Heeeeeeeeere's the RATINGSSSSS!!!!

[Shaggy]

£7m for a decoy, brilliant.

No need to be facetious. There's clearly more to his game than the one single facet I just mentioned. Whether you like it or not, that one single facet was absolutely key in us scoring the winner tonight.

I cannot believe people are on his case after a 25 minute substitute appearance?

[univofchicago]

Whether you like it or not, that one single facet was absolutely key in us scoring the winner tonight.

[paulcooper4]

No need to be facetious. There's clearly more to his game than the one single facet I just mentioned. Whether you like it or not, that one single facet was absolutely key in us scoring the winner tonight.

I cannot believe people are on his case after a 25 minute substitute appearance?

I cant understand it myself mate. theres players at the club that I dont rate particularly highly, but if they play well in a game I say so. I feel with crouch though, whatever he does these dunk-programmed robots will slate him. he comes across as a really nice lad, hes very professional, and does a very good job nearly every time he goes out on the pitch.

[rebel23]

Where have I said he's not a good player , just out of interest.

I remember you getting all worked up on Koptalk about this too. Should I bring a whole bunch if sticks with me next time i visit here so you can grab the wrong end of each one of them too ?

you were judging him after some meaningless friendly in Ireland, your 'friend' Ryan went further and judged him after another meaningless friendly in which you concurred. i'll save that for tomorrow though

you also suggested Forlan looked 'great' in Spain, suggesting that Gonzalez wasn't as good as some people considered

[Rosco]

you were judging him after some meaningless friendly in Ireland, your 'friend' Ryan went further and judged him after another meaningless friendly in which you concurred. i'll save that for tomorrow though

You failed ot answer the first time, so I'll ask you again.
Where have I said he's a bad player ?

All I've said is he looks the sort of player who'll need time to adjust to the Premiership. One goal against Maccabi Haifa doesn't change that.

I've seen him in the flesh mate, it's lot easier to judge a player in the flesh than from pictures on Sky Sports (which I've also seen too).

[rebel23]

You failed ot answer the first time, so I'll ask you again.
Where have I said he's a bad player ?

see edit

[Rosco]

see edit

So i haven't said it. Thanks

[Le Chacal]

The more I see us play the more I think we wont get more points than last season if Rafa keeps playing that 4-4-1-1 or 4-5-1 or whatever cautious formation, esp. at Anfield. I was fuming when Bellamy went out and Crouch then coming in. We started to play long balls to him and it was even worse...I rate Crouch but he's absolutely useless without another striker beside him. As I feared Alonso wasnt fit at all and gave some crucial balls away...We'll win games with 2 strikers and an attacking midfielder behind them:

I've been saying that for a year now: Gerrard has to play behind two strikers.

Bellamy was alone, Crouch was alone...Stevie is the best to get 2nd balls (FA Cup goals)..It was painful to see Pennant doing a great job on the right, crossing the ball and seeing 1 red in that box with 5 Maccabi players around him...

Reina: 6
Finnan: 6
Carra: 6
Hyypia: 6
Riise: 6
Zenden: 5
Alonso: 4
Gerrard: 6
Sissoko: 7
Pennant: 8
Bellamy: 7 (goal)

Crouch: 6
Garcia: 6
Speedy: 7 (goal)

[mark1975]

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.

Was thinking the same thing during the game. He needs the freedom, so playing in a central midfield two or as part of a front two doesnt work, I still think he's best utilised on the inside right (ala Nedved, Zidane etc on the left).. problem is, we now have Pennant who is a natural winger (though obviously not as good as the maestro).

Hmmm, three into two doesnt go and it'll be interesting to see how Rafa works it. Some people might call it 'options', and a positive thing, I see it as being something of a weight around the gaffa's neck...

[red_in_oz]

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

Totally agree. He stood out a mile for me. Always willing to run at the opposition and put some tasty crosses in.

If Rafa can get his head right nad keep him out of trouble he will THRIVE playing for us and could become an England regular.

