Sport Liverpool Football Club

[Chewylegs]

No Torres?! Fuck!

I reckon that line up looks right mate but Finnan instead of Arbeloa and Hyypia in for Skrtel.

[dogsout]

Finnan's carrying a knock. I can't see him playing to be honest. We really need productive fullbacks for this system anyway and unfortunately Finnan has been anything but that for most of the season. You may well be right about Sami. As I said: I wouldn't be surprised to see him play, especially as Rafa has spoken about Carlton Cole and the aerial threat he poses.

[dogsout]

---------------Reina

Arbeloa--Carra--Skrtel--Riise

-----------Masch--Xabi

Kuyt---------Stevie------Babel

--------------Torres

Only two out and one of those was because of the reports indicating Torres wouldn't play.

[larrydavidsanger]

I thought we were playing Newcastle tonight, is that at the weekend then?

[lampkin]

---------------Reina

Arbeloa--Carra--Skrtel--Riise

-----------Masch--Xabi

Kuyt---------Stevie------Babel

--------------Torres

Only two out and one of those was because of the reports indicating Torres wouldn't play.

Thank god they were wrong..

[dogsout]

They? One of them was Aurelio for Riise. You can't be happy about that.

[Guest]

Torres has scored twice. Can't leave him out

[Guest]

Sorry, sorry.

Three times.

[lampkin]

They? One of them was Aurelio for Riise. You can't be happy about that.

Urh, about Torres not playing...

[max]

Torres is half man half amazing!

[dogsout]

Urh, about Torres not playing...

I really don't know how I thought you meant anything else. That'll learn me for not reading properly.

[DeNeo]

This formation seems to be working really well for us - and I think I love Torres

[lampkin]

I really don't know how I thought you meant anything else. That'll learn me for not reading properly.

To be honest I'm not sure I read properly, I think my response was confusing in the context of what you said...heh.

Good result though. fuck, it's hard work following Liverpool. One minute we're down and out, then we're beating teams 4 - nil :S

ed: Wow, noticed an interesting comment about our away form, it's pretty outstanding, 6 draws at Anfield though?..

[mop]

I have a Liverpool supporting friend who is usually pretty pessimistic about his team. At the start of the season I was telling him that Torres will be one hell of a player for you guys. He told me I was wrong and he'd be another Morientes.

I say he's pretty happy to be wrong right now.

[rjpageuk]

It is nice that we seem to have found some momentum now, and we can go into games with some confidence of winning them.

How good was the gerrard goal?

[Takizawa]

It is nice that we seem to have found some momentum now, and we can go into games with some confidence of winning them.

How good was the gerrard goal?

Another beast, as you'd expect. I watched the hour-long highlights when I got in last night and was very impressed. Skrtel looks the business at the back, very quick and strong and made some great tackles, good in the air too. Mascha and Xabi seem to work well and compliment eachother, nice to see Alonso spraying the passes around again and one crossfield pass to Babel inparticular reminded me of what we've been missing. Babel is growing into that role with every game, and nothing needs to be said about Gerrard and Torres, both terrific last night.

Also, Carragher trying to score

[V3zna]

The current tactics, formation and lack of rotation suits us perfectly. I still feel Benitez has stumbled his way to this point in regard to this season.

Torres first goal last night was a stunning finish. His second was a lovely looping header helped by a static defense. His third was a nice bit of ball control but I guess you could question both the defender and the keeper. Gerrard's was unstoppable. It's interesting that two goals came from Kuyt assists. I'm glad to see Alonso playing as I was starting to worry he could be off in the summer.

I'm optimistic going into the soon to be Man Utd, Everton and Arsenal games. A month a go I wouldn't have gave us a prayer but right now I think we'll have a little say in the title race at least.

[El Pibe]

I think that Liverpool have the makings of a very good team. I think that the lesson from Torres is that you get what you pay for. Liverpool paid top dollar for him, but he is bloody good. I think Rafa needs to spunk lots of cash on a partner for Torres and then Liverpool are good to go.

