West Ham post-match

[RichC]

I genuinely worry about throwing kids in

It really is sink or swim and the potential damage you can do to them far out ways the need

Personally I dont think hes ready but I'd be tempted to try Pacheco or Ince from the bench

the sink or swim method isn't the way to go

I think as you said have a couple of youngsters on the bench if we can get 2 or 3 goals up with 10 - 15 to go get them on and see what they can do.

[vonk]

These are the only players upto LFC standard:



..................reina...................
Kelly......carra....agger....johnson

......meireles.......gerrard.........

.......suarez.........carroll...........

So that's 2 players required. One has to be holding midfielder. The other a winger or forward.
Even though this is not taking into account injuries ( e.g. Agger missses many games), I think its good having a really strong first 11 just for the overall potential of the team and the belief this gives them.

With a really strong first 1X, I think you'll have higher probability of being able to field a side that has enough quality to cover any deficiencies there might be due to injuries or young players learning their trade.

From next season kuyt, lucas and skrtel should be on the bench but really what great options they are to bring on and it's more than likely they'll play a big part in the season as is required these days.

Cant really argue with that. There were two major issues today.

Firstly it was the energy of the midfield. Despite having a far from youthful midfield, Noble, Parker and Hitzlesberger had tons more energy than us and completely overran our midfield. Gerrard usually has lots of it, but he was below par today. Lucas has improved a lot in the last year but I tend to agree that he's not the answer, and it's his lack of energy that's mostly the problem. When he loses the ball he rarely makes up the ground to get back. Also there is the niggling habit of free kicks in dangerous areas. He's a defensive mid, so he has to excel in these areas. His passing is usually just a sideways ball so of course passing stats are in his favour. Meireles is a more advanced player but he too doesn't seem to get around the pitch and get involved as much has he should.

The second problem was the passing. West Ham are down at the bottom yet showed us how to pass the ball today. Sharp, fast, accurate passing which we should at least be able to match. Lost count of the number of times we gave the ball away cheaply. Gerrard, Lucas, Wilson, Carra, Johnson, Cole and of course, the biggest culprit, Kuyt were absolutely woeful in their passing today. It was embarrassing.

If we improved on those two areas it would make a huge difference. On the rest of a forgettable game, well, Danny Wilson was a huge problem for us today. Completely at fault for their second he really looked out of his depth. At one point Carra was playing right behind him, just to cover for him. Really hope he learns from this, but he has a long way to go. Kuyt was back to his useless self. Running around a lot is not good enough any more if we have designs on the top 4. Thought Cole looked lively but again, the final pass was poor. Johnson was decent when not asked to defend. Skrtel was poor positionally again, and it seemed Carra was in his ear about it all game.

Suarez was starved of service but when he had the ball, he was outstanding. Lots of work to do from Kenny and the owners in the summer. Hopefully Agger, Carroll and a more energetic midfield will be back next week.

[Mattshark]

Oh I fully understand them but dont put much relevance in them

However to humour you I have done the Guardian Chalkboards back to the Wolves away game (cant be bothered doing much more than that)

Lucas gave away the following in the final third

2 freekicks v West Ham
2 freekicks v Wigan
1 freekick V Chelsea
2 freekicks v Wolves

Now I clearly "dont understand stats" but thats only one less than he gave away last season (according to your stats)

Well firstly, if you understood them you would understand the use they could have.

Secondly, this is a basic yes or no type question, this is ideal for stats as long as you can define what you consider the final third.

Now thirdly, you clearly don't quite get the chalkboard, since for example you seem to think Lucas winning a free kick in the final third is Lucas conceding a free kick, he made 2 fouls all game, one 35m away from goal, one in the opposing half. Similar problem for you in today's game. He has conceded 10 in the final third all season. The are a multitude of reasons why you would expect it to be a bit higher this season, we aren't as strong as a team this season and we haven't controlled games as much (even under Kenny we still haven't) and through out the course of the season we have played much deeper. It is very much far from you frequently claim,

[Mattshark]

I genuinely worry about throwing kids in

It really is sink or swim and the potential damage you can do to them far out ways the need

Personally I dont think hes ready but I'd be tempted to try Pacheco or Ince from the bench

[McDermotX]

I genuinely worry about throwing kids in

It really is sink or swim and the potential damage you can do to them far out ways the need

Personally I dont think hes ready but I'd be tempted to try Pacheco or Ince from the bench

Somewhat agree.........as for Pacheco and Ince. Those lads should be out there on loan playing regularly enough before we should be talking about runs in the team. Certainly Pacheco should be anyhow, given the stalled nature of his development.

[lickedlollipop]

all i can say, or do is ""

1. I watched the game from 55min, and i was shocked when i saw that the result was 2:0
2. We were very poor, it was typical "english match", we knew it it's gonna be hard, but WTF was that?
3. We missed Caroll in that game
4. Deserved win! Discipline and routine by WHU there
5. Don't defend individual players any more (we all know who they are)
6. Summer has to be as shocking as was january transfer window, or else we're ****ed again

[Exiled_red]

These are the only players upto LFC standard:



..................reina...................
Kelly......carra....agger....johnson

......meireles.......gerrard.........

.......suarez.........carroll...........

So that's 2 players required. One has to be holding midfielder. The other a winger or forward.
Even though this is not taking into account injuries ( e.g. Agger missses many games), I think its good having a really strong first 11 just for the overall potential of the team and the belief this gives them.

