Not playing like a Top 4 team...

[Red Chilli]

Can't understand the clamour for Gerrard on the right. I think he's wasted there.

[Rosco]

You're missing a fundamental point; Cisse. Scored. Goals.

Call him all the names under the sun, rant off about his attiude, his crap hair, his apparant 'lack of a footballing brain', the offside rule, his price tag or whatever else, at the moment, we lack goalscorers in our squad, Djib was exactly that.

If Bellamy equals Djib's tally of 19 from last season, I'll never post on this site again. That's how confident I am of it not happening, in fact, if you want to push me, I can't see him scoring 15, to be honest.

*awaits one simplisitcally dimensional, smilie ridden reply*

Bellamy won't get as many games as Cisse did to hit 19 goals, 4 of Cisse's goals came in games that we didn't have the opportunity to play in this season.

It's only a real comparison if you compare like with like, and I think Bellamy is more than capable of matching Cisse's league goals tally.

[Rosco]

It's Garcia's inconsistency that lets him down Polo. You can't take a chance on him when we're not in form - too much of a gamble.

More of a gamble than playing Pennant ?

[Bob]

Can't understand the clamour for Gerrard on the right. I think he's wasted there.

oafff!!!

Basically, in as less as words as i can...

Momo and Xavi play effectively as a effective central midfield pairing. 3 into 2 doesn't fit - and Gerrard must be accommodated, therefore the right it is (given he is the most versatile of the aforementioned). Gerrard is right footed and an effective crosser (of a moving ball at least) and when he moves into the inside right position he is deadly from shooting range.

In conclusion Xavi, Momo, and Gerrard are the best midfielders Rafa has, and they all must be accommodated! Gerard is the only one of the three that can play on any channel!

[Red_Polo]

It's Garcia's inconsistency that lets him down Polo. You can't take a chance on him when we're not in form - too much of a gamble.

I also think, in terms of dragging players out of position, (and i'm assuming opposing defenders here) that Bellamy, Fowler and Couch are better at this. Albeit the last one lacks the mobility to carry this out at decisive junctures, such as set plays etc.

Mate, Pennant is wasting the ball in space 9 times out of 10 for us at the moment. Garcia will lose the ball on occasions with the odd flick or taking too many touches, but he commits his opposite number and draws defenders out. He breaks us out of our drab predictability. Nobody else is doing that for us at the moment, you can even argue that Gerrard aside nobody else does that for us anyway. Our captain really needs to roll his sleeves up and get going for that reason.

[Bob]

Mate, Pennant is wasting the ball in space 9 times out of 10 for us at the moment. Garcia will lose the ball on occasions with the odd flick or taking too many touches, but he commits his opposite number and draws defenders out. He breaks us out of our drab predictability. Nobody else is doing that for us at the moment, you can even argue that Gerrard aside nobody else does that for us anyway. Our captain really needs to roll his sleeves up and get going for that reason.

I only caught the highlights of this game (though that's the first this season). However, i've enough to go on that Pennant has been woeful to date. Today we had a straight Pennant/Garcia selection decision. Ok, Rafa picked, on hingsight the worst of the two - but who knows.

I do dispute that Garcia brings defenders out of their positions - except the really dim ones. For me he cuts inside more often than outside ala Pennant. Garcia is undoubtedly the master of the two, for finding that pocket of space in an attacking position, to change the game. Pennant on the other hand offers undoubtedly more width, and a 'supposed' alternative threat With Pedersen opposing the right flank, perhaps Rafa wanted a harder working playing in that position.

In hindsight i'd have been tempted to play bolo in a DM CM role and allow Gerrard to stay on the right. Rafa would've hoped Pennant could've delivered better though.

[carrsim]

Can't understand the clamour for Gerrard on the right. I think he's wasted there.

he had his most productive ever season playing on the right is probably the reason.

he was ****e in the middle yesterday.

the only player who is anywhere near top form is riise. the rest still look way below in terms of fitness, touch and worringly hunger.

our midfield last season looked solid, with kewell as the wide player.
until momo is back, garcia should play wide right and speedy wide left as that most accurately replicates last season.

then when momo is back, move stevie wide right, keep speedy wide left and play luis with kyut.

start like that then use the subs/squad when a player starts to tire

[geeko]

I've watched Pennant get a fair chunk of game time in two games. Chelski and yest. In both he had heaps of the ball and both times I was left fuming with the end result (throw in to them, overhit cross, cross hit first def). There was only one, ONE, occasion he hit a player, that was stevie's volley and even that was too hot to do anything with..

When I first watched pennant play for us in cl qualifier at anfield I was rapped. He was getting to the byline wipping in nice crosses in the right area over and over. Unfortunately it looked like that was a one off, and I'd say rafa probably hit and missed with this one, as with cisse and baros I don't think he has a good brain. Id love for him to make it though, but he is 24 now, so not sure if he can improve in that many areas, considering he needs to improve in alot.

