Liverpool vs Birmingham match thread

[DannyMan2006]

I've said it before and nothing is coming close to changing my mind - Lucas and Poulsen are a chasm away from being good enough. They just offer nothing. We struggle to find Gerrard and Torres up top, and this problem largely stems from the fact that Lucas & Poulsen cant pass water. They're our distribution method from defence to attack, and my god, are we ****ed because of that. We could maybe get away with one of them playing, as long as he's next to a proper footballer who can play, move and pass the ball well and with purpose. I just hope Miereles is good enough.

I think everyone is starting to see this and agree

We'll see what Roys ideas are once Meireles and Cole are available to play. Can't see a DM partnership of Poulsen and Lucas lasting any longer tbh. Neither are bad players, they just need to sit next to a creative player.

[DannyMan2006]

Best keeper in the league and probably Europe.

Pretty sure I saw some people questioning him after the midweek game. No suprise to see they've gone quiet now.

[Craig_H]

And once we've solved the problem of Lucas and Poulsen alongside each other (i struggle to think of a footballing pair that offer less) we must next sort out the problem of two 'wingers' who are nothing of the sort, and offer **** all in a creative, attacking sense.

Frankly, Pacheco and Babel should start on Thursday night. Both have their flaws, but both are the type of players who'll make things happen if given the chance to do so.

Our problem is precisely that. Top sides make things happen, average sides wait for them to happen. We are the latter and we were last season too. Instead of being proactive and MAKING things happen, we sit back, plod along until we're behind and only then do we actively try to make things happen. It's a ****ing midtable 'keep a clean sheet and try to pinch something' mentality and it's ****.

[Molby]

I think everyone is starting to see this and agree

We'll see what Roys ideas are once Meireles and Cole are available to play. Can't see a DM partnership of Poulsen and Lucas lasting any longer tbh. Neither are bad players, they just need to sit next to a creative player.

I agree totally - Meireles looks the part, his positioning and timing of his runs were top class, from what we seen of him today. Poulsen and Lucas are too similar, we should not see them together again..

Incidentally, why the hell was Agger left on the bench? Skrtel looked like a nervous wreck out there today..

[DannyMan2006]

And once we've solved the problem of Lucas and Poulsen alongside each other (i struggle to think of a footballing pair that offer less) we must next sort out the problem of two 'wingers' who are nothing of the sort, and offer **** all in a creative, attacking sense.

Frankly, Pacheco and Babel should start on Thursday night. Both have their flaws, but both are the type of players who'll make things happen if given the chance to do so.

Our problem is precisely that. Top sides make things happen, average sides wait for them to happen. We are the latter and we were last season too. Instead of being proactive and MAKING things happen, we sit back, plod along until we're behind and only then do we actively try to make things happen. It's a ****ing midtable 'keep a clean sheet and try to pinch something' mentality and it's ****.

I agree we lack top wide players, but we can only make do with what we have available. A money shortage hasn't really helped our cause when it comes to being light in terms of back up striker and a couple of skilled wide players.

Pacheco is only young and needs time. Bable wants to be a striker and I have no idea what Roys plans for Joe Cole are.

No doubt we'll see Babel and Pacheco on Thursday, but that's just the Europa League. I personally want to see how our first choice team will line up.

[little dave hedgehog]

meireles played twice for portugal last week and scored a goal. i think it's obvious we've bought him for our first xi, and i get that he might not be tactically up to speed. on the evidence on display this morning, i'm not sure anyone is. when the alternative is the lucas/poulsen axis of evil, what's the real harm? start him. if he's really in over his head, bring him off, but at least we'll have an idea of what to expect at old toilet, and so will he.

[banditos]

Roy needs to bite the ****ing bullet and realise that the only decent option for wide left is Joe Cole.

[Craig_H]

I agree we lack top wide players, but we can only make do with what we have available. A money shortage hasn't really helped our cause when it comes to being light in terms of back up striker and a couple of skilled wide players.

Pacheco is only young and needs time. Bable wants to be a striker and I have no idea what Roys plans for Joe Cole are.

No doubt we'll see Babel and Pacheco on Thursday, but that's just the Europa League. I personally want to see how our first choice team will line up.

It is indeed just the Europa Cup, but my hope is that one (or both) of them puts in a performance that makes them a shoe-in to stay in the side. No disrespect to rafa, but under him, i never felt that a player could play himself into the side for the next game, no matter what they did. I think and hope Roy will be different, in that respect.

Having said that, the next game is at United, so even i'd be wary of putting Pacheco or Babel into that particular frying pan.

