced into the oppositions half, but still managed to contribute at times going forward.
Our midfield was great in this game as well. They controlled everything and did not allow two of the best center midfield player to string together many passes. They also were creative going forward and not many teams will create that many chances against a good United team, so they deserve allot of credit for that.
Kuyt as always ran allot had some good moments and not so good moments but he is ever reliable ans you always know that you are going to get a solid performance from him. Perhaps if he had controlled Lucas pass a bit better it could have led to a goal scoring chance.
Benayoun was very good, he had a fantastic game. Always a threat and always creating something. If only he would have shot a couple of time in the game he might have had a goal or two. He also did his fair share of defensive work and did it very well. a constant threat and always looking like he was going to destroy that defence. He had a good shout for man of the match as well. And it has to be said that pass for Torres was absolute class, what a player he has become for this club.
Aurelio was absolute class, nothing else. He was everywhere and controlled the left side of the field. He help Insua in defence and in attack he very nearly scored with his head. He has fantastic control with his feet and is very good technically on the ball. He has a great delivery both from open play and from a set piece. Hid combination with Insua could be fantastic especially against smaller teams who park the bus. He also has to in with a shout fo man of the match with that kind of performance. Pure class!
Mascherano was his usual fantastic destructive self. He broke down the play very well and with Lucas controlled the midfield. He was superb in covering the full back and defending. He was also good going forward some nice neat passing. I just with he would either learn to shoot or just not shoot but he has only hit the target once that I can recall. But a solid display form him and With his foot that high off the ground I don't think he could complain that much about his sending off.
Lucas finally showed the reason why we bought him. He had a very very good game. He passed forward very well and made some very good and intelligent runs forward and had a good opportunity to shoot, but it went wide. If he can get into those positions a bit more and get a few goals, it would really create another threat in our team for the opposition to worry about. Hid defending was great as well. He made some very good tackles and his positioning was good. The only defensive criticism I have of Lucas is that he give away to many free kick close to edge of our box. Considering how bad we have been this season at defending set plays, it could cost us big time. But his display aside from that was excellent. Now I hope he can push on and perform like that on a consistent basis and he will improve and we will have on hell of a player.
Torres was not fully fit as we only found out after the game, but by his display you would not have known that. He took his goal very well. He showed again that he is the best out and out striker in the world. He showed he has pace, power, good positioning and can finish incredibly well. When he runs at defenders they must be so scared to actually try tackle him. It give me such joy to watch him run at them.
Skrtel had very little to do at the end, but help defend at a time when we needed him and did a solid job for the time that he was on the field.
N'Gog looks such a good prospect to me. He could and should have a very productive future at this club. He can hold the ball up well, has good strength and showed he can finish. With a bit more experience and learning I believe he will become a very good striker.
A very special mention tio the entire team and staff for getting our defending at set pieces right. Evrytime they had a free kick or corner I got worried but we handled it very well. A tribute to the team a s a whole.
Well done to the whole team and all the staff. I just hope the they will be allowed to play like that more often. Pressing high up the field like that really didn't allow them to settle at all which set the tone for the rest of the game as they never really come to terms with it. At the end of the game we were not pressing as high and they started to come into the game a bit more. I just hope Benitez can see this and allow us to press higher up the pitch in our other games as well......
Well done let carry this spirit and good play forward throughout the season.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Liverpool FC vs Man U.
So a preview to the biggest game of the season so far and I'm worried!
Normally I'm very optimistic no matter how bad the situation seems, but now I have no clue.....
Normally I can always find good reason to believe we have a chance even if it is only a small chance. Now we don't know if we will have Gerrard, Torres or Johnson available, all three face a late fitness test.
Personally I think all three will play a part in the match, with Gerrard possibly to come from the bench like he did last year and the other two to start the match.
The reason I am not as optimistic as I usually am is not because of the players who are playing or those who might miss out. It is rather because we have been playing like absolute rubbish! The player seem to be unmotivated and uninterested in winning the games we play. I don't know if it from Benitez that the players don't have any real movement around the pitch or if is that just don't move, but I believe that when Aquilani plays we will See much more movement, which will no doubt help us allot.
But the game on Sunday could go either way, with Rooney looking like he will miss the game as well and Fletcher is also a doubt.
What will be interesting is to see the reaction of the crowed when Owen returns home. I'm sure there will be no love lost and once the game starts I hope the crowed get on back big time.
Should we win this game in style or by fluke it could be the catalyst for a change in our season. It would put us only four points behind Unt. and with many games still to come after this one we will have plenty opportunity to turn this season into a success. We just need to sort out all the other things that are going on behind the sense, what they are I don't know, but I'm sure that something else is going on. Maybe a win would help sort that out.
