Liverpool vs Steaua Bucharest: Match Thread

[DannyMan2006]

In fairness Joe Cole was right and people should listen to that. In the first half Steau worked their socks off against us to close us down and put us under pressure, whilst we mainly dropped into our own half and kept shape. Come the 65th minute or so Steau looked knackered and we began to really open them up.

It seems that so far this season we've been looking to press more in the second half once the opposition are a bit more tired. I think later on in the season this tactic will work better in the league as teams start to get more tired and injuries start to pile up.

Birmingham lasted until the 80th minute or so until they tired and so maybe under Roy we'll see more goals by us scored in the last ten minutes of a game.

I'd love to see us press the opposition from the start and get a lead, then coast out the remainder of the game. Problem with that is if you don't get a healthy lead you can be made to pay late on, as no team can keep pressing for 90 minutes.

Personally I'd like us to strike a balance as teams in the premier league tend to come at you from the off and if you let the poorer sides come out at you it gives them confidence and raises their game.

[DannyMan2006]

I am hoping things will pick up as fitness improves and the squad starts to gel. Having Cole in adds some zip to our forward play even if everything doesn't always come off. Can't wait to see out first XI play a run of games together and see it all bed in

In honesty that's a good point. Maybe as we get more match fitness we'll be able to press earlier on in games.

[Craig_H]

That's all fair enough danny, but if we're not pressing, but instead sitting back, we're inviting pressure and more likely to concede.

[DannyMan2006]

That's all fair enough danny, but if we're not pressing, but instead sitting back, we're inviting pressure and more likely to concede.

As I said, no team can press for 90 minutes - which is why you tend to see big games and derby games start at a 100mph but then drop off after 15-20 minutes.

It's all about picking the right moments to press the opposition. Ideally we would control a game, stroke it about with out classy passing and force the opposition to chase the game, tiring them out. Then when we were out of possession we could chase them down and force mistakes.

But, if like Liverpool for the most part this season, if you can't string more than 3-4 passess together you will run out of steam soon enough if you press everytime you lose possession. It's about striking that balance.

[Craig_H]

I think you have to press for basically the entire game, but obviously not all over the place and with maximum intensity. As the ball approaches your final third/40 odd yards from your goal, you have to press - against most PL sides, sitting back even at that point of the park, can be suicidal.

[DannyMan2006]

I think you have to press for basically the entire game, but obviously not all over the place and with maximum intensity. As the ball approaches your final third/40 odd yards from your goal, you have to press - against most PL sides, sitting back even at that point of the park, can be suicidal.

Having watched us this season I would say we have pressed when it gets into our final third.

The question that remains is how far up the pitch to press. I guess most people on this site will be like me. You will be watching us playing an average side like Steau, seeing them strolling the ball about at the back and pretty much trudging slowly forward into are half without so much as a half hearted challenge going, just a few gentle jogs by Cole or N'Gog to slowly close them down. At this point, I would be thinking - FFS, just ****ing push up on them and win the ****ing ball. We scored a goal in 30 seconds by pressing them in their third, why not keep that up?

Allowing them to build from the back lets them build a bit of confidence and allows them to ease themselves into the game. This to watch is very frustrating.

But the second half proved we took the right approach. And i don't think it was no accident we pressed more in the 2nd as they tired.

[DannyMan2006]

Not much said about Jay Spearing in this thread. Considering he is a HG player who has been brought through our Academy system at every age group I thought there'd be a bit more love for him after a very good all round performance.

Still question marks over whether he'll make it at LFC as his lack of height is severe disadvantage to him, but if he performs like that every game he is called upon for I think he may just deserve to keep his place in our squad.

Was very pleasing to see two young lads from our Academy start the game and not look out of place alongside International class players.

[Zapater]

I only saw the second half and thought we were half decent for once, we weren't great but considering the manner we've started this season there's some positives to take out of this.

It's become clear to me that it's vital to continue in this competition for as long as possible, it will give us an opportunity to give fringe players/youngsters minutes as well as give us confidence and a knack for winning. Most of the opposition in this competition is reasonable, alas not quality so we should be winning. There's a lot less pressure on the players to play freely or for Roy to experiment than against lower half Premiership teams where people will go bonkers if we slip up.

Another thing is to keep the form/confidence of N'Gog up. We don't know when Torres will or won't be fit and Ngog could be thrusted into big and critical moments any time, so having him scoring goals and playing with confidence is important as he's a young player who is a fringe player but could be one of our pivotal points at any moment during the course of the season.

