Trabzonspor vs Liverpool Match Thread (2nd Leg)

[SB]

I wonder if we can arrange so that we can only play the second half of matches while Roy is here. A bit worrying that we need that half time talk to look like we care. We should have that talk before the match methinks.

[SB]

Sarah Winterburn

http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,13320_6340432,00.html

Are Liverpool Any Better Than Bolton?
Posted 26/08/10 21:40
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For 83 minutes, Liverpool were slow, laborious, one-paced and utterly lacking in any creativity or spark. That they finally edged their way through to the Europa League group stages owed more to Trabzonspor tiring than any inspiration from a travelling side who looked at times like they had walked to Turkey.

Without the drive of Steven Gerrard, the steel of Javier Mascherano or the end product of Fernando Torres, Liverpool look no better than Bolton. You could argue that this was a team of internationals, but even the mothers of Fabio Aurelio, Leiva Lucas, Christian Poulsen and Dirk Kuyt would hesitate to describe their sons as creative forces.

This was a team set up to stifle and suffocate, but the plan backfired when Trabzonspor wriggled free as early as the fourth minute to take the lead. It was difficult to see from where a Liverpool goal could be wrenched, with Glen Johnson the only player who was willing to put any real pressure on the Turkish defence. If Liverpool were to avoid penalties, the impetus had to come from their right-back.

Joe Cole should thank Johnson for saving him from a probable post-mortem as once again the England man was a crushing disappointment. One very good cross that David Ngog should have buried is not enough from 90 minutes when the absence of other big names makes you the main man by default.

Time and time again he was bundled off the ball or his first touch deserted him. No doubt Roy Hodgson will say "he needs games" but Liverpool would have been bundled out of Europe if every Liverpool player offered as little as Cole. The truth is that he barely delivered for 25 minutes for Chelsea last season and he needs to improve sharpish in order to become a bona-fide matchwinner and thus hero on Merseyside.

On present form he is no better than a dozen other less-heralded Premier League players, while Liverpool look no better than a mid-table side. Of course, simply getting past potential banana skins is the most important thing but Liverpool fans should perhaps be a tad worried that Roy Hodgson seems to think his team "played well". No Roy, they eventually did just about enough to limp through.

That's all very well, but on the day that the Champions League draw reminded them just what they were missing this season, the fans would have no doubt liked to see something closer to emphatic than asthmatic. It might make work a little more pleasant on Friday mornings.

Sarah Winterburn

[Suarez]

Sarah Winterburn

http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,13320_6340432,00.html

Are Liverpool Any Better Than Bolton?
Posted 26/08/10 21:40
EmailPrintSave


For 83 minutes, Liverpool were slow, laborious, one-paced and utterly lacking in any creativity or spark. That they finally edged their way through to the Europa League group stages owed more to Trabzonspor tiring than any inspiration from a travelling side who looked at times like they had walked to Turkey.

Without the drive of Steven Gerrard, the steel of Javier Mascherano or the end product of Fernando Torres, Liverpool look no better than Bolton. You could argue that this was a team of internationals, but even the mothers of Fabio Aurelio, Leiva Lucas, Christian Poulsen and Dirk Kuyt would hesitate to describe their sons as creative forces.

This was a team set up to stifle and suffocate, but the plan backfired when Trabzonspor wriggled free as early as the fourth minute to take the lead. It was difficult to see from where a Liverpool goal could be wrenched, with Glen Johnson the only player who was willing to put any real pressure on the Turkish defence. If Liverpool were to avoid penalties, the impetus had to come from their right-back.

Joe Cole should thank Johnson for saving him from a probable post-mortem as once again the England man was a crushing disappointment. One very good cross that David Ngog should have buried is not enough from 90 minutes when the absence of other big names makes you the main man by default.

Time and time again he was bundled off the ball or his first touch deserted him. No doubt Roy Hodgson will say "he needs games" but Liverpool would have been bundled out of Europe if every Liverpool player offered as little as Cole. The truth is that he barely delivered for 25 minutes for Chelsea last season and he needs to improve sharpish in order to become a bona-fide matchwinner and thus hero on Merseyside.

On present form he is no better than a dozen other less-heralded Premier League players, while Liverpool look no better than a mid-table side. Of course, simply getting past potential banana skins is the most important thing but Liverpool fans should perhaps be a tad worried that Roy Hodgson seems to think his team "played well". No Roy, they eventually did just about enough to limp through.

That's all very well, but on the day that the Champions League draw reminded them just what they were missing this season, the fans would have no doubt liked to see something closer to emphatic than asthmatic. It might make work a little more pleasant on Friday mornings.

Sarah Winterburn

I thought that the general consensus on here is that we were awful for the first 80 mins or so?

[banditos]

We were definitely the better team in the second half. Not sure we bossed it, but we were pretty comfortable.

This chick is ignoring the fact that Trabzonspor aren't mugs and any trip to Turkey is a relatively tough ask. She must be a manc.

[DannyMan2006]

We were definitely the better team in the second half. Not sure we bossed it, but we were pretty comfortable.

