Liverpool FC Forum

by **milou** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:04 pm

Benayoun continues in the form of his life (well certainly his Liverpool life anyway) and as either first change or first rotation, he can do a good job as he did again tonight.

I see that he is now playing the "free-role", roaming around the lone striker.. a role he excelled in West Ham. It remains to be seen how he would be used when Gerrard returns bcos he is simply no winger.

I can't help but to wonder how the hell is it possible that we could beat big teams in europe consistently, but couldn't break down smaller teams in the league.. well, also consistently! All the arguments about our players being not good enough just don't make sense IMHO bcos bad players can't and don't beat big teams like real madrid, barca, inter.. year after year.

by **bigmick** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:10 pm

JoeTerp wrote:I thought the Champions League doesn't even start for English teams until the last 4?

Joe, I know I've said that and I stand by it (it's last 8 actually but who's counting) but be serious. In the aftermath of our victory yesterday, If I'd come out and said that again feck me it would have been World War 10, never mind 3.

Can I just say again that I thought it was a fantastic performance, we wuz brill etc. And I thought the manager set the team up really well and I agreed with leaving Gerrard on the bench too (that last bit's a little trap, don't fall into it

).

by **account deleted by request** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:15 pm

Hopefully this won't be taken as a doom and gloom post, but if it is ...... it is.

I don't think anyone has really doubted that we have a good defence, which was what was needed against Madrid (FOR ME THE GOAL WAS A BONUS) Its the creative side of our game that seems to be letting us down. Teams that sit back are always difficult to break down (we proved that last night) and you need either a little luck, something special (Gerrard blast), a touch of genius (Torres) or someone who can create space, time a pass and the subtle through ball. This is where I think we fall down, and have for years. Its no use us having 65% possession if we can't score , you don't get 3 points for possession or for controlling a game.

We need more creativity if we are to convert our possession and control into consistant wins in the League, especially against the teams that are quite happy with a point and have no intention of letting us play.

by **bigmick** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:22 pm

Yep when it comes to parking the bus, we are fecking good at it it has to be said. Not only didn't we concede a goal last night, we barely conceded a chance.

Just coming back though briefly to this league thing, it is far from even close to a stage yet where it is mathematically impossible for us to win it. I tell you, I'm dreading us easiung right up and then wishing we hadn't. They WILL drop points, if we are good enough we can still go close here.

by **milou** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:24 pm

've just got a feeling, for absolutely no apparent reason whatsoever, just a hunch, that the Mancs are about to have wee bliip. Even a defeat and a draw could just open the door for us an inch, but only if we beat Middlesboro and Sunderland.

Well, I have the same feeling too TBH. Against blackburn, they were MIGHTILY lucky to get away with 2-1. At 1-1, blackburn had a brilliant shot that was only saved by the post.. then ronaldo scored just a minute later. Even at 2-1, they were under massive pressure from blackburn at Old Trafford.

Then they drew at Inter.. which is actually not a good result for man utd. It almost mean they must win at home and it is a dangerous thing to let your opponents (no less mourihno) knows it before-hand. An away goal at old trafford will put Inter in a commanding position.

Honestly, I would have preferred a tough away game for them this weekend which would increase their chance to slip-up but the fixture list says they will play spurs in the carling cup final. Irrelevant Carling Cup it may seem, but I think this is a critical match that they MUST lose. It will deal a heavy blow to their perceived sense of invincibility.

No prize for guessing who i will be supporting this sunday :P

It is not over yet.

by **dawson99** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:25 pm

bigmick wrote:Yep when it comes to parking the bus, we are fecking good at it it has to be said. Not only didn't we concede a goal last night, we barely conceded a chance.

Just coming back though briefly to this league thing, it is far from even close to a stage yet where it is mathematically impossible for us to win it. I tell you, I'm dreading us easiung right up and then wishing we hadn't. They WILL drop points, if we are good enough we can still go close here.

Im agreeing again

the funny thing is, this could be the thing that turns more people off Rafa. Why are we doing so well in the big games but falling drastically short in the smaller games?
We know now we have the team to beat the best (double over cheatski, real, man u) but is it a management problem that cant get us to break down smaller teams?

Im still pro rafa, but he has to find a way to break down the smaller teams and he definately needs to still go full steam ahead in the league

by **Judge** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:27 pm

double thread

by **TheRedsFan** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:29 pm

Everything is possible, the Mancs are not playing as good as they did last season, so them dropping 8 points is very possible, we can still win the Premier League as long as we beat them on March 14

by **7_Kewell** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:39 pm

TheRedsFan wrote:Everything is possible, the Mancs are not playing as good as they did last season, so them dropping 8 points is very possible, we can still win the Premier League as long as we beat them on March 14

maybe, but we won't win ALL of our premiership games from now until the end of the season. It just won't happen i'm afraid.

by **Judge** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:41 pm

by **GYBS** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:47 pm

by **Bad Bob** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:49 pm

s@int wrote:Hopefully this won't be taken as a doom and gloom post, but if it is ...... it is.

