Liverpool v Birmingham Post Match Thread

[Tatterdemalion]

Couldn't of put it better myself.

but i didn't say that...

[vonk]

Too often we took too many touches in wide areas instead of just getting the balls in early, also we don't get enough men in the box

More of the second reason. We did actually put a lot of balls into the box but at times it was only Benayoun in there and, much as I like him, he's not going to win a header over tall defenders.

It's frustrating because it was a game we should have won. Players gave their all though.

[Molby]

One thing i can't fathom, why does Rafa only put tactical subs on from 60 - 65 mins + ??


On a plus side, we looked really convincing tonight going forward, if Stevie's header had've went in, it could easily have been a landslide.... but, **** happens when your down on your luck.

On a negative side, N'Gog's dive was a bit out of order, if that had've happened against us tonight - there would be anarchy on here.......aside from that, he was brilliant - looks like a real 1st teamer now.

The league is looking a little bit unrealistic now, but it is pretty tight from 2nd - 7th, i still have to believe that happier days are not that far away

[Icon]

More of the second reason. We did actually put a lot of balls into the box but at times it was only Benayoun in there and, much as I like him, he's not going to win a header over tall defenders.

It's frustrating because it was a game we should have won. Players gave their all though.

That IS a worry!

[SimonNo7]

but i didn't say that...

I know, but I did Sorry for *******ising your post

[red g]

its bad luck
its the ref
its the beach ball
its injuries
its a lack of money
its Gillette and Hicks
Its Lucas
Its Skrtel
Its Alonso leaving
Its Babel
Its Mascherano
Its Kyrgiakos
Its the oppositions goalkeeper having the "game of his life"
Its the oppositions players scoring goals (for the first time, the nerve)
Its the midweek Internationals

Its not Rafa

i think those 5 are very valid

[Baracus]

I'm off to support Liverpool FC.

[Mattshark]

Out of curiosity, would people like to also list all the teams with better defensive records than Birmingham?

[Joe King]

Out of curiosity, would people like to also list all the teams with better defensive records than Birmingham?

Chelsea

[Baracus]

Just 3

Chavs
Mancs
Villa

what do I win..

[Mattshark]

Just 3

Chavs
Mancs
Villa

what do I win..

An invisible car

[Baracus]

An invisible car

wow




that is so cool, i see its all ready pulled into my drive.

[Gerrard]

one issue that bugs me about tonight is that Rafa changed the formation to accommodate SG once riera got injured. We were destroying them with 4-4-2 and I think the main reason for that was Benayoun's movement to create space for Johnson on the right. Gerrard could have done the same thing or even more damage from the left flank once he replaced Riera.

Gerrard is arguably the world's best off the striker - but that striker is Torres, who he is on the same wavelength with, not a younger, less experienced Ngog. Rafa should have kept 442 as Masher and Lucas were running all over them in the middle and allowed Gerrard & Yossi to roam from either flank - exactly like it was for the first 40 mins and IMO we would have won the game.

Just think it was inflexible thinking from Rafa to change a dominant position to accomodate a half fit SG without Torres. He could have left it 442 for 15-20 mins of the 2nd half IMO

I don't wanna sack Rafa and I am not blaming him for not winning - this is juat a personal observation before it all kicks off

[MrMichael]

one issue that bugs me about tonight is that Rafa changed the formation to accommodate SG once riera got injured. We were destroying them with 4-4-2 and I think the main reason for that was Benayoun's movement to create space for Johnson on the right. Gerrard could have done the same thing or even more damage from the left flank once he replaced Riera.

Gerrard is arguably the world's best of the striker - but that striker is Torres, who he is on the same wavelength with, not a younger, less experienced Ngog. Rafa should have kept 442 as Masher and Lucas were running all over them in the middle and allowed Gerrard & Yossi to roam from either flank - exactly like it was for the first 40 mins and IMO we would have won the game.

Just think it was inflexible thinking from Rafa to change a dominant position to accomodate a half fit SG without Torres. He could have left it 442 for 15-20 mins of the 2nd half IMO

I don't wanna sack Rafa and I am not blaming him for not winning - this is juat a personal observation before it all kicks off

Interesting thoughts, although iirc we were also all over them for most of the second half, at least until after Yossi came off. Formation for me wasn't a major problem, nor was anything Rafa really did, bad luck and a slight lack of real quality movement to get on the end of some pretty good play were. In the context of a poor season so far several other failings are becoming quite obvious, but purely in the context of that game I still can't believe we didn't win.

[Elrond]

Interesting thoughts, although iirc we were also all over them for most of the second half, at least until after Yossi came off. Formation for me wasn't a major problem, nor was anything Rafa really did, bad luck and a slight lack of real quality movement to get on the end of some pretty good play were. In the context of a poor season so far several other failings are becoming quite obvious, but purely in the context of that game I still can't believe we didn't win.

That's becoming quite a regular reply in these threads.

Very depressing. Whatever can go wrong for us at the moment, is. Just one of those periods every team goes through. We need a couple of wins to lift the confidence.

Last season was very similar, except the ball was always hitting the back of the net when it needed to.

Make no mistake, we completely battered them today, we just couldn't finish. Absolutely incredible game...