This chick is ignoring the fact that Trabzonspor aren't mugs and any trip to Turkey is a relatively tough ask. She must be a manc.

We were missing our most talented CB - Agger
Our star midfielder - Gerrard
Our Star striker - Torres

If you go to any team and take away their best players they wouldn't look so great.

Not to mention we also missed players like Maxi and Jova and had players in the team who are still some way short of match sharpness due to being on different timescales with the sport science lot.

It was no wonder to me we looked average tonight. But we were at a tough venue and we got the job done.

[Kenneth]

You have got to watch the Villa highlights. Heskey putting the ball over the bar with an empty net from 3 yards out. Beggers belief (almost).

[DannyMan2006]

You have got to watch the Villa highlights. Heskey putting the ball over the bar with an empty net from 3 yards out. Beggers belief (almost).

Caught the second half, really poor by Villa that.

[Shaggy]

I watched the 2nd half of the Villa game...funny as ****. After Heskey's terrible miss and woeful all round performance, he scored when the ball hit him and he got absolutely mobbed by his team mates - it seemed like pity. I felt sorry for him.

[Redspin]

Double whammy then.

I dont speak Austrian, but i'm sure the Rapid fans are singing 'Can we play you every week?'

Just seen the banner in the away end, saying 'The Nightmare Returns!'

Austrians don't speak Austrian either; it's German. I blame the comprehensive school system myself so don't feel bad about yourself.

[Redspin]

You have got to watch the Villa highlights. Heskey putting the ball over the bar with an empty net from 3 yards out. Beggers belief (almost).

As I keep saying, Heskey is one ****ing useless lump

[Craig_H]

Austrians don't speak Austrian either; it's German. I blame the comprehensive school system myself so don't feel bad about yourself.

I know they speak German - i studied German and spent time in Austria. But i couldnt say 'i dont speak german' because i still do, a little. So **** you and your 'i blame the comprehensive school system' 'trying to be funny and make yourself look intelligent and failing' bull****

[andrewces38]

great tackle dirk, so clumsy. whats up with him? even worse than normal. but at least i've seen him unlike poulsen and lucas.

totally agree even with his goal

Aurelio = wank.

im loving your support.

Do you think Roy WANTS us to go through this tie? I honestly dont.
his celebration puts that theory to bed mucker

Not saying he's 'throwing' the tie or anything, but i think he's very much indifferent and would probably secretly prefer the reduced workload on our squad, as he tries to guide us to our main priority, as said himself, of getting back into the top 4.[/QUOTE]
see above

Johnson's playing like ****e. Weak and lacking in concentration. FFS.

but assisting in goals is ok no?

Said something similar about any fullback before we spunked mega money on Glen.
see above
What an expensive mistake to make

For me Johnson in a bloody winger more than defender! Put Glen on the right wing and kelly as right back! Bloody football managers what do they know?

Why doesnt he make a ****ing change? I mean, Hodgson knows that subs are allowed right?

jumped the gun there fella

****s sake, johnson. quit being so ****.

So let's see now, tonight's most slated duo pair up to force an away goal for us.

step forward lads

Stick that up your arses, whingers.

Pacheco's made the difference here chaps.

Can i just say, if Lucas cant even take games like this by the scruff of the neck and impose himself on the action at THIS level, how much hope can we really have?
and a season pro like poulson can?
A player on the fringes of the Brazil squad should be one of the better performers at this level, but he's been invisible.

lets have an official " It's lucas's fault".....................then you can all join in ............we will have bouncy castle's ,balloons and a packet of randon rowntree's just for you ****ers

[Craig_H]

Well andrew, not only did you manage to make numerous pointless comments, but you also cocked up the quotes, so they've become even more incoherent. Bravo

[McDermotX]

In fairness, highlighting Johnson's flaws isn't exactly a knee-jerk reaction..........its an evaluation of his contribution to our team since he's joined. IMO, its not pretty.
His lack of defensive discipline, positional awareness, general lack of concentration, ability to be turned inside out by most good wingers etc etc is a serious, serious concern which can't be overlooked, and certainly not by one good run and cross against a pretty poor side which happened to lead to an OG. (other than that he was awful out there)
I don't think anyone hear questions the wisdom of trying him at right-wing for a while, as he does have decent qualities going forward (although his final ball in can be a bit hot and cold), he's quick, direct, and can hit the ball with either foot.................now whether we have the team makeup to utilize these qualities with him in a defensive position is another thing entirely.
We don't dominate possession, we don't retain the ball well, and we can be exposed down the flanks, any CB pairing we have are so slow they are going backwards........a fullback with suspect defensive abilities can be a liability to say the least. I know some people think he'll improve over time (he is 26, and some will point to other fullback's development, but that's hardly a given), but given the dearth of quality in our squad at present, I would rather see a proper defender given the chance to impress, and Glen given a role further forward.

[DannyMan2006]

Again, Johnson did little wrong at the back tonight and again, he is getting stick for it.

He also created a goal to keep those quiet who were moping on about him not creating or scoring. But still they moan.