I don't think anyone has really doubted that we have a good defence, which was what was needed against Madrid (FOR ME THE GOAL WAS A BONUS) Its the creative side of our game that seems to be letting us down. Teams that sit back are always difficult to break down (we proved that last night) and you need either a little luck, something special (Gerrard blast), a touch of genius (Torres) or someone who can create space, time a pass and the subtle through ball. This is where I think we fall down, and have for years. Its no use us having 65% possession if we can't score , you don't get 3 points for possession or for controlling a game.

We need more creativity if we are to convert our possession and control into consistant wins in the League, especially against the teams that are quite happy with a point and have no intention of letting us play.

That's my view on the paradox as well. We can hold our own against the very top teams in Europe but look ridiculously short of ideas against the cannon fodder at the foot of the Premiership table for one simple reason: the top teams fancy their chances and try and come out and play football whereas as the bottom teams usually don't. This isn't a Wengeresque rant at teams that park a bus, it's more to do with frustration at our repeated inability to break down teams that sit deep and play for a point. In some cases I think we'd almost be better served gifting teams a goal or two to get them to come out of their shell and decide to play a bit at Anfield (Hull, Boro and Wigan come to mind). Long term, of course, the solution is to buy some more creative players because it is a problem that is only going to get worse as more teams see it works.

by **TheRedsFan** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:00 pm

7_Kewell wrote:
TheRedsFan wrote:Everything is possible, the Mancs are not playing as good as they did last season, so them dropping 8 points is very possible, we can still win the Premier League as long as we beat them on March 14

maybe, but we won't win ALL of our premiership games from now until the end of the season. It just won't happen i'm afraid.

Probably but am not loosing faith yet, maybe am that positive because of yesterdays win but I think that what happened yesterday will boost their confindence, lets just win our games and see what happpen with the Mancs

by **Bam** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:00 pm

Honestly Mick for someone who has become a bit of a cynic and lost faith in the manager, I find it a little perplexing in you asking the board 'Can we kick start our title challenge'.

Myself another known cynic will catergorically state here and now a big fat NO. Thats my opinion. Any chance we had of sniffing out Man U for the title went on Saturday at home to Man. C.

It doesnt surpise me one iota to see us struggle in beating a run of the meal Premiership team with a dismal away record. Then fly off to Madrid a few days later and get a fantastic result out there. Its happened time and time again with this Liverpool side under Benitez, no doubt come Saturday we'll all be frustrated as f.uck in watching us try and beat Boro.

My observation in this Jekyll and Hyde style of football we play is quite simple. When our boys are on the fields of Europe playing the likes of Juve, Barca, Milan or Madrid. Its a kind of back to the walls job, in containing these sides for the most part, then more often than not we get the snatch and grab. Primarly because Rafas' methods towards the approach of games like this go hand in glove with our opposition. We're IMO and believe it or not and silly as it may sound, a better side without the ball. The onus is usually on the home sides of Juve and Madrid to come forward and play possesion football, while a very organised and industrial Liverpool side will soak up pressure, chew it up and spit it out.

Yet when it comes to the bread and butter stuff, where 9 times out of 10 the onus is on us to go for the jugular. We are far far from impressive, we have got to be one of the worst sides for the amount of possesion in these matches to squander three points. This is my beef with Rafa, we dont get enough men into the box, we all to often look void of any kind of ideas in the final third and our midfielders baring Gerrard dont contribute enough towards our goal tally. What irks me is that its as obvious as the nose upon your face, this ever so familiar frustration of waching us huff and puff. Only to blow out a draw, and this vital part of our game doesnt appear or hasnt appeared to be worked on including transfer market activity.

The title winning boat IMO though has well and truly sailed, and the CL is now where its at for my money of bringing back a trophy. The lads did well last night, and I dont think Madrid were as bad as some of the people on here making them out to be.

by **Effes** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:13 pm

Bam wrote:Yet when it comes to the bread and butter stuff, where 9 times out of 10 the onus is on us to go for the jugular. We are far far from impressive, we have got to be one of the worst sides for the amount of possesion in these matches to squander three points. This is my beef with Rafa, we dont get enough men into the box, we all to often look void of any kind of ideas in the final third and our midfielders baring Gerrard dont contribute enough towards our goal tally. What irks me is that its as obvious as the nose upon your face, this ever so familiar frustration of waching us huff and puff. Only to blow out a draw, and this vital part of our game doesnt appear or hasnt appeared to be worked on including transfer market activity.

Good post Bam - totally agree with the quoted bit above.
It's such a frustration, just a quick look at our home record so far highlights that.

It was the same last season, and it's imperative that it gets addressed for next season.

I haven't given up on the league - Man U drawing their next game, and us winning at Boro would be a great start.
Then March 14th becomes a Cup Final - lose that, then fine it's over.

Getting back to the draws at home - I think playing the first leg in the Champs League away is crucial. If it's at home, a 0-0 is a definite probability.

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