Liverpool FC Forum

by **LFC_TILL_I_DIE** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 5:20 am

My first post..hey all well I moved to Ireland and missed the Man U game how gutted am I. But watching us play tonight we looked lke a team who can really go for it this year. We all love the champs league but I reckon the real test is gonna be Athletico. I'm going to bet than Torres hits at least one in against them...maybe a 2 or 3 v 1 victory. Anyone help me make that bet stronger would appreciate any news?

by **bigmick** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 5:38 am

maguskwt wrote:no comments on the 'styling' mick? ... i thought rafa did a bit of 'styling' here...

I did actually comment on the team selection Magus. Unfortunately I only got up at half time of the match so wasn't able to get involved pre-game. By that stage of course we were winning but I resisted the temptation to say I actually agreed with all the changes since we were on top *. The reality was of course I was going to winge *, but perhaps not as much as you think. I've quoted my post here, it's on page 10 of this thread should you wish to check back and keep me honest *.

Couple of points. Firstly the team selection. I wasn't here pre-match and the easiest thing in the World for me to do now we're winning would be to say I agreed with the selection but I've got to be honest I wouldn't have.

Dossena, Gerrard, Torres and Babel were practically enforced changes so no problem. Particularly given the fact that I think by far the best way to approach these froup games is to put your strongest team out in the first few matches, qualify, then if you want to have a little "styling" do it when it doesn't matter later on. At least that way, the season is more than two weeks old and the players have actually had a chance to get tired before we start "resting" them. It also avoids the annual scramble where we have to win our last couple of matches in order to qualify, and in order to do so need to play Lee Peltier in the Away game at Stoke.

The one selection I couldn't get on with was Lucas. I like him as a player, but why play him here when we have already made four changes? Alonso and Masherano did well against Man Utd, so another game here to build would have made sense to me.

I meant to put smileys in the first bt and it keeps putting them at the end. Rather than throw the computer out of the window, I've put little stars like this * where the smileys ought to be. You can insert these one's I've put here, it's a bit like a Do-It-Yourself post *.

by **Owzat** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:25 am

Reg wrote:Chuffed, right chuffed, great start to the season and to CL.

But the stats dont look good, if you believe them, we were played off the park.

http://www.skysports.com/footbal....00.html

If you watched the game we spent way too much time defending, not that you'd expect to boss a game in Europe away from home. They had too many efforts on goals, fortunately not the best efforts bar their goal, and latterly we were hoofing possession away.

They did have more possession, spent a lot of time in our half and had more shots. We did spend a lot of time defending so twice as many tackles is about right, and we kept giving possession away so that stat and the passing success also rings true.

Great goal from Gerrard, good run from Babel for the penalty, but that was a get out of jail job as Reina and Carra saved our necks. The offside trap wasn't working, backed up by s*y stats with one success. Their pace and movement was tearing us apart at times. Lucas had a shocker, Dossena not much better and Kuyt had a pretty ordinary game, looking tired, as did Babel in patches who didn't help Dossena as much as he should have. Torres may as well not have been on the pitch, that and starting Lucas are the two risky selections that looked such before and after the game. If I'm not mistaken only Aurelio wasn't available so Rafa only needed to make one change. As it happens one of those 'unncessary' changes, the inclusion of Gerrard, proved pivotal. But that was a much different performance to that on Saturday even if the result was the same.

Riera came on and did well, also helped out defensively. The temptation to rotate must be strong with Stoke up next. The team defended well at times, but also with a helping of luck. As for Babel's late shot, well it was a good reaction from their keeper as the shot wasn't just hit along the ground and hit him as is often the way that close. Not sure Crouch would have done any better, the keeper was so close and made himself big so covered most of the angles for scoring.

But on the positive side, WE WON! Three points is the start we needed, win against PSV and there will still be two home games left. Maybe we'll go through comfortably this time around and can focus more on the league for a few months up to the resumption next year

by **redsince2001** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:06 am

kuyt again came up with the assist for gerrard's goal...
now say what you want about him... but stats dont lie !
:cool:

by **devaney** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:08 am

Great result against a tricky team. Take nothing away from Marseille - they were useful. Really liking the look of Riera, seem like a very intelligent and imaginative footballer - everything that Harry wasn't!!