Should we loose this game, well then all hell could break loose. Even if we out play them and they steal it (it would not be the first time either), it might be the end of our season. We would be 10 points of a Unt. team going great guns and with many other teams pushing on from last season it would be much harder for us to come back. That is not taking into account the other mental and ever mentioned confidence problems that would arise.
So that makes this a must win game, not only for this season but also for next. If we fail to get a top four finish at least, we will fall into a free fall. It would be harder to get top players to come when they could join a champions league team, but also the money that we would miss out on to [pay back the debt!That alone could kill us. We are not beyond what has happened to Leeds and you would be fool to think we were.
So always stand by the team no matter what.
I have to predict, I always do. Liverpool 2 - United 1
Lets hope...
Normally I'm very optimistic no matter how bad the situation seems, but now I have no clue.....
Normally I can always find good reason to believe we have a chance even if it is only a small chance. Now we don't know if we will have Gerrard, Torres or Johnson available, all three face a late fitness test.
Personally I think all three will play a part in the match, with Gerrard possibly to come from the bench like he did last year and the other two to start the match.
The reason I am not as optimistic as I usually am is not because of the players who are playing or those who might miss out. It is rather because we have been playing like absolute rubbish! The player seem to be unmotivated and uninterested in winning the games we play. I don't know if it from Benitez that the players don't have any real movement around the pitch or if is that just don't move, but I believe that when Aquilani plays we will See much more movement, which will no doubt help us allot.
But the game on Sunday could go either way, with Rooney looking like he will miss the game as well and Fletcher is also a doubt.
What will be interesting is to see the reaction of the crowed when Owen returns home. I'm sure there will be no love lost and once the game starts I hope the crowed get on back big time.
Should we win this game in style or by fluke it could be the catalyst for a change in our season. It would put us only four points behind Unt. and with many games still to come after this one we will have plenty opportunity to turn this season into a success. We just need to sort out all the other things that are going on behind the sense, what they are I don't know, but I'm sure that something else is going on. Maybe a win would help sort that out.
Should we loose this game, well then all hell could break loose. Even if we out play them and they steal it (it would not be the first time either), it might be the end of our season. We would be 10 points of a Unt. team going great guns and with many other teams pushing on from last season it would be much harder for us to come back. That is not taking into account the other mental and ever mentioned confidence problems that would arise.
So that makes this a must win game, not only for this season but also for next. If we fail to get a top four finish at least, we will fall into a free fall. It would be harder to get top players to come when they could join a champions league team, but also the money that we would miss out on to [pay back the debt!That alone could kill us. We are not beyond what has happened to Leeds and you would be fool to think we were.
So always stand by the team no matter what.
I have to predict, I always do. Liverpool 2 - United 1
Lets hope...
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Four losses, so now what?
Ok so Liverpool have lost four games in a row in all competitions for the first time in the last 22 years. Looking at the outside it might not seem all that bad.
Last season we were worse off in terms of points in the Champions League. In the Premier League we are only 7 points behind United, which was the same difference after we beat them at old trafford last season. Then we closed the gap to just 4 points, now we have allot more time to close that gap. So it might not be all doom and gloom?
My problem as a fan is that it is not just the losses that is the problem, it is the way we have been loosing and the way the players are playing and behaving. So if we had the same loses, but played well and just didn't finish or hit the wood work a few time you might not be to down about this situation. My problem is that we are playing terribly and don't look like we are getting much better.
Now if we take into account the changes to our squad from last season, there is not that much. Arbeloa out Johnson in, I think most LFC fans would be happy with that. Alonso out and Aquilani in, this is the unknown factor. Alonso was unreal last season so to him would not help our fluency at all. I almost feel sorry for Rafa over this transfer because he was criticised so much for playing to holding midfield players and changes a holding midfielder for a more mobile attacking one. Having only seen Aquilani play in a few games, you can see he is very mobile like to have the ball and a good passer of the ball, for me he is one of the best at this around at the moment. But he is injured, so we will have to see if he will fit in and how long it will take for him to get used to a new league. I don't think he will have many problems nor do others as he did not want to risk missing the world cup by coming and asked his national coach before the switch.
So until Aquilani is fit we play Lucas in the middle. This is the big debate in which most fans will tell you he is not good enough. I was very excited when i heard he was coming as he came with a big reputation and did very well in Brazil. Having watched some Brazilian soccer you can see why he did do so well, it is much slower than the English game. You can control the ball before you have to make the next past, but now he has to pass the ball as he receives it most times and is not able to be as effective. I think he allot of talent, but i splaying in the wrong League. I think of he went top Italy he would become a star and maybe he should have gone there before coming to England. He has talent and ability, you just need to look at the pass against Newcastle for Gerrard to score, it was perfect and what a great pass. The problem is there is not enough of it!