I wouldn't say rafa hit and miss with bellamy too tho, I think he partners very well with both kuyt and crouch and should be first choice. He's intelligent, perfect instincts, great speed, and can finish when he gets going. Bad first touch, but who has a good first touch on our side? I would've said all this about bellamy before today's game btw. I think any defence would be packing it in if they had to deal with kuyt/bellers or crouch/bellers

[MrMichael]

I've watched Pennant get a fair chunk of game time in two games. Chelski and yest. In both he had heaps of the ball and both times I was left fuming with the end result (throw in to them, overhit cross, cross hit first def). There was only one, ONE, occasion he hit a player, that was stevie's volley and even that was too hot to do anything with..

When I first watched pennant play for us in cl qualifier at anfield I was rapped. He was getting to the byline wipping in nice crosses in the right area over and over. Unfortunately it looked like that was a one off, and I'd say rafa probably hit and missed with this one, as with cisse and baros I don't think he has a good brain. Id love for him to make it though, but he is 24 now, so not sure if he can improve in that many areas, considering he needs to improve in alot.

I wouldn't say rafa hit and miss with bellamy too tho, I think he partners very well with both kuyt and crouch and should be first choice. He's intelligent, perfect instincts, great speed, and can finish when he gets going. Bad first touch, but who has a good first touch on our side? I would've said all this about bellamy before today's game btw. I think any defence would be packing it in if they had to deal with kuyt/bellers or crouch/bellers

Agree with that, I really think we've a lot more to come from Bellamy and there'll be some people eating humble pie round these parts. He's a nightmare for defenders and does actually have a footballing brain, he'll be fine in time. Fear you may be right about Pennant too.

[Joe Le Toff]

Straight to the point;

Bellamy isn't an improvement on Cisse, or enough of one.
Bellamy is better IMO but agreed, there aint much in it at the moment

Pennant is quite frankly not fit to wear the liverbird. Is there anyone left who still thinks he's got what it takes?
There is huge amounts of room for improvement from the lad but i also think that some of the criticism is a tad unfair on occasions

Why aren't Garcia and Gonzalez playing more?
Wish I knew mate

We miss Kuyt already. He's the one intelligent attacker we have. He knows how to pass and move.
Who wouldnt though, hes a class player IMO

We still don't utilise Crouch properly often enough. His presence was wasted today.
I like Crouch but he doesnt do the basics of forward play well enough IMO to be anything other than a squad player

Steven Gerrard's form is a worry. If he isn't playing well we're ordinary more often than not. Like today.
The games ive seen him in this season he has been average at best, his body language doesnt seem right and we have to get him back playing well so that the team improves as well like you say

What was Reina doing for the first goal?, he's making errors of judgement this season that he wasn't last.
IMO, Reina just isnt getting the protection from the back 4 this season that he was last. Coupled with the couple of howlers he's made and there is a clear lack of confidence. What does concern me is that now we're starting to see the real Reina, i fcuking hope not.

IMO we still don't have enough top quality players to win the title, especially in the final third. Rafa gambled on Pennant and Bellamy and it's backfired and it's set us back.
Totally agreed

10 points from 12 at home; okay. 1 point from 12 away is costing us dear.
I'd like to see Rafa be a bit more positive in sending out the team with more attacking intent from the first, at home we do this but not away. It's frustrating.
Would love to see us taking the game to teams more and letting them worry about us more than us about them, i just dont think it will ever happen with Rafa in charge and favouring the 'horses for courses' rotation policy.

[Joe Le Toff]

Oh, and another thing anyone who mentions Cisse after we've a poor game should sin-binned, or some ****. That guy had a lack of a basic footballing brain, and that at 24yo is unforgivable at this level. Probably the worst coached player i have seen at this club since Phil Babb, and that includes Diouf, Diao etc. The guy had no ****ing idea, i always thought (hoped) Rafa could instill some footballing wisdom into his game. He obviously felt he couldn't and sent him packing. Liverpool need players that will fit into a Rafa's team ethic - Cisse doesn't fit the bill. Bellamy's form has been very lacklustre, but he brings much more to the team than that fud Cisse.

Very well put.

[Shaggy]

Why the **** isn't Gonzalez playing?

[Los Rojos]

While it's clear that we did not play well yesterday, what really got to me was the lack of desire and urgency the team demonstated until Garcia came on in the second half. I can't understand where that has crept in from.

Also, Sami and Carra are not looking comfortable with each other at Centre Half -a lack of fitness or confidence perhaps, and Finnan looks like a man who knows that no matter how little he contributes, he is certain to keep his place for the next game. Reina didn't look confident in the warm-up and looked even worse once the game kicked off.

We should still have won though - Crouch had a couple of decent chances before Blackburn scored, chances which you'd expect an International striker to bury.

Rafa's got some work to do.

[Bob]

Also, Sami and Carra are not looking comfortable with each other at Centre Half -a lack of fitness or confidence perhaps, and Finnan looks like a man who knows that no matter how little he contributes, he is certain to keep his place for the next game. Reina didn't look confident in the warm-up and looked even worse once the game kicked off.

Rafa's got some work to do.

On your last point, too ****ing right!

Sami and Carra have not played consistently together this season and that's also got to be a factor. Also Sammi is struggling more than Carra, and two games on the bounce away on international duty will have taken its toll. He's also worryingly not formed an understanding with Riise harking all the way back to preseason. He's constantly getting pulled left, which is dreadful considering the experience he has.

Reina is low on confidence for sure. He's class though and this will come through - fairly confident of that.