Reserves v Newcastle (a)

[Shaggy]

Alves or not (which I think is a little premature), Insua looks ready to me. If you ask me, left-back is our weakest position (and Lord knows we've got a few) and I don't see much reason, if any, to keep holding Insua back now.

[stevie_gerrard_8]

Alves? No way, Alves crosses are second to none, Insua isn't even close to his level.

Maybe not with his end product, but Im sure that'll improve with time.

But he is similar with the way he bombs forward and exploits space.

[El Jefecito]

Maybe not with his end product, but Im sure that'll improve with time.

But he is similar with the way he bombs forward and exploits space.

Hopefully his end product will improve with time.

[El Jefecito]

Alves or not (which I think is a little premature), Insua looks ready to me. If you ask me, left-back is our weakest position (and Lord knows we've got a few) and I don't see much reason, if any, to keep holding Insua back now.

NFW. Our biggest weakness is not having an aerially dominant striker who can attack and convert the endless crosses that Pennant et al get into the box. The saturday game showed just how pathetic Crouch is in that regard.

[smither]

But on the plus side he isn't made of crisps.

Just to let you know, i'll be using this line in everyday conversation

[stevie_gerrard_8]

NFW. Our biggest weakness is not having an aerially dominant striker who can attack and convert the endless crosses that Pennant et al get into the box. The saturday game showed just how pathetic Crouch is in that regard.

What about a winger who can put the crosses in the box in the first place, with pace and accuracy, not just an aimless wedge from Pennant

[El Jefecito]

What about a winger who can put the crosses in the box in the first place, with pace and accuracy, not just an aimless wedge from Pennant

A good striker can make a bad cross good. We'd have at least 10 more goals if we had a drogba / toni type.

[stevie_gerrard_8]

A good striker can make a bad cross good. We'd have at least 10 more goals if we had a drogba / toni type.

Agree with you there. But even a poor striker can score from a good cross

[AFII]

Liverpool were left to rue a whole host of missed opportunities as they were held to a goalless draw against Newcastle United at St James' Park.
Gary Ablett's men dominated for much of what was an entertaining encounter in the North-East but despite wave after wave of attack they could not find the goal that would have extended their winning run to six matches.

It means they are now six points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier Reserve League North, although they have played a game more than most of their title rivals.

It was a frustrating match for the young Reds, who could have enjoyed a very different evening had Emiliano Insua's surging run and shot after just 50 seconds found its way past the frame of Fraser Forster in the Newcastle goal.

It was a passage of play that set the tone for the remainder of the first period as the visitors dominated possession and created a succession of good chances without taking full advantage of their overall supremacy.

Indeed, they seemed to be revelling in the opportunity to play on such a grand stage and they carved out another good opening on seven minutes.

An incisive ball from Ryan Crowther put the in-form Krisztian Nemeth in on goal, but just as it looked like the Hungarian was about to add to the six goals he has plundered in his last four matches, he was thwarted by a last-ditch challenge from David Edgar.

It was all Liverpool at this point with Insua enjoying a lively evening down the left flank, and on 13 minutes there was a distinct sense of deja vu as he once again collected a flick from Brouwer and flashed a shot inches wide of the far post.

It was the best move of the half and one that reiterated the offensive qualities Insua could one day offer the first-team.

While the away side continued to create openings, Newcastle struggled to muster a chance of any real note throughout a very one-sided first-half and they were grateful to Forster for keeping them in the match.

The Magpies' keeper produced a magnificent save to keep out a Ray Putterill volley on 24 minutes before diving well at the feet of Brouwer, after the Dutchman was played in on goal by Nemeth.

Relieved to go in at the interval still on level terms, the hosts made a determined start to the second period and could have taken the lead on 47 minutes when James Troisi's deflected shot from distance wrong-footed Peter Gulacsi in the Liverpool goal and trickled just wide of the far post.

In stark contrast to the first-half, it was Newcastle who set the pace early on and after 53 minutes Gulacsi had to be alert to deny Ngo Baheng after he was sent in on goal.

It was a scare that seemed to spark Liverpool back into life and just shy of the hour mark Nemeth should have broken the deadlock.

Insua once again powered down the left and when he played a low ball into Nemeth you would have bet your mortgage on the little Hungarian continuing his recent hot-streak.

But it wasn't to be as Forster pulled off a sensational double save, first denying Nemeth's stabbed effort from six yards before getting his foot in the way of the rebound to deflect it up on to the crossbar and away to safety.

It just wasn't going to be Nemeth's day and he was left holding his head in his hands minutes later when he somehow contrived to lash his effort wide after a corner from the left fell to him at the far post.

Crowther, Brouwer and Insua then saw chances come and go as the Newcastle goal- with Forster imperious - lived a very charmed life and despite a late spell of pressure the Reds could not find that elusive winning goal.

Newcastle United Reserves: Forster, Morris, Kadar, Doninger, Edgar, Tozer, Godsmark (Lough 76), Troisi, Donaldson, Ngo-Baheng, Marwood.