Ok I know some of Kuyt's second half work wasn't great but he works tirelessly for the team. Why can't the critics just move on to a the likes of Lucas and Bennythegoon who pose some verious serious questions. First question - what the fk is either of them doing playing for Liverpool?
The suggestion was that Bennythegoon would have gone to West Ham if Leto had got a work permit - how unlucky was that! I am not sure that Lucas is ever going to handle the Premiership - lot's of chances and very little to show. Dossena and Arbeloa also give a lot of cause for concern. Arbeloa does not provide the quality that Steve Finnan had and his crosses are usually terrible .Dossena just looks a bit of an overweight donkey. Apart from that I am happy!

As for the start of the season, Sunderland and M"boro we played very badly and came away with maximum points after battling right to the end. Villa wasn't pretty and we shared the points - Bennythegoon did nothing when he came on - why didn't Rafa give Babel a chance and that isn't hindsight at work! Man U was just an excellent team performance! Marseille, fantastic Stevie G performance and hanging on when we were up against it. We have dropped two points and can only get better. GREAT START TO THE SEASON but look at how many points we had at the same stage last season and how many Man u had - the massive difference is that we hadn't played Man U! Winning performance against the other three top teams are the main difference between winning and losing the Premiership - we have got to improve in this area and the result against Man U was too long coming and has got to be the start of a determined challenge for the title. Chelsea are my biggest worry and Aresnal also look very good and once again Wenger has spent very little.

by **bunglemark2** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:43 am

Lucky to get out of there with the 3 points...Mind you, I can't for the life of me figure why we took the foot off the pedal after going 2-1 up. Maybe it was fatigue after the weekend's exertions, a couple of players short of match fitness....But those boys must surely be devastated to get nothing out of that game.
Is that Cheyrou lad any relation to the donkey that GH brought in some years back ? I think we got the wrong one, if he is...

by **devaney** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:58 am

He is only the next Zidane's brother!

by **RedEire** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:00 am

Very lucky to get away with a win tonight!! Up against a team with better quality finishers (Aguerro ??) we would have lost it considering the amount of late chances they were given. As has been said before Kuyt was very poor - there was one small incident when Lucas pass to Kuyt who had acres of room to turn and go forward, instead whacked a pass back to Lucas who was marked, pass was poor, Lucas miscontrolled it and we lost possession. That to me sums up Kuyt - poor decision making when it comes to whether to take the ball on or pass and very poor first touch. However, a point was raised on Irish TV here, and that was Rafa is happy to lose possession in the opposition half as he has confidence that midfield/defense will/should win back possession in our own half. That would easily explain why he persists with playing Kuyt as he is the worse offender with Lucas/Benayoun very close behind him. It also explains why Daniel Agger is not on the team as he is very comfortable to hold on to ball and play it to feet of midfielder rather than hoof it up the pitch.
Very impressed with Babel and Reira again - showed flashes of brilliance. Arbeloa, after one good game V United, was very poor again and Dossena also was caught out several times.
While a win is a win, i would like for us to control games a whole lot more, and for us to actual enjoy the last 5 minutes of a game without having to watch from behind the sofa???

by **Sabre** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:05 am

Devaney says

Great result against a tricky team. Take nothing away from Marseille - they were useful. Really liking the look of Riera, seem like a very intelligent and imaginative footballer - everything that Harry wasn't!!

Hello Devaney, I detect positive thinking in your posts, it will be welcome.

About this bit, Harry perhaps had more skills when fit, he was a more natural dribbler, but Riera will dispair us less, and will take better decissions IMHO. What kind of decissions? taking a one on one when there are not men in the box may not be a good idea, if there isn't anyone to cross. Riera will be more aware of what the play requires.