[Chewylegs]

Brilliant brilliant result for Liverpool last night, so glad we put in a masterful performance. I'm really liking this formation and I think it works very well for our key players (Torres, Gerrard, Babel, Alonso). Gerrard just seems to have so much time on the ball where he is playing now, the same with Alonso. Those are the two players you need to be spraying the passes around. Well done to Kuyt as well, set up two goals. He may not be scoring but he is certainly helping the team win. Bit like Rooney for Man U I suppose. Torres though. What a player. He has to be the best striker in the premiership at the moment. At his age as well he is the type of the player that will help us win trophies in the coming seasons. I wouldn't want anyone else in his role at the moment. He is also 2 away from 20 goals in the premiership. If he plays against Newcastle I think he will get them on saturday.

One thing I have to ask someone. How many times has Torres been dropped by Liverpool? I was listening to Radio 5 after the game and some twat commentator was saying "you have to wonder why he doesn't play every game" I can only remember him being rested about twice in the league (a long time back) with the rest of the games missed through injury. I'm getting pissed off with hearing it really!

[Kelthink]

One thing I have to ask someone. How many times has Torres been dropped by Liverpool? I was listening to Radio 5 after the game and some twat commentator was saying "you have to wonder why he doesn't play every game" I can only remember him being rested about twice in the league (a long time back) with the rest of the games missed through injury. I'm getting pissed off with hearing it really!

He played against Bolton and didn't really make much of a mark. Granted, the Boltonions prolly marked him out of the game but we still managed a win. Bosh!

[squirtle]

Interesting hearing some of you say we played really well lat night. I didn't see the game, but watching just watching the goals on youtube, the commentators are saying that apart from Torres and possibly Gerrard we just weren't very good. Strange that we have to batter teams 4-0 to get some kind of grudging recognition from people.

[lampkin]

Interesting hearing some of you say we played really well lat night. I didn't see the game, but watching just watching the goals on youtube, the commentators are saying that apart from Torres and possibly Gerrard we just weren't very good. Strange that we have to batter teams 4-0 to get some kind of grudging recognition from people.

Seems to be the story of our season...strange, I never realised we were the team that people love to hate, I always thought that was United or Chelsea...has this become more obvious since Jose left?

[El Pibe]

Strange that we have to batter teams 4-0 to get some kind of grudging recognition from people.

Sounds like a quote from Avram Grant...

[V3zna]

I think that Liverpool have the makings of a very good team. I think that the lesson from Torres is that you get what you pay for. Liverpool paid top dollar for him, but he is bloody good. I think Rafa needs to spunk lots of cash on a partner for Torres and then Liverpool are good to go.

We are benefiting right now from playing a 4-2-3-1 and a partner for Torres is not what we need. A Van Der Vaart / Aimar / Aguero / Luis Garcia type player is just what we require.

[El Pibe]

We are benefiting right now from playing a 4-2-3-1 and a partner for Torres is not what we need. A Van Der Vaart / Aimar / Aguero / Luis Garcia type player is just what we require.

Partner might be the wrong word, I guess another player who is as good when Torres is injured or Rafa wants to rest him.

[V3zna]

Partner might be the wrong word, I guess another player who is as good when Torres is injured or Rafa wants to rest him.

Although he's not anywhere near as good I simply see Crouch as Torres understudy. No superstar is going to sit on our bench waiting for Torres to get tired or injured. We have a 19 year old striker called Nemeth who looks very promising. Another one called Ecclestone who is scoring for fun at a junior level. Thankfully it's seven subs on the bench next season.

[Chewylegs]

We are benefiting right now from playing a 4-2-3-1 and a partner for Torres is not what we need. A Van Der Vaart / Aimar / Aguero / Luis Garcia type player is just what we require.

