Post match thread

[BrooklynRed]

We've drawn 2 (one on a ridiculous penalty for Chelsea) and lost 1 on a jammy goal against the top three. We are not that far off the pace. 2-2 with Spurs and 0-0 with Birmingham and Blackburn and 3-1 to Reading are the issue AS ALWAYS. Look, you all bitching about the money can say all you want, but we have been tactically poor and made mistakes in team selection in all of those matches, save against Arsenal and Chelsea.

The issue for me is not getting it wrong initially, although for all of the "preparation" nonsense Rafa talks about, he shouldn't be selecting a formation that leaves Gerrard adrift in the midfield. It is Rafa's absolute inflexibility to change during the match; The subs and formation changes don't happen as needed, they happen at 60 minutes and 75 minutes every time, regardless of what happens during the match, and even then, today they were backward. Kewell should have come off after Kuyt-- who else was going to provide width and service to Crouch?

Rafa is, as I have always said, a top-flight manager, but he has very human flaws and he has to correct them or we will continue to flounder in WINNABLE matches. Man United didn't even play well, and they won. How many times do we say that?

[bigfooty]

Or Babel????

By last Summer I mean Summer of 2006. Apologies for not being more specific.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

We've drawn 2 (one on a ridiculous penalty for Chelsea) and lost 1 on a jammy goal against the top three. We are not that far off the pace. 2-2 with Spurs and 0-0 with Birmingham and Blackburn and 3-1 to Reading are the issue AS ALWAYS. Look, you all bitching about the money can say all you want, but we have been tactically poor and made mistakes in team selection in all of those matches, save against Arsenal and Chelsea.

The issue for me is not getting it wrong initially, although for all of the "preparation" nonsense Rafa talks about, he shouldn't be selecting a formation that leaves Gerrard adrift in the midfield. It is Rafa's absolute inflexibility to change during the match; The subs and formation changes don't happen as needed, they happen at 60 minutes and 75 minutes every time, regardless of what happens during the match, and even then, today they were backward. Kewell should have come off after Kuyt-- who else was going to provide width and service to Crouch?

Rafa is, as I have always said, a top-flight manager, but he has very human flaws and he has to correct them or we will continue to flounder in WINNABLE matches. Man United didn't even play well, and they won. How many times do we say that?

All true.

But RCDNW remember?

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

By last Summer I mean Summer of 2006. Apologies for not being more specific.

Thought so.

And I agree.

Not one good signing amoungst them.

[IanTatt]

how can you say we a have a good squad we can't even put out a quality first 11. We need a left back a partner for torres and a right winger..... We can field two decnt teams but can't field one class one..

[Marky]

i mean why the **** does Kuyt continually start? i just don't get it,

[FatTony]

Post match thread?

[AFII]

I think most of us agree that we need more quality players.

Some of us dis-agree on the methods required to improve the side/squad.

We can all agree that so far Rafa has done very well in the transfer market with the money he's had.

Depends how quick you want to be able to compete for the title. If you are prepared to wait three, four years then we can afford to sign younger cheaper players but if you want success next season then you must buy proven players that will make a difference straight away.

[Marky]

Liverpool....it's Our Year For The Title Next Season, Next Season, Next Season, Next Season.

We'll Be Saying This When We're 90.

[AFII]

Tom, I normally agree with you but the problem for me aren't the players. The reason we beat lesser teams is because of the players, not because of Rafa's tactics. I watched four teams today and we were the worst in terms of quality of play. We simply huffed and puffed today, bereft of confidence. How can we look so nervous after winning 4-0 during the week? Forget money or players. The simple fact we have never been able to break down better teams under Rafa. We score and spend the rest of the game biting our nails. We have good players but they are either confused by tactics (Reading) or lacking in belief (today). No amount of new players fixes that. That is down to management.

We hoof because Agger is out injured and he is our only ball playing central defender. We need to sign up another no hoofing central defender as cover.

[Tom]

Lets not forget we're missing our 2 best passers of the ball: agger and alonso. A bit more patience in front of their defence would have helped today.

[AFII]

Lets not forget we're missing our 2 best passers of the ball: agger and alonso. A bit more patience in front of their defence would have helped today.

I would play Lucas and Alonso when he is back with Gerrard ahead of him.

--------------------Reina
Arbeloa------Carra---------Agger-------Aurelio
-------------Lucas-------Alonso--------------
-----Babel---------Gerrard------Kewell--------
-------------------Torres--------------------

I don't understand why we play with two strikers when we only have one striker that is good enough. Babel is more a second striker than an out and out striker.

We should play to our strength and use the best midfield in the world in the best possible way.

[kurtangle01]

I got in from the match about an hour ago but haven't had the time to log on until now.

My thoughts on the game are that we were very poor in the final third. We tried to rush things far to often when we needed to show a bit of composure and patience.

The filth were just as bad and I can't remember Pepe being tested apart from the goal.

In fairness it was a ****e match played out in the middle of the park. The result just made things worse.

The Scum were there for the taking today but we just never got at them.

[FatTony]

Our home form is costing us, that's now the same amount of games won at home as 3 of the bottom 5 clubs.

10 points off the top, this was a very important game for us and we fell short. I was hoping for 3 points, it would've done wonders for our confidence and spirit, but it wasn't to be.

Personally, I was a little miffed at the goal, which to me was a free kick for us (Vidic shoved Arbelo (I think) to create some space) and the ref had a good view.

I think 10 points is too big a gap to make back now.

[cobain]

I'm ****ing pissed off and I hate everything at the moment.