Our defense

[fowlen]

Well last night was a very entertaining game to watch and I thoroughly enjoyed it, however I was very nervy with our defending from the very start.

Aurellio was great going forward, but there was always acres of space down our left and they exploited it. Finnan also had a torrid time, but at least managed to hold up play most of the time.

At times it also looked like Rafa was testing a back 3 with both Aurellio and Finnan pressing up.

Reina was also not on top form (sadly not for the first time this season), and while he made some great saves, he did flap and deceived by a number of crosses.

We need to sort out the defensive issues very quickly, otherwise better teams will exploit us.

Xabi also looked a shadow of himself but Crouch was sensational.

Oh - and respect to the Gala fans...no clue what they were singing chanting (sounded like a eat another kebab ), but they were terrific before, mostly during and after the game!

[Taffy]

At 3-0 we were cruising, but after that we struggled as they became more attacked-minded.

Aurelio does leave a lot of spaces at the back when he's playing left back, and Riise should be played there from now on after having a break following Saturday's win. We missed him last night.

We also missed Momo's sweeping up abilities in front of the defence too, and as Souness said on Sky it showed why Gerrard isn't played there alongside Alonso very often as they left acres of space in the second half for Gala to exploit. It almost cost us the 3 points too!

Apart from that it's only Reina, I think, who's causing the problems there. His lack of confidence (I'd guess) is making him uncertain - a quality that we just cannot cope with coming from a keeper. This makes the defence uncertain when he should be coming for balls (e.g. him and Finnan's misunderstanding in the second half which almst gave Gala a chance before Finnan took control and kicked it out).

So, my main worry ahead of the Bolton game is our lack of confidence at the back. They will be up for it especially after a great win at Pompey at the weekend, and with their physical game we might suffer unless we're on top form. Hope I'm wrong though.

[Reece]

How hardly noticed Carragher last night. Not his usual dominant performance.

[KK07]

I called for a back 3 before the Newcastle game.

I thought given the players we have and trying to fit in everyone that it may make sense.

If we had carra,agger and sami at the back.
Then Pennant and Riise playing as wingers/wing backs
It would allow Rafa to play Alonso,Momo and more importantly Gerrard from a central role.

And still get two up front.

I think it'd depend on who he gets to play wide though as obviously some are better at covering back when they have to and some offer more going forward.

It's all about the balance.

But we do have the players for different possibilites now.

[fowlen]

I also think that Rafa has to stop tinkering with the defense and play the same back 4 in front of Reina for a good few games....
The back 4 more or less picks itself, but on recent performances Carragher is not his usual self and could very possibly be replaced by Sami.

[zimbo]

What was most disturbing for me was how Carragher and Agger failed to win virtually any of the balls played in to the box from wide areas. Positionally they both seemed all over the place and Gala seemed to recognise this weakness fairly quickly and go all out to exploit it. Even after losing the first ball, we frequently were unable to pick up the second ball and increasingly relied on last-ditch blocks or Gala's poor finishing in order to escape with the win.

Hyypia's absence was glaring last night and in hindsight (which is always the easiest view to take) was an error, particularly as Gala had little pace up front in the centre, and Suker being notably strong in the air.

Given that FatHead Sam will have been watching closely, and that Davis was back for Bolton the other night, I'd expect Hyypia to be in on Saturday and for the game in Istanbul.

[friedk]

Although I think Agger has been our best central defender this season, the most important thing is building a central defensive partnership at the back. Carra and Sami together is still our best combination imo, because they have a great understanding of each others positioning. In time that will develop between Carra and Agger, but it does take time.

I'm pretty sure that Riise will be back on the left next game. I think him with Aurelio in front is a good combination, but Fabio is no defender. The cross for the goal, on the other hand, was pure class.

Stevie and Xabi don't seem comfortable together in central midfield, I think our best combination is Xabi and Momo with SG in a free role. When Gerrard starts in the centre and goes roaming around the pitch he leaves Alonso isolated and the team loses their grip on midfield. On the right he has cover from Finnan and can even interchange with whoever is playing on the left. It means that he can cover more ground without leaving gaps.

I think Gerrard's dislike of right midfield was in the early days under Houllier when he was asked to stay there and play as a RW. I really don't think he looked unhappy playing in that role last season.

