Bitters match thread

[JohnDoe]

We're fortunate to be where we are right now. Everton have been the better team, it's about time we had some luck this season.

I'm pretty confident that Gerrard isn't fit because he's been appalling. N'Gog has been terrific.

Benayoun on please.

[saj]

IMO, Aurelio has been absolutely woeful.

Leighton Baines has been very good though.

[Tatterdemalion]

Seeing Moyes celebrating that blatant offside goal makes me very happy about the fact that Rafa does not celebrate goals.

Also shows that Moyes doesn't undertstand the rules of the game.

[Sprouty]

Worryingly, Everton have been far better than us this half. Hope that we can slow it down and get more into the game second half.

[ronniedrew]

if we play in the second half like we did in the first , we're in trouble

[tiktu]

N'Gog getting praise for his playing, how he moves and ties up the defenders, e.g. Liverpool's goal.

Gerrard is a passenger so far and Aurelio is also invisible. Benny in for Aurelio and kick some more in.

[Guest]

We need to hold the ball up more, we've been excellent for the first 20 mins but let Everton come back into it a bit. Both of the off side goals were perfectly defended. We are building from the back again and becoming a solid team but we need to put more pressure on Everton's midfielders and keep the ****ing ball and make decent contributions with it when we've got it in their own half. Our final ball isn't good enough.

And what the **** has been happening with Gerrard? He doesn't seem half arsed is it?

[Tatterdemalion]

If we avoid defeat here we'll be 5 games without defeat and lot's of players coming back from injury as we go into the business end of the season. Ok, the league is a distant prospect and we're out of the champions league, but there's still trophies to play for and the club appears to be executing well off the pitch. We've reached our nadir, and haven't left the top ten. It gets better from here.

sadly it's all downhill for the bitters.

[lickedlollipop]

i'm kinda nervous. this is gonna be tough til end....

[DannyMan2006]

I would be close in thinking that this could have been one of the worst performances of our season so far. Whilst we could have had another couple Everton should have been level. We have been terrible against a poor Everton side.

I was hoping for a totally commited and inspired performance from the reds today. Have to say that the best team by a country mile has been Everton. Are team looks scared and I'm ashamed to say that. I thought we were a team of big game players.

And whilst I expected big things from Kuyt, he has been terrible. Slashing his foot at every clearance and has offered no protection at all to Glen Johnson who has had to deal with a very bright Bilyaletdinov.

And all this before I even come to set pieces............... In fact I can't even go there. Abysmal is the word and I'll leave it at that.

I can't see us playing that badly again in the second half, but if we continue to invite pressure (such as letting Howard get as far upfield as he likes to bomb the ball forward) we will concede and we will be lucky to get a draw.

[Guest]

I would be close in thinking that this could have been one of the worst performances of our season so far. Whilst we could have had another couple Everton should have been level. We have been terrible against a poor Everton side.

I was hoping for a totally commited and inspired performance from the reds today. Have to say that the best team by a country mile has been Everton. Are team looks scared and I'm ashamed to say that. I thought we were a team of big game players.

And whilst I expected big things from Kuyt, he has been terrible. Slashing his foot at every clearance and has offered no protection at all to Glen Johnson who has had to deal with a very bright Bilyaletdinov.

And all this before I even come to set pieces............... In fact I can't even go there. Abysmal is the word and I'll leave it at that.

I can't see us playing that badly again in the second half, but if we continue to invite pressure (such as letting Howard get as far upfield as he likes to bomb the ball forward) we will concede and we will be lucky to get a draw.

That's a ****ing harsh assessment.

We've been nowhere as bad mate. We are passing the ball nicely but we need more creativity in the final third and sit back a bit less in the second half. We've been OK defensively.

[Exiled_red]

i'm kinda nervous. this is gonna be tough til end....

[Assassin]

This game is so open it is screaming out for Aquilani

60 mins: Aurelio off and Aquilani on

[Tatterdemalion]

This game is so open it is screaming out for Aquilani

60 mins: Aurelio off and Aquilani on

I reckon you're right, for all Rafa's comments about only bringing him on when the game is tied up, I think he'll relent.

Afterall, he won't get a game otherwise!

[Tatterdemalion]

Howard Kendall looks frigging old.