Portsmouth (H) Post Match Reaction

[MrMichael]

I didn't see the match so I am interested in peoples views on players ratings.

So I saw this on COS and wondered if anyone agreed with this and if anyone else was willing to give their ratings . Cheers

anonymous - October 30th, 2008 at 9:21 am

Reina 6
Arbeloa 6
Hyypia 7
Carragher 8
Aurelio 5
Pennant 6
Alonso 7
Leiva Lucas 7
Babel 7
Gerrard 8
Kuyt 7

I'd say that's pretty harsh on Aurelio, not sure what he did to deserve the only 5. I'd also have Lucas down from 7, Arbeloa up to 8 (my MOM), and possibly a few others down slightly, we weren't exactly firing on all cylinders or anything and Portsomuth really offerend no offensive threat whatsoever. Kinda depends if you take 5 as average or 5 as pretty poor though

I know it's a different league, but surely Holland isnt THAT much easier to play 90 mins in, than england is?

I really dunno mate, I can't explain it, but it is something I think I've seen pretty much every time he plays, and its something rafa obviously thinks,, which he must have some reason for. Can you think of a game where Babel's been better in the second half than the first, 'cause I can't?

He has once in the league

Right. How many appearances though, must be ~30... that's a pretty amazing stat actually.

[dww]

I agree.

I don't understand how a strong young player like Babel can go through two pre seasons in England and still not be fit enough to last ninety minutes. It's not as if he puts in a Kuytesque shift when he's on the pitch.

Is it mental? Maybe? But surely your mental state shouldn't effect your physical capabiilities so much that you're knackered after 60 mins.

I'm not sure that it is a fitness issue per se more that he lacks the concentration and drive over a full 90 minutes. I think in Holland it might be easier to coast through parts of the game, he can't afford to do that here. He has a lot of talent but I think we are seeing now why Arsenal passed on him.

[The Erectile Banana]

I'm not sure that it is a fitness issue per se more that he lacks the concentration and drive over a full 90 minutes. I think in Holland it might be easier to coast through parts of the game, he can't afford to do that here. He has a lot of talent but I think we are seeing now why Arsenal passed on him.

Maybe so. It is rather worrying that he is in his second season here and is still experiencing the same problems. They can no longer be dismissed as teething problems. If the lad doesn't improve the mental side of his game he's not going to come anywhere near fulfilling his undoubtedly massive potential.

[Finnish_Red]

Caption time

[PTP]

http://static.iltalehti.fi/jalkapall...aMP_410_jp.jpg

Caption time

Universial Soldier 10!
Dolph Lundgren vs Hancock














taxi

[Neil Young]

Bouba Diop tried to protect himself as he suddenly became aware of the scale of Sami's dandruff problem.

[MrMichael]

Caption time

How about... "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA" ?

[El Jefecito]

I agree.

I don't understand how a strong young player like Babel can go through two pre seasons in England and still not be fit enough to last ninety minutes. It's not as if he puts in a Kuytesque shift when he's on the pitch.

Is it mental? Maybe? But surely your mental state shouldn't effect your physical capabiilities so much that you're knackered after 60 mins.

The difference isn't so much the league, it's the way we play. Remember our forwards are defenders too. Because we press all the time and all over the pitch forwards have to work as hard when they don't have the ball as they do when they do have the ball.

And don't forget he missed pre-season because of the olympics so his preparation was less than ideal.

The fitness levels required to play that way vs. what is essentially goal hanging for a forward in a dutch 433 are what Babel is struggling with.

[Dessy]

The difference isn't so much the league, it's the way we play. Remember our forwards are defenders too. Because we press all the time and all over the pitch forwards have to work as hard when they don't have the ball as they do when they do have the ball.

And don't forget he missed pre-season because of the olympics so his preparation was less than ideal.

The fitness levels required to play that way vs. what is essentially goal hanging for a forward in a dutch 433 are what Babel is struggling with.

So we bought a lazy fecker whos struggling to adapt to the concept of work?

[Dessy]

Caption time

I believe I can Fly.......I believe I can touch the sky......

[El Jefecito]

So we bought a lazy fecker whos struggling to adapt to the concept of work?

That's one way of putting it. Another would be he's a sprinter who Rafa is asking to run a Marathon. Tough adaption.

[Craig_H]

If Babel is so unsuited to how we play, why would Rafa have been so keen to sign him in the first place?

Dont get me wrong, i'm not criticising the signing, i like Babel. It just seems unlike Rafa to get someone who doesnt suit his system and style of play.

[Dessy]

That's one way of putting it. Another would be he's a sprinter who Rafa is asking to run a Marathon. Tough adaption.

In all seriousness he should be able to put in a full shift by now from a physical point of view.

[Big-Red-Ed]

I was at the match last night and thought we were pretty crap. I then seen the highlights in sam dodd's after the match and thought we actually looked ok. However, we were really hanging on at the end and a better quality team would have had us. Thank god we got away with rafa's first foray into rotation this season. I hope he doesn't make a habit of it.

[yukpo]

Good win but very very lucky.....Pennant is ****e

if that was lucky then we've been lucky all season

it stopped being luck ages ago mate, this team is showing hunger, obviously im worried by the lack of goals and eventually we will get caught out but its how we respond that matters

liverpool are making their own luck so far this season, but you can only depend on it for so long.