Crouch has scored 10 goals in 8 games for club and country this season, his attitude is spot on, he holds the ball up well, he deserves all the accolades he gets, top player, top man.

[Manofthebog]

Aurelio's problem last night was that he had Lili' Luis in front of him.
As made comment on last night, Pennant provides more cover for Finnan, than Garcia did for Fabio.

The main problem last night was that our defence was too often exposed.

When we attacked, we attacked as a unit of 6, all the midfielders cleared off up front with the strikers, and quite often, when the attack broke down, we were caught out, and it was basically 4 against 6 or 7 at the back.

Midfield was the problem last night. We can't play without a holding midfield player.
Last night showerd it has to be Momo and.

Sure, Carra and Agger didn't deal with the ball into the box, for both goals, but I'd put that down to uncertainty of who to shut down, because they were over run.

Expect plenty of high balls on saturday.

[Maestro]

Expect plenty of high balls on saturday.

Against Bolton? Nah...they'll be playing their usual pretty pass-and-move game. Bloody flair players!



Hyypia MUST start against them.

[Don Quixote]

We missed Sami last night.

[zimbo]

Midfield was the problem last night. We can't play without a holding midfield player.
Last night showerd it has to be Momo and.

Sure, Carra and Agger didn't deal with the ball into the box, for both goals, but I'd put that down to uncertainty of who to shut down, because they were over run.

Expect plenty of high balls on saturday.

Totally agree that the midfield didn't provide adequate protection, either centrally or down the flanks, and a lot of problems would have been avoided had we closed the right winger down more effectively and prevented balls coming into the box.

However, even when we had about 7 or 8 back in our box, towards the end of the game, we failed to win the first ball. They had 2 gilt-edged chances in the last 5 minutes alone, the header from Suker and the pull back and poor shot from the edge of the area which were down to poor defensive positioning rather than through being over-exposed.

Clearly, we're more balanced as a team with Gerrard on the right and I'd like to see Riise playing behind Gonzalez on the left for a few games to see how they work together.

[dom9]

I'm starting to get a little grumpy with Mr Aurelio.

Whenever he has played in defence, we have conceeded goals, mainly from his side of the pitch (see last night, Everton away).

Attacking wise, he put in a fantastic cross for Crouch's first goal, but I would say that is his first significant contribution in the Red shirt. Of all the Summer signings, it seems to me like he has played the most, and his contribution has been pretty poor so far.

As for his free kicks - it looks like he gets to take them all now because he's Brazilian. Apart from the one at Sheffield Utd which was saved, they have been abysmal.

If he carries on like this, I can see Rafa gettnig shot of him next summer.

[ronan]

personally im not sure what all the fuss is about.
some people are never happy.
how many times have we heard the phase were too defense minded we dont send enough players to attack etc etc.
well last night rafa put a team out that was almost all out attack, from the lb to the fowards.
yes we conceded 2 goals but we were 3-0 up.
for me the only problem with last night was that at 3 or even 2-0 up we should have killed off the game,slowed it down and played it out.
instead we continued to attack in numbers.
it got a little nervy at the end but i thought it was a cracking game,we conceded a few goals but that will happen when your playing a far more expansive game and the end result was we won.

[Maestro]

I'm starting to get a little grumpy with Mr Aurelio.

Whenever he has played in defence, we have conceeded goals, mainly from his side of the pitch (see last night, Everton away).

Attacking wise, he put in a fantastic cross for Crouch's first goal, but I would say that is his first significant contribution in the Red shirt. Of all the Summer signings, it seems to me like he has played the most, and his contribution has been pretty poor so far.

As for his free kicks - it looks like he gets to take them all now because he's Brazilian. Apart from the one at Sheffield Utd which was saved, they have been abysmal.

If he carries on like this, I can see Rafa gettnig shot of him next summer.

I agree that he has been pretty poor, but he's just arrived in the country and is learning the language etc. - I don't agree with your assessment of his free-kicks though...he always looks a threat from the edge of the box.

[cobain]

The weakest link in our defence was Aurelio! He went forward and he put in a few great crosses... But he left acres of space behind him. Galatasaray attacked mostly through their right side and were producing great crosses in our penalty box. We shouldn't have let them do that! We were too vulnerable at leftback position. And also there was nobody breaking up their play (Sissoko) so they strolled through our midfield with ease and put pressure on our defence!