Snippets from today's game.

[Howard_lfc]

Thought we were crap - verging on the average. Haven't seen us play any differently than that all season. Plenty of the ball and hardly working their 'keeper.

Our build up play today went two ways :
1. The diagonal ball across to the far corner of their penalty area - from both flanks. This is England - centre-halves all over the country treat that stuff as bread and butter........
2. Get the ball to Luis' feet and hope he can do something off the cuff. I have to say he took some stick today for constantly losing possession but at least he's trying to do something different. I wouldn't have taken him off.

Finnan would have gotten the curly finger from me. He was much higher up the pitch today as Vassell had fallen into left mid - but he gave us nothing. When I saw Pennant warming up I was hoping to see him replace Finnan but it didn't happen. In fact - Pennant had his most effective spell in a game in a red shirt IMO ( I never saw the Reading game in CC). Straight from the off he picked up the pace of the game and gave their left side something to think about. Well in lad. I've slagged him in the past as not good enough but it's only fair I should praise him when the time is right. I think I need to lie down in a darkened room.

What's happened to Dirk's first touch? It was noticable against PSV that he gave the ball away when it should be 'sticking' and he was at it today. The lad works so bleeding hard he's probably knackered when the ball finally reaches him.

Good to see the 'old' Jamie Carragher back today. One touch to control it, a second touch to make sure, a little skip to readjust his position, a quick nudge of the ball - and finally a pass. We've missed these little virtuoso performances!!!

Crouch. Why take one touch and lay if off - when you can do the same with seven?

I thought Sami and Agger played well today. Also - I thought Zenden was quite good - in fact I don't see what Xabi would have given us from a deep lying position....

Anyway - they're a few of my thoughts from today's game. Not a great deal to write about to be honest. We must do better - a lot better.

[jayjay]

pretty much agree with that.
Good to see Stevens obvious joy at getting the 3pts.

[johnp]

Agree with the main sentiment, must do better.

And with Garcia. He looks like the only one (well, maybe Kuyt) with a bit of imagination. He will give the ball away, but can produce magic too.
On that, though Kuyt was very good today, another assist by working hard.

Pennant looked better today, maybe helped by the rollicking SG gave him v PSV when he didn't track back and SG covered. Was a small incident, but maybe it's the kick start he definitely needs.

Thought Zenden had a very good game.

But, overall it was pretty average. City easily mopped up everything we threw at them. We need more imagination.

[Morph]

i agreed with it all until you said Zenden was quite good, which he really wasn't. Other than that spot on, especially the point about the diagonal balls which I was thinking exactly the same about today.

[Roanmore]

i agreed with it all until you said Zenden was quite good, which he really wasn't. Other than that spot on, especially the point about the diagonal balls which I was thinking exactly the same about today.

Setana today were saying we may have stumbled across our most effective midfield pairing in Stevie and Zenden, I would say Momo and Stevie (given Alonso's form).
The thing about today's match is Cith came to frustrate and did it quiet well, remember they did the same against Arse and came away with three points (I know they were at home but treated it as an away game)

[Morph]

So many times today Zenden lost the ball it was untrue, there was one point in the first half I think when he lost it about 3 times in a row.

He's not as effective at sweeping up as Sissoko and he's nowhere near Alonso's standard of passing.

What he does have going for him tho is his tackling which I've ben fairly impressed with. if he could just work on his final pass and shooting a bit more he might become a decent option. He definitely needs a run of games to see if he can though.

[fatistuta]

I thought Bolo had a decent game.
City played well to the tactics they were given for the game.
Kuyt looked a little tired and seemed to be forcing things.
Garcia still gives the ball away alot, but much higher up the pitch and not in such dangerous positions. He was the most inventive though and I think he would have made a telling contribution if left on the pitch.
Agger looked class again.
Pennant showed that maybe if he finds consistancy he can make the grade.
Too many diagonal balls, yes, but Sami's ball to Garcia was awesome.
Very disciplined performance from Gerrard today, and a great goal too.
Pepe is getting back to his best and looks more confident.

All in all it was a pretty poor game, but the positives are, three points, another clean sheet, Gerrard enjoying his game again, patience in getting the goal rather than resorting in punting it to Crouch and also the instant boost that seemed to follow the goal. It seemed as though the teams confidence grew before our eyes and we enjoyed what was posibly our best spell of the game.

It's slow but we are getting back there.

[mchaggis]

I think the best thing is that Gerrard got his legs back. A few weeks ago his shots would end everywhere but near goal, today he tried some and it looked far better.

[alunevans]

Agree wiht the bulk of that but thought Zenden was poor. I really don't understand why Rafa gave him the license rather than Gerrard. We had three centre backs guarding one forward, and Gerrard holding their hands.

No doubt we'll have people lauding his tactical discipline, but any midfielder in the premiership could have done the job Steven was asked to do yesterday, but only Steven Gerrard could have stepped up and got that goal.

Even when shackled, he proved to me yesterday that we are still very much a one man band and he still carries us.

He also proved that he is saving our skins despite the managers tactics not because of them.

The way Rafa is deploying his best player is taking me to the point of no confidence if I'm honest. I know he's a sacred cow and everything, but he does the oppositions job for them by nullifying Gerrard.

Why have him so deep all game. It was only when Gerrard said oh sod this and gambled forward that we got the goal.

Without Steven Gerrard, what on earth would this team be?

And why don't we play football anymore? Rafa tried to in his first season but he seems to have abandoned the exercise. I don't really see much improvement in our pattern or style of play these days from the Houllier days. There's some, but its not overly significant.

It tends to be very ugly, long balls playing the percentages. And a hell of a lot of long shots to make the beloved stats look good.

