The weekend's thoughts

[Taffy]

These are my thought on this weekend's happenings:

Disappointed that we could only manage a point away to a team that's just got promoted. If we want to have any hopes of really giving the title challenge a good go this season then we simply must beat teams like Sheff Utd away from home.

The hard facts were that we just didn't perform, and only showed any kind of urgency and form after we conceded - we should be doing that straight from the off, especially as we've played two 'competitive games' before then and should have been 'match sharper' than them. However, Brammall Lane will be a tough place to go this season, and Warnock will have them lot fired up over there all season I guess.

So, having looked at the facts of the game - we just didn't perform, they did and battled well, and teams will have a tough time of it at their place this season then I suppose a point isn't that bad - but I've been saying all last week that we need to get out of the blocks well so it adds more pressure to get results in the next few games ( it was our slow start that cost us a real challenge last season so it must be addressed this time around).

What I feel is worse though is the loss of Carragher and Riise. These two are crucial to us and will be greatly missed, especially in Tuesday's game. In fact, I am quite worried now for the Haifa return leg as we need players like Carra and JAR in that one! One goal and they're through, end of, and if they get an early one I can see them just trying to hold on in the hope we can't break them down. Sheff Utd almost managed it after they scored, and I'm sure Haifa would have noted that.

An early goal will do us the world of good on Tuesday so I'm just hoping for that at present, but I'm praying that Finnan will be fit, as a defence of Kromkamp, Agger, Hyypia and Aurelio (if that's what we play) doesn't fill me with confidence, I'm sorry to say. I sound like a real moody sod don't I, and I should just be glad that the proper footie is back. The league is a marathon and not a sprint, so I'm not going to be jumping off a bridge just yet!

So, here's to LFC getting through on Tuesday followed by some success in our league games to keep pace with both Chelsea and the mancs, who both got off to convincing winning starts today.

[Charlie_B]

i apologise for being the first to repky to your welthoughtout post

bearing in mid we were never going to play Chavs, Arse, Manc or Evertn, a away fixture agianst a promoted side was the worst possible fixture,.

had we not lost riis end carra we could probs play ****e but have made the changes to strecth ther game and win even wehn playing crap.

we were rubbish but still couldbve won

first xi not good enoyugh on the dat, injuroes forced into subs we wouldn't hasve made til later.

shame, but e'rll mve on./

haVE TO bweat west ham chavs and everton now

[kurtangle01]

I'm dissapointed that we never won but it's not the end of the world because we have another 37 games to turn it round. It was a bit of a blow that the chavs and the scum got off to good starts but they will drop points as we did yesterday. We just need to get this game out of the way on Tuesday and Rafa will be a lot bolder in his team selection IMHO. We had no Xabi or Luis yeaterday and when you see what happened to Carra and JAR it's probably just as well!!! The injuries to both of them really restricted Rafa in terms of being able to change the shape of the team tactically and that ultimately cost us all 3 points.

We will get better it's a marathon not a sprint.

[Taffy]

i apologise for being the first to repky to your welthoughtout post

bearing in mid we were never going to play Chavs, Arse, Manc or Evertn, a away fixture agianst a promoted side was the worst possible fixture,.

had we not lost riis end carra we could probs play ****e but have made the changes to strecth ther game and win even wehn playing crap.

we were rubbish but still couldbve won

first xi not good enoyugh on the dat, injuroes forced into subs we wouldn't hasve made til later.

shame, but e'rll mve on./

haVE TO bweat west ham chavs and everton now

A bit drunk were we Charlie!

[Taffy]

I'm dissapointed that we never won but it's not the end of the world because we have another 37 games to turn it round. It was a bit of a blow that the chavs and the scum got off to good starts but they will drop points as we did yesterday. We just need to get this game out of the way on Tuesday and Rafa will be a lot bolder in his team selection IMHO. We had no Xabi or Luis yeaterday and when you see what happened to Carra and JAR it's probably just as well!!! The injuries to both of them really restricted Rafa in terms of being able to change the shape of the team tactically and that ultimately cost us all 3 points.

We will get better it's a marathon not a sprint.

You are right mate - it's a marathon not a sprint, and one hiccup doesn't mean disaster (although it's always nice to get off to a good start - but it seems LFC don't normally do good starts going by the record books!).

The top two (currently) will drop points along the way but we don't want to be making it easier for them do we! Saturday's selections had tomorrow's game in mind, obviously, so I'm hoping Rafa gets it right and we manage to progress without trouble in Kiev, but it will be more difficult now without Carra and JAR.

I'm trying to keep positive as we're currently in the driving seat, and they simply have to score against us to have any chance of qualifying, so I'm backing Rafa to guide us through whatever the line-up he chooses. We have by far enough quality to get through and our attacking options should be good enough on the night. Crouch should start and, as you say, Garcia and Alonso missed Saturday and will be raring to go.