[little dave hedgehog]

It is indeed just the Europa Cup, but my hope is that one (or both) of them puts in a performance that makes them a shoe-in to stay in the side. No disrespect to rafa, but under him, i never felt that a player could play himself into the side for the next game, no matter what they did. I think and hope Roy will be different, in that respect.

question is can anyone play themselves out of the side? apparently not...

[alunevans]

Personally I'd have Kelly at right back and Johnson right midfield. He's never a full back.

Then Gerrard and Meireles in centre mid, with Cole behind Torres.

Jovanovic or Pacheco on the left.

At least then the spine of the side looks pretty sound, with a bit of pace down one of the flanks with Johnson.

I really don't want to see the two holding midfielders thing ever again.

[Shaggy]

It is indeed just the Europa Cup, but my hope is that one (or both) of them puts in a performance that makes them a shoe-in to stay in the side. No disrespect to rafa, but under him, i never felt that a player could play himself into the side for the next game, no matter what they did. I think and hope Roy will be different, in that respect.

Having said that, the next game is at United, so even i'd be wary of putting Pacheco or Babel into that particular frying pan.

Agree with that...Rafa had his ideas and he stuck to them, for better or for worse. I also hope Roy is different but IMO Jovanovic should've been ditched today. He's playing abysmally and is keeping his place. He should come out of the side now but I sense Roy will keep him in.

Also...Jovanovic....he's a right ****ing diver. Embarrassing.

[DannyMan2006]

I agree totally - Meireles looks the part, his positioning and timing of his runs were top class, from what we seen of him today. Poulsen and Lucas are too similar, we should not see them together again..

Incidentally, why the hell was Agger left on the bench? Skrtel looked like a nervous wreck out there today..

Personally I'd have played Agger. But I can see why Roy picked Skrtel.

Skrtel is more of defender than Agger, if you get what I mean. Someone who could happily play teams who just punt balls into the box, in much the same way as Kyrgiakos is competent at this. He's a no nonsence player and gets the job done, by fair of foul means.

Dannys your more cultured footballer who can pick a pass and who shows composure when in possession of the ball. I think he sits well with Carra as Carra is in the same mould as Skrtel - No Nonsence, but with the added benefits of being a leader and an organizer at the back.

I guess as we all knew how Birmingham would play it Martin is a decent shout to play CB, but I think that is more worrying about the opposition, as opposed to playing Danny and asking him to help build our attacks and ask the questions of Brum.

[Craig_H]

Agree with that...Rafa had his ideas and he stuck to them, for better or for worse. I also hope Roy is different but IMO Jovanovic should've been ditched today. He's playing abysmally and is keeping his place. He should come out of the side now but I sense Roy will keep him in.

Also...Jovanovic....he's a right ****ing diver. Embarrassing.

I wanted him dropped today too, as his form hasnt been good. But i thought he was a bit better today. Personally, i would've given Babel a shot but as has been said, i think Roy thinks of him as a striker and given that it was an away game at a tough place (Brum unbeaten at home now for 17 in the league) i'm not too surprised that he went for the harder-working option, over the 'flair and pace, but lazy' choice.

[Craig_H]

Personally I'd have played Agger. But I can see why Roy picked Skrtel.

Skrtel is more of defender than Agger, if you get what I mean. Someone who could happily play teams who just punt balls into the box, in much the same way as Kyrgiakos is competent at this. He's a no nonsence player and gets the job done, by fair of foul means.

Dannys your more cultured footballer who can pick a pass and who shows composure when in possession of the ball. I think he sits well with Carra as Carra is in the same mould as Skrtel - No Nonsence, but with the added benefits of being a leader and an organizer at the back.

I guess as we all knew how Birmingham would play it Martin is a decent shout to play CB, but I think that is more worrying about the opposition, as opposed to playing Danny and asking him to help build our attacks and ask the questions of Brum.

Personally, i'd stick Kyrgiakos in. Both at the back and up top from set pieces, i struggle to see anyone who'll stamp his authority on the aerial aspect of the game, and we have nobody better at that than Kyrgiakos.

[DannyMan2006]

Agree with that...Rafa had his ideas and he stuck to them, for better or for worse. I also hope Roy is different but IMO Jovanovic should've been ditched today. He's playing abysmally and is keeping his place. He should come out of the side now but I sense Roy will keep him in.

Also...Jovanovic....he's a right ****ing diver. Embarrassing.

In fairness he did get banged but it was a fair challenge. More amusing was Lucas who when he got took out by Ferguson was already going to ground before he got hit.

I wouldn't mind but it seems when our players fall over they aren't even doing it in an area that will cause the opposition damage. The only time when it would have been worthwhile was when the so called diver of our team - Stevie Starfish - was clattered from behind by Bowyer, but fair play to Stevie he stood up and didn't jump to the floor as if hit by a sniper.