Liverpool vs Birmingham match thread

[Molby]

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.

I can sort of see your point DannyMan - but it was glaringly obvious that Skrtel was having a shocker, i honestly thought he was going to concede a penalty (or two) - i just don't understand why Roy didn't make that change early doors??

[Shaggy]

Not just today though...at City he was throwing himself around all over the shop, similarly against West Brom and Arsenal. Not just out and out dives...going down like a sack of spuds at the first sign of contact, however minimal.

[Craig_H]

Just to get a perspective from folk who had a better view courtesy of tv cameras - is it me, or did the ref give us absolutely nothing? Lucas got battered, and the first heavy tackle on him looked a red to me. Furthermore, in the first half (and i saw this on the big screen replay ) one of their players committed a clear handball in the box, but nothing was given - the ball struck his hand (not arm) and his hand wasnt by his side and out of the way - it was sticking out and chest-height. Looked nailed on, to me.

Ref looked appallingly bad and a complete homer.

[DannyMan2006]

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.

That's fair but he's dodgy on the ground.

I think Skrtel is an inbetweener if you like, as flair wise it would go Agger, Skrtel then Kyrgiakos, but ability in the air and strength wise it would go Kyrgiakos, Skrtel then Agger.

I guess against Birmingham he could have gone with Kyrgiakos, but Sktel has started all the previous games alongside Carra and maybe he wanted to stick with the tried and tested.

[little dave hedgehog]

lucas got clattered all right, twice. but while they were appallingly bat tackles, they weren't malicious. maybe a red would've been harsh, but fair.

the real question was that tackle on torres in the box, for me. where the **** was he on that one?

[Craig_H]

lucas got clattered all right, twice. but while they were appallingly bat tackles, they weren't malicious. maybe a red would've been harsh, but fair.

the real question was that tackle on torres in the box, for me. where the **** was he on that one?

Yeah, i was at the other end (and i didnt see it on the replay) so it's hard to tell, but it looked a foul to me.

As i say, the ref was a ****ing disgrace.

[DannyMan2006]

Just to get a perspective from folk who had a better view courtesy of tv cameras - is it me, or did the ref give us absolutely nothing? Lucas got battered, and the first heavy tackle on him looked a red to me. Furthermore, in the first half (and i saw this on the big screen replay ) one of their players committed a clear handball in the box, but nothing was given - the ball struck his hand (not arm) and his hand wasnt by his side and out of the way - it was sticking out and chest-height. Looked nailed on, to me.

Ref looked appallingly bad and a complete homer.

I don't think we got anything either. The tackle by Gardner on Lucas could have been red, but I think Yellow was right. The penalty would have been very harsh but I've seen em given.

[Rafa_el_Gafa]

At the game today, just some thoughts.

Carragher and Skrtel were rock solid.

Ok start for Konchesky today on his debut.

Gerrard has to play in the middle. Our whole team should be shaped around him. The last twenty minutes was bossed by us because he was moved in the middle.

Poulsen adds nothing to our team.

I believe Torres has lost a yard of pace. Think we didn't help him by hitting high long balls from the back when he is isolated.

We play boring football.

[wiw]

Just to get a perspective from folk who had a better view courtesy of tv cameras - is it me, or did the ref give us absolutely nothing? Lucas got battered, and the first heavy tackle on him looked a red to me. Furthermore, in the first half (and i saw this on the big screen replay ) one of their players committed a clear handball in the box, but nothing was given - the ball struck his hand (not arm) and his hand wasnt by his side and out of the way - it was sticking out and chest-height. Looked nailed on, to me.

Ref looked appallingly bad and a complete homer.

Halsey is always ****e to be fair

The first one on Lucas was defo a bad tackle..not sure if it was a red though. The hand ball would've been really harsh if given. Had it been Carra at the other end no doubt they'd have given it

[Rudo]

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.

[Craig_H]

Halsey is always ****e to be fair

The first one on Lucas was defo a bad tackle..not sure if it was a red though. The hand ball would've been really harsh if given. Had it been Carra at the other end no doubt they'd have given it

I was 90% sure it was Halsey, but i couldnt quite be certain - consequently, i was almost reluctant to give him **** over his decisions, because of his recent illness. But still. He was a cunt.

[DannyMan2006]

I can sort of see your point DannyMan - but it was glaringly obvious that Skrtel was having a shocker, i honestly thought he was going to concede a penalty (or two) - i just don't understand why Roy didn't make that change early doors??

I don't think he was that bad, just not happy with the failure of both Carra and Skrtel to deal with the balls whipped in by Brum. I think far too often both allowed the Birmingham players to peel off them and attach themselves to the full backs so balls could be won more easily.

[Craig_H]

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.

If Poulsen hadnt existed today, i wouldnt have been able to tell.

There's your answer.

[el matador]

todays game was a huge disappointment but big teams will come here and struggle. A point is a point gained especially when you consider we could have easliy lost this one 2 - 0.

Our team pattern of play has changed since rafa left with there being more forward passes at a greater tempo. At times it worked and we looked ok but the rest of the time the players were just running around quickly without getting anywhere.

The way Hodgson wants torres to play obviously isnt suited to him because he looked pretty poor today. His touch was off and he misplaced a lot of easy passes. Something still isnt right and if his attitude is still off come january we should let him go.

Gerrard was ok but the midfield is still a big problem. Poulsen is never going to be a star performer unless we are really under the cosh. He isnt the type of player to grab the game with both hands and dictate the tempo like alonso. He's not spectacular neither is he anything special so we cant expect him to do anything that what he already does and I think he does it ok.

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.

The flanks are another massive problem because rodriguez was absolutely **** today and you expect better from him. jovanovic doesnt look like a winger because he has no idea how to beat a fullback and he has no tricks whatsoever. He has pace but its not enough at the highest level because without control or vision its worthless and he doesnt contribute anything from the left hand side. At least babel is a goal threat.

We need a wideman who can carry the ball and worry his fullback. Joe cole might be used on the left instead of jovanovic and rodriguez on the right or even babel on the right. At no time did we ever look in control of the game and birmingham looked very comfortable until meireles came on and the game was stretched.

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.

[Shaggy]

Yeah it's like you're not allowed to criticise Halsey any more cos of the illness he had. He was rubbish I thought.