With a really strong first 1X, I think you'll have higher probability of being able to field a side that has enough quality to cover any deficiencies there might be due to injuries or young players learning their trade.

From next season kuyt, lucas and skrtel should be on the bench but really what great options they are to bring on and it's more than likely they'll play a big part in the season as is required these days.

Neither Gerrard nor Meireles are centre midfielders, Gerrard vacates the midfield too often and deosn't get back, Meireles doesn't win the ball back enough to play that role effectively. Perhaps Gerrard couple play centre mid with a Mascherano type player (although I still have doubts), or it's a straight choice between them for a role off the striker. Or we play with 3 centre midfielders, one holding, one attacking and one to provide balance.

We clearly lack creativity in the wide areas, as well as a holding player and a centre back and a left back.

[TheElephantMan]

Was surprised how ineffective we became after Kelly's injury. Miereles didn't look up for it and Gerrard looks like he's carrying a bit of excess weight. They were better than us all over the park today. It's just one game and hopefully we can put things right before next Sunday. Great bit of individual skill from Suarez despite being anonymous for most of the game. I'm a big fan of Dirk Kuyt, but his lack of pace is causing us problems - poor game from him today. I thought bringing Joe Cole on was a mistake, I'd rather introduce a youngster like Pacheco who has something to prove and has a real desire to be involved when he gets the chance. We lacked passion and commitment today, we're going to need to play against United like West Ham did against us.

[Lecter]

Well firstly, if you understood them you would understand the use they could have.

Secondly, this is a basic yes or no type question, this is ideal for stats as long as you can define what you consider the final third.

Now thirdly, you clearly don't quite get the chalkboard, since for example you seem to think Lucas winning a free kick in the final third is Lucas conceding a free kick, he made 2 fouls all game, one 35m away from goal, one in the opposing half. Similar problem for you in today's game. He has conceded 10 in the final third all season. The are a multitude of reasons why you would expect it to be a bit higher this season, we aren't as strong as a team this season and we haven't controlled games as much (even under Kenny we still haven't) and through out the course of the season we have played much deeper. It is very much far from you frequently claim,

No its still frequent but thanks for the education

As I said stats are ****ing irrelevant to me

[Lecter]

Somewhat agree.........as for Pacheco and Ince. Those lads should be out there on loan playing regularly enough before we should be talking about runs in the team. Certainly Pacheco should be anyhow, given the stalled nature of his development.

Ince has been on loan and supposedly did well

Pacheco should have been loaned last season problem is he'd probably want to go to Spain which probably would be of benefit to us

[Bender]

I genuinely worry about throwing kids in

It really is sink or swim and the potential damage you can do to them far out ways the need

Personally I dont think hes ready but I'd be tempted to try Pacheco or Ince from the bench

i think sterling would make an impact with a 15minute cameo .....ince has done well on loan and while at Anfield......another one who would be worthy of a 10/15min appearance.........as for pacheco just don't think he is going to get the playing time he wants and will leave for the sake of his carreer

[McDermotX]

Was surprised how ineffective we became after Kelly's injury. Miereles didn't look up for it and Gerrard looks like he's carrying a bit of excess weight. They were better than us all over the park today. It's just one game and hopefully we can put things right before next Sunday. Great bit of individual skill from Suarez despite being anonymous for most of the game. I'm a big fan of Dirk Kuyt, but his lack of pace is causing us problems - poor game from him today. I thought bringing Joe Cole on was a mistake, I'd rather introduce a youngster like Pacheco who has something to prove and has a real desire to be involved when he gets the chance. We lacked passion and commitment today, we're going to need to play against United like West Ham did against us.

There's your answer........Kelly plays like he wants to make something of the career in front of him. Use his strengths, attack the opposition when the chance allows, make he most of the chance that has been given to him etc etc.
Rest of 'em can't be arsed (or never had it to begin with)...............and that's before bringing in the questionable team selections/tactics of recent games. All of which takes something away from the excellent approach and play of the West Ham performance today.

[Lecter]

i think sterling would make an impact with a 15minute cameo .....ince has done well on loan and while at Anfield......another one who would be worthy of a 10/15min appearance.........as for pacheco just don't think he is going to get the playing time he wants and will leave for the sake of his carreer

Sterling is only about 3 stone and 3 ft 4"

Seriously hes nowhere near ready not even for 10-15 minutes

For me hes at least 12 months away

Out of that youth side I'd expect Coady to get a chance first

Kenny is already playing Kelly, Spearing, Wilson & Shelvey (when fit) not sure how many more you can get away with

[Lecter]

There's your answer........Kelly plays like he wants to make something of the career in front of him. Use his strengths, attack the opposition when the chance allows, make he most of the chance that has been given to him etc etc.
Rest of 'em can't be arsed (or never had it to begin with)...............and that's before bringing in the questionable team selections/tactics of recent games. All of which takes something away from the excellent approach and play of the West Ham performance today.

Questionable tactics / team selections?

Bearing in mind who is available I think you are being well harsh on Dalglish

[McDermotX]

Ince has been on loan and supposedly did well

Pacheco should have been loaned last season problem is he'd probably want to go to Spain which probably would be of benefit to us

True, but at this point I would like to see them out for the 'season-long'.
Certainly Pachecho should be getting sat down with Kenny and being told that in order to further his career, a run with a decent footballing side could do him the world of good. Whether that's in the championship or on the continent, it would have to be attractive to him.......because where he is right now is doing no good to no-one.