Heeeeeeeeere's the RATINGSSSSS!!!!

[red g]

Don, I think we're talking about the same thing from different angles and just annoying the **** out of each other

IF we play Alonso, Gerrard, Sissoko fairly central (with Gerrard and/or Sissoko more attacking) with 2 of Kewell/Gonzales/Pennant/Garcia and 1 of Fowler/Bellamy/Crouch, then our set-up would be very similar to Chelsea's last year.

wish i would never have mentioned it now

[red g]

Was it me or did Pennant and Finnan look like they've been playing together for years?

I didn't realise Pennant hugged the line quite so much, and he appears particularly adept at whipping great crosses in from seemingly lost causes/blind alleys. I like.

I agree, was particularly impressed when itlooked dead and a pearler of a cross came in ...quality

[univofchicago]

I didn't realise Pennant hugged the line quite so much, and he appears particularly adept at whipping great crosses in from seemingly lost causes/blind alleys. I like.

Yeah. I noticed that too. Just seems a different player from what I was used to watching at Birmingham. Maybe I underestimated how crap a side Birmingham were...

[disco]

wish i would never have mentioned it now

So do I

[Bob]

Well, not exactly a top class display, but I think we can be thankful that we've come away with a win. Benitez picked the wrong side, but some inspired substitutions saved the day.

Reina (7). Fcuk all to do for most of the game, but one inspired save at the end saved us.

Finnan (6). Did better supporting the attack than he did in defence, where he lost his man on occasion, but overall better than average.

Hyypia (6). Not his best display ever, and badly caught out along with most of the defence for the goal, but largely untroubled apart from the odd moment.

Carragher (6). Looked a bit rusty, but I love him, so 6.

Riise (6). Again, looked a bit wobbly at times, especially in the first half, but attacked well in the second and showed some nice touches.

Alonso (5). By his stellar standards, I thought El Surgeon was ordinary. Some passing was typically sublime, but too often missed his targets and looked horribly one-paced at times.

Sissoko (7). I've been critical, and still wince at some of his frankly loopy decison-making, but his passing looks to have improved tremendously, got through a huge amount of work and even had a shot on target!

The Weeble (2). ****e.

Tennants (7). MOTM. So great to see a proper winger, taking players on, delivering crosses, trickery, determination. A very promising debut. Well done, Asbo.

Gerrard (6). Hmmmmm. Didn't really work in any position, but still our most dynamic and determined player. Too far forward in support of Bellamy, retarded to play him left. He must play in the middle, or in a roaming role. Support striker? No, he's too constricted. If he's the spare man, don't make him support a striker, let him loose wherever. Otherwise, play him in central midfield. Benitez hasn't got a clue what to do with Stevie G and THAT is a worry.

Bellamy (7). Old no-neck was a constant pest and full-time menace. Plenty of pace, trickery and a goal. Bit disappointed to see him wandering - a la Henry - over to the wings, when he must KNOW there's no one else in the box, but overall, well happy. Great if we got another striker in to play next to him.

Subs:

Garcia (6). Always makes things happen, Great player

Rodders (4). Not much to get excited about.

Gonzo (7). GOALGOALGOALGOALGOAL. Should have started.

Brendan,

I'm way too drunk, though i can confidently say most of that is rubbish! That's as poor a player's rating allocation as i've seen in some time.

I'll watch the game again tonight (maybe) and type my comments in the morning.

No offence B though that smacks of prejudgement.

It's a comment i'm loathe to make - as it's obvious - but you don't play much football do you? - or perhaps you've been poorly coached.

I'll temper that seemingly nasty reply by saying i've enjoyed most of your posts on here so far!

[paulcooper4]

overall we looked rusty. but our record this seaon is 100% 1 game 1 win. sissoko and pennant were the best players. all 3 subs done very well when they came on. Did you lot watch the same game as me when you are saying crouch was ****e? he won his headers and put himself about, they were **** scared of him and backed off which enabled us to put the pressure on. garcia was very good too and what can you say about speedy`s 1st competitive game? touched the ball about 4 or 5 times and scored a goal, will do for me.
now i will sit back and watch dunks brainwashed robots pull me to bits for daring to suggest crouch (sorry rodders/lurch) was anything other than abysmal.

[disco]

overall we looked rusty. but our record this seaon is 100% 1 game 1 win. sissoko and pennant were the best players. all 3 subs done very well when they came on. Did you lot watch the same game as me when you are saying crouch was ****e? he won his headers and put himself about, they were **** scared of him and backed off which enabled us to put the pressure on. garcia was very good too and what can you say about speedy`s 1st competitive game? touched the ball about 4 or 5 times and scored a goal, will do for me.
now i will sit back and watch dunks brainwashed robots pull me to bits for daring to suggest crouch (sorry rodders/lurch) was anything other than abysmal.

I said the same earlier, so I agree

[Rosco]

Reina 6 - Not much to do, I actually fancied him to save the shot for the goal. I was probably expecting too much !

