Today's Official Match Thread

[ronan]

nope that was his second game.
first game i think was a draw with spurs.

correct.

[univofchicago]

Saving the team for Tuesday I reckon.

He should have saved the team last Sunday...

It's the Premiership that matters....

Err...this feels horrible.....

[ferg]

(hope you don't mind me posting here that on setanta ireland - arsenal v aston villa is starting in 2 mins). hope villa destroy them!

[LFCman]

Just didn't happen for us today. Some of the selections were questionable by Rafa IMO but we still had enough situations to win it.

But what the hell was with so many long balls? Hyypia's passing was abysmal and also Gerrard had one of the poorest games I can remember from him for a long time.

Too many players were just off the ball today.

Also, on a side note. Robbie Slater, some of you may remember him, does comments on Fox Sports down here and he said pre-game that he heard from sources in Liverpool(he has family in Liverpool and was born there I believe) that Lucas Neill is close to signing with us and at FT has been talking about it as if it is really going to happen.

[univofchicago]

said he's pretty pleased with the result but he's disappointed with the penalty (i don't think we deserved it) as it wasn't one. he wasn't as arrogant and tempestuous as he usually is.

You really think it wasn't a penalty?

I thought it was.

The thing is the United defender did NOT make contact. But his tackle completely missed the ball and, in the process, Gerrard lost balance. I thought it was a definate penalty.

[ronan]

(hope you don't mind me posting here that on setanta ireland - arsenal v aston villa is starting in 2 mins). hope villa destroy them!

more chance of wenger seeing one of his players foul

[The Glove]

To be fair, we bossed Chelsea about with much the same team and you'd like to think it wouldve been capable to **** over Sheffield United. Zenden had a woeful game and the less said about Kromkamp the better. Aurelio and Agger are probably still getting used to Rafa's defensive plans and really, its Carra who barks out the orders and you can be 99% certain that if he was still on the pitch that wouldnt have gone in. I kow Aurelio played under Rafa but he will have gt used ot playing a differnt way so will just be adjusting again.

[LFCman]

It wasn't a penalty, no way it was.

[univofchicago]

But what the hell was with so many long balls? Hyypia's passing was abysmal and also Gerrard had one of the poorest games I can remember from him for a long time.

I don't think Gerrard is fit yet.

As for Hyypia's long ball, it isn't much use when you don't have Peter Crouch.

We really missed his presence today...should have started instead of Fowler...

[ningnangnong]

I've gotta say, although Zenden tries very hard, i just don't rate him.

I thought Gonzalez and Aurelio had some nice touches.

[Kangakop]

as long as Rafa learns the lesson (which he has a habit of doing...) we may count ourselves lucky. That was a very soft penalty - and we failed to press any of our chances.

It was a very disjointed performance (highlighting the intrinsic problem with rotation for rotation's sake?)... the early injuries forced Rafa's hand ( and blunted our sting somewhat - losing two of our main back four with one already missing) ... and prevented him altering our shape as needed.

As most of us agreed, it cried out for Crouch - who was Pennant going to cross to? a tired Bellamy (who had tried all game)...?

Hard to rate many of our players highly today... let's move on?

[stevenage_kop]

if alonso had of played gerrard would of played better. jk was rubbish bring back finnan

[ronan]

fact is, no matter who was out on the pitch we should have beaten sheff utd.
we did'nt, we played poorly an din the end got a draw.
we have a lot of tough games coming up very early this year so lets hope we can push on from this, something we failed to do once we scored today.

[blacky]

Also, on a side note. Robbie Slater, some of you may remember him, does comments on Fox Sports down here and he said pre-game that he heard from sources in Liverpool(he has family in Liverpool and was born there I believe) that Lucas Neill is close to signing with us and at FT has been talking about it as if it is really going to happen.

Lucas Neill?............................Krompkamps replacement

[paulcooper4]

I felt we started with the wrong side. Away from home against a battling side we should ALWAYS have a big strong fella up front ( crouch or kuyt). You will get away with 2 little fellas only at anfield or games away at the likes of spurs or west ham where they play football. Kromkamp was ****. Aurelio wasnt ready for a away game against that style of team yet. The biggest problem though was having to use our 2 subs up so early. It was crying out for crouch in the second half, but ONLY if we could have bought pennant on with him. Although stevey G was involved in everything, I wish he could have stayed out wide right more often to keep the teams shape.

On a plus side, were top of the league due to the alphabet. were still unbeaten in the league and god has got a goal ratio of 100%.

Straws.......clutching..........at




I am 100% convinced though that this squad can win the league title