Stoke City vs Liverpool FC post match thread

[Buzzo]

Certainly not.

I'm in Gran Canaria relying on the BBC website through poor reception. BBC were showing 1-1.

They did even gave us the point at full time in the league table initally! I was hoping there was a lag in my torrent for about 15 mins....!

[truefan999]

The main problem is that we are very workman like up front. Without Suarez where is the creativity? Downing is promising but not in the same class as Suarez. And Carroll is a horrible footballer and simply not good enough and never will be.

If Suarez gets a long term injury we will struggle for top six let alone top 4.

Those who thought we might win the title are dreaming. We are far behing Chelsea let alone the Manchester pair.

The difference between us and them is that they move the ball around quickly and incisively so they stretch sides and can break them down. We do not. We are too slow and ponderous at times. The number of times you could predict our passing was demoralising.

The latter will take a year or more of new coaching and playing styles etc to begin to make progress

[lickedlollipop]

I am looking forward to seeing how Gerrard links up with Suarez though. I mean if Gerrard can make Torres look half decent, we're about to be spoilt.

I think we might see new partnership next game against Tottenheim..

Suarrd! FTW

[BigChief]

I think we might see new partnership next game against Tottenheim..

Suarrd! FTW

So after £100 million spent, we're a two man team.

[cream]

carra's strong suit has always been blocking, tackling, not so much heading--but defending skills. he has never been great with the ball, but i think we've overlooked that for a long time because he has been so reliably good at keeping the ball out in the past. but if he's going to start conceding goals, then he must be benched. we can't carry him there. what a night he had in istanbul, though.

Not sure how he's getting ahead of Skrtel, interesting to see what happens when Johnson is fully fit.

[Leyton388]

Apart from the dire Pen we played well. You won't see many teams go to that **** hole and dominate like we did. Carra's mistake let us down and cost us a point. Kenny does have a point as the refs seem to be taking the piss now with any decision going against us and this has been consistant in all our league games so far.

[little dave hedgehog]

i think it's nerves and a little confusion. even if you don't have a team of bottlers, the whole team can bottle it sometimes because nobody steps up to calm everyone down and get them playing football again. it's not an individual weakness i would say, but we really miss someone who's capable of keeping the side focused. it's everything to do with no gerrard plus no heir apparent aside from carragher. who doesn't seem to be a leader for us atm moment.

[Arn]

carra's strong suit has always been blocking, tackling, not so much heading--but defending skills. he has never been great with the ball, but i think we've overlooked that for a long time because he has been so reliably good at keeping the ball out in the past. but if he's going to start conceding goals, then he must be benched. we can't carry him there. what a night he had in istanbul, though.

I think the brilliant defending skills by players like Xabi, Masch and Hyypia made Carra look better than he really is.

What happened since they left the club? How good has he been organising the defence since then? How much of a leader in defence has he been since then?

Not that great IMO. Hyypia was our real leader and organiser and Carra hasn't even been close to be able to replace his leadership qualities on the pitch.

[lickedlollipop]

So after £100 million spent, we're a two man team.

that wasn't the point

[JHP]

I think we might see new partnership next game against Tottenheim..

Suarrd! FTW

Is that the Bundesliga team?

[little dave hedgehog]

he was an excellent defender arn. excellent. he hoofs the ball too much, yes, but in his primary role of stopping the ball going in he was second to none for a short while. his biggest problem is that he's my age

[truefan999]

he was an excellent defender arn. excellent. he hoofs the ball too much, yes, but in his primary role of stopping the ball going in he was second to none for a short while. his biggest problem is that he's my age

And clearly putting on weight

[Chris]

I think the brilliant defending skills by players like Xabi, Masch and Hyypia made Carra look better than he really is.

What happened since they left the club? How good has he been organising the defence since then? How much of a leader in defence has he been since then?

Not that great IMO. Hyypia was our real leader and organiser and Carra hasn't even been close to be able to replace his leadership qualities on the pitch.

Big mistake by Rafa to keep picking him in every game for years then, wouldnt you agree?

[Arn]

i think it's nerves and a little confusion. even if you don't have a team of bottlers, the whole team can bottle it sometimes because nobody steps up to calm everyone down and get them playing football again. it's not an individual weakness i would say, but we really miss someone who's capable of keeping the side focused. it's everything to do with no gerrard plus no heir apparent aside from carragher. who doesn't seem to be a leader for us atm moment.

Hyypia, Masch and Xabi. Three out and out winners that did everything to win. Have we replaced the leadership qualities we lost since they left the club?

Do we have enough leaders in the squad? So far this season we "bottled" it against Sunderland and now against Stoke. It is big worry.

[MrMichael]

I don't really see why such a poor footballer is regarded as a such a legend. He'd get nowhere near our best ever sides, and would be perfectly at home in Stoke's team.

Troll much?