Liverpool v Sunderland post match thread

[Muddled]

I'm not saying he had a fantastic game; he wasn't as attrocious as is being made out. During the high-tempo first half he was the most energetic of the midfield pressing and disrupting the opposition. The DM can't be expected to cover multiple positions at the same time. How the **** does he know if the opposition are going attack through the middle or down the flank? If the play is switched, foot speed of Usain Bolt proportions is needed if you expect the same DM to attempt to get back in position.

Given that Adam is defensively weak and slow, I find it quite amusing that you are somehow highlighting him as some sort of defensive white knight that kept charging to the rescue. His lack of defensive quality was one of the direct contributing factors that led to Lucas' fatigue as the match progressed.

Lucas - as a defensive midfielder - isn't expected to cover four positions, he patrols in front of the back four, providing cover and filling in for players as they venture out of position. It can be argued that the two wide players cover the full backs, so in essence, he's only covering the two centre backs. It has nothing to do with being Usain Bolt.

Adam was at fault for the goal as much as Flanagan, but Adam ventured further forward when looking for a goal, however, in the first half, you can't really fault Adam's value to the team. In the second half, the team - as a collective - tired.

[Mostar]

I'm not saying he had a fantastic game; he wasn't as attrocious as is being made out. During the high-tempo first half he was the most energetic of the midfield pressing and disrupting the opposition. The DM can't be expected to cover multiple positions at the same time. How the **** does he know if the opposition are going attack through the middle or down the flank? If the play is switched, foot speed of Usain Bolt proportions is needed if you expect the same DM to attempt to get back in position.

Given that Adam is defensively weak and slow, I find it quite amusing that you are somehow highlighting him as some sort of defensive white knight that kept charging to the rescue. His lack of defensive quality was one of the direct contributing factors that led to Lucas' fatigue as the match progressed.

I find it interesting that you keep putting things in my mouth and butchering my posts by taking things out of context.

If you read more carefully some of my previous posts, you will find out that I expressed my concerns about Lucas and Adam partnership in the midfield as I think they (includes Adam just to confirm) looked very slow and sluggish and I'm not sure that set up with him and Lucas will work..

[Norbs]

I couldn't understand why Aquilani wasn't on the bench.

Same reason that Fabregas and Nasri weren't on Arsenal's would be my guess

[Muddled]

Let's not get carried away; Lucas faltered in the second half along with the rest of the team. Carragher wasn't at fault for the goal, neither should he be relied on when we're in need of a goal. His distribution has never been the best, but his main job is to defend and defend he does.

Name me one person who excelled in the second half? I think you'll struggle to name one, yet after our first half performance, you could have reeled off any of the starting eleven.

Yes, it's frustrating not to get off to a winning start, but finding individul faults won't work, when collectively - as a team - we couldn't break down Sunderland.

[BootRoom]

Carra was our main defensive problem today, not Flanagan or Lucas IMO. How much help did Flanagan get from Carra? Almost no help at all because Carra isn't quick enough to help out. We have talked about our weakness on the left side for years. Now suddenly that defensive side is top class and the right side is very average defensively.

We must replace Carra as soon as possible. The problem is that I believe that if we sign a new central defender like Cahill then it won't be Carra that will be benched. It will be Agger.

I can't see Kenny benching Carra and keep Agger in the starting XI, I simply can't but that is what should happen when we sign a new central defender for the starting XI.

Carra is a legend but his time at the top is over.

We're in real trouble if the CB situation isn't sorted out ASAP.

[Mostar]

Carra was our main defensive problem today, not Flanagan or Lucas IMO. How much help did Flanagan get from Carra? Almost no help at all because Carra isn't quick enough to help out. We have talked about our weakness on the left side for years. Now suddenly that defensive side is top class and the right side is very average defensively.

We must replace Carra as soon as possible. The problem is that I believe that if we sign a new central defender like Cahill then it won't be Carra that will be benched. It will be Agger.

I can't see Kenny benching Carra and keep Agger in the starting XI, I simply can't but that is what should happen when we sign a new central defender for the starting XI.

Carra is a legend but his time at the top is over.

I wouldn't go that far to say that either him or Lucas were reasons for us not winning the game today as that wouldn't be true but they both didn't play their best.

I agree with you that Carra should be phased out effective immediately (I think I made the same point 3,4 times today) as his best days are behind him and we need more ability and agility in CB role.

[BootRoom]

It was one of the poorest games that I have seen play. What exactly did he do in the first have that he impressed you so much.

In terms of second paragraph he's DM at it's his job to help back 4 and today he didn't as good of a job as he normally does.

