Post-Match - Bolton (a)

[Craig_H]

We were very very poor, especially in the attacking third. We over elaborated and seemed to take one touch too many. We seem to be lacking in confidence. This Bolton team should have been dismissed easily. We conceded two soft goals from long balls and set pieces. Something is not right and we're dependent on one or two players, who have been below par (Torres, Gerrard).

Torres, apart from his goalscoring exploits, has been quite poor lately. Not sure if its match fitness or him still feeling the after effects of the confederations cup, but his touch has not been there and he always seem to run in blind alleys. Maybe he's not receiving the ball into good positions.

We have to improve a lot and quick as I can't see us getting away with it week after week. The decision to send off Davis actually played in our favour as Bolton retreated back in defence. But each time there's a long ball being played in our defence, it's almost panic buttons being hit. Kyriakos has been decent and his main asset it seems is the fact that he is excellent in the air.

Roll on to next week but there's a lot of work to be done. We don't look like title contenders right now.

Decent analysis. I'm a ****ing high right now, having been through the emotional mill. But **** it, we ****ing won. And i'd argue that, by playing poorly and winning, we are looking MORE like contenders than we did last week.

The decision to send off Davis actually played in our favour

No **** sherlock. The opposition losing a man, working in our favour? Whatever next?

Stelios was very good in the air, a little careless on the ground, but he looks a useful option to have. To be fair, i'm not having that we were lucky today. Apart from set pieces, Bolton were about as threatening as a lemon.

We seriously need to sort our defending out though. Every single one of the 7 goals we've conceded this season, has come from a set piece. Bizarre and very unlike us. We either need to sort our defending out, or stop giving away set pieces, cos no ****er looks like scoring against us from open play.

Torres looked much sharper after his goal. Heard rumours that his lack of sharpness is nothing to do with fitness, and more to do with the perceived instability of Rafa's position. But we'll see.

Special mention for Johnson, who was very good again. He could well hit double figures if he continues like this. Lucas wasnt as bad as the media will have you believe, but he needs to man up sharpish. Far too often, he goes hiding, instead of showing for the ball. And more often than not, he'll just play a 5 yard ball square to SG, instead of advancing with it. Man up Lucas, you're here because you're capable - so stop pussying about and step up, cos you CAN ****ing do it.

Also mention for Insua today, who was as useful an option down the left as he often is.

All in all, i dont give a **** what the press say about 'luck' and the sending off. Fact is, the 2nd half was like a training match and we more than deserved to win.

Let's hope some serious work goes on with regards to defending set pieces between now and Burnley on 12th September. Aside from that, my only concern is why we have to put ourselves up against it, before we actually play with a high tempo and push teams back. When we started doing that, we had Bolton pegged back for 40 minutes and the goals were always coming.

Rock on.

[Craig_H]

The thing with Lucas now is....his haters are on his case so badly that every single step out of line is highlighted, scrutinised and used against him. It's wildly OTT, total over-analysis and over-scrutiny. He wasn't bad today - made some fine lung-bursting runs forward and tried to be progressive. He's playing under more pressure than every other player cos of the mud routinely slung in his direction from so-called supporters.

I know of a few Arsenal fans who look right clowns having slagged the **** out of Song and Diaby for two seasons. Now look at those two. I thought Song was a waste of space too and suddenly he looks a player. I remember some of them lamenting the fact we got Sissoko while they were "stuck with Diaby". Look how he's developed given time. 99% of the Arsenal support would've binned him and Song ages ago.

I agree with that shaggy, but whilst Lucas doesnt do a whole lot wrong, the problem is, he also doesnt make much of a significant impact. With Mascherano being what he is, the onus is on Lucas to provide some sort meaningful attacking contribution, and he doesnt.

In a title race, where there's barely room for error, we cant afford to carry a player whose development may well be ongoing, but who is also causing us to lose a hugely significant aspect of our system.

[Robbie-fowler999]

The thing with Lucas now is....his haters are on his case so badly that every single step out of line is highlighted, scrutinised and used against him. It's wildly OTT, total over-analysis and over-scrutiny. He wasn't bad today - made some fine lung-bursting runs forward and tried to be progressive. He's playing under more pressure than every other player cos of the mud routinely slung in his direction from so-called supporters.

I know of a few Arsenal fans who look right clowns having slagged the **** out of Song and Diaby for two seasons. Now look at those two. I thought Song was a waste of space too and suddenly he looks a player. I remember some of them lamenting the fact we got Sissoko while they were "stuck with Diaby". Look how he's developed given time. 99% of the Arsenal support would've binned him and Song ages ago.

You are spot on mate. I think he did well today, It was a solid performance by him. Its just that some people are just complete Idoits shaggy, They think They know better than Rafa. He sees him in training everyday and knows what he wants from him. People expect him to be Alonso, hes not.

[Marky]

Seen the goals earlier. You would be hard pressed to see similar defending in a sunday league as in ours today. ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING!! Souness couldn't find words to describe how bad it was, when he was doing the analysis.
****ing sort it out lads.

