Liverpool FC Forum

by **azriahmad** » Sun Feb 08, 2004 6:34 am

The Bolton game perfectly illustrates what Liverpool has become. Good game, no doubt but what happened to the defence? We had a good defense in 2001-2002 but played very tight and rigidly with very much discipline. That's why we were able to grind results, mostly winning by the odd goal or two. However, there is very little creative spark to create a difference in tight games.
Now, Liverpool is very much the same but has been playing a bit more of an attacking game but somehow had lost that defensive strength. We keep struggling against mobile teams like Valencia and now, against well-organised teams. There is no creativity and too much burden is placed on the likes of Owen, Kewell and Gerrard. At least Le Tellec and Sinama-Pongolle is showing some primise as they are young and quite carefree. I worry that they will develop into typical Houllier-esque players - more solid than excellent and will lose that extra creativity and become very risk-averse with very rigid playing style.
Like this, we wll never mount a serious challenge on the league championship, what more deram of becoming top dogs both at home and in Europe.

by **Owzat** » Sun Feb 08, 2004 10:09 am

The Hunt goal was a farce, how the hell did that get through?!?!?!?!?! There is just a air of slackness about the whole team, an inability to defend tightly and be clinical in front of goal. I just wonder if the team spirit is no longer there

by **big al** » Sun Feb 08, 2004 3:35 pm

Since the season begun we have all been able to say that in most games weve been the best playing team. I would agree with this, any games I watched we have out- played other sides.
However if I'd asked you at the begining of the season what your expectations were I bet not one of you would have said 4th place. Yet as the season has progressed and we've became mediocre to say the least, your ambitions have slipped and you'd be happy with 4th. I don't care if we play like Brasil unless we win matches could've win, should've win, might've win and would've win mean nothing. If is a word that helps us all assess and learn but how many times have you said that after matches this year. If I had a penny for everytime you or me said that, I could buy Liverpool and give Houllier a ticket to France one way.

Stu- I have never like Houllier anyone who can sneak into a club the back door and has'nt the balls to be up front is not a good manager. He should have told Moores and Parry that he was coming in the front door or not at all. He proved me wrong on many things two seasons ago but ultimately he will be leaveing Liverpool this year and someone who's more upright will hopefully take over.

by **JBG** » Mon Feb 09, 2004 2:17 pm

stu_the_red wrote:Expectations are to finish in the CL places... that is not poor... its realistic. Next season with the right additions i will expect a SERIOUS CHALLENGE... nothing less will be acceptable. Its not easy to get up there into that bunch but we aren't far away. If it was easy we'd all be doing it, but as long as i continue to see my club moving in the right direction in terms of players and tactical play then i will continue to back the manager.

Stu, thats what most of us here said last year.

Also, we are about 17 points away from Chelsea, and 21 from Arsenal, so you are wrong to say "we aren't far away". We can give the top three a good game, indeed on our day we are capable of beating them. However, to win a championship you need to win at least 80% in the games against the middling to poor Premiership sides, and we are not capable of doing that. The top three do not draw 3 in a row against Bolton, Everton and Wolves.

by **Owzat** » Mon Feb 09, 2004 8:42 pm

Results by current league position of opponents

Top three - P4 W1 D0 L3

Top half - P12 W5 D3 L4
Bottom half - P12 W4 D5 L3

Bottom three - P3 W2 D1 L0

So we're unbeaten against the bottom three, though it should be 100%, poor record against the top three which is just about excusable, but it is our form against mid-table opposition which is poor

Form against teams not in top three or bottom three - P17 W6 D7 L4

That is where the problem lies, beating the mid-table mediocrity. Only ONE of our eight draws has come against top three or bottom three sides, FIVE draws against sides in the bottom half

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