Sport Liverpool Football Club

[phresh]

Good. Busy, but lacking end product.

Like most of United's midfield then, he should fit in well!

[DeNeo]

Contrast that to us where we were always looking to either get rid to the nearest man, try a hopeful pass/punt to their third or just hoofing it away in a blind panic.

So very many long balls. We didn't even try and keep it, just lots of hoofing. I'm amazed we had as much as 42% of the possession.

[Guest]

Bit of a shame that. For all Lucas' supposed brilliance, and that he never gives the ball away; boy does he give away good ones.

Gerrard should probably have scored or set up that bar-hit.

The win would have taken us to 5th too...

[dogsout]

Bit of a shame that. For all Lucas' supposed brilliance, and that he never gives the ball away; boy does he give away good ones.

He misplaced 3 passes out of 35 attempts in 90 minutes. Meireles managed to misplace 5 out of 19 attempts in the first half alone. Gerrard weighed in with 12 failures out of 51 attempts. He broke down more attacks than the rest of our midfielders as well. I don't see the point in singling him out for criticism when he was far from our worst player, and the team performed poorly as a unit.

I'm surprised that the people that used to moan about Rafa's negative tactics (and I was one of them, on occasion), particularly away from home, aren't in here jumping up and down about the way we set up. We stood off them and invited them onto us. We're short of a target man and pace on the wings, and until we have them, those tactics will not work.

[SMD]

Because Hodgson needs time.

[ras el hanout]

I think smd is being sarcastic which shows the level of the guy.

But some people are perhaps not jumping up and down but clearly vibrating. Dogsout, you sound pretty ticked off.

Nobody jumped up an down at rafa after a few games.

Roy is under far more pressure in his first few games. A loss is treated like s catastrophe, it's hardly surprising the team are more concerned with not losing.

But it's nice to rafa being brought up again. Did we win this fixture last year?

[ras el hanout]

Speaking of rafa I see he's doing a great job at inter.

[lampkin]

I think smd is being sarcastic which shows the level of the guy.

But some people are perhaps not jumping up and down but clearly vibrating. Dogsout, you sound pretty ticked off.

Nobody jumped up an down at rafa after a few games.

Roy is under far more pressure in his first few games. A loss is treated like s catastrophe, it's hardly surprising the team are more concerned with not losing.

But it's nice to rafa being brought up again. Did we win this fixture last year?

Liverpool FC, 20 years of celebrating mediocrity

[ras el hanout]

Liverpool FC, 20 years of celebrating mediocrity

Exactly, a lot here want to go back to the glory days under rafa. It's crazy. I think a lot of these guys are most proud of the fact we often had more shots than every other team! Or the fact we always used to WIN the race for forth. I guess we got complacent. Thought those days would last forever.

We improve on last year's result and people moan. We lost away to Wigan last season.

The other day when I said it's only me a bradingdingdongdor and dogsout who want Roy to succeed. Well I was originally going to put "and to a lesser extent dogsout want Roy to succeed" but I knew he'd moan. I'm surprised he's moaning so much here after last night's result. Not surprised to see Reynard and smd suddenly vocal again.

Inter drew at a shitty team last night. Hey, smd, should they sack rafa or give him more time? Serious question.

[Takizawa]

I didn't see the game nor have I seen the highlights, so I couldn't possibly comment (only in the form of excited emoticons when I heard Torres had scored).

There, that was an exciting post.

Sounds like we were brillaint for 20 minutes and pretty average for the rest, did anything change? Noone went off injured? Had a knock etc etc?

[ras el hanout]

I didn't see the game nor have I seen the highlights, so I couldn't possibly comment (only in the form of excited emoticons when I heard Torres had scored).

There, that was an exciting post.

Sounds like we were brillaint for 20 minutes and pretty average for the rest, did anything change? Noone went off injured? Had a knock etc etc?

Shelvey came on at half time. Don't know if Miereles was injured or anything.

I'm guessing we scored early, Wigan got better we started to panic and of course they scored and then we were on the back foot.

[lampkin]

Shelvey came on at half time. Don't know if Miereles was injured or anything.

I'm guessing we scored early, Wigan got better we started to panic and of course they scored and then we were on the back foot.

It does feel like a missed opportunity, but on the other hand, it feels like we're improving.

If what you're saying is true, at least the players seem like they're starting to care.

The season's not written off yet, still stuff to play for...

[ras el hanout]

It does feel like a missed opportunity, but on the other hand, it feels like we're improving.

If what you're saying is true, at least the players seem like they're starting to care.

The season's not written off yet, still stuff to play for...

Definitely a missed oportunity. A win last night would've been pretty massive in terms of momentum. A loss would have been bad news too, undoing the last few weeks. Our away form has been horrible for a long long time so a draw wasn't too bad. 10 points from 12. Stoke next.

