Utd - Liverpool post match

[the rev leeroy brown]

Poulsen far better on the ball? I can't see him running with it, snail with it possibly, but running!? No.

Mascherano is a world class midfielder. He can pass, tackle and go forward with a ball. Poulsen's game is one dimensional.

no, he can run with it but down blind alleys.

mash was world class but at tackling and breaking up attacking play. that is one dimensional. he was a one dimensional world class player. IMO poulsen is a better all rounder albeit not a world class one. he will give us better bablnce in the new line up. he is far far far superior on the ball than mash ever was.

[destinydude]

Just saw 'Monday Night Verdict' on ESPN(India). Steve McMahon had a go at SAF for those Torres comments. Told him to look at his own team and tell what Nani really is. He's livid

Also questioned what Joe Cole's role in this team is. Is he a in the hole player or a wide midfielder and asked as long as we don;t fix a position for him we'll not get the best of him.

I agree with him but also think that Cole's ban hasn't helped us

[danperkins]

I think (me included) that people have certain perceptions of players, if you do not like a certain player, you will pick holes in his performances and focus on the negatives and if you like a certain player you will focus on the positives and over look the mistakes, only natural i suppose.

IMO as regards Poulsen and certainly Konchesky i see them as being made scapegoats by many, same was said for Lucas (i think is average) but difference being Lucas has been here for 3 years or so, Poulsen and Konchesky have played 3 or 4 games. Neither of these two will be knocking on the door for Player of the Season, IMO Poulsen has aqcuitted himsel very well so far, Konchesky is average, he is functional at best. In an ideal world he would serve as decent back up for the first choice Aurelio, only problem being Aurleio is made out of biscuits.

For me the likes of Johnson,Skrtel,Lucas,Jovo,Carra have been far worse culprits than Poulsen or Konchesky. Poulsen i think will do well this season, Konchesky i'm not so sure about he tucks in way to much and give bit too much space to winger, and against a pacey winger thats asking for trouble, watching City and United target our wide areas shows how vunerable teams know we are there, and team looking to expolit us IMO will target those areas.

We have problem areas and weak links, unfortunately we have to wait until January to even consider sorting some of them out, hopefully we can kick on in the next few games and get some continuity,enthusiasm and confidence into the side. I'm not worried too much, my expectation wasn't as high as some peoples but thats to say its an excuse for us to have another below par season, i fully expect us to make a good run of things but am realistic of our expectations.

[danperkins]

Just saw 'Monday Night Verdict' on ESPN(India). Steve McMahon had a go at SAF for those Torres comments. Told him to look at his own team and tell what Nani really is. He's livid

Also questioned what Joe Cole's role in this team is. Is he a in the hole player or a wide midfielder and asked as long as we don;t fix a position for him we'll not get the best of him.

I agree with him but also think that Cole's ban hasn't helped us

Fergie has one track mind and is blinded to his players, he's the best manager around but he is a cock.

Wondering about Cole's role myself, said similiar in thread yesterday, we are sacrificing probably our most creative player because we have no zero options out wide left and he seems like the best opton, its a poxy situation.

We should be building a team around Gerrard/Torres/Cole IMO, do we really want to lump Cole out wide left, IMO he is better in the hole or on the right. Having Cole out left gives is the same option as Kewell,Riera,Babel,Benny,Jovo have given us which is inevitably cutting inside and completely narrowing the play. I know COle got into the PFA team years back whilst playing out left for Chelsea but we need natural width desperately and i don't feel Cole gives us that on the left, i do admit he is our best option there which is kind of contradicting what i'm saying but its a ****ed up situation.

We have a serious problem at LM which is not going to go away anytime soon, for me Kuyt should there, he would give the same work rate and effort
as on the right, sure he doesn't get by men,do down the line and get balls in anyways thats is not his game so why not have him on the left side when we have so many more creative/dynamic options on the right i.e. Cole/Babel/Johnson etc

Bit of a dilemma

[Lecter]

Fergie has one track mind and is blinded to his players, he's the best manager around but he is a cock.

Wondering about Cole's role myself, said similiar in thread yesterday, we are sacrificing probably our most creative player because we have no zero options out wide left and he seems like the best opton, its a poxy situation.

We should be building a team around Gerrard/Torres/Cole IMO, do we really want to lump Cole out wide left, IMO he is better in the hole or on the right. Having Cole out left gives is the same option as Kewell,Riera,Babel,Benny,Jovo have given us which is inevitably cutting inside and completely narrowing the play.