Quite a few times he was caught out and Adam (there is your midfield) had to intervene as he was one step too slow and behind (remember Seb free kick)

I'm not saying he had a fantastic game; he wasn't as attrocious as is being made out. During the high-tempo first half he was the most energetic of the midfield pressing and disrupting the opposition. The DM can't be expected to cover multiple positions at the same time. How the **** does he know if the opposition are going attack through the middle or down the flank? If the play is switched, foot speed of Usain Bolt proportions is needed if you expect the same DM to attempt to get back in position.

Given that Adam is defensively weak and slow, I find it quite amusing that you are somehow highlighting him as some sort of defensive white knight that kept charging to the rescue. His lack of defensive quality was one of the direct contributing factors that led to Lucas' fatigue as the match progressed.

[Arn]

It was one of the poorest games that I have seen play. What exactly did he do in the first have that he impressed you so much.

In terms of second paragraph he's DM at it's his job to help back 4 and today he didn't as good of a job as he normally does.

Quite a few times he was caught out and Adam (there is your midfield) had to intervene as he was one step too slow and behind (remember Seb free kick)

Carra was our main defensive problem today, not Flanagan or Lucas IMO. How much help did Flanagan get from Carra? Almost no help at all because Carra isn't quick enough to help out. We have talked about our weakness on the left side for years. Now suddenly that defensive side is top class and the right side is very average defensively.

We must replace Carra as soon as possible. The problem is that I believe that if we sign a new central defender like Cahill then it won't be Carra that will be benched. It will be Agger.

I can't see Kenny benching Carra and keep Agger in the starting XI, I simply can't but that is what should happen when we sign a new central defender for the starting XI.

Carra is a legend but his time at the top is over.

[Mostar]

I disagree. I'm not going to blame Lucas for the disappointing result today, the whole team weren't good enough. That was Lucas' worst performance for a long time.

[TheElephantMan]

Bollocks.

He made a bigger contribution than the likes of Henderson, and got through a lot of work.

I disagree. I'm not going to blame Lucas for the disappointing result today, the whole team weren't good enough. That was Lucas' worst performance for a long time.

[Mostar]

1. Lucas didn't have 'a very poor game'; he was quite good in the first half but faded in the second due to all the work he got through.

2. Where the **** was the rest of the midfield? Do you seriously think it's up to Lucas to cover three quarters of the defence? Flanagan and Carragher both had poor games but it wasn't down to Lucas.

It was one of the poorest games that I have seen him play in a long time. What exactly did he do in the first half that he impressed you so much.

I did say he looked rusty to me and Kenny played him too early but he didn't have a good game.

In terms of second paragraph he's DM at it's his job to help back 4 and today he didn't do as good of a job as he normally does.

Quite a few times he was caught out and Adam (there is your midfield) had to intervene as he was one step too slow and behind (remember Seb free kick)

[Arn]

It's true, it should have been a red card.

It was an English ref so you really can't expect anything else than another mediocre job by him. The most clear cut goal chance sending off ever and all he get is a yellow.

Carra should also have been sent off. Yet another big mistake by the ref. The disallowed goal by Carrow should have stood. Yet another big mistake by the ref.

You should be allowed to criticize the ref after the game as long as he isn't forced to answer any questions after the game.

The ref knew he would get away with it if he showed a yellow. No questions asked after the game. He took the easy way out, again.

The same sort of big mistakes will continue to happen in game after game as long as the referees can decide to take the easy way out and isn't forced to answer any questions.

It would IMO be a lot less big mistakes if the referees had to answer questions after the games.

You should also suspend more referees after they make big obvious mistakes. The mistake he did today when he didn't send the Sunderland player off was so big that questions must be asked the ref must be suspended.

IMO he knew very well that it should have been a red card but didn't give a ****.

[BootRoom]

Lucas kept giving the ball away, he was easily our worst player today. He was excellent last season, hopefully today was just a one-off.

Bollocks.

He made a bigger contribution than the likes of Henderson, and got through a lot of work.

[Norbs]

I couldn't understand why Aquilani wasn't on the bench.

Same reason that Fabregas and Nasri weren't on Arsenal's would be my guess

[TheElephantMan]

1. Lucas didn't have 'a very poor game'; he was quite good in the first half but faded in the second due to all the work he got through.

2. Where the **** was the rest of the midfield? Do you seriously think it's up to Lucas to cover three quarters of the defence? Flanagan and Carragher both had poor games but it wasn't down to Lucas.

Lucas kept giving the ball away, he was easily our worst player today. He was excellent last season, hopefully today was just a one-off.