[vonk]

Sorry Shaggy et al but I can't understand where you see this great play by Lucas. I can't remember a game where he has been even close to being in Liverpool's top five players. Nt making a mistake is not good enough for me. He had a chance today to take hold of the game but he hid. Sure he showed for the ball, then gave it straight backwards or to Masch or Gerrard. He gives away too many free kicks in bad areas and it was only when Gerrard took took the game by the scruff of the neck that we dominated. I've get to see Lucas look dangerous around the box, dominate midfield, nit defence spliting passes... Sure, he didnt make many mistakes, he's young, but he's had more games than Babel and I've written him off as well. We can't wait forever for Lucas. If we want someone to be a "water-carrier" fine, but we don't... we expect players to step up when others like Gerrard are marked out of it. He just didn't step up and take hold of the game. He never look like he really wanted the ball and was quite happy when he was marked. If anyone can expand on what he brings to the team, or any outstanding piece of play by him I'm all ears.

[Lee]

Torres looked much sharper after his goal. Heard rumours that his lack of sharpness is nothing to do with fitness, and more to do with the perceived instability of Rafa's position. But we'll see.

That's a worry if true. Who said this? Fans at the game?

[Craig_H]

You are spot on mate. I think he did well today, It was a solid performance by him. Its just that some people are just complete Idoits shaggy, They think They know better than Rafa. He sees him in training everyday and knows what he wants from him. People expect him to be Alonso, hes not.

I know he wont be Alonso and it's unfair to ask that of him. But training means **** all mate. He can be Pele in training, but if he doesnt deliver in matches, it's meaningless.

Furthermore, please dont use that 'they think they know better than Rafa' argument, i ****ing hate it.

Every single failed PL manager also know a gazillion times more than a poster on a forum, and is infinitely more qualified to manage a football team, but that never made them good enough. I'm not saying Rafa isnt good enough or is a failed manager, because that's not true.

But just being a professional and highly paid manager, doesnt mean Rafa is right about everything, and neither does it mean it's not possible for a poster on here to be right about a particular thing, with Rafa maybe getting it wrong.

[Marky]

As for Lucas, i feel sorry for the lad, he seems to really want to do well but you know what -
maybe he just doesn't have it in him and it could be as simple as that.

[Craig_H]

That's a worry if true. Who said this? Fans at the game?

Aye, few chaps were talking about it. Could be nonsense, but they were talking amongst themselves rather than telling me, so it's not as if they were trying to look 'in the know'. It's all speculation, mind. Only Nando and Rafa know for sure.

[Marky]

You're talking **** Craig. Rafa's going nowhere. Stop spreading ****.

[Craig_H]

Sorry Shaggy et al but I can't understand where you see this great play by Lucas. I can't remember a game where he has been even close to being in Liverpool's top five players. Nt making a mistake is not good enough for me. He had a chance today to take hold of the game but he hid. Sure he showed for the ball, then gave it straight backwards or to Masch or Gerrard. He gives away too many free kicks in bad areas and it was only when Gerrard took took the game by the scruff of the neck that we dominated. I've get to see Lucas look dangerous around the box, dominate midfield, nit defence spliting passes... Sure, he didnt make many mistakes, he's young, but he's had more games than Babel and I've written him off as well. We can't wait forever for Lucas. If we want someone to be a "water-carrier" fine, but we don't... we expect players to step up when others like Gerrard are marked out of it. He just didn't step up and take hold of the game. He never look like he really wanted the ball and was quite happy when he was marked. If anyone can expand on what he brings to the team, or any outstanding piece of play by him I'm all ears.

I have to say that's a decent post.

It's not that Lucas goes around making stupid mistakes left, right and centre. But he doesnt do much which stands out that often either.

In terms of having a significant impact in either third of the pitch, he is very lacking.

I'm still hopeful for him, but he shouldnt be first choice IMO and should be blooded more gradually, rather than relied upon to play the position left behind by Xabi.

[Lee]

Aye, few chaps were talking about it. Could be nonsense, but they were talking amongst themselves rather than telling me, so it's not as if they were trying to look 'in the know'. It's all speculation, mind. Only Nando and Rafa know for sure.

Thanks mate.

I'm just hoping that Torres has looked **** the last few weeks because he's not match fit yet. We do look like a team at the moment with no team spirit... body language from the players isn't right... I may be looking into things a bit too much, and hopefully I'm way off the mark, but something doesn't seem right. And it can't just be down to the fact that Alonso left us.

[Craig_H]

You're talking **** Craig. Rafa's going nowhere. Stop spreading ****.

**** off little marky, i'm only repeating what i overheard.

I didnt give it any credence, i just said what i'd heard, and as i said, it could easily be speculation.

So go back to blowing up your inflatable.

[Marky]

**** off little marky, i'm only repeating what i overheard.

I didnt give it any credence, i just said what i'd heard, and as i said, it could easily be speculation.

So go back to blowing up your inflatable.

haha, had a row with the wife earlier, not nice.

Could be more on this story in the sunday tabloids

[Craig_H]

The Torres story?

Or the story about your blow up doll?

I wasnt spreading **** by the way marky, and i wasnt saying it was true, just repeating what i heard. That is all.