Post Match Recriminations - Hull City

[Craig_H]

who else were we going to play instead of Dossena - Insua? Much of a muchness there really.

Did you see last week at Blackburn mate? Insua looked very accomplished and reliable. Showed more in one game, than Dossena has all season.

[Craig_H]

Can't be bothered with a Dossena argument mate but Carra played a much larger role in their 2nd and I haven't seen anyone slagging him off yet.

Reina was dodgy as **** in the first half, Riera was pretty poor and god knows why Benayoun is suddenly in the starting line-up ahead of Babel.

The difference is that Carragher, Reina, Riera and Benayoun dont look like a liability in virtually every game.

[Matt]

The difference is that Carragher, Reina, Riera and Benayoun dont look like a liability in virtually every game.

Yeah but that wasn't the point really. People seem to be blaming Dossena for both goals - sure he didn't cover himself in glory for their 2nd but no one's had a bad word to say about Carragher who should have dealt with what was a regulation cross into the box.

That's not to say people should be slagging Carra off though. Bad, costly error all round. Anyway I've calmed down a bit now and venting on here is probably a bit healthier/less psychotic than chucking a pint glass around in the pub.

[Craig_H]

It's entirely the point.

Others dont get the same criticism because their general performances make up for any errors. Dossena's doesnt.

[Matt]

But still Dossena gets the blame for the goal. I wouldn't say that any of that group could be particularly pleased with their performances today.

[MrMichael]

The difference is that Carragher, Reina and Riera dont look like a liability in virtually every game.

/fixed

Benayoun didn't impress me again yesterday, he cut inside something chronic and just didn't seem aware of the positional requirements of playing where he was.

It baffles me why he didn't come off for Babel or Keane early in the second half and Kuyt get moved out right to assist Arbeloa, who did a good job of providing width out there and getting forward, as he wasn't getting much help from Benny. I was hopeful after his first season that maybe we'd found a more consistent (if less spectacular) version of Garcia, this season we've seen nothing of the sort (and could really do with a bit of 'lil Luis magic every now and then).

[Matt]

/fixed

Benayoun didn't impress me again yesterday, he cut inside something chronic and just didn't seem aware of the positional requirements of playing where he was.

It baffles me why he didn't come off for Babel or Keane early in the second half and Kuyt get moved out right to assist Arbeloa, who did a good job of providing width out there and getting forward, as he wasn't getting much help from Benny. I was hopeful after his first season that maybe we'd found a more consistent (if less spectacular) version of Garcia, this season we've seen nothing of the sort (and could really do with a bit of 'lil Luis magic every now and then).

Yossi is far better as an impact player, he offers little width and needs to be more selfish when there's a chance of a shot.

I like him as a sub but Kuyt really needs to be moved back out right next week.

[Craig_H]

But i dont have genuine concerns that we're about to lose a goal when the ball goes near Yossi.

[JohnOK]

I could not believe that after Babel's form against PSV midweek that he never started on the right or at least was given more of a chance than just 8 minutes!

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

ano its painful but where can i see the goals ?

[MrMichael]

But still Dossena gets the blame for the goal. I wouldn't say that any of that group could be particularly pleased with their performances today.

Tbh, although its always a bit disturbing to concede twice to Hull, we played well in the latter part of the first half and it was an enjoyable game of footy. I wouldn't blame defensive slip-ups that much, what bothered me most was the fact that we came out for the second half and played in a far more ponderous manner rather than just going for the jugular and we once again looked devoid of the ability to regularly fashion genuinely good goal scoring opportunities when a weaker opposition has decided to shut up shop.

Its harsh, we were always going to be outsiders for the title this season, but we're really making it very difficult for ourselves now.

[MrMichael]

ano its painful but where can i see the goals ?

http://www.est1892.co.uk/forums/show...45#post1229845

[Craig_H]

Its harsh, we were always going to be outsiders for the title this season, but we're really making it very difficult for ourselves now.

The thing that's pissing me off (and others, i'm sure), is that whilst we 'were gonna be outsiders for the title', we actually found ourselves in the position whereby we could've put ourselves well clear and in the position of favourites.
We could (should, even) be 10 points clear right now.

If we miss out because the others were too good, i can deal with that.

But when we have our destiny in our hands and squander THREE easy opportunities to open up a gap, it's infuriating.

[MrMichael]

Yeah, it certainly is, all eminently winnable games and all games we've failed, as a team, to perform up to the required standard in.

I know some people have and will use some strange decisions by rafa today re. subs and starting XI as a stick to beat him with, but ultimately I can't believe that the players themselves are letting opportunities like we have had the last few weeks slip away so meekly.

Anyway, if we get a result against Arsenal next week we will still be very much in the race at Christmas, which is definite progress, and if we can get Torres fit and firing the prospect of putting away sides like Fulham, Stoke and Hull in the second half of the season will be a different proposition.

[badpiggy]

a few observations

1. why are so many people saying babel played well midweek? he did loads of stuff - poor choices, losing the ball, running unto backalleys - that would drive a rafa mental. scoring doesn't do it for rafa if the rest of your game is poor or unless you're torres.

2. very hard to see why keane didn't play at all given that i thought he put in a great performance against psv and a game like this seemed ideal for him to get something if he got a bit of service. i'm still going to assume that rafa had good reasons that i don't understand but it's tough this time.

3. alonso is such a class player to watch. he's as good if not better than he was in the first season. tough ****er too and always seems to cover huge ground in the stats.

4. agree with people who have said we're a good away team. if teams come at us we can nail em or if they can't put up with our physical strength and stamina they fold. hence why we do well in europe. but we still look frail when we have the initiative and we don't know how to close games out or rip teams apart.

this for me is the central issue - if we were in la liga or serie a we would win it. but the premier league is a the best league in europe and the winners have something more than grinding it out - you need some bit of flair or creativity as well as a huge workrate or else, like chelsea under mourinho, you need a lot of the best players in the world.

it's benitez biggest challenge to figure out now how to win games like our recent home draws. and if he does we'll win the league. but it might not be in his makeup to be able to take that last step.