Blackburn away - post match discussion

[EST_1892]

That's his natural game he isn't a centre forward.

But that was before we had the quality of Xabi and Masher behind him. Last season he produced his best performances playing off Torres in a more attacking role.

The last word I would use to describe Gerrard is "defensive"! We all know what he can do in and around the area. He just didn't get forward in the first half. Hence 0-0. Second half he tried to penetrate their defence and dragged a few players out of position. I'm sure benny's goal was a benefit of this?

[vonk]

Hopefully that will give the lads some confidence. We were controlling the game but we had little penetration. It was getting frustrating, but what a cool take by Xabi for that goal. I think Rafa really asked them to up the tempo and they did but we definitely struggled in the final third. I thought Xabi and Sami were outstanding. Even at the end when we were hanging on a little Xabi was making tackles and calming things down. Anyone see him calming Lucas at the end? That game suits Sami perfectly. Against a faster team maybe he would have some problems but he was immense against Santa Cruz. Reina was superb, and what a save that was. Unlucky not to get the clean sheet but we fell asleep for that goal. Dirk worked hard but is never an out and out striker. His first touch was incredibly poor today, but its well documented. Benny is frustrating but was involved in everything to be honest and what a goal! Thought Babel was poor and needs to do more. El Zhar and Insua - really pleased for both of them. Totally justified their selection. We may have solved our left back issue and El Zhar was very tidy. Didnt waste possesion and played some nice passes to Kuyts feet. Carra, Arbeloa - both playing very well at the moment. Arby is proving a quality buy. Stevie was a little off today with his passing but you can see how much he wants this.

A good result and I think it can only help to turn around games like these that look like we are struggling! Come on Sunderland!

[Nicey]

Hyypia was immense today. His passing was pretty good too! - MoM
Arbeloa was solid and offered something going forward.
Insua made a good league debut
Carragher was Carragher.
Babel was **** in the first half but improved in the 2nd when played on the right. Got taken off soon after!
Mascher is seriously off the boil. Is it me or is he pushing further forward and making us play deeper?
Alonso was awesome. Kept possession, set one up and scored one too.
Gerrard looked static in the first half but better going forward in the second.
Benayoun - Frustrating but scored a wicked goal. I wish Pennant would have done this.
Kuyt - Not much service and not enough pace for a lone striker role. Played so much better in the 2nd half with a bit of service!
Reina - Great save from Pedersen and commanded his area well.

bang on

[Harv]

Yossi was awful...but that was a lovely finish.

Insua is a little cracker. Deserves another game after that display IMO.

Babel....if we got a decent offer i would sell him. Lucas too.

That money could buy us another class player...say Diego or Arshavin..maybe even Ribery if we sold Yossi too.

[Guest]

But that was before we had the quality of Xabi and Masher behind him. Last season he produced his best performances playing off Torres in a more attacking role.

The last word I would use to describe Gerrard is "defensive"! We all know what he can do in and around the area. He just didn't get forward in the first half. Hence 0-0. Second half he tried to penetrate their defence and dragged a few players out of position. I'm sure benny's goal was a benefit of this?

But he does everything. He attacks and defends that's his game. He comes from deep and that's where he's at his best.

I think that the fact we were playing away from home contributed to him playing deeper in the first half and we seemed short of confidence during that first half.

[Mattshark]

It's just a case of fine tuning our home form now and I have no doubt that it will improve. Our passing has been a bit off key and without much pace lately and that is why IMO we were struggling to break teams down.

Being first will allow us to recover our form and we'll be very hard to dislodge now. We're first and we have so much room for improvement still.

**** the realists!

Which is still one of the best in league if not the best.

[dww]

But that was before we had the quality of Xabi and Masher behind him. Last season he produced his best performances playing off Torres in a more attacking role.

The last word I would use to describe Gerrard is "defensive"! We all know what he can do in and around the area. He just didn't get forward in the first half. Hence 0-0. Second half he tried to penetrate their defence and dragged a few players out of position. I'm sure benny's goal was a benefit of this?

I sometimes think though that Gerrard thinks that he has the most influence deeper and it his instinct when things aren't going great to go deeper hunting the ball.

On the other hand I sometimes think people don't give opposition like Blackburn credit for their hard work which means that he goes looking for the ball. In general though I think that it could be part of the plan in away games like this to fight and use possession early to wear the opposition down.

We seemed to have a lot of time on the ball second half and Blackburn offered nothing - I think it was a job well done overall.

[Guest]

Which is still one of the best in league if not the best.

Sorry I was being realist for a bit there.

Of course we have!

[Guest]

I sometimes think though that Gerrard thinks that he has the most influence deeper and it his instinct when things aren't going great to go deeper hunting the ball.

On the other hand I sometimes think people don't give opposition like Blackburn credit for their hard work which means that he goes looking for the ball. In general though I think that it could be part of the plan in away games like this to fight and use possession early to wear the opposition down.

We seemed to have a lot of time on the ball second half and Blackburn offered nothing - I think it was a job well done overall.

That's how Rafa likes us to play; wear teams down and keep possession. That is also why some people tend to think we are not that creative because we don't go gung ho all of the time.

Our trademark style is to keep possession and play higher up the pitch to annoy the opposition's game and I think we have perfected that art during Rafa's time. That is also why we do so well in Europe. We're now having the confidence to take that game into the premier league and it's starting to bear its fruits.

[Woobus]

And Babel complains why he doesn't start more often with **** performances like that. El Zhar looked pretty good when he came on.

Think he needs game time before we can judge him to harshly. Give him another start midweek and hope he kicks on from there.

[frank the tank]

benny's goal was good but his overall game-play was not - to be perfectly honest, he needs to take his chance when given it. Babel too.

At the end of the day, we ground out a good result today and improved no end in the second half. I reckon that insua could prove to be a great player and perhaps will show dossena as a 7m waste of money.

overall, job done and now lets kick on and find some form

[Guest]

Think he needs game time before we can judge him to harshly. Give him another start midweek and hope he kicks on from there.

Yes Babel needs confidence but he also needs to realize that he needs to contribute more and make more of an impact when he gets his chance because he has the tendency to go and have a moan with the press.

[EST_1892]

IOn the other hand I sometimes think people don't give opposition like Blackburn credit .

To be fair, there was one point in the first half when I thought Fook me. These Blackburn players are playing out of their skin to get to every single ball first. Credit to them in the first half indeed.

I suppose we did what we needed to do. Maybe the plan was to just hold out for the first 45. Gerrard does seem to have the mentality of wanting to be behind the ball, but the opposition must love it when he sits back?

Anyhoo, i'm off to text all my Manc mates about being top of the league...... Hang on.....

I don't have any fooking MANC mates!!!

[dww]

benny's goal was good but his overall game-play was not - to be perfectly honest, he needs to take his chance when given it. Babel too.

At the end of the day, we ground out a good result today and improved no end in the second half. I reckon that insua could prove to be a great player and perhaps will show dossena as a 7m waste of money.

overall, job done and now lets kick on and find some form

I think Benayoun actually did well. I'm usually a critic of his but his movement in particular in the second half was excellent and unlike many games he did seem a valid and different alternative to our other attacking players. He isn't top class but he can be very useful at opening up teams like Blackburn when he plays as he did today.

I really think if he wasn't quick no one would be calling for Babel in the first team.

[Neil Young]

Anyhoo, i'm off to text all my Manc mates about being top of the league...... Hang on.....

I don't have any fooking mates!!!

I can believe that.