Post match recriminations v Lyon

[Exiled_red]

We were very poor in the second half. Carragher needs a break. That's as diplomatic as I can put it. NGog tried hard and was impressive in his all around play but he needed to put that chance away. That's the difference with the top sides. Aurelio and NGog needed to take those chances. Thought Agger, Kelly, Mascherano and Reina were outstanding. Benayoun was also our only threat and was then removed?!?

Voronin, Lucas, Insua, Aurelio, Carra were bad. Kuyt was simply shocking. Poor first touch, distribution, everything.

We are in trouble now.

To be honest everyone did well in parts in the game and also at time many people did badly, meaning overall there were alot of average perfomances but no-one was particularly bad. IMO after a defeat alot of people jump to their scapegoat or someone who is off form and blame them as they are an easy target. The problem is lack of confidence after we scored we were buzzing and you could see the difference, then they got back into it and there was no one there to look for inspiration from and heads went down.

[Rowan]

That was an absolute abomonation of a performance. We look totally lacking in ideas and once again looked totally predictable going forward. We need Aquilani fit soon and to hope that he is an instant hit.

Whats worse is that whenever a team attacks us I just feel like they always stand a good chance. The one feature of the Rafa sides is that even when we had not a lot going forward we always looked organised defensively and at the minute I just don't feel way. You just can't pack a team with defenders and expect them to be a fluent, threatening attacking force.

I feel sorry for Pepe. He didn't deserve to be on the losing side. i thought Ngog worked as hard and well played Kelly when he was on. Apart from that, woeful.

Here's hoping we can kickstart things by turning over the mancs.

[Molby]

Quote:
Originally Posted by frank the tank
i reckon we will win all remaining games......in rafa we trust

Are you for real ??

i reckon he has signed his P45 taking off Benni and bringing on the pony tailed donkey

[Exiled_red]

The problem with our squad players though is that they are Championship squad players at best!

That's a little dramatic they are probably average premership players however average isn't good enough for us

[BobTheCharmer]

Which, in my opinion, is a good enough reason to not label him as superb.

but equally to slate the guy for their last goal when he's been shunted to right back for the ****ing awful skrytel and had played well all night doing what he does best is over the top.

I'd be more than happy if Carra plays like that all season.

I thought we played pretty well tonight, especially first half. Considering confidence is low and the way we played at sunderland. its just seems like nothing is going for us. take their first goal, two great saves and it still falls to one of them.

Utd game is just what we need to give the place a lift. **** or bust.

[Mattshark]

That's a little dramatic they are probably average premership players however average isn't good enough for us

Don't expect critical thinking here, that is way too much to ask.

[ronniedrew]

how can we with masch and lucas playing together in midfield?

they have no creativity in the MAIN part of the pitch, its a joke and blind foolishness b rafa

[billd]

bollocks, carra was superb all night apart from their winner.

[JohnDoe]

We took a huge gamble when we relied on Voronin and N'Gog to be our second choice strike force, but I doubt Rafa wouldn't have signed a striker if he could this summer. Those two wouldn't get into a championship team. I'll give some credit to N'Gog, he looks like he could be a good 5 a side player, but that's about it. When Torres is out, we're ****ed.

Add the fact that Skrtel has been utter **** this season, complete disaster, and it's hurt us badly because Agger was out. Just after he came on today, our defence suddenly looked **** again. Mascherano has been poor and looked uninterested at times, which made the Alonso void bigger. Everything that could have gone wrong this season, did. I feel sorry for Benitez to be honest.

[Marky]

How is this the same side that finished 2nd in the league and got to a CL Qtr Final is what i'd love to know.
Of course Alonso has left but **** me it can't have had that big an impact on our defence, attack etc.

[ronanm]

I have to pick some things and players out for special mention based not only on tonights performance.

Insua - Exposed woefully in Florence for lack of pace. Again, tonight, looked totally out of his depth. Aurelio should start there whenevr fit to reintorduce some sort of defensive protection. Insua offers very little. He's not ready, if he ever will be.

Ngog - a peasant's Darren Bent. Useless. Cannot beat a player (did so once but sh1t himself - couldn't believe his luck). Handy in the reserves which, after long enough at the club, seems to be his level. Missed an absolute sitter.

No passer in the midfield at all. Aqualini (or whatever) better be some player, otherwise Benitez has got it all wrong in the transfer market AGAIN. Keane last year (was he given a chance?), Johnson thus far has been effective going forward but other than that, very suspect defensively.

Zonal marking - Benitez is so arrogant when it comes to admitting he is wrong, as Alonso will testify. Yet another goal results from a corner with Reina having to make 2 point blank saves before they scored on the 3rd attempt.

Away banker on Sunday. What an absolute shambles.

[SimonNo7]

But why doesn't the manager play the best centre midfielder in the world in that position!?

To be honest I think where he plays Gerrard is actually correct, it's other creative players that we need. Quick wide players and another creative central midfielder.

Another thing is to leave us with an attacking force of Torres, Voronin and Ngog (I'm classing Kuyt a very good striker in Holland but now a right midfielder) is unbelievable. The argument that we couldn't get other top strikers to play second fiddle to Torres I would say have a look at some of the other teams in the Premiership and their 4 strikers!

[red g]

but equally to slate the guy for their last goal when he's been shunted to right back for the ****ing awful skrytel and had played well all night doing what he does best is over the top.

I'd be more than happy if Carra plays like that all season.

I thought we played pretty well tonight, especially first half. Considering confidence is low and the way we played at sunderland. its just seems like nothing is going for us. take their first goal, two great saves and it still falls to one of them.

Utd game is just what we need to give the place a lift. **** or bust.

[Hustler]

He was asleep for their first goal also....

[Oberon]

Rafa`s teams are set up to lose. Fact.

What a stupid thing to say

I hate this right now. Our confidence is shot, look how well we played when we scored, could have had 2 more, without Gerrard, Torres or Johnson.

We need a lucky break, scratch a win from somewhere, then another and hopefully the confidence will return.

I still hate this though