Spurs Post Match Thread

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

And the Giggs ball was delivered from out wide about level with the 6 yard box

Those are the most difficult balls to defend against and when your forward is on the end of them you have to take them - too often when we get in those positions our forwards dont

That's a fair point but I don't think it means we should stop putting them in, we should keep doing the right things and working on it in training. I was never confident of Suarez scoring from his chance yesterday. He scored from a similar position against QPR but if I'm remembering rightly he also missed one in the same game?

[Lecter]

That's a fair point but I don't think it means we should stop putting them in, we should keep doing the right things and working on it in training. I was never confident of Suarez scoring from his chance yesterday. He scored from a similar position against QPR but if I'm remembering rightly he also missed one in the same game?

No we should continue to keep putting those balls in when we get into those areas

If we do then it means we have less problems to solve

As I said to Matt our problem is the longer the game goes with us failing to convert good chances the more our players abdicate their responsibilties and either play a hopeful ball from 40 yards out or pass the buck to someone else

[red g]

I thought the game was ****e, spurs played for a drawand we couldnt break them down.

the cat chant and Ekotto's hair were the only things that stood out for me last night.

[Muddled]

Its about picking the right pass and not panicking when the clocks ticking down, something we've struggled with since I can remember not just now. Its almost as much about mentality as it is to do with quality of player, we've got Suarez, Bellamy, Gerrard and players capable of producing Maxi, Kuyt and Adam certainly has a killer ball in him. But we seem to just lose sight and rush things far too much.

Giggs' ball in the Hernandez against Chelsea was a perfect example. Steadied himself, looked in control before delivering a very good ball, albeit nothing beyond any of the players I've mentioned above are capable of.

You're right, but Ivanovic gave Giggs enough time *and* space to pick his spot and wait for Hernandez to make his run; he was about four yards off him and dangled a foot. I would hope our players could at least get the delivery in, if given that amount of time and space.

For me, Valencia always seems to know when and where to put the ball - it sometimes looks like he's a one trick pony, shifting it and whipping it, but he is always consistent.

[baitman]

motm was this litle fella [not bellamy, for a change];
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSBkK2B6AfI&feature=related"]Cat invades Football pitch Liverpool vs Tottenham 6/02/12 - YouTube[/ame]
he spent more time in the spurs box than our strikers

[Kenneth]

I really can't understand why Bale wasn't sent off. The ludicrous dive that was clearly deserving of a yellow, and the follow up with agger where he raised his hassle and shoved agger in the chest, again, clearly worthy of a yellow. That's a nailed on sending off isn't it? Goes completely under the radar in terms if reaction to the match. I genuinely don't get it.

[Mostar]

We still wouldn't score even if he was sent off.

We just didn't produce enough last night ((2 goal score chances and 3 shots (2 on target) are too little)) and typically we have big problems against teams at home that park the bus and focus specifically on defending.

We are lacking quality in the final third and until we address that issue and pick up a new striker and a new AM/winger we will struggle to break down the opposition and convert on our chances.

We failed to do so 8 times at home and it is clear that we need reinforcements.

[Kenneth]

I'm not commenting on it because of whether it was significant to the result, just that it was a clear red in my mind but seemingly hasn't even entered the minds of most of those who comment on football. I'm bemused.

[topscorer]

I'm not commenting on it because of whether it was significant to the result, just that it was a clear red in my mind but seemingly hasn't even entered the minds of most of those who comment on football. I'm bemused.

It's because it wasn't Suarez that did it. Seriously what did you expect?

[topscorer]

This is a very valid point.

Teams are usually built up on sound defensive foundations.

Kenny in his first year in charge has made us very resolute defensively - and in games - not sacrificed that for our need to attack. It's the transition from back to front that we struggle with, mainly against teams that sit in front of us.

I'm not sure that argument can hold up with 55m spent on strikers and 35m spent on Downing and Henderson plus Bellamy for free.

The only money invested in defense has been Enrique who is an attacking left back. Plus Coates who is for the future.

Our defense has historically been pretty good so I do not agree with that argument.

[topscorer]

I thought the game was ****e, spurs played for a drawand we couldnt break them down.

the cat chant and Ekotto's hair were the only things that stood out for me last night.

