Post Match Thread: Still unbeaten, Gerrard's on his way back....

[The Erectile Banana]

Fair enough.

But last yeaqr he played up front with Crouch and for me still fell short of the required standard.

And he's gotten worse since.

Surely Rafa doesn't think he's truely good enough? It really does worry me that. He signed him, and despite his poor perfomances this season he still picks him nearly every match.

I agree that his performance level has diminished this season, but I think as a team we have been playing poorly since the Derby game.

How many players can we say have a had a good season so far? Torres and Arbeloa and Mascher spring to mind but I'm struggling after that.

It is worrying that Rafa continues to pick out of form players despite his much vaunted rotation policy. This is exacerbated by the fact that he has alienated our top scorer from last season. If Crouch had played more of our premier league games and got his confidence up we could be in a much better position.

And whatever about Kuyt and Voronin individually they really shouldn't play together as their styles are too similar - their pairing reminds me of the Morientes/Crouch partnership of a few seasons ago - doomed to failure from the start.

[bigfooty]

But last yeaqr he played up front with Crouch and for me still fell short of the required standard.

Last season Kuyt + Crouch started 15 games, winning 12, drawing 1 and losing 2. The two we lost, the first was against Arsenal away when we had Zenden AND Gonzalez in the same midfield, the other was the FA Cup game with Arsenal.

[alunevans]

First half was pretty dire I felt. No movement off the ball. No players demanding it and making themselves available. Meaning possession was impossible. I watched how arsenal always had a simple option on. And how we rarely did.

Second half was better. I felt Crouch's introduction helped enormously. If Rafa has an issue with him he should bring in someone better and sell him. Until then, play your best players or the fans are being shortchanged. Crouch is our 2nd best striker in my view.

We were unlucky to lose Alonso who was being the calm head we needed in the second half.

Kuyt really did work his bollocks off, but sadly it doesn't make him good enough. I can't criticise him because his attitude is A1 but I don't see that he offers much else.

I thought second half we showed a lot of fight and spirit, and I think we deserve some praise.

The best team were Arsenal though I'd say.

Still, I'm not going to slag off that second half display. First half was depressingly woeful. But second half we did pretty well, and Rafa had no cards up his sleeve as the injuries robbed him of them.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Last season Kuyt + Crouch started 15 games, winning 12, drawing 1 and losing 2. The two we lost, the first was against Arsenal away when we had Zenden AND Gonzalez in the same midfield, the other was the FA Cup game with Arsenal.

What did we win last year then with him as our main striker?

And yes there are other areas of the team that aren't up to standard, just as there are areas where we are strong.

I don't see a striker who's main asset is hard work getting the job done if we want to be winning the league.

[Sir Bob]

Arsenal were outstanding at times today, their passing and movement was brilliant and way ahead of anything we could muster. Everyone of their players is so comfortable on the ball, they have no hoof merchants a la Riise. Also the likes of Kuyt & Voro aren't technically good enough to play the sort of game they play.

Having said that we looked dangerous going forward particulary from set plays. SG was very good today, as was Masher.

Wenger has shown you don't need massive amounts of cash to produce such a team and in truth we are lightyears away from producing that sort of play. At times the difference in quality was embarressingly wide

[bigfooty]

I agree with you Charlie, just I don't think Rafa helps matters with his rotation and formation tinkering. Kuyt and Crouch did have some good matches together but when you start only 1 in 4 games it's hard to drum up a really dangerous partnership.

[el matador]

there is another way to look at this.

Arsenal have won 12 games on the trot (apparently so) they scored 7 just a few days ago and are at the peak of their play and come to anfield with the highest amount of confidence possible. With the exception of Van Persie and Senderos a clean bill of health in terms of injuries.

Liverpool on the other hand have been playing poorly, got beat in turkey, have been low on confidence and the injury problems are just getting ridiculous. Torres wasnt fit, Alonso only just came back, agger out, kewell out, pennant out.

My point is that Arsenal at their best with everything behind them couldnt beat us today. 90% of people thought we would lose and we nearly did - BUT we also nearly won.

Its not all bad - yes we were at anfield - yes we should take the initiative but we were playing a team at the height of their powers and confidence and dont forget the league leaders.

Yet they still couldnt beat us. When we get back agger, alonso, kewell, pennant and Torres what could we be capable of ?

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

I agree with you Charlie, just I don't think Rafa helps matters with his rotation and formation tinkering. Kuyt and Crouch did have some good matches together but when you start only 1 in 4 games it's hard to drum up a really dangerous partnership.

Yes we were hard to beat with those 2 up front.

They defended front the front really well.

But so did Dalglish and especially Rush. And they scored and created goals.

To be fair Crouch does have a good goal record since he joined us, certainly the best outside Torres, and is a good player. Shame Rafa's thrown him under a bus for no good footballing reason I can think of.

[The Glove]

I think the biggest mistake Rafa made today was not having Sissoko or Lucas on the bench. Alonso was just coming back after an injury and we never had any cover for him on the bench. Arbeloa looked uncomfortable in his role when he came on and struggled. Sissoko or Lucas might have tracked Fabregas better for the goal.

I must stress how unlucky we have been so far with injuries and its hurting us badly. Arsenal have barely had an injury all season, and it makes a huge huge difference.

Agrre with this. Alonso going off cost us and Arbeloa had a shocker. Arsenal will go norks up once the African nations rolls around.

Will read the rest of the thread now.

[AFII]

Agrre with this. Alonso going off cost us and Arbeloa had a shocker. Arsenal will go norks up once the African nations rolls around.

Will read the rest of the thread now.

Arsenal will only be without Eboue and Toure.

Toure is a big loss and they will probably miss him as much as we have missed Agger. They don't have any good enough cover for him.

[kurtangle01]

Agrre with this. Alonso going off cost us and Arbeloa had a shocker. Arsenal will go norks up once the African nations rolls around.

Will read the rest of the thread now.

God knows why he never put Arbeloa at left back and Riise left mid an put Yossi out on the right. We should probably have changed and went 4-4-2. I don't really blame Arbeloa for looking out of sorts but he was playing in a completely alien position.

There was a time, I think it was still 1-0, and he got the ball right in the middle of the park and had about 40 yards of space to run into. He never had a clue what to do in that situation and ended up dwelling on the ball to long and gave up possesion.

[CAD]

Arsenal will only be without Eboue and Toure.

Toure is a big loss and they will probably miss him as much as we have missed Agger. They don't have any good enough cover for him.

we will be without momo...

[Dan]

Chelsea lose Essien and Drogba who are their 2 best players IMO
Arsenal lose Eboue(****in wank **** **** face who dives everytime he plays us, ******) and Toure who is their leader from defense and they can't replace him

We lose Sissoko

I can't wait for this tournament to start

[CAD]

God knows why he never put Arbeloa at left back and Riise left mid an put Yossi out on the right. We should probably have changed and went 4-4-2. I don't really blame Arbeloa for looking out of sorts but he was playing in a completely alien position.

No no no, Kurt. You can't say stuff like this. We don't have the brains to question Rafa. Haven't you heard?

We simpley don't know enough to even ask these questions.

That's the word these days.

Ps: Other than that I agree...

[kurtangle01]

Chelsea lose Essien and Drogba who are their 2 best players IMO
Arsenal lose Eboue(****in wank **** **** face who dives everytime he plays us, ******) and Toure who is their leader from defense and they can't replace him

We lose Sissoko

I can't wait for this tournament to start

Lol!