Rafa Erupts

[DannyMan2006]

The central midfielders didn't control play for me or cover when the fullbacks were out of position. Gerrard didn't defend from the front. The wide players offered little shape. It was true that Fiorentina offered little in terms of chance creation but we should have had more of the ball in better areas and they shouldn't have had such leisurely possession. It was a terrible performance in the first half and I don't think anyone deserves any credit really.

The left was easily exposed but it was a consequence of a general lack of organisation and control to my mind.

No one deserves any credit, but the left flank was our worst area - maybe because Marchioni was one of their better players on the night, I don't exactly know why.

In terems of possession of the ball they were all equally terrible, as soon as we got past the halfway line we gave it away, be it a long ball out of frustration or a short pass that was wayward.

[Craig_H]

Sorry mate, I know that but was just saying what we needed. As it stands we can get away with defeat to Lyon away as long as we win our other games. We would need a 2-0 or better result (maybe goal difference) to guarantee it with regards to Fiorintina, but that would be on the basis of Fiorintina winning all remaining games against Lyon and Debrecen.

Aye but i wouldnt want to go into the last game against fiorentina NEEDING to win. 7 points out of Lyon and Debrecen would leave us on 10, most likely already qualified or just needing a draw in the final game.

Problem is that Fiorentina have 2 games against Debrecen and could be upto 6 points ahead of us by the time we play Debrecen away. Then they've got Lyon in Florence which they could easily win or avoid defeat in.

Obviously they'd only be 6 ahead if Lyon beat us twice, which shouldnt happen but even if we win and lose against Lyon, Fiorentina 3 points ahead isnt a good thing for us. Hence why we must surely be seeking a minimum of 4 points from Lyon, so that the worst case scenario is that Fiorentina will be 2 points ahead of us.

[-V-]

We were poor in first half because we set out to defend and hit them on the counter. Rafa doesn't get it wrong very often but he did on tuesday. You could say that the players never executed his plan correctly but that may be because we never had the resources to do so. Lucas and Aurelio are not tough central midfielders like Alonso and Mascherano. I suppose Rafa wanted to test the 2 of them out and see if they could do that sort of job. The were invisible and our fragile defence was hammered again.

We should have gone there and attacked them. But thats over with now and we can learn from it as its a loss that won't kill us

[DannyMan2006]

Aye but i wouldnt want to go into the last game against fiorentina NEEDING to win. 7 points out of Lyon and Debrecen would leave us on 10, most likely already qualified or just needing a draw in the final game.

Problem is that Fiorentina have 2 games against Debrecen and could be upto 6 points ahead of us by the time we play Debrecen away. Then they've got Lyon in Florence which they could easily win or avoid defeat in.

Obviously they'd only be 6 ahead if Lyon beat us twice, which shouldnt happen but even if we win and lose against Lyon, Fiorentina 3 points ahead isnt a good thing for us. Hence why we must surely be seeking a minimum of 4 points from Lyon, so that the worst case scenario is that Fiorentina will be 2 points ahead of us.

Whilst beating Lyon home and away would be the favourable result, I'm merely suggesting that as things stand we could still be beaten by Lyon and qualify with a good result against Fiorintina, even if Fiorintina win all their other remaining games. In effect, three wins out of four and we're through. Still, would be down to the head to heads and goal difference then, pending on other results.

[Craig_H]

Yeah, i dont want that kind of tightrope.

[red g]

Yeah, i dont want that kind of tightrope.

we are liverpool fc, we love the tightrope scenario

[DannyMan2006]

Yeah, i dont want that kind of tightrope.

Neither would I. Just saying a defeat to Lyon would not be a total disaster.

[Chris]

This is where it gets annoying having a crap team like Debrecen in the group, you cant rely on them to get the points from Fiorentina that we lost.

But we seem to enjoy making things ridiculously awkward for ourselves so bring it on.

[DannyMan2006]

This is where it gets annoying having a crap team like Debrecen in the group, you cant rely on them to get the points from Fiorentina that we lost.

But we seem to enjoy making things ridiculously awkward for ourselves so bring it on.

Not many teams in the CL end up with 0 points. Teams generally tend to get at least a point. They nearly got one against us. They may have been thrashed by Lyon but I would not be suprised if they end up with at least a point come the groups end. We just have to make sure we beat them.

[Chris]

Cant see it, they're absolute garbage, they'll lose the lot.

[JohnDoe]

Fiorentina will drop points against Debrecen.

[Chris]

Not a chance unfortunately.

[Craig_H]

It could happen. We were lax against them at Anfield and i wouldnt be surprised to see Fiorentina being a little complacent against them.

If that happens, all you need is a lack of a 'rescuing' winning goal, and that's 2 points dropped.

[Shaggy]

I'd never want to lose any game, but if it really does invoke a massive reaction for Sunday, i'll take that.

A win on sunday and i'd virtually forget who fiorentina are.

[lickedlollipop]

Fabio, who wouldn't be? you were the worst ;>