We have a serious problem at LM which is not going to go away anytime soon, for me Kuyt should there, he would give the same work rate and effort
as on the right, sure he doesn't get by men,do down the line and get balls in anyways thats is not his game so why not have him on the left side when we have so many more creative/dynamic options on the right i.e. Cole/Babel/Johnson etc

The thing about Cole is that to play off Torres hes got to be more effective than Gerrard

I'm not convinced he will ever score as many goals in that position as Gerrard will

[Craig_H]

The thing about Cole is that to play off Torres hes got to be more effective than Gerrard

I'm not convinced he will ever score as many goals in that position as Gerrard will

Agree totally. The problem hasnt been the playing of Gerrard off Torres, it's been getting the ball from deeper positions, upto Gerrard and Torres - Alonso used to do it, we now need Meireles to do that job.

The key points for me:

Gerrard & Torres works well.
We are weak in wide areas.
Joe Cole is quality and can strengthen our wide areas.

No brainer for me.

[danperkins]

The thing about Cole is that to play off Torres hes got to be more effective than Gerrard

I'm not convinced he will ever score as many goals in that position as Gerrard will

Valid point mate personally i'd like to see Cole out RM,Kuyt LM, maybe both players switching? Gerrard behind Torres and Meriles with Poulsen, i think these two have good distribution and can get the balls up top, which is a massive issue currently.

Its so weird us not having any natural wingers, Babel has been shocking for LFC but never played in his natural or preferred positions, was hopng to see him as striker or out right against Northhampton. The LM is a position that surely, once and for all has to be addressed come January

[Shaggy]

Agree totally. The problem hasnt been the playing of Gerrard off Torres, it's been getting the ball from deeper positions, upto Gerrard and Torres - Alonso used to do it, we now need Meireles to do that job.

The key points for me:

Gerrard & Torres works well.
We are weak in wide areas.
Joe Cole is quality and can strengthen our wide areas.

No brainer for me.

Perfectly straightforward.

[Buzzo]

Sense at last.

I watched on holiday so may've not really been concenrating that hard but, ffs we showed a bit of fight in the second half and improved immeasurably once we went 4-4-2. That's got to be encouraging seeing Torres and Ngog on the field and Gerrard in the middle with another decent player alongside him. Maxi looked cack, perhaps he's not flexible enough to play in the premiership and needs shipping off.

I think a few people will be eating their words soon, and I'm not an eternal optimist. Scum and Citeh AWAY out of the way, free scoring Arsenal held (and unlucky not to win). Birmingham are no mugs and a draw away there is nothing to be ashamed of. WBA beaten and we'll see what happens next.

FFS we've played 3 of the top 4 already and two of those games away from home. The most important thing now is for Torres to forget about off the field and to earn his wages. He gets his pay packet regardless and is playing alongside the core of last season's team plus some exciting new signings who will undoubtedly improve us. Cole is better than Benayoun, Meireles is better than Lucas and Konchesky is better than Insua and Aurelio, despite what you'd read on here.

Disruptive influences have been shipped out - Riera and, sadly, Mascherano. The manager has made subtle changes and secured the crux of the team for another season. We're having a slow start but who else in the top teams have changed their manager? None

Based on what..? Not Sunday that's for sure.

[danperkins]

Konchesky is better than Insua but not better than a fully fit Aurelio, although when is Aurelio fully fit? If we're all honest we'd like more than all three can offer.

[Reece]

I've seen nothing of Konchesky to convince me he's any better than Insua so far. In fact I think we've lost something going forward if anything.

[Shaggy]

I've seen nothing of Konchesky to convince me he's any better than Insua so far. In fact I think we've lost something going forward if anything.

Still early days though, although having seen him play for years I don't expect it to change.

And talk of Poulsen being "better for us" than Mascherano was is absolutely laughable

[Lecter]

I've seen nothing of Konchesky to convince me he's any better than Insua so far. In fact I think we've lost something going forward if anything.

Agreed

Konchesky is appalling hes no better than Insua

Cant believe we shelled out over £5 million for him

[Lecter]

Still early days though, although having seen him play for years I don't expect it to change.

And talk of Poulsen being "better for us" than Mascherano was is absolutely laughable

Agreed regarding Poulsen

[Buzzo]

I've seen nothing of Konchesky to convince me he's any better than Insua so far. In fact I think we've lost something going forward if anything.

If anything Konchesky has been even worse than I imagined so far. Yes, yes, early days etc. etc. give him a chance etc. etc. - but watching him play you can see he is giving it his all, he looks just out of his depth. Watch Sundays game back and look at him trying to block some of Nani's crosses. Woeful.