Scum vs Liverpool match thread

[chadrtc]

Personally I enjoyed the fact we were passing a lot more and hoofing a lot less (yes today was less than what we've done in the past). Was extremely disappointed that Maxi started instead of Babel as it gave a shattered Evra breathing space. Babel would have mullered Evra today even if his end product would have been wayward.

But today was the first time I saw Liverpool football club play without Kuyt, Lucas and Jovanovic in the same side. It was a breath of fresh air and I always knew we had at least two goals in us. Even at 3-2 I could see us snatching a draw but wasn't to be. Its been a long time since I've been this optimistic when we've gone a goal down.

With this team we will steamroller the next five games. Mark My Words (frick, jinxed it now).

I'll have some of what you're on please!

[CJ]

Would Kenny still really want it?

its an even worse job than we thought in the summer.

Also Kenny would get slaughtered if we didnt improve.

[SimonNo7]

Well we are looking worse than last season (and it is actually a worse start), we look far worse in defence and we have absolutely no concept of how to control a game anymore, we have moved backwards so far.

I agree about the defence but could this be the transition from zonal to man marking? Is it because we are playing a centre half pairing of Carra and Skrtel? Carra being outjumped / out muscled by Berbatov of all players, is this showing up his decline? As for controlling games fair enough if you are happy to just pass it sideways and backwards which is what we did a hell of a lot of last season with not a great deal going forward coming from it. For me what is far more worrying but then again it has been for quite some time including the whole of last season is the fact that the players do not seem to understand how to be a team, how to create space for each other and how to pass & move.

[BigChief]

Oh, and just to defend (me again, sigh) Koncheskey and Poulson. The following had worse games today:

1. Carragher
2. Skrtel
3. Maxi
4. Joe Cole

[DannyMan2006]

Tired?! **** sake mate, admit it, he's a dismal footballer.

He's not the best. I said he was average when we got him. However, he was an improvement on last season. He had a tough time in the 2nd half but he is not yet fully fit. I'll give him time. Last season we had Inusa who got run ragged by every LM, not just by the wingers who play for the top clubs, but the wingers of Wigan and other ****e.

Roy's naivety with tactics will cost him his job.

I don't think his tactics were wrong. Look at Uniteds goals, hardly carved us open did they. A corner, a bit of genius and some slack marking.

we didnt offer anything had to rely on decisions from the linesman

what a lot of bollocks

i dont think we offered lots but to say it was only decisions it was their fouls that led to it

what an odious ****

and our manager is mates with him???

We played one of the top 3 teams in the country away from home. We gave the kind of display that we normally do at Old Trafford, but that is not because we are shiote, but because Man Utd away is a very tough fixture.

The fact that Hyypia wasn't replaced properly is costing us games! We need another 6 '4 who has speed and strength enough for premier lg football. It's obvious that Skrtel and Carra (now that he's 34) aren't good enough for the job. The last goal should have been taken easily by a Hyypia!!!

Tactics: Hodgson is another version of Houllier but let's give him time!

We do lack a commanding CB. We lack quite a few players tbh. Personally i'd play Agger and Carra. At least then we can bring the ball out of defence.

[BobTheCharmer]

Would Kenny still really want it?

its an even worse job than we thought in the summer.

Also Kenny would get slaughtered if we didnt improve.

too right. I wanted Kenny at first but I'm pleased his reputation won't be tarnished.

No one could do much with this ****ing dark cloud hanging over the club.

Roy needs to get the first team together and make it a one for all type senerio. **** the world.

[BobTheCharmer]

Funnily enough that'd be a perfect phrase for this idiot currently managing our team.

he's not an idiot though is he? Roy Hodgson is a ****ing good football manager.

[chadrtc]

Funnily enough that'd be a perfect phrase for this idiot currently managing our team.

Woah there my little pony. No need for that!

[Chris]

Roy Hodgson is a ****ing good football manager.

[wiw]

The ****?!

I thought we were okay, we passed it around pretty well a lot of the time, but lacked a little in linking midfield with attack, but given the way we've been recently I'm not ****ing surprised. It takes a bit of confidence to play Utd at home and commit men forwards and we sadly have ****. all.

On another day Berbatov would've scored 0 goals and we'd have at least drawn. My manc supporting mate called both our goals "gifts" but he can ****ing do one

After the first ten mins I thought we did well to wrestle a bit of control back and at least try and have a go. They basically scored at the perfect time, 3 ****ing times

Let's be honest here, we're going for 4th and they're going for the title. A draw would have been fair imo. We're just so desperately lacking in confidence it's absolutely painful, but it will come

[Tatterdemalion]

Those who can honestly say that Hodgson needs to be given time should face reality.

It was his decision to remove zonal and employ man for man and have Torres come back to mark Berbatov.

He has chosen poor players in Poulson and Konchesky and is not getting his tactics over to the players or if he is they are naive at best.

So give him more time and we will enjoy a relegation battle, he has had 5 league matches admittedly a tough start but we looked 2nd best in all departments, including passion.

How long do we wait? How much time do you give him?

Poor player motivation, poor team selection, poor and outdated tactics, weird subs, but lets all stick our heads in the sand and support Hodgson anyway coz that is what we do...

yeayyyyyy happyclappers.

c'mon Hodgson, c'mom Hodgson ra ra ra...

[CJ]

Simon i didnt see any great passing from us.

we need to get the ball forward quicker (i agree not by hoofing)

its like watching a team of crabs as its still sideways. also its sideways then back not a run forwards etc

even though i dont like what i see and think that Roy looks out of his depth it isnt the time to judge him. he needs more games and time to work on things to improve things.

we have no alternatives and lets face it the team will only get worse so lets get used to it and back him.

(though during match threads its a bit more difficult)

[Rudo]

I'd be happy if i didn't see Johnson and Maxi play for us in a long, long time.

It's a pity they have **** all competition at the minute.

[BigChief]

Would it worth taking a punt this season on bringing Ayala back? He seems to be quickly maturing mentally. Can't decide who he should replace, Carra or Skrtel? Both are having shockers and making the rest of the team look bad.

[SimonNo7]

Controlling a game makes a huge difference.

We had been winning up till last season, and even then we looked much better.

Of course it does, especially if you have enough creativity in your team to build upon that control. However that is something that we haven't had for quite some time so controlling the majority of a game then doesn't mean a great deal when the opposition hits you on the break or does have a little bit of creativity in their side.

I was really disappointed that Aquilani went out on loan as he was one of the only players we had who could create space for othersor run into space himself. Hopefully Cole and Raul will add this to our team as the season goes on. If they don't then I fear for a season as bad as last season and controlling games won't make much difference.