I must admit that I was a little surprised when Lucas scored that goal, and I'm not a Lucas hater like the 95% of the people on this forum. I saw Gerrard had a big smile in the stands, he enjoyed that one, it was reminiscent of some of his efforts. Although, it must be said it was a miscontrolled first touch which set up the opportunity to shoot, but boy did he hit it.

[little dave hedgehog]

if this keeps up, he may want to rengogtiate his contract.

[DannyMan2006]

I only saw the second half and thought we were half decent for once, we weren't great but considering the manner we've started this season there's some positives to take out of this.

It's become clear to me that it's vital to continue in this competition for as long as possible, it will give us an opportunity to give fringe players/youngsters minutes as well as give us confidence and a knack for winning. Most of the opposition in this competition is reasonable, alas not quality so we should be winning. There's a lot less pressure on the players to play freely or for Roy to experiment than against lower half Premiership teams where people will go bonkers if we slip up.

Another thing is to keep the form/confidence of N'Gog up. We don't know when Torres will or won't be fit and Ngog could be thrusted into big and critical moments any time, so having him scoring goals and playing with confidence is important as he's a young player who is a fringe player but could be one of our pivotal points at any moment during the course of the season.

I must admit that I was a little surprised when Lucas scored that goal, and I'm not a Lucas hater like the 95% of the people on this forum. I saw Gerrard had a big smile in the stands, he enjoyed that one, it was reminiscent of some of his efforts. Although, it must be said it was a miscontrolled first touch which set up the opportunity to shoot, but boy did he hit it.

I agree on all points, particularly the comments about N'Gog.

On Lucas, that sort of goal is something we all heard he was capable of when we signed him from Gremio, where he was considered a box to box player. We saw last season against Benfica that he can play well when pshed further up.

My only problem with him is that he doesn't break lines when he is in the DM position, he just sits there all game. If he's playing with Gerrard, that's fine. But if he's playing with Poulsen (or Masch last season) he needs to get himself more involved up the field and give us an extra body in an offensive position.

It's just so annoying to know he can do it, yet he never does.

[calvoboy]

Not much said about Jay Spearing in this thread. Considering he is a HG player who has been brought through our Academy system at every age group I thought there'd be a bit more love for him after a very good all round performance.

Still question marks over whether he'll make it at LFC as his lack of height is severe disadvantage to him, but if he performs like that every game he is called upon for I think he may just deserve to keep his place in our squad.

Was very pleasing to see two young lads from our Academy start the game and not look out of place alongside International class players.

To be honest, I didn't think either he nor Kelly particularly shined tonight, but as I wasn't able to make it and had to watch on the telly I won't go overboard.

I thought Kelly showed signs of being the new Carra - which is great for our centre defence, but not so great as a full back. And I thought Spearing just looked out of his depth in the first half, but good in a dominant side in the second half...at 23 years old, who would he replace in the squad?

N'Gog is the one who befuddles me, to me he is an enigma. So much about him screams 'not good enough' but he keeps scoring goals, and as long as he's doing that he's worthy of his place in the squad...can't work out if he's going to become a top class player or another Milan Baros.

[DannyMan2006]

To be honest, I didn't think either he nor Kelly particularly shined tonight, but as I wasn't able to make it and had to watch on the telly I won't go overboard.

I thought Kelly showed signs of being the new Carra - which is great for our centre defence, but not so great as a full back. And I thought Spearing just looked out of his depth in the first half, but good in a dominant side in the second half...at 23 years old, who would he replace in the squad?

N'Gog is the one who befuddles me, to me he is an enigma. So much about him screams 'not good enough' but he keeps scoring goals, and as long as he's doing that he's worthy of his place in the squad...can't work out if he's going to become a top class player or another Milan Baros.

I thought Jay was one of our better players in the first half, a player who was looking to get us going. That kind of spirit is something that can't be taught.

In the 2nd half the team didn't need as much cajoling but he played his part in an enterprising display. The job of a midfielder is to keep the team ticking over and i think he played a major part in that. In the first half he did his job, it just broke down in the final third for us and we tried one to many pot shots.

He's not a great ball winner as such and along side Meireles we didn't really have an imposing CM, particularly as we had the sleight Cole ahead of them.

One things for sure, he wasn't bossed in midfield by the opposition and didn't look out of place tonight. Whether or not he has a future depends on whether or not he can build on tonights performance and keep tonights performance as his minimum level. As long as Spearing is happy to play out the role he occupys, he still has time to improve.

On Kelly, he will clearly be a CB in future, and a very good one I think. But getting games at FB and being flexible will serve him well, as it did Carragher as it means he can get more games than he normally would. Let's not forget, in one of his few starts he was possibly MOTM on his full debut against Lyon in the CL - who are no mugs.