Liverpool Reserves: Gulacsi, Darby, Insua, San Jose, Huth, Plessis, Crowther (Buna 76), Flynn, Brouwer (Simon 85), Nemeth, Putterill (Kelly 62).

Liverpoolfc.tv man of the match: Emiliano Insua: A superb attacking display down the left. Unlucky not to cap it with the winning goal.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drill...80218-2052.htm

[Shaggy]

NFW. Our biggest weakness is not having an aerially dominant striker who can attack and convert the endless crosses that Pennant et al get into the box. The saturday game showed just how pathetic Crouch is in that regard.

Centre-forward is not our weakest position - not when it's Fernando Torres plus another (although of course the other three are not ideal).

Our left-side as a whole is our biggest problem area, IMO anyway, but specifically, for me, we're weakest at left back. Our two 'first picks' leave a lot to be desired.

Riise is rubbish, Aurelio is capable but always injured and rubbish. Our best left-back so far this season has been Arbeloa.

Most teams seem to realise this is our weakness as they nearly always predominantly attack us down that side.

[El Jefecito]

Agree with you there. But even a poor striker can score from a good cross

Except Crouch

[Shaggy]

What about a winger who can put the crosses in the box in the first place, with pace and accuracy, not just an aimless wedge from Pennant

Pennant's crossing is largely woeful.

[Reece]

Liverpool were left to rue a whole host of missed opportunities as they were held to a goalless draw against Newcastle United at St James' Park.
Gary Ablett's men dominated for much of what was an entertaining encounter in the North-East but despite wave after wave of attack they could not find the goal that would have extended their winning run to six matches.

It means they are now six points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier Reserve League North, although they have played a game more than most of their title rivals.

It was a frustrating match for the young Reds, who could have enjoyed a very different evening had Emiliano Insua's surging run and shot after just 50 seconds found its way past the frame of Fraser Forster in the Newcastle goal.

It was a passage of play that set the tone for the remainder of the first period as the visitors dominated possession and created a succession of good chances without taking full advantage of their overall supremacy.

Indeed, they seemed to be revelling in the opportunity to play on such a grand stage and they carved out another good opening on seven minutes.

An incisive ball from Ryan Crowther put the in-form Krisztian Nemeth in on goal, but just as it looked like the Hungarian was about to add to the six goals he has plundered in his last four matches, he was thwarted by a last-ditch challenge from David Edgar.

It was all Liverpool at this point with Insua enjoying a lively evening down the left flank, and on 13 minutes there was a distinct sense of deja vu as he once again collected a flick from Brouwer and flashed a shot inches wide of the far post.

It was the best move of the half and one that reiterated the offensive qualities Insua could one day offer the first-team.

While the away side continued to create openings, Newcastle struggled to muster a chance of any real note throughout a very one-sided first-half and they were grateful to Forster for keeping them in the match.

The Magpies' keeper produced a magnificent save to keep out a Ray Putterill volley on 24 minutes before diving well at the feet of Brouwer, after the Dutchman was played in on goal by Nemeth.

Relieved to go in at the interval still on level terms, the hosts made a determined start to the second period and could have taken the lead on 47 minutes when James Troisi's deflected shot from distance wrong-footed Peter Gulacsi in the Liverpool goal and trickled just wide of the far post.

In stark contrast to the first-half, it was Newcastle who set the pace early on and after 53 minutes Gulacsi had to be alert to deny Ngo Baheng after he was sent in on goal.

It was a scare that seemed to spark Liverpool back into life and just shy of the hour mark Nemeth should have broken the deadlock.

Insua once again powered down the left and when he played a low ball into Nemeth you would have bet your mortgage on the little Hungarian continuing his recent hot-streak.

But it wasn't to be as Forster pulled off a sensational double save, first denying Nemeth's stabbed effort from six yards before getting his foot in the way of the rebound to deflect it up on to the crossbar and away to safety.

It just wasn't going to be Nemeth's day and he was left holding his head in his hands minutes later when he somehow contrived to lash his effort wide after a corner from the left fell to him at the far post.

Crowther, Brouwer and Insua then saw chances come and go as the Newcastle goal- with Forster imperious - lived a very charmed life and despite a late spell of pressure the Reds could not find that elusive winning goal.

Newcastle United Reserves: Forster, Morris, Kadar, Doninger, Edgar, Tozer, Godsmark (Lough 76), Troisi, Donaldson, Ngo-Baheng, Marwood.

Liverpool Reserves: Gulacsi, Darby, Insua, San Jose, Huth, Plessis, Crowther (Buna 76), Flynn, Brouwer (Simon 85), Nemeth, Putterill (Kelly 62).

Liverpoolfc.tv man of the match: Emiliano Insua: A superb attacking display down the left. Unlucky not to cap it with the winning goal.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drill...80218-2052.htm

lamb?

[stevie_gerrard_8]

Except Crouch

and Kuyt and Voronin

[stevie_gerrard_8]

Pennant's crossing is largely woeful.

Annoying isn't it. Where has his crossing ability that we saw at Birmingham gone?