It's impossible to tell if we're improving taking it game to game. Going to need to look at a whole season. Or even half a season but the last few games have been positive so I don't know why that's not enough for some people. Must keep our feet on the ground.

[Takizawa]

Just seen the goal... Torres is back

[dogsout]

I think smd is being sarcastic which shows the level of the guy.

But some people are perhaps not jumping up and down but clearly vibrating. Dogsout, you sound pretty ticked off.

Nobody jumped up an down at rafa after a few games.

Roy is under far more pressure in his first few games. A loss is treated like s catastrophe, it's hardly surprising the team are more concerned with not losing.

But it's nice to rafa being brought up again. Did we win this fixture last year?

I agree that he needs time, I'm not saying we should sack him because we drew with Wigan; they always give us trouble. But surely you can criticise the tactics without being lumped in with the 'Hodgson out' brigade. Have we had any success at all when employing those tactics this season? Like I said, I'm sure we can make it work with the right signings in January. Our best performances have come when we've played with intensity and pressed off-the-ball. Why give sides like Wigan the impetus to get on the front foot against us?

[dogsout]

The other day when I said it's only me a bradingdingdongdor and dogsout who want Roy to succeed. Well I was originally going to put "and to a lesser extent dogsout want Roy to succeed" but I knew he'd moan. I'm surprised he's moaning so much here after last night's result.

That is bollocks. I'm not advocating Roy getting the boot at all. Let me simplify it for you: I was unhappy with Rafa setting us up defensively away from home last season, why am I suddenly not going to mind when Roy does it? I don't want Rafa back, I only mentioned him to make the above point. It's a bad idea to be so defensive, it just gives your opponents confidence. I thought this was proved all those times Rafa tried to do it and it resulted in shit displays and silly points dropped.

It's impossible to tell if we're improving taking it game to game. Going to need to look at a whole season. Or even half a season but the last few games have been positive so I don't know why that's not enough for some people.

It is enough for me. I'm just frustrated that we took the game to Chelsea, but then stood off Wigan. There's no hidden agenda here.

[ras el hanout]

I know but Rafa was still doing it after 5 seasons even when he had total support of the fans. Roy's got 80% of supporters wanting him dead, he's got Rafa's players and he's only had a quarter of a season. You can understand why at the moment his first priority is to not get beat. So I don't think it's fair to compare him with Rafa. And whn you do it just gives ammo to the people who do want Roy out.

[Takizawa]

He had the support of most fans, but people still questioned how we lined up and played in similar games to last nights. Had Roy won all our opening games and set up like we did last night against Wigan, people would have still questioned why, not all football fans are idiots.

[ras el hanout]

He had the support of most fans, but people still questioned how we lined up and played in similar games to last nights. Had Roy won all our opening games and set up like we did last night against Wigan, people would have still questioned why, not all football fans are idiots.

But Roy didn't win all our opening games. I mean that's the point, that's why he probably erred on the side of caution. I don't think we should go gung-ho after a couple of decent results. Sure in a few months when were sweeping aside allcomers, if then he suddenly goes all defensive against a lower team then I will kill him myself.

I didn't see the game or anything but reading reports it seems the problem was a few of our players were rubbish more than anything.

[SMD]

I didn't see the game or anything

So how can you have an opinion on how we played?

[ras el hanout]

So how can you have an opinion on how we played?

I haven't really have I SMD? Read the thread. I haven't got an opinion on how we played last night. Dogsout was saying we were set up all negative, similar to how rafa used to tackle these games. He was wondering why some people weren't up in arms. I suggested it was different. Rafa was doing it after five seasons, Roy's doing it after ten games. Come on SMD, there's only been a few posts. And as I said I read that a few of a players had off nights. I suggested this could explain our draw (Which was an improvement on the same fixture last year). Do you understand. This isn't that complex.

[SMD]

I haven't really have I SMD? Read the thread. I haven't got an opinion on how we played last night. Dogsout was saying we were set up all negative, similar to how rafa used to tackle these games. He was wondering why some people weren't up in arms. I suggested it was different. Rafa was doing it after five seasons, Roy's doing it after ten games. Come on SMD, there's only been a few posts. And as I said I read that a few of a players had off nights. I suggested this could explain our draw (Which was an improvement on the same fixture last year). Do you understand. This isn't that complex.

That's just it, if you left it at "it sounds like we conceded and went on the back foot" I'd have no problem with that. I'm not happy with Hodgson as manager because of who he is. If he came after Evans, Houllier or even Souness I'd still have a problem.

Granted, maybe it wouldn't have been so bad after Souness but still, he's not a guy who seems to be able to handle the pressure.

This is him being asked about Roberto Carlos and his problems with him over ten years ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hKvNoqgDX0

That's what we're seeing now and I don't like it.

You still get the sly digs in about Rafa, as usual without any context or attempt at fair comment. It's not even pub talk, you're just derailing the thread by leaving these grenades about the place and eventually it becomes 'us and them' with you.