Once we get through tomorrow night I'm sure that Saturday's disappointment will feel a lot less difficult to take!

[Anfield Mole]

I'm not to worried about the draw on Saturday, my reasons are as follows.

The team that started was a team that to me suggested that Rafa Benitez was focussed on Tuesday nights game in Kiev. I say that because I don't think the likes of Zenden, Aurelio and Kronkamp would have started the game ahead of Finnan, Alonso and Gonzales if Benitez hadn't been keen to rest players ahead of the Haifa game. Champions League qualification is far more important to the club than getting all 3 points in the first game of the season.

I don't think we played that well, but despite that we got something out of the game. A team that is going to challenge for honours needs to be able to do this occasionaly.

Roll on Tuesday night.

[Jack D Rips]

I'm not to worried about the draw on Saturday, my reasons are as follows.

The team that started was a team that to me suggested that Rafa Benitez was focussed on Tuesday nights game in Kiev. I say that because I don't think the likes of Zenden, Aurelio and Kronkamp would have started the game ahead of Finnan, Alonso and Gonzales if Benitez hadn't been keen to rest players ahead of the Haifa game. Champions League qualification is far more important to the club than getting all 3 points in the first game of the season.

I don't think we played that well, but despite that we got something out of the game. A team that is going to challenge for honours needs to be able to do this occasionaly.

Roll on Tuesday night.

I agree with you but I am a bit worried that Rafa is touting Zenden as a CM. Quite honestly I dont think he's worth his place on the team - anywhere!

[Taffy]

I'm not to worried about the draw on Saturday, my reasons are as follows.

The team that started was a team that to me suggested that Rafa Benitez was focussed on Tuesday nights game in Kiev. I say that because I don't think the likes of Zenden, Aurelio and Kronkamp would have started the game ahead of Finnan, Alonso and Gonzales if Benitez hadn't been keen to rest players ahead of the Haifa game. Champions League qualification is far more important to the club than getting all 3 points in the first game of the season.

I don't think we played that well, but despite that we got something out of the game. A team that is going to challenge for honours needs to be able to do this occasionaly.

Roll on Tuesday night.

I agree that Rafa's team selection had tomorrow's game in mind, but for me it's disappointing that we failed to beat Sheff Utd in our opening game given that we should have been fitter/sharper than them with the games we'd already played.

[Anfield Mole]

I agree that Rafa's team selection had tomorrow's game in mind, but for me it's disappointing that we failed to beat Sheff Utd in our opening game given that we should have been fitter/sharper than them with the games we'd already played.

I think that loosing two players in the first half an hour had a big impact on things though.

[Bob]

I'll boldly predict Chelsea will not lose their ten opening games and will storm ahead.

Effectively by the turn of the year we'll start concentrating on Europe, and the cups. Man U will finish second 10pts adrift of Chelsea.

Will be delighted to be proven wrong of course!

[yeatsmate]

In my view, Kronkamp was poor, and I think that made the difference. I don't want to pin it all one person, but I think if you go back and watch, he had a shocker - I want to believe that the squad we had out on the field could have easily have won with Finnan in the squad.

Of the injuries, granted we will miss them, but Fabio and Agger have both done really well in their last two outings and will fit in nicely. I like the way Agger plays, he looks for the pass and will run it up the pitch himself.

We had a great spell of good footie after we went a goal down and just could keep it going after we equalized.

Here's looking forward to tomorrow and Saturday.

[Neil Young]

In my view, Kronkamp was poor, and I think that made the difference. I don't want to pin it all one person, but...

Not disagreeing with you about Kromkamp being poor but don't you think you're being a bit harsh? For a start, it's not as if Kromkamp was at fault for the goal.

[Taffy]

I think that loosing two players in the first half an hour had a big impact on things though.

Agreed.

[Taffy]

Not disagreeing with you about Kromkamp being poor but don't you think you're being a bit harsh? For a start, it's not as if Kromkamp was at fault for the goal.

I could argue that it was Kromkamp was the one that gave away the free kick!
















But I won't!

[Neil Young]

The team that started was a team that to me suggested that Rafa Benitez was focussed on Tuesday nights game in Kiev. I say that because I don't think the likes of Zenden, Aurelio and Kronkamp would have started the game ahead of Finnan, Alonso and Gonzales if Benitez hadn't been keen to rest players ahead of the Haifa game. Champions League qualification is far more important to the club than getting all 3 points in the first game of the season.

I don't think we played that well, but despite that we got something out of the game. A team that is going to challenge for honours needs to be able to do this occasionaly.

I think that loosing two players in the first half an hour had a big impact on things though.

I agree. It seems to me that Benitez always tries to judge what will be the minimum effort required in order to get the right result. He misjudged it on Saturday but his ability to change the game through second half substitutions was severely hampered by the two injuries.