Espanyol v Liverpool FC - Match & Post-match

[DannyMan2006]

At the end of the day we used 19 or 20 outfield players in what was just a pre-season kick-about to give a few youngsters a game and contribute to fitness levels of all the squad, with a view to hitting the ground running when the season starts. So there's no way that the performance can be used as an indication of how we'll play in a real game. Similarly I doubt very much Spurs will be losing any sleep over their loss. It's a pound to a penny that if we played Espanyol over there in a competitive match we'd win by at least a couple and not get past third gear. It's important to keep a sense of perspective when looking at pre-season games.

Frankly I couldn't give a toss if we lost all pre-season games if we're going to use 20-odd players a match. The important thing is to get to proper match-fit levels by the day of the first game, try to avoid too many injuries by resting key players or only playing them for parts of games and, finally, give our fans around the world a rare chance to see their idols in live action, such as was the case in the Far East and will be in Norway in midweek

True enough.

[Tee]

At the end of the day we used 19 or 20 outfield players in what was just a pre-season kick-about to give a few youngsters a game and contribute to fitness levels of all the squad, with a view to hitting the ground running when the season starts. So there's no way that the performance can be used as an indication of how we'll play in a real game. Similarly I doubt very much Spurs will be losing any sleep over their loss. It's a pound to a penny that if we played Espanyol over there in a competitive match we'd win by at least a couple and not get past third gear. It's important to keep a sense of perspective when looking at pre-season games.

Frankly I couldn't give a toss if we lost all pre-season games if we're going to use 20-odd players a match. The important thing is to get to proper match-fit levels by the day of the first game, try to avoid too many injuries by resting key players or only playing them for parts of games and, finally, give our fans around the world a rare chance to see their idols in live action, such as was the case in the Far East and will be in Norway in midweek

Which is exactly why I hate the saturated TV coverage of pre-season. I cannot help but want Liverpool to win in any game I watch them and it is difficult to just accept that it is a meaningless friendly. It certainly looked more than that to Espanyol.

[RedReet]

Link? I’m talking a long time ago. I definitely remember having a decent amount of one of the pre-season games the year we signed Sami.

I was also stung badly in the Tsunami friendly when the teams swapped players during the game (although you did say club).

I’ve no evidence because all my online accounts are long closed, but I can guarantee that certain bookies take (or did take) bets on friendlies. I’m sure someone will back me up.

[Redspin]

It happened a lot last season. Without Xabi, and just Mascher and Lucas in the middle, we were somewhat short of ideas and struggled to keep possession. Just read some of the post match posts after the games where Xabi was injured.

We are going to struggle without him and if we don't get a replacement we can kiss goodbye our chances. Bringing in Johnson and losing Arbeloa and Xabi (if he does leave) has made us a lot weaker.

We didn't do too badly at Man U with Lucas in and Xabi out. Lucas had a great game and was head and shoulders above the Man U midfielders, who looked very pedestrian compared with him

[DannyMan2006]

Link? I’m talking a long time ago. I definitely remember having a decent amount of one of the pre-season games the year we signed Sami.

I was also stung badly in the Tsunami friendly when the teams swapped players during the game (although you did say club).

I’ve no evidence because all my online accounts are long closed, but I can guarantee that certain bookies take (or did take) bets on friendlies. I’m sure someone will back me up.

So you can. I never knew that!

http://guardian.oddschecker.com/foot...yn-v-liverpool

You were right!

[-V-]

Bookies do take bets on friendlies. I was on Arsenal yesterday

[FatTony]

We didn't do too badly at Man U with Lucas in and Xabi out. Lucas had a great game and was head and shoulders above the Man U midfielders, who looked very pedestrian compared with him

There's a bit more space against Manu though and everyone is up for it. Its against the lesser sides who press and sit back where a player like Alonso makes the difference and Lucas struggles.

[RedReet]

You were right!

I did actually start to doubt myself and think maybe it was just Internationals after all.

[el matador]

to lose any game is disappointing but to lose like that last night was pretty poor and Espanyol were up for it and they put on a great show for their opening ceremony and were worthy winners.

We looked disjointed, unable to control posession and shaky at the back. Additionally, we seem to lack ideas in the final third and at times our creative play was laughable. yossi did himself no harm with a couple of pieces of quality but other than that kuyt was anonymous and gerrard and torres didnt quite click.

Lucas didnt play badly last night and he deserves some credit but we looked vulnerable on the counter and him and mascherano didnt really get a hold of that midfield at any point in the game.

Hate to say this but without xabi we looked really poor when in posession of the ball. We desperately need some creativity from the wide areas so lets see what rafa does with the reported £30m that we will be getting for alonso.

The lad at PSG sessenyon looked very accomplished on the left. He looks like he could become a real talent over the next couple of seasons. Might be worth a punt if we cant afford silva.

[DannyMan2006]

The lad at PSG sessenyon looked very accomplished on the left. He looks like he could become a real talent over the next couple of seasons. Might be worth a punt if we cant afford silva.

He signed a new contract after weeks of being linked with us and many other clubs. He's more of a CM too.

[rudedog]

to lose any game is disappointing but to lose like that last night was pretty poor and Espanyol were up for it and they put on a great show for their opening ceremony and were worthy winners.

We looked disjointed, unable to control posession and shaky at the back. Additionally, we seem to lack ideas in the final third and at times our creative play was laughable. yossi did himself no harm with a couple of pieces of quality but other than that kuyt was anonymous and gerrard and torres didnt quite click.

Lucas didnt play badly last night and he deserves some credit but we looked vulnerable on the counter and him and mascherano didnt really get a hold of that midfield at any point in the game.

Hate to say this but without xabi we looked really poor when in posession of the ball. We desperately need some creativity from the wide areas so lets see what rafa does with the reported £30m that we will be getting for alonso.

The lad at PSG sessenyon looked very accomplished on the left. He looks like he could become a real talent over the next couple of seasons. Might be worth a punt if we cant afford silva.

Its easy to point to Xabi and say we missed him but I'd say we missed decent performances from the majority our senior players more.

[el matador]

Its easy to point to Xabi and say we missed him but I'd say we missed decent performances from the majority our senior players more.

for me the most important area on the pitch is central midfield. If you win the midfield battle, you control the game.

Last night and in the majority of the matches we have played pre-season we havent controlled the middle of the pitch and this has meant that instead of controlling the game we've been chasing it.

I think alonso is so important to the way we play and last night just proved how crucial he is to our title chances and why Madrid really need him for their side.

He is the best playmaker out there.

[Craig_H]

Anyone else think we might have made a massive mistake letting Arbeloa leave? Whilst I am an admirer of Glen Johnson's attacking capabilities his defending last night reminded me just how bad he can be, and Degen was absolutely out of his depth. RB is a really worrying position IMHO.

Yes and i banged on about it in the Arbeloa thread. Was shouted down by most, of course. Because 'in rafa we trust' etc etc.

[Craig_H]

Apart from the Community sheild, you can't get odds on club freindlys.

You can mate. Paddypower, for one, take bets on friendly games.

[RedReet]

Yes and i banged on about it in the Arbeloa thread. Was shouted down by most, of course. Because 'in rafa we trust' etc etc.

Although I agreed with you at the time, it's still too early to judge. Let's see how Rafa spends the Xabi money first.