Van Der Vaart would be the man for me. Exceptional talent and Benitez could bring the best out of him. Although if Kuyt continues to set up goals like he did yesterday you can't really fault him for that. All I want is that if he is in front of goal he is more clinical than he has been. His work rate can't be faulted.

[dogsout]

The current tactics, formation and lack of rotation suits us perfectly. I still feel Benitez has stumbled his way to this point in regard to this season.

I don't think that is really fair. He has flirted with this formation for some time now. I was predicting a permanent change to this system fucking ages ago, and he'd use it for a couple of games only to switch back to a 4-4-2 for tactical reasons. It is the lack of rotation that has cemented it as his choice. Although to say he has stopped rotating would be misleading because he's still rotating with each game, it is just to a lesser degree now. I think he is putting his faith in the players he believes have earned it this season. He has realised that he can't influence games tactically as much as he'd like to over here so he has changed his approach and it's working. The irony of it all is that when he first came here we were playing this system frequently and everyone moaned "stick to 4-4-fucking-2! This is England!".

We only need a top class signing to play from the right of our three and possibly a left back, and we're good to go next season. This is working so well I'll be amazed to see him revert back to mass rotation and differing systems. He's pretty much ruled it out himself anyway.

[ras el hanout]

I don't think that is really fair. He has flirted with this formation for some time now. I was predicting a permanent change to this system fucking ages ago, and he'd use it for a couple of games only to switch back to a 4-4-2 for tactical reasons. It is the lack of rotation that has cemented it as his choice. Although to say he has stopped rotating would be misleading because he's still rotating with each game, it is just to a lesser degree now. I think he is putting his faith in the players he believes have earned it this season. He has realised that he can't influence games tactically as much as he'd like to over here so he has changed his approach and it's working. The irony of it all is that when he first came here we were playing this system frequently and everyone moaned "stick to 4-4-fucking-2! This is England!".

A couple of decent results does not a season make!

You say you said everything ages ago, You were ready to let Rafa go a couple of weeks ago.

It's funny that this turn around has happened when the ownership of the club is at its most unstable. It was the instability being blamed for bad results. Not picking on you but you've made it sound like this was his masterplan all along, fuck around for four seasons, wait until the players get well pissed off, and then stop fucking around. Genius!

[dogsout]

A couple of decent results does not a season make!

I agree. But I've always maintained that our results have been affected by all of this shit going on with the owners.

You say you said everything ages ago, You were ready to let Rafa go a couple of weeks ago.

I have been going on about us playing this formation since last season. You only have to look back over the thread and you'd see that. As for Rafa: I've been one of his most ardent supporters in here. I believed he wouldn't survive this mess and I said I accept he has to take responsibility for our failings this season; he's a manager, they live or die by their results. I've always maintained that we couldn't find a better manager than him and I don't want him sacked.

It's funny that this turn around has happened when the ownership of the club is at its most unstable. It was the instability being blamed for bad results. Not picking on you but you've made it sound like this was his masterplan all along, fuck around for four seasons, wait until the players get well pissed off, and then stop fucking around. Genius!

The situation at the club is more stable than it has been since November. Hicks has pubicly backed him and said he'll stay for the entire length of his contract. The takeover with DIC looks much more likely now than it did at any time since Moores was in charge.

I don't see it in the same way as you do. That much is clear. He hasn't fucked around for four seasons. You are the only person I knew of that wanted him gone before this season started. I don't think this was his master plan. That would be a ridiculous assertion. But no more ridiculous than saying he is to blame for everything bad that has happened in his time here and all of the good stuff has happened despite his presence. Which is pretty much the stance you take. I think he is learning from his mistakes over time and righting them. Which is why many of us that want him to stay in charge have been calling for patience. It won't happen over night.

Our new found stability and confidence doesn't excuse the poor results and failings this season but it does provide hope that we're not that far away; that he can get us there. Well, it does to me anyway. I'm obviously aware that you see things very differently.