Today's Official Match Thread

[univofchicago]

so we have to have crouch instead of fowler to accomodate hyypia wayward long range going-no-where passes?

But still, I felt Crouch should have started today...

Alonso should have started as well...

Garcia should have been on the bench...

and Zenden should never have started...

Depressing...

[kurtangle01]

It was a disappointing result and it did feel like a defeat, but it's far from indicative of where we'll finish up.

I think the injuries were absolutely key to the game. Firstly, I doubt very much that Hulse would have had a free header had Carra and Riise been playing in defence. And, as Andy Gray kept pointing out, there was only one member of our back line that did so well last season that played the majority of the game - and, with all resepect to Sami, he is the oldest, slowest and least vocal of that back line.

But more importantly, the fact that it took up two substitutions really hurt us. If, when Sheffield United were tiring, we could have been able to bring Crouch and Pennant on, switching Gerrard to the centre, we would have been far more dangerous and the result would probably have been different. Gonzalez and Pennant crossing for Crouch, the big man linking with Bellamy, Gerrard buzzing around in the centre making things happen and playing balls through for Bellamy or out wide for Gonzalez and Pennant - all of these things would have been really useful for us but were unavailable because of the injuries.

So I've not changed my mind that we can win it this year. After all, if Chelsea had just drawn 1-1 with Sheffield United would we be writing them off?

lets not forget that chelsea were 2 minutes away from a draw in their opening game last year only for a piece of individual brilliance from crespo.

i'm expecting a more open title race this year so i expect other clubs will drop points as we did today.

good post mate!

[blacky]

Lads the Boro are 2 up away to reading after 20mins. This should put any excuses we had today to bed

[blacky]

2 yellow cards in 2 mins for traore..................................red card on his charlton debut...haha

[G_Man]

Blacky, these posts go in the Premiership-week 1 thread

[Kangakop]

It was a disappointing result and it did feel like a defeat, but it's far from indicative of where we'll finish up.

I think the injuries were absolutely key to the game. Firstly, I doubt very much that Hulse would have had a free header had Carra and Riise been playing in defence. And, as Andy Gray kept pointing out, there was only one member of our back line that did so well last season that played the majority of the game - and, with all resepect to Sami, he is the oldest, slowest and least vocal of that back line.

But more importantly, the fact that it took up two substitutions really hurt us. If, when Sheffield United were tiring, we could have been able to bring Crouch and Pennant on, switching Gerrard to the centre, we would have been far more dangerous and the result would probably have been different. Gonzalez and Pennant crossing for Crouch, the big man linking with Bellamy, Gerrard buzzing around in the centre making things happen and playing balls through for Bellamy or out wide for Gonzalez and Pennant - all of these things would have been really useful for us but were unavailable because of the injuries.

So I've not changed my mind that we can win it this year. After all, if Chelsea had just drawn 1-1 with Sheffield United would we be writing them off?

Now that I've calmed down - I agree with your assessment. The early injuries robbed us of the flexibility that Rafa has so carefully assembled... and he will learn the lesson.

(PS If Chel$ki had drawn with SU - I'd be pissing myself laughing at them - as I've already written them off )

[baronvonskidmark]

Lads the Boro are 2 up away to reading after 20mins. This should put any excuses we had today to bed

I don't think that they are excuses though mate. Today was a freak game. How often does a team lose two of its favoured back line in the first half through injury, with another having been unavailable through injury?

And that's without mentioning the ensuing restriction of 'possibilities' that dealt Rafa.

I see that Djimi's been sent off half hour into his Charlton debut for two yellows. YNWA Djimi.

[blacky]

Doh.......sorry G Man

[kurtangle01]

Lads the Boro are 2 up away to reading after 20mins. This should put any excuses we had today to bed

I don't remember anyone making excuses.

[G_Man]

No probs mate, just letting you know about the thread

[kurtangle01]

No probs mate, just letting you know about the thread

what thread mr.iron?

[G_Man]

The "this week in the premiership" thread:

http://www.est1892.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=2450

[Diego]

damn i pissed ofat todays perfomance...

zenden was piss, he didn't handle the pressure, if alonso was a no show, why not start gerrard in the middle with sissoko, and pennant on the right...

just found out the kromkamp is not as good as i had hoped...

we just didn't play well, put we weren't allowed to play well either, that ****wit rob styles should be dropedm he was already reffing this championship standard, he let the boss uss around, tackles flying, players injured, but if we did somethig yellow card, he didn't let us play football he was encouraging long ball tactics, it was as if liverpool were trying to play in the lower leagues not the other way around, the only good thing he did was the penalty, it was a clear and cut penalty that not many refs would have blown a whistle to, he rob gerrard of a goalscoring oportunity and thats a foul, but possably a red card as well...

it was a game well below par, we haven't won anything, second place or even third isn't granted lets this be a wake up call, we need to be on par next time...

[blacky]

I don't remember anyone making excuses.

There was a "playing a promoted team away on the first day of the season is a hard game" excuse or two doing the rounds. Comparisons to Chelsea Wigan last year also made. I was just implying that we should not use excuses if Boro can go 2 up away to reading who romped the 1st division last year.

[blacky]

And just as I post that I see reading have drawn level....................shut up blacky