Liverpool vs West Ham Post Match Thread

[badpiggy]

What's all this "it should have been a towering header" bollocks re Skrtel's header? He couldn't get much distance because:

a) He had to jump straight up to reach the ball, thus couldn't use forward momentum to generate power

b) The initial cross didn't have much pace on it that could be re-directed

He did what he was supposed to do - stopped the attacker from nodding the ball into the waiting net by clearing it away from the dangerzone. It was more bad luck than anything else that clearance went straight to a West Ham player. And when it did reach that West Ham player on the edge of the area, we had SEVEN men back in the box to defend against the next attack.

Even on the Lovren ****-up for the second goal (I'm not defending him as I don't think he should be anywhere near the first team), it still required a mix-up between two of our players in the box to allow West Ham to get the ball in the net.

The hysterical bed-wetters should be more concerned about our overall form: 2 goals (an outside the box screamer and an offside effort that should have been disallowed) in 4 games, and one decent half that can be plausibly explained away by Arsenal having a dip in home form. It's looking more and more like a continuation of last season - a poorly prepared team with little idea how to go about the business of winning matches, despite significant expenditure and a shiny new coaching staff.

I have to say I agree with that. Whatever the initial mistakes from Skrtel and Lovren, we had ample chances to clear the ball. We seem unwilling/unable to ****in clear our lines when under pressure. Loads of fannying around and halfarsed attempts at tackles, interceptions and clearances. I know we can't turn into relegation-fodder and start hoofing it every time we're under a bit of pressure but still. Bit of composure and grit at the back would be great. The signs are poor, not good, overall. Rodgers can't seem to instill and maintain resilience. Maybe it's the players who we all seem to overrate from time to time. When we're not complete;y slating some of them, that is

[danperkins]

I think we all hope that Sturridge and Benteke can form a partnership that leads to **** loads of goals and therefore wins. I think Sturridge will flourish with a strike partner as well. However, this is all a bit deja-vu. Last season we were waiting for Sturridge to come back and link up with Balotelli.... for me, when Brendan bought Benteke, Ings and Origi, then he was basically saying that he needed 4 strikers but that Lambert, Borini and Balotelli were not good enough. The club accepted that and allowed him to bring in a new batch of strikers....

I hope that Benteke and Sturridge play as a two man strike force in a diamond formation..... what i struggle with is the fact that Brendan isn't playing 2 strikers up front yet this season. We have the squad that should be able to withstand an injury (even to a first teamer like Sturridge) so why the **** Benteke isn't playing with a strike partner is beyond me.

yeah completely agree, he is isolated up there, we look toothless & surely would benefit with extra support up there.

[Bender]

West Ham midfielder Mark Noble's red card for a tackle on Liverpool's Danny Ings has been overturned
Coutinho's red ?

[BootRoom]

West Ham midfielder Mark Noble's red card for a tackle on Liverpool's Danny Ings has been overturned
Coutinho's red ?

Cout's was a second yellow, not a straight red, so can't be overturned.

[Bender]

Cout's was a second yellow, not a straight red, so can't be overturned.

i'd still appeal it

[Maxiedge]

Obviously, West Ham still felt they need to strengthen their squad with four deadline day signings after beating us 3-0

[Tribute]

West Ham midfielder Mark Noble's red card for a tackle on Liverpool's Danny Ings has been overturned
Coutinho's red ?

...perhaps fanciful, but hoping Couts being out of the Utd game will make it harder for LVG to set his team up - after all, we haven't got a Scooby about what Brendan has planned now, so how could he?!

Would be a great game for Ings to start and close down from the front...

[Vermilion]

We need Benteke/Ings or even Origi to score like Sturridge/Suarez did, no hanging about with a 1 in 3 or 4 ratio, that wont be enough, we need excellent figures from the strikers to make this season work imo.

[Tribute]

We need Benteke/Ings or even Origi to score like Sturridge/Suarez did, no hanging about with a 1 in 3 or 4 ratio, that wont be enough, we need excellent figures from the strikers to make this season work imo.

agreed, but we need Brendan to set up to facilitate that not hamper it. With one up front in isolation and without reverting back to a diamond and playing to the squad's strengths, we're goosed.

Hope Brendan got a suitablely harsh wake-up call from that dire performance on Saturday...

[BubbaZanetti]

2 goals in 4 games.... how long before we score #3?

[Vermilion]

agreed, but we need Brendan to set up to facilitate that not hamper it. With one up front in isolation and without reverting back to a diamond and playing to the squad's strengths, we're goosed.

Hope Brendan got a suitablely harsh wake-up call from that dire performance on Saturday...

Rumours are that there were tea cups thrown and loud voices in the dressing room after WH deafeat.

Who threw or said what i have no clue about.

[redmike65]

It wouldn't have even been builders tea either - some delicate herbal crap.

[Fredo]

Rumours are that there were tea cups thrown and loud voices in the dressing room after WH deafeat.

Who threw or said what i have no clue about.

Where did you hear, or see that?

Brendan wouldn't throw teacups. He's a loveable sweet talker.

[Bender]

Where did you hear, or see that?

Bender wouldn't throw teacups. He's a loveable sweet talker.

[BubbaZanetti]

I heard it was Lovren; he tried to dive under the table and missed knocking **** flying. Brendan praised his efforts of course and promised next week he's in charge of the kettle.