Liverpoool v Man City Post Match thread

[Tee]

We just do not have the movement or style of play to win these big matches.

So many times the player in posession would look for options and every single player would be almost standing still. Shocking.

Until we return to our heritage and play proper pass and move football, brace yourself for more of the same.

[DannyMan2006]

Regardless of the formation and tactics, the individual performances were horrendous. There was no drive, no desire, no passion, NOTHING! The passing was absolutely shocking and the reaction times from players was a joke. It was as if they were all drugged up and didn't know where they were.

Kuyt barely touched the ball the whole game
Jovanovic was abysmal
Johnson ****e as usual away from home
Skrtle, probably the dumbest player in our team. ****ing hell put Danny Agger back in the centre of defence where he belongs. Agger is our best defender and he should be in the centre partnered by whoever is deemed good enough.
Gerrard was the only player who was even trying to score
Our front 2 were not being given the ball fast enough and they were getting enough support. I couldn't believe how slow we were to move the ball around

On Glen Johnson, City created nothing on his side so I don't see where all the bad press is coming for him. He did his job in defence.

[DannyMan2006]

I think that's a good point Agger was very poor last night, and I could only imagine the slagging that Insua would have got had he played like that. The left back position needs sorting out urgently. Does anyone know why Aurelio didn't play? I fear though that this close to the deadline we are unlikely to bring in more than one player for the first team and I feel we need about 3

Aurelio, like Poulsen, is not match fit. Had they been I think both would have started yesterday.

[Exiled_red]

I sort of agree except that before the season started I didn't think we would get into the top 4 and now I'm convinced we wont and that's not being negative just realistic.
My massive problem is that every single sensible person could see that 4-4-2 against Man City's 4-3-3 was never ever in a month od sunday's going to work.
I don't think we can blame Mascherano pulling out as that is too easy, he had Poulson on the bench to come in and sit or he could have played Kuyt/Maxi wide of the 3 with the other in the whole or Babel left with Jovanovich off Torres or Ngog. Christ even Babel off the front man.

It's a poor excuse to say he didn't have options, plus Hodgson is the one who is pushing Aquilani out the door, he would have been ideal to play in the role off the front last night.

I can take getting beat, I can just about except that City had 3 shots on target and scored all 3 but what I can't except is a vastly experienced manager picking a formation that has been proved time and time again to not work in modern football

I really can't understand going away from home to one of the top 7 sides and playing two out and out strikers and no defensive midfielders. I can't imagine any other sides would do that. Very few sides play two up top these days especially away from home, it seems to be something English managers are keen on though, but it seems very naive to me.

[Exiled_red]

Aurelio, like Poulsen, is not match fit. Had they been I think both would have started yesterday.

Why is Aurelio not fit? Was he injured in the summer? He hasn't been at the world cup and it was reported he was still training with us in pre-season before we re-signed him.

[The Birdman]

Spurs played 442 v City last week and were much the better team. Man Utd play 442 on a regular basis and do very well in this league. If Berbatov or Hernandez have a good season they'll play 442 in most games as well.

And we weren't out played all over the park by City. We were just exposed in areas where we were weak. Our wide players had the ball and created nothing. City just fed Johnson and he tortured Danny Agger. It wasn't the system that let us down, it was a weak link at LB.

Had it been the system that was poor we would actually have seen City getting shots off and troubling us. Aside from the first goal, they had about two other shots, neither of which troubled Reina. The other two goals came from dead ball situations.

Spurs don't play 4-4-2, one of the 'front 2' always drops 10 to 15 yards deeper when they are out of possession to play on the deepest midfielder. But even if we agreed to split hairs on that point they play that system with Lennon and Bale as the wide outlets which makes a massive difference.

It's under 11 standard to play 3 on 2 in centre midfield then when a wide player tucks in to match up you play around him to the full back or wide player who immediately has a 2 on 1 situation.

Edit: **** me just read your post again, Man U playing 4-4-2??? they haven't played 4-4-2 in years, a couple of seasons ago Rooney was playing left in a 4-3-3/4-5-1 for them and last season he was the loan front man.
I think your tv is stuck in 2001 if you think Man U play 4-4-2

[Alex]

Aurelio, like Poulsen, is not match fit. Had they been I think both would have started yesterday.

Unless they play there not gonna get match fit. Catch 22

[DannyMan2006]

Unless they play there not gonna get match fit. Catch 22

Well that's why they played against Trabzonspur and will do again on Thursday.

[DannyMan2006]

Spurs don't play 4-4-2, one of the 'front 2' always drops 10 to 15 yards deeper when they are out of possession to play on the deepest midfielder. But even if we agreed to split hairs on that point they play that system with Lennon and Bale as the wide outlets which makes a massive difference.

It's under 11 standard to play 3 on 2 in centre midfield then when a wide player tucks in to match up you play around him to the full back or wide player who immediately has a 2 on 1 situation.

Edit: **** me just read your post again, Man U playing 4-4-2??? they haven't played 4-4-2 in years, a couple of seasons ago Rooney was playing left in a 4-3-3/4-5-1 for them and last season he was the loan front man.
I think your tv is stuck in 2001 if you think Man U play 4-4-2

Spurs play 442. Crouch and Defoe are not midfield players, N'Gog and Torres both came deep for the ball at times if you want to go on about that.

On Man utd. rooney played on the left when they had Ronaldo. Last season he operated as a striker and was joined on occasion by Owen, Macheda, Berbatov etc at times. Neither of which are midfield players.

As for 442 v 4213 or 4231, yes you will be outnumbered in midfield. But it's about using your strikers in an effective way that keeps them pushed back. There is nothing to suggest an extra man in midfield will win you the game every time.

That said, i think we played 442 because that was all we could play. Masch threw his toys out the pram and left us a midfield player light. Cole was suspended, Poulsen wasn't fit enough for 90 minutes, Aquilani is gone and that pretty much leaves Spearing and Shelvey, who we all know are not good enough.

[Rudo]

For those who think/expect Roy to magically guide us back into the top 4 and bring the good times back, how exactly is he meant to do this?

Bearing in mind this is the same squad that finished 7th, ****in 7th last season, and as we all know one of our best players won't be around too much longer.

Also City are improving rapidly, Spurs continue to progress, Arsenal aren't far away and it's pretty much a given United & Chelsea will up there.

[Craig_H]

For those who think/expect Roy to magically guide us back into the top 4 and bring the good times back, how exactly is he meant to do this?

Bearing in mind this is the same squad that finished 7th, ****in 7th last season, and as we all know one of our best players won't be around too much longer.

Also City are improving rapidly, Spurs continue to progress, Arsenal aren't far away and it's pretty much a given United & Chelsea will up there.

And one who went within 4 points of the title the season before.

7th wasnt a true reflection, it was just a consequence of ****e performances.

[DannyMan2006]

For those who think/expect Roy to magically guide us back into the top 4 and bring the good times back, how exactly is he meant to do this?

Bearing in mind this is the same squad that finished 7th, ****in 7th last season, and as we all know one of our best players won't be around too much longer.

Also City are improving rapidly, Spurs continue to progress, Arsenal aren't far away and it's pretty much a given United & Chelsea will up there.

We can come 4th if we buy the right players before the transfer window closes.

That said, I think the most important thing for Liverpool this season is we get new owners in who are right for the club.

[Rich]

Oh for John Arne Riise.

For his many failings he's been our best Left Back for a decade.

[vjsingh]

Just my opnion but could we play something like this V WBA

[Craig_H]

Just my opnion but could we play something like this V WBA

No players?