You keep making out like we want to fail. You think I enjoy Poulsen making a tit of himself in central midfield? No, I don't. But when he's on the pitch, I don't boo him and I don't abuse him because it's not in my best interests.

I didn't want Hodgson but once he became our manager, then he got my support. It doesn't mean I like him but in the ground I'm not going to boo or chant small time songs. If at the end of the day we win, whether by design or accident, then great. My opinion is, though, that our good performances and tactics are by accident. And that is why I don't like Hodgson.

[dogsout]

I didn't see the game or anything but reading reports it seems the problem was a few of our players were rubbish more than anything.

We set up really deep, with the defence spending most of their time on the edge of our area, and we hit long ball after long ball up to Torres. It was woeful. We had a really good spell in the first half and another good one towards the end of the game when we went for it again, but we just stood off them too much. It was similar to the last 10 or 20 minutes against Chelsea when we were doing all the backs to the wall stuff that makes Carra look great.

Sure in a few months when were sweeping aside allcomers, if then he suddenly goes all defensive against a lower team then I will kill him myself.

[Takizawa]

But Roy didn't win all our opening games.

So you're agreeing with me then?

We can question a managers tactics whether he's won or lost all his games.

[ras el hanout]

So you're agreeing with me then?

We can question a managers tactics whether he's won or lost all his games.

I don't really know what you're saying.

Of course you can question a manager. And I can suggest reasons why the manager might be behaving like that, and why it's different from a situation it's been compared to.

[ras el hanout]

That's just it, if you left it at "it sounds like we conceded and went on the back foot" I'd have no problem with that. I'm not happy with Hodgson as manager because of who he is. If he came after Evans, Houllier or even Souness I'd still have a problem.

Granted, maybe it wouldn't have been so bad after Souness but still, he's not a guy who seems to be able to handle the pressure.

This is him being asked about Roberto Carlos and his problems with him over ten years ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hKvNoqgDX0

That's what we're seeing now and I don't like it.

You still get the sly digs in about Rafa, as usual without any context or attempt at fair comment. It's not even pub talk, you're just derailing the thread by leaving these grenades about the place and eventually it becomes 'us and them' with you.

You keep making out like we want to fail. You think I enjoy Poulsen making a tit of himself in central midfield? No, I don't. But when he's on the pitch, I don't boo him and I don't abuse him because it's not in my best interests.

I didn't want Hodgson but once he became our manager, then he got my support. It doesn't mean I like him but in the ground I'm not going to boo or chant small time songs. If at the end of the day we win, whether by design or accident, then great. My opinion is, though, that our good performances and tactics are by accident. And that is why I don't like Hodgson.

Listen little boy, in what way has he got your support? Because you don't boo him? Fuck off you idiot. I take that back, your post is so stupid and unaware that it's gotta be a joke.

Chapeau, you nearly got me.

[ras el hanout]

We set up really deep, with the defence spending most of their time on the edge of our area, and we hit long ball after long ball up to Torres. It was woeful. We had a really good spell in the first half and another good one towards the end of the game when we went for it again, but we just stood off them too much. It was similar to the last 10 or 20 minutes against Chelsea when we were doing all the backs to the wall stuff that makes Carra look great.

And what, you think Roy said "have a good spell in the first half and again at the end"? He changed tactics midgame and then changed them back?

The Chelsea game you'd expect nothing less than for us to get battered. Imagine if we'd gone for it and they pulled a goal back. But we won. The whole game. They didn't score a goal and we scored two!

[Gabe]

But Roy didn't win all our opening games. I mean that's the point, that's why he probably erred on the side of caution. I don't think we should go gung-ho after a couple of decent results. Sure in a few months when were sweeping aside allcomers, if then he suddenly goes all defensive against a lower team then I will kill him myself.

I didn't see the game or anything but reading reports it seems the problem was a few of our players were rubbish more than anything.

Roy's always been a defensively-minded manager though, hasn't he? He certainly was at Fulham and Blackburn and I don't recall the Swiss being a particularly attacking-minded team.

That isn't a bad thing; I don't recall too many Arsenal fans bemoaning the old George Graham days when they were winning. Football has changed though and if you're going to sit back you need pace on the counter, and we don't really have that. But that is something that could be rectified in January you'd hope.

[dogsout]

And what, you think Roy said "have a good spell in the first half and again at the end"? He changed tactics midgame and then changed them back?

No. You said you hadn't seen the game so I gave you a brief summary of what happened. I couldn't tell you whether or not the good spells had anything to do with a change in tactics - it certainly didn't look any different. It just seemed like Wigan clocked what we were up to, and their confidence grew the more of the ball they saw; which was a lot.

[SMD]

Listen little boy, in what way has he got your support? Because you don't boo him? Fuck off you idiot. I take that back, your post is so stupid and unaware that it's gotta be a joke.

Chapeau, you nearly got me.

The irony is so fantastic.