Liverpool vs. Valencia

[einar]

Am I the only one who saw a bit of Rafas Valencia finally coming trough yesterday?

I must say I get butterflies in my belly thinking about Rafa and all that cash.

[Red_Polo]

I think we saw it for quite a while last season, yesterday and also Villa at home were the only times that kind of performance has come through this season but I do think bit by bit we are getting there. Yesterday showed how good we can be when we play with confidence and the wide men perform well. Things are certainly looking good for the future under Rafa...

[enema of the state]

Am I the only one who saw a bit of Rafas Valencia finally coming trough yesterday?

I must say I get butterflies in my belly thinking about Rafa and all that cash.

no, i saw it too

what i also saw was a side that believed in its SYSTEM and kept at it even when bolton frustrated them for an hour.

it was a hallmark of lfc in the 70's and 80's and is a really positive sign

[disco]

I reckon there must be a deliberate time/scoreline dependent strategy.

First half, it's mainly the front 4 attacking, with some support from Alonso, Riise, Finnan and Gerrard, but quite cagey. Let's call this Plan A.

If that hasn't worked then from halftime onwards Plan B kicks in and we see Gerrard in the box a lot, Alonso on the edge of the box etc.

If THAT doesn't work, or we fall behind, then it's Plan C - **** or bust, all hands on deck.

I think this is deliberate to conserve energy i.e. there's no way you could do do plan B or C for an entire game, 4 times in 10 days

[disco]

Indeed, two thirds of our goals are scored in the second half.

May's well not turn up before half time

[rushscored4]

Am I the only one who saw a bit of Rafas Valencia finally coming trough yesterday? I must say I get butterflies in my belly thinking about Rafa and all that cash.

The big difference between Valencia c. 2002-2004 and the present Liverpool squad is how we play away from home. Valencia under Benitez were extremely difficult to beat away from the Mestalla and often used to grind out 1-0 or 2-1 wins. We proved last Saturday against Spurs that we can do it occasionally but our away form is just not consistent enough for us to think about competing in the league against Man U & Chelsea as Valencia did against Real Madrid & Barca.

[Rocket]

I reckon there must be a deliberate time/scoreline dependent strategy.

First half, it's mainly the front 4 attacking, with some support from Alonso, Riise, Finnan and Gerrard, but quite cagey. Let's call this Plan A.

If that hasn't worked then from halftime onwards Plan B kicks in and we see Gerrard in the box a lot, Alonso on the edge of the box etc.

If THAT doesn't work, or we fall behind, then it's Plan C - **** or bust, all hands on deck.

I think this is deliberate to conserve energy i.e. there's no way you could do do plan B or C for an entire game, 4 times in 10 days

make some sort of spreadsheet / pie chart and come back to us with a powerpoint presentation

[lfcruleus]

I agree, can anyone remember the last time we scored a really early goal in the league?

[Red_Al_77]

Charlton 2mins

[lfcruleus]

Ok smart arse apart from that?

The point is we dont get many in the first 15 cos we dont commit heavily forward.

[lfcruleus]

and it was the most ridiculous penno of all time by Bambi on Ice

[Red_Al_77]

Ok smart arse apart from that?

The point is we dont get many in the first 15 cos we dont commit heavily forward.

You did ask

I think the point worth making is that our first goal is on average in the 53rd min. We are a 2nd half side....and even in the Charlton game it took us till the 2nd half to bury them

[Morph]

The big difference between Valencia c. 2002-2004 and the present Liverpool squad is how we play away from home. Valencia under Benitez were extremely difficult to beat away from the Mestalla and often used to grind out 1-0 or 2-1 wins. We proved last Saturday against Spurs that we can do it occasionally but our away form is just not consistent enough for us to think about competing in the league against Man U & Chelsea as Valencia did against Real Madrid & Barca.

The problem is that we haven't been able to get an early goal which has already been spoken about here. Once we get the goal we know we are more than capable of siting back on it and more than likely not conceding, but until we can get the knack of getting the early goal then our away trips are always going to be difficult.

[Speedy]

Am I the only one who saw a bit of Rafas Valencia finally coming trough yesterday?

I must say I get butterflies in my belly thinking about Rafa and all that cash.

Rafael Benitez's transfer record is shambolic. I'm thinking Ashley Young and Lucas Neil.

[Red Chilli]

Speedy you rotter!