It's as if both Kewell and Babel have better footballing attributes (pace, dribble) but Riera uses his simply good ones properly.

by **Dutchsky** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:07 am

player ratings by setantasports

Best players according to them:

Gerrard - 9
Babel - 8.5
Carragher - 7.5
Kuyt - 7
Mascherano - 7

poor perfomance rating:
Lucas - 5

by **Roger Red Hat** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:28 am

Dutchsky wrote:player ratings by setantasports

Best players according to them:

Gerrard - 9
Babel - 8.5
Carragher - 7.5
Kuyt - 7
Mascherano - 7

poor perfomance rating:
Lucas - 5

...which is a load of 'betty swollocks' because no mention of Reina, who was by far the best player on the park.

I'm liking Riera, looks to have a good touch, bit of pace and isnt afraid to take it to the line and whip it in. Im lookng forward to seeing him play a full game with a fit Torres.

Babel looked fab at times. Some of his side steps etc are straight out of the John Barnes book.

Carragher was great too. Kept his head and bossed the defense.

Kuyt - did ok tonight. Worked hard first half and did enough in the 2nd. Too many people on here pull him down, it's getting boring.

Rafa - everytime the camera panned past him he was virtually kicking every ball for the team. If someone had given him a shirt I swear he'd of been on for Lucas. I like Rafa, he loves the team and you can tell it's in his heart. keep up the good work rafa.

by **Sabre** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 2:43 pm

Tough group we have this season. I know that Liverpool has been succesful with "Crown paints" "Candy" and "Calsberg" but I can't help loving to see the red shirt clean like yesterday.

Not happy with how we lost some balls yesterday, the goal we received is a shame because we usually avoid those situations very well. Our second line didn't press well the oppo player who gave the initial pass, and Carra broke the off side line, mistakes and goal.

Especial mention deserves Gerrard's goal. Kuyt's pass wasn't the best, it went a bit too behind. The normal thing to do there is to not hit the ball properly, and the ball not getting height at all. But Gerrard showed a world class technique in that shooting. It's SOOOOO difficult what he did, it was not just a great shot from outside the box, the technical gesture is amazing. Best goal of the season so far, and probably top 3 at the end of the season. What a beauty.

Kuyt's pass wasn't the best but he did a lot more things than running, I stopped counting in 6 the balls he recovered after chasing players, that gives us posession. He gave a great ball to Babel aswell in which Babel almost scored.

3 points, crucial win, we must solve some mistakes when we haven't the ball.

by **taff** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 3:23 pm

In my opinion the second half was a team who were tired after the Man Utd game but I was still impressed with the win.

I really like the look of Babel and Riera on the flanks

by **LegBarnes** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 3:30 pm

SupitsJonF wrote:I did like Babels performance but he should of scored. Theres no excuses, and it definatly isn't goal keeping. The goalie fell backwards and put his hand up, Babel had the near post and he went down the middle. (Shitty stream, so if I'm wrong no need to flame, just point out.)

you are wrong it was a great save if babel had hit it softer it would have taken long to reach the ball and keeper could have grabed it.

People are flaming babel for that moss but nothing much more he could have done.

Just good goalkeeping. :down:

by **LegBarnes** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 3:33 pm

Lee J wrote:
Dutchsky wrote:player ratings by setantasports

Best players according to them:

Gerrard - 9
Babel - 8.5
Carragher - 7.5
Kuyt - 7
Mascherano - 7

poor perfomance rating:
Lucas - 5

...which is a load of 'betty swollocks' because no mention of Reina, who was by far the best player on the park.

I'm liking Riera, looks to have a good touch, bit of pace and isnt afraid to take it to the line and whip it in. Im lookng forward to seeing him play a full game with a fit Torres.

Babel looked fab at times. Some of his side steps etc are straight out of the John Barnes book.

Carragher was great too. Kept his head and bossed the defense.

Kuyt - did ok tonight. Worked hard first half and did enough in the 2nd. Too many people on here pull him down, it's getting boring.

Rafa - everytime the camera panned past him he was virtually kicking every ball for the team. If someone had given him a shirt I swear he'd of been on for Lucas. I like Rafa, he loves the team and you can tell it's in his heart. keep up the good work rafa.

Carra did defend well but it was his mistake that lead to opening goal so I would give him a 6 for that.

Babel was a 9 for me and gerrard 10.

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