Liverpool vs Birmingham match thread

[little dave hedgehog]

Some good, valid posts in the last few pages of this thread.

Oh, what did everyone make of Poulsen today? Very much mixed views on his performance, i personally thought he wasn't too bad, certainly not as bad as some are making out.

Second half i thought he imposed himself on the game, some crisp passing but there's room for improvement all the same.

poulsen's looking better, but a ways to go. he's been a good player, just have to see if he can reproduce that form for us at this stage in his career.

[DannyMan2006]

Some good, valid posts in the last few pages of this thread.

Oh, what did everyone make of Poulsen today? Very much mixed views on his performance, i personally thought he wasn't too bad, certainly not as bad as some are making out.

Second half i thought he imposed himself on the game, some crisp passing but there's room for improvement all the same.

Poulsen looked much sharper in this game than previous ones and his only failing was the fact he was paired with a similar player in Lucas.

[DannyMan2006]

Lucas was a disappointment again and if Inter milan offer anything over £7m for him we should accept. He doesnt defend exceptionally well neither does he attack well. He's one of those players that looks like he;s lost his way and doesnt really know his own identity anymore. he tries but when you need someone to step up he normally steps back.

Why though did roy hodgson leave it until 70 odd minutes to introduce meireles ? He could have made that change at least 20 mins earlier.

On Lucas, I have the same worries myself but we'll see. I know he is capable of getting forward and so why he doesn't do it is beyond me. Hopefully he can step up when put along side Stevie or Raul and show he can hold a solid position and support the defence.

As for Hodgsons late changes, I agree. We weren't in the game and should have tried something sooner. Drawing three games gets the same points as losing two and winning one, so I think we need to take some gambles every now and then. Nothing reckless, just some ideas to freshen things up and take a different approach.

[el matador]

Poulsen looked much sharper in this game than previous ones and his only failing was the fact he was paired with a similar player in Lucas.

funny thing is that lucas has now made both poulsen and mascherano look like ****e players.

[DannyMan2006]

Just watching some of the game again, Majority of the chances Birmingham had in the air seemed to be where they took up positions between Skrtel and Konchesky. Bit of lack of communication perhaps?

[DannyMan2006]

funny thing is that lucas has now made both poulsen and mascherano look like ****e players.

You could flip it and say they make him look ****e?

All three are similar players. That's the crux of the problem if you ask me.

[Craig_H]

Biggest shock of the day was when the PA was reading out the teams, and said 'number 28, Christian Poulsen' - for one reason or another, i heard 'Christian Purslow' and spent the next few minutes feeling utterly bewildered.

[little dave hedgehog]

everyone at the pub here cheered perhaps the biggest cheer of the day when lucas finally came off.

[Rudo]

everyone at the pub here cheered perhaps the biggest cheer of the day when lucas finally came off.

Surely he won't start at Old Trafford?

Even if he doesn't, **** i'm dreading that game already.

[little dave hedgehog]

if a bunch of groggy, hungover americans can see it...

[Craig_H]

Actually, Man Utd away is precisely the sort of game he SHOULD play.

Lucas gives nothing much going forward, or in a creative sense - but he's very useful at sitting in front of a back four, breaking things up, keeping it simple when he has the ball and, to put it slightly crassly, 'getting in the way' - all things which will be useful for Old Trafford. I'd start him alongside Meireles.

[DannyMan2006]

One thing that actually summed up the game for me.

Maxi was in possession. Ahead of him was a simple pass to Meireles. Further ahead was torres, on his own, surrounded by Brum players.

Maxi, instead of feeding Meireles who was building up a bit of speed, decided to hoof it up to Torres who of course lost his millionth ariel challenge of the match.

Meireles turns to Maxi, with a cross look on his face and with both hands gestures towards his feet.

Exactly my thinking all game. Too many pointless, aimless, long balls up to Torres instead of working the shorter ground passes.

[Buzzo]

Biggest shock of the day was when the PA was reading out the teams, and said 'number 28, Christian Poulsen' - for one reason or another, i heard 'Christian Purslow' and spent the next few minutes feeling utterly bewildered.

You never know, perhaps he could do a job for us?

[DannyMan2006]

Actually, Man Utd away is precisely the sort of game he SHOULD play.

Lucas gives nothing much going forward, or in a creative sense - but he's very useful at sitting in front of a back four, breaking things up, keeping it simple when he has the ball and, to put it slightly crassly, 'getting in the way' - all things which will be useful for Old Trafford. I'd start him alongside Meireles.

Poulsen and Gerrard for me.

Cole or Meireles off Torres.

[Rudo]

Actually, Man Utd away is precisely the sort of game he SHOULD play.

Lucas gives nothing much going forward, or in a creative sense - but he's very useful at sitting in front of a back four, breaking things up, keeping it simple when he has the ball and, to put it slightly crassly, 'getting in the way' - all things which will be useful for Old Trafford. I'd start him alongside Meireles.

Nah, i'd start Poulsen, Gerrard and Meireles. Cole and Babel on the wing. Torres up top.

Btw, anyone wishing to watch the highlights of our fine display today, can do so now on MOTD 2