Keep it up young Pennant!

[Don Quixote]

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.

Maybe a bit similar in the forward line, but only because Gerrard isn't capable of doing the job he has been given.

You can't describe it as "Gerrard and Sissoko more attacking". Sissoko is clearly plenty deeper than Gerrard - you're trying to change the way these guys are playing to fit your idea that the formations are the same.

433 and 4231 are not principally the same formation, which is what you are trying to suggest, regardless of Gerrard's ineptitude as a striker.

P.S. it isn't his fault. He should be playing where Sissoko is, naturally, or in place of Pennant. We can't play them all at once, it doesn't work.

[Howard_lfc]

Right.

Haven't read all of the thread but a couple of things stood out for me.

The back 4 as a unit performed at about 60-70% of their capabilities and they looked slow.(I know it's still pre-season though).

Xabi was poor last night. I'd have given him the curly finger and put Crouch up front with Bellamy. Playing the way we did - they always had a covering defender.
Momo and Pennant played well - Zenden didn't - but Rafa himself said that BZ is a cm nowadays. I'd have brought Gonzales on earlier.

Gerrard as a second striker should not be an option - and probably wont be once/if we get Dirk Kuyt. SG is better coming onto the ball from deep. His understanding/link up with Crouch was sorely missing last night.

Thought L'il Luis was great when he came on.

This was always going to be a difficult tie - and so it proved. However, we'll have another 2 weeks fitness under our belt before the next game and they'll have to come out and play a little more which should hopefully leave more space behind for the wide players and Bellamy to exploit. At worst, we'll get a draw in the return leg.

H

[brikkis]

I really hope Aurileo is the answer to left back as Riise scares the life out of me there. He's much better at left midfield

[univofchicago]

I really hope Aurileo is the answer to left back as Riise scares the life out of me there. He's much better at left midfield

Admit Riise was poor yesterday, but he has been one of our consistent performers over the last two years so I have reason to believe it was a one-off.

[Ryan]

Reina - Smashing save at the end, which he looked rather pleased by. Apart from that, fcuk all. (6)

Finnan - Our best defender last night. Fcuk Kromkamp, fcuk Alves, fcuk Barragan, fcuk Trabelsi. (7)

The People's Carra - Had precious little to do. (6)

Sami - Ditto. (6)

Riise - Absolutely all over the place. I'll reserve this for a thread later though. (4)

Pennant - Super debut. Lovely touch, got his head up, linked well with Finnan, and seems to be full of confidence. If I'm nitpicking, which obviously I am, I thought he looked a little reluctant to go past the last defender. Countless times he was left one-on-one against a hapless, booked left back and wouldn't go at him and get to the byline, which would have ensured enough time for our attack/midfield to get into the box. That, and the fact that his superb crossing ability is wasted. I said all along that we didn't need him - His main asset is crossing, we have nobody who can head the ball. Unless we get a Kuyt or a Toni or a Trezeguet, we'll not get the best out of Pennant. Anyway, enough, very good. (8)

Sissoko - He is a fcuking terrific footballer. (7)

Alonso - Was my man of the match. Plays the game as if he's watched it all on TV the night before. (8)

Gerrard - You could play him in goal, and he'd still be influential. I'd pick a bog-standard 4-3-2 around him and tell him to go wherever the fcuk he felt like. Build the team around him Rafa, not Chabby and Momo. (7)

Zenden - As I predicted; slow as erosion. Fcukin ****e. (4)

Bellamy - Bright, inventive, sharp, needs a strike partner. Nice goal, nice start. He gets a 7, he would have got an 8 if I didn't have that image of his face contorting and scrunching like a bag of wet crisps whirling round in my head. (7)

Subs:

Gonzalez - Nice start Gonzo. Should have played ahead of Goslo Zenden. (7)
Garcia - Top top class. (8)
Crouch - Fcuking abysmal, comme d'hab. The thought of having to watch this goat for another season breaks my heart. (4)