Finnan 7 - Solid at the back and supported Pennant quite well.

Hyypia 7 - Solid as usual

Carra - See Hyypia.

Riise 6 - defended well at times, but he did make some mistakes

Zenden 5 - Offered little attacking threat

Alonso 7 - Some nice passing, worked hard tracking back too.

Sissoko 7.5 - I love watching him play, he did make a couple of mistakes but he did so much right.

Gerrard 6 - Playing just off the striker doesn't suit him and it showed.

Pennant 7.5 - Probably edges MOM for me. Used the ball very well, didn't waste a lot of possession. Got crosses in from seemingly impossible positions at times.

Bellamy 7 - Promising. Lots of movement, good touches and a poachers to boot.

Garcia 6.5 - Possibly a 7, made a right nuisance of himself. Was unlucky not to get a penalty.

Gonzalez 7 - Purely for scoring the winner.

Crouch 5 - Missed three chances and gave the ball back to the opposition on all but one occasion that he touched the ball.

[univofchicago]

all 3 subs done very well when they came on. Did you lot watch the same game as me when you are saying crouch was ****e? he won his headers and put himself about, they were **** scared of him and backed off which enabled us to put the pressure on.

Hey Paul,

I don't know if you are aware, but Brendan always says Crouch is ****e. Usually Crouch gets a 1 or 2, but he is being quite generous today and gave him a four! Just to let you know...

By the way, I agree with you, Crouch made a difference when he came on.

[Shaggy]

*Sigh* Here we go again...

For what it's worth I thought Crouch did okay. He was unlucky with one good header that flashed less than a foot wide, won another header in the box that perhaps he should have done better with, but most importantly his mere presence allowed Speedy the time and space to score the winner.

If you'll forgive the expression, Crouch ALWAYS 'sucks people in'. He had his marker tight to him when Xabi flighted the ball in, when another defender got sucked towards Crouch/the ball thus allowing Speedy the space to slot home.

It's a priceless facet of his game and it's worked SO many times for us (and England too in the friendly v Argentina). When the pro-Crouch fans put this forward as one his key attributes, the haters say it's a lily-livered, barely worthwhile moot point. Well it's not. Clearly.

[JermainePennant]

I have thought Pennant would be the perfect for us for a while and so far he is looking good.I saw a lot of pennant last season and I thought tonight he was good but I have seen him play better.When he gets used to playing with the players I think he will be a lot better, normally his crosses are better and more accurate.
I think he plays better with a target man and for the first half he only had bellamy to aim at.

Bellamy was very good tonight and I think he will be better when Alonso and Gerrad get their match fitness and I think he is better playing with someone alongside him.

[Rosco]

*Sigh* Here we go again...

For what it's worth I thought Crouch did okay. He was unlucky with one good header that flashed less than a foot wide, won another header in the box that perhaps he should have done better with, but most importantly his mere presence allowed Speedy the time and space to score the winner.

If you'll forgive the expression, Crouch ALWAYS 'sucks people in'. He had his marker tight to him when Xabi flighted the ball in, when another defender got sucked towards Crouch/the ball thus allowing Speedy the space to slot home.

It's a priceless facet of his game and it's worked SO many times for us (and England too in the friendly v Argentina). When the pro-Crouch fans put this forward as one his key attributes, the haters say it's a lily-livered, barely worthwhile moot point. Well it's not. Clearly.

£7m for a decoy, brilliant.

[Shaggy]

I have thought Pennant would be the perfect for us for a while and so far he is looking good.I saw a lot of pennant last season and I thought tonight he was good but I have seen him play better.When he gets used to playing with the players I think he will be a lot better, normally his crosses are better and more accurate.

Says JermainePennant.

[El Diego]

managed to watch probably half the game in total (missed all the goals) and Pennant and Bellamy looked very good, just wish we had another striker up there with Craig.

[Bob]

*Sigh* Here we go again...

For what it's worth I thought Crouch did okay. He was unlucky with one good header that flashed less than a foot wide, won another header in the box that perhaps he should have done better with, but most importantly his mere presence allowed Speedy the time and space to score the winner.

If you'll forgive the expression, Crouch ALWAYS 'sucks people in'. He had his marker tight to him when Xabi flighted the ball in, when another defender got sucked towards Crouch/the ball thus allowing Speedy the space to slot home.

It's a priceless facet of his game and it's worked SO many times for us (and England too in the friendly v Argentina). When the pro-Crouch fans put this forward as one his key attributes, the haters say it's a lily-livered, barely worthwhile moot point. Well it's not. Clearly.

To be fair to Brendan. Crouch is utterly inept in front of goal. We've seen it throughout his career. Refs give him a rough time, possibly because they see more than we do.

First thing i said in the game - we need a fox n the box. THough nothing wrong with Bellamy playing the wide/deep role - he has the mobility, lets utilise that!

Boy do we need Kuyt

442 is our best formation.

LCD is a weakness. That's Left Central Defence not...