It would have been funnier if the cat had done a **** on the goal line though

[vonk]

I'm hesitant to blame the strikers as I don't think there was any clear cut chances. What let us down was our crossing. The worst offender was Kelly. I know he's young, etc, but he was put into some great positions by our approach play and not once picked out a man in red. Downing, Bellamy on the other side and Adam werent much better. I'm glad someone mentioned the Giggs example because it's exactly what I was thinking when Spurs got to every ball in the box. Johnson is unable to cross with his left so when he comes back to the right and Enrique comes back it should improve. I'd even put Gerrard on the right for a while to see how that goes. Defensively we are not doing a lot wrong to be fair. It's the final ball and finish. A bit of composure needed by everyone.

[Kenneth]

Agree about Kelly. He's an excellent young player but crossing is definitely not his forte.

[Mostar]

http://www.clickliverpool.com/news/local-news/1215256-fearless-kop-cat-brings-liverpool-game-to-standstill.html

Fearless Kop cat brings Liverpool FC game to standstill

A fearless cat that brought a Premier League match to a standstill is a STRAY that is fed by dozens of people around Liverpool's Anfield stadium.

The feline became an instant sensation when it sauntered onto the pitch 11 minutes into Liverpool's clash with Tottenham Hotspur in front of a crowd of 44,000.

The male tabby lives in derelict terraced houses in Lothair Road and is well known to locals in nearby Anfield Road who hurriedly nicknamed him "Kenny".

Kenny got into the stadium via a turnstile on the Main Stand, according to one Anfield steward, who declined to be named.

Kenny was again prowling Anfield yesterday and all the locals said that he was a feral animal, looking for a loving home.

One man claimed to be the owner of a cat, named Pako, that fathered Kenny.

Pako's owner Darren Eden, 45, said he was shocked when he saw Kenny the cat bounding across the Anfield turf.

He said: "My son was watching the match in the pub and he texted me saying that our Pako's kitten was on the pitch.

"I turned the television on and couldn't believe my eyes.

"I think Pako will be very proud of his son being so fearless and cunning getting into the ground without a ticket!"

Darren, a martial arts instructor, used to be a steward at Anfield during the Rafa Benitez era in 2005 and struck up a friendship with Pako Ayestarán.

He said: "We decided to name our cat after Pako as we became friends when I was working there.

"We used to joke around about the matches and had some great laughs.

"Little did he know his namesake's baby would become a Liverpool legend!"

He said: "We decided to call him Kenny now after last night's escapades. he's famous. There was even a TV crew down here today filming him."

One fan opened a Twitter account in the name of the cat which had over 25,000 followers.

The feline bears an uncanny resemblance to the famous cat Moglet who was Liverpool's unofficial mascot in the 1980s.

Moglet was adopted by the club's staff after being left abandoned outside the stadium gates.

It was considered a lucky charm by players and staff at the time but has long since passed away.

The cat even appeared on a match programme cover in the 1982-83 season pictured with the Milk Cup.

[Muddled]

I'm not sure that argument can hold up with 55m spent on strikers and 35m spent on Downing and Henderson plus Bellamy for free.

The only money invested in defense has been Enrique who is an attacking left back. Plus Coates who is for the future.

Our defense has historically been pretty good so I do not agree with that argument.

It's not an argument aimed at our investment though.

My point being, new managers historically look to stop conceding goals so that they get points on the board from draws - and if they nick a goal - bonus. I understand my statement 'build on solid defensive foundations' could be read as buying our players to start from the back, but I mean we've created a strong back line using existing players and excellent coaching.

We were spoilt with Benitez and to a similar extent with Houllier, but historically? Nah, Hodgson made us a liability from any set-piece and Evans played Phil Babb. Look how improved both Johnson and Skrtel have been this season.

Kenny has come in, made us resolute at the back and has tried to get the balance of attacking without sacrificing our shape - this will come with time.. As I pointed out though, us getting it from back to front isn't quite there yet; we seem to stutter as we get to the final third or choose the wrong ball, but I'm confident this will again come with time and coaching.

When you highlight the money we've spent on the players we have, you could question why we do struggle though! But I guess that's another debate.