I wouldn't say he starred tonight, the goal for Steau came from a player running straight between him and Kyrgiakos - hard to say who takes the blame for that. But I would say he had a decent game - and so far in his LFC career he's yet to have a bad game. Mr Concistency is just fine at this stage of his development.

On N'Gog - he baffles me too. In the reserves the one thing he lacked was a killer instinct, but he seems to be taking more things on now and that can only mean good things for him. His link up play is what made him stand out as a real talent as a youngster both fpr us and for the France U21's, so I have no fears he is capable on that side of his game.

He's added strength this year but still needs to bulk up a bit more. I think next season we could be looking at a really good option to have. the shame for us is that we've needed him to play to a high standard for two seasons now and it really is asking too much of him at this stage. But he's at least starting to keep his head just about above water now and you can't argue at his goals return this season.

BTW, N'Gog now has 8 goals in 10 European games for us. Not too bad.

[wildman]

Spearing isnt good enough he needs to be sold and would think he's one of players hodgson was on about. I know he HG but he's never gonna be of a good enough standard he's just to small and not good enough on the ball.

[calvoboy]

I thought Jay was one of our better players in the first half, a player who was looking to get us going. That kind of spirit is something that can't be taught.

In the 2nd half the team didn't need as much cajoling but he played his part in an enterprising display. The job of a midfielder is to keep the team ticking over and i think he played a major part in that. In the first half he did his job, it just broke down in the final third for us and we tried one to many pot shots.

He's not a great ball winner as such and along side Meireles we didn't really have an imposing CM, particularly as we had the sleight Cole ahead of them.

One things for sure, he wasn't bossed in midfield by the opposition and didn't look out of place tonight. Whether or not he has a future depends on whether or not he can build on tonights performance and keep tonights performance as his minimum level. As long as Spearing is happy to play out the role he occupys, he still has time to improve.

On Kelly, he will clearly be a CB in future, and a very good one I think. But getting games at FB and being flexible will serve him well, as it did Carragher as it means he can get more games than he normally would. Let's not forget, in one of his few starts he was possibly MOTM on his full debut against Lyon in the CL - who are no mugs.

I wouldn't say he starred tonight, the goal for Steau came from a player running straight between him and Kyrgiakos - hard to say who takes the blame for that. But I would say he had a decent game - and so far in his LFC career he's yet to have a bad game. Mr Concistency is just fine at this stage of his development.

On N'Gog - he baffles me too. In the reserves the one thing he lacked was a killer instinct, but he seems to be taking more things on now and that can only mean good things for him. His link up play is what made him stand out as a real talent as a youngster both fpr us and for the France U21's, so I have no fears he is capable on that side of his game.

He's added strength this year but still needs to bulk up a bit more. I think next season we could be looking at a really good option to have. the shame for us is that we've needed him to play to a high standard for two seasons now and it really is asking too much of him at this stage. But he's at least starting to keep his head just about above water now and you can't argue at his goals return this season.

BTW, N'Gog now has 8 goals in 10 European games for us. Not too bad.

Yeah, I'd agree with most of that. My problem with Spearing is that I think he had a good game (again) for a young prospect, but to be honest I don't class him as that any more at 23 years old. For a player of his age I'd be expecting him to dominate more, and I think he's probably just not quite good enough at the top level.

Kelly I think will make a great CB in a couple of years, hence my Carra comparison, but I think the problem is that he is a very good defensive full back (as Carra was) but he needs an out and out attacking full back on the other side if he's going to play there as he offers little going forward. He might be a better bet to cover Konchesky on the left to allow Johnson to attack (as Carra did under Houllier for a while)?

As for N'Gog, he just seems to lack a bit of football intelligence at times. He can't read a game at all, he can't hold the ball up at all, but stick the ball at his feet in a bit of space and he looks great. And he scores goals! He's clearly got something about him. I'm just not happy about him being our only back up to Torres.

[DannyMan2006]

Spearing isnt good enough he needs to be sold and would think he's one of players hodgson was on about. I know he HG but he's never gonna be of a good enough standard he's just to small and not good enough on the ball.

Roys spoken well of him so far this season, but same could be said of Lucas and he was nearly sold off.

He's no doubt on a low wage and if he can improve over the season he may reach the standard of being a steady back up player. If he only makes this position in the team he would be worth holding on to.

Warnock was a decent back up player, had he still been at the club he'd be first choice now. We're right to give him this last chance to see how he does. He was the one player Steve Heighway had high hopes for and he had a big fall out with Rafa over Jay.

IMO Jay has missed the boat, but I hope he can prove me wrong and make a name for himself.