Our goals are tending to happen rather than be fashioned, which was my major problem with Ged's regime.

How about deploying Gerrard effectively, and getting the team to try and play some football.

Frankly I'm bored ****less at matches at the moment.

[dww]

Our build up play today went two ways :
1. The diagonal ball across to the far corner of their penalty area - from both flanks. This is England - centre-halves all over the country treat that stuff as bread and butter........
2. Get the ball to Luis' feet and hope he can do something off the cuff. I have to say he took some stick today for constantly losing possession but at least he's trying to do something different. I wouldn't have taken him off.

It is fairly obvious that these are the sort of tactics that teams resort too whenlacking confidence. We are making too many defensive first decisions at the minute with no one wanting to be the player who gives the ball away in an important area. We also lack the movement in the final third to give us options with our passes.

I think that the first step towards a revival of form is being taken though. We are beginning to see a settled and confident back four and Reina has started to play sweeper again. Hopefully this will mean that we will gradually bring the back four forwards and as a consequence our midfield will move further up the pitch also. This almost by default creates more options in the opposition half.

I have been saying for a while that Garcia is a key player for us as like you say he tries things. People go on about him giving the ball away but actually considering where he does it he is a much better percentages player than those who play the long diagonal balls.

I would also like to see Crouch come a little deeper sometimes. Giving the more mobile Kuyt the opportunity to be the most advanced and player and to work the back four a little more. Crouch is a good player of the through ball and I think both Kuyt and Gerrard would benefit - possibly along with Pennant if he got a chance.

[enema of the state]

Thought we were crap - verging on the average. Haven't seen us play any differently than that all season. Plenty of the ball and hardly working their 'keeper.

Indeed. thats the worst performance ive seen since the early houllier years. i did not enjoy my afternoon at the football and thats rare even when we lose!

Our build up play today went two ways :
1. The diagonal ball across to the far corner of their penalty area - from both flanks. This is England - centre-halves all over the country treat that stuff as bread and butter........
2. Get the ball to Luis' feet and hope he can do something off the cuff. I have to say he took some stick today for constantly losing possession but at least he's trying to do something different. I wouldn't have taken him off.

city played 5-4-1 and the 1, corradi, worked his arse of tackling back. on the 1st point, it was often a good option nand credit to agger for the way he brought the ball out of defence. On the second, I would select garcia only for european games. he fears physical contact and always chooses an early (and almost always ineffectual) flick instead of being a man and taking a touch and the contact it draws. hes been here 2/1/2 seasons, if he hasnt adapted by now, he never will. talented lad but will never be a consistent premiership player

Finnan would have gotten the curly finger from me. He was much higher up the pitch today as Vassell had fallen into left mid - but he gave us nothing. When I saw Pennant warming up I was hoping to see him replace Finnan but it didn't happen. In fact - Pennant had his most effective spell in a game in a red shirt IMO ( I never saw the Reading game in CC). Straight from the off he picked up the pace of the game and gave their left side something to think about. Well in lad. I've slagged him in the past as not good enough but it's only fair I should praise him when the time is right. I think I need to lie down in a darkened room.

agreed again - i've never really been that impressed by finnan or any current right-sided lfc player other than gerard. i agree though that pennant showed signs of a higher level of function than he has so far but he was coming on against players working very hard. his only saving grace is that he IS young enough to improve. I would love to see a simao or an alves added to this side.

What's happened to Dirk's first touch? It was noticable against PSV that he gave the ball away when it should be 'sticking' and he was at it today. The lad works so bleeding hard he's probably knackered when the ball finally reaches him.

was a long way from having the worst touch of an lfc player and he always had dunne or distin up his arse. excellent showing as usual from kuyt in my book - delighted with the signing

Good to see the 'old' Jamie Carragher back today. One touch to control it, a second touch to make sure, a little skip to readjust his position, a quick nudge of the ball - and finally a pass. We've missed these little virtuoso performances!!!

jc is limited - evryone should know that. he has some great qualities but he wouldnt have got in to any lfc side 1976-1990. when a player like jc is back to being a much-loved squad player and we have someone athletically and technically superior as the 1st team regular, lfc will be back where it belongs.
Agger (as did a younger sami hyppia) is in that bracket.

Crouch. Why take one touch and lay if off - when you can do the same with seven?

stinker for the big man, total stinker but man city, with dunne and distin both excellent in the air was the absolute worst side in the league to start with crouch against. i truly hope rafa was aware of that and that he held back bellamy for the obvious off-field reasons.

I thought Sami and Agger played well today. Also - I thought Zenden was quite good - in fact I don't see what Xabi would have given us from a deep lying position....

mmmm sami and agger - yes, for me, alonso is head and shoulders better than zenden. he would have given us a much better chance of picking an accurate pass through a massed defence.

[Morph]

Indeed. thats the worst performance ive seen since the early houllier years. I did not enjoy my afternoon at the football and thats rare even when we lose!

I think that's a rather hefty exaggeration, I can think of at least 3 worse performances than that this season alone. Can't understand all the hoo har that's gone on after this match, lets see what the next few weeks bring.

[RedProf]

So many times today Zenden lost the ball it was untrue, there was one point in the first half I think when he lost it about 3 times in a row.

He's not as effective at sweeping up as Sissoko and he's nowhere near Alonso's standard of passing.

What he does have going for him tho is his tackling which I've ben fairly impressed with. if he could just work on his final pass and shooting a bit more he might become a decent option. He definitely needs a run of games to see if he can though.

For me, he tries to make too many tackles on his arse. Hamman was the master of midfield tackling, standing tall and nicking it off the opponent many times. Zenden flies in rashly imo.