Our defence has been shocking this season. There is not much you can say when the defender comes out and says they are not playing well. Our midfield has not good this season, including Gerrard and Mascherano, two of our top players last season. Torres has been ok, even when he was scoring I thought he is not on top of his game. I mean he only needs a few moment in a game to be brilliant and he has done his job and changed the game for us. But he has also looked very frustrated at time during games this season.
Now at the end of last season every Liverpool Fan said that they would take a few more defeats to get rid of the draws?But again it is not just that we lost but how we lost and the attitude of the players. This season will be more open than last, we are already seeing that. So if you look at the number i the points section and looking at how many games we have left, it might not look that bad.
I think it is worse, I hope for all the money in the world i am wrong but i think that there are deeper issues in this squad than just one or two player off form. I think all the players are off form, the question is just why?
For me it could be a few things, but if you look at all sport when things like this happen it is normally a change in coach or manager that is needed. I'm not sure If Benitez is the issue or not but there is a big issue in that squad if you ask me. Allot of injuries and most players are not playing as well as they can, not to be a super hero every game but they are not playing to the standard of football they normally play on a consistent basis. Normally there is in house fighting or a loss of respect for the coach or manager. I hope Benitez can stop the rut, I Hope we can get a few victories under our belt i a row, I hope he can sort out the problem what ever it may be, but at least I hope.....
No matter who or what the Manager and players Liverpool FC should Never Walk Alone. that is the Liverpool way!
Last season we were worse off in terms of points in the Champions League. In the Premier League we are only 7 points behind United, which was the same difference after we beat them at old trafford last season. Then we closed the gap to just 4 points, now we have allot more time to close that gap. So it might not be all doom and gloom?
My problem as a fan is that it is not just the losses that is the problem, it is the way we have been loosing and the way the players are playing and behaving. So if we had the same loses, but played well and just didn't finish or hit the wood work a few time you might not be to down about this situation. My problem is that we are playing terribly and don't look like we are getting much better.
Now if we take into account the changes to our squad from last season, there is not that much. Arbeloa out Johnson in, I think most LFC fans would be happy with that. Alonso out and Aquilani in, this is the unknown factor. Alonso was unreal last season so to him would not help our fluency at all. I almost feel sorry for Rafa over this transfer because he was criticised so much for playing to holding midfield players and changes a holding midfielder for a more mobile attacking one. Having only seen Aquilani play in a few games, you can see he is very mobile like to have the ball and a good passer of the ball, for me he is one of the best at this around at the moment. But he is injured, so we will have to see if he will fit in and how long it will take for him to get used to a new league. I don't think he will have many problems nor do others as he did not want to risk missing the world cup by coming and asked his national coach before the switch.
So until Aquilani is fit we play Lucas in the middle. This is the big debate in which most fans will tell you he is not good enough. I was very excited when i heard he was coming as he came with a big reputation and did very well in Brazil. Having watched some Brazilian soccer you can see why he did do so well, it is much slower than the English game. You can control the ball before you have to make the next past, but now he has to pass the ball as he receives it most times and is not able to be as effective. I think he allot of talent, but i splaying in the wrong League. I think of he went top Italy he would become a star and maybe he should have gone there before coming to England. He has talent and ability, you just need to look at the pass against Newcastle for Gerrard to score, it was perfect and what a great pass. The problem is there is not enough of it!
Our defence has been shocking this season. There is not much you can say when the defender comes out and says they are not playing well. Our midfield has not good this season, including Gerrard and Mascherano, two of our top players last season. Torres has been ok, even when he was scoring I thought he is not on top of his game. I mean he only needs a few moment in a game to be brilliant and he has done his job and changed the game for us. But he has also looked very frustrated at time during games this season.
Now at the end of last season every Liverpool Fan said that they would take a few more defeats to get rid of the draws?But again it is not just that we lost but how we lost and the attitude of the players. This season will be more open than last, we are already seeing that. So if you look at the number i the points section and looking at how many games we have left, it might not look that bad.
I think it is worse, I hope for all the money in the world i am wrong but i think that there are deeper issues in this squad than just one or two player off form. I think all the players are off form, the question is just why?
For me it could be a few things, but if you look at all sport when things like this happen it is normally a change in coach or manager that is needed. I'm not sure If Benitez is the issue or not but there is a big issue in that squad if you ask me. Allot of injuries and most players are not playing as well as they can, not to be a super hero every game but they are not playing to the standard of football they normally play on a consistent basis. Normally there is in house fighting or a loss of respect for the coach or manager. I hope Benitez can stop the rut, I Hope we can get a few victories under our belt i a row, I hope he can sort out the problem what ever it may be, but at least I hope.....
No matter who or what the Manager and players Liverpool FC should Never Walk Alone. that is the Liverpool way!
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