Match thread - Grasshoppers

[homer1]

Reina, Paletta, Hyypia, Riise, Hobbs, Anderson, Zenden, Gonzalez, Pennant, Bellamy, Sissoko.

SUBS: Carson, Kromkamp, Gerrard, Carragher, Crouch, Traore.

[Parm]

sack Rafa that's the answer

[Bob]

He is playing right back. Hyypia and Hobbs in the middle. Riise on the left.

It's more like a 4-5-1 right now...

We have no shape.

Hyypia is annoying me - normally a rock he's having a mare. He's ball chasing and his postioning is dreadful. Looks like he has no confidence in those around him so he's trying to cover them, and in doing so is getting dragged out of position.

He should be helping the likes of hobbs out rather than do the work for him.

Bellamy is up front on his own

Zendens just had a shot blocked.

[Bob]

Hyypia playing RW now FFS (good cross mind).

Rafa get this sorted - looks like a schools match. I know its more of a fitness exercise, but its starting to get on my tits.

[Bob]

definetily four at the back - with hyypia being a free role defender.

We're getting raped in our full back positions and Grasshoppers are craftily pinging balls into those positions.

Ended the half with a dodgy set piece.

[JohnOK]

I know its Pre-Season but we're not playing well but at least getting a bit of fitness. Grasshopper look very fit and you can tell they are a few games into their season.

Is Xabi injured?

[6sheep]

Pre-Season

some +ves:

bellamy, pennant, gonzales, anderson & momo all looking sharp
when we get moves going forward we have width & pace
hobbs is having a much better game..glad rafa threw him back in from the start
hopefully in the 2nd half we`ll be wearing studs

some neutrals:

zenden despite rafa`s assertion that he can play defensive midfield
is no momo sissoko, just hasn`t got as much physical prescence
maybe we should buy vierra as a back up for momo in case he gets injured
paletta`s back pass was pure pre-season & just lazy
..he`ll kick balls like that out of play in any meaningful game

some -ves:

our shape in the 1st half left us chasing the game, but rafa has little option if he`s wanting to give the youngsters a chance, rest the world cup plyers & protect the injured

[Bob]

Big hitters are being held back.

[univofchicago]

some +ves:

bellamy, pennant, gonzales, anderson & momo all looking sharp
when we get moves going forward we have width & pace
hobbs is having a much better game..glad rafa threw him back in from the start
hopefully in the 2nd half we`ll be wearing studs

some neutrals:

zenden despite rafa`s assertion that he can play defensive midfield
is no momo sissoko, just hasn`t got as much physical prescence
maybe we should buy vierra as a back up for momo in case he gets injured
paletta`s back pass was pure pre-season & just lazy
..he`ll kick balls like that out of play in any meaningful game

some -ves:

our shape in the 1st half left us chasing the game, but rafa has little option if he`s wanting to give the youngsters a chance, rest the world cup plyers & protect the injured

Wow. Great Post!

Agree with you 100%!!

[Bob]

some +ves:

bellamy, pennant, gonzales, anderson & momo all looking sharp
when we get moves going forward we have width & pace
hobbs is having a much better game..glad rafa threw him back in from the start
hopefully in the 2nd half we`ll be wearing studs

some neutrals:

zenden despite rafa`s assertion that he can play defensive midfield
is no momo sissoko, just hasn`t got as much physical prescence
maybe we should buy vierra as a back up for momo in case he gets injured
paletta`s back pass was pure pre-season & just lazy
..he`ll kick balls like that out of play in any meaningful game

some -ves:

our shape in the 1st half left us chasing the game, but rafa has little option if he`s wanting to give the youngsters a chance, rest the world cup plyers & protect the injured

Agree with most of that.

Particulary our shape, though it looks like rafa has resolved that at half time.
Zenden has been ok, though looks terrible in the tackle.
Paletta should know that you never pass across the back - like i said before schoolboy stuff.

It's more a fitness exercise (people must remember this) identified by the fact that they're wearing heart monitors.

Crouch just had a turn and shot - good effort, though didn't trouble the keeper too much.

[Bob]

Kromkamp - paletta, Crouch - speedy, and Traore for Anderson

[Bob]

Gerrard on bellamy off.

Back to 4-5-1 perhaps?

Since half time we've been 442 and looked much better.

Gerrard just put a deflected shot wide.

[Bob]

Reina all over the place yet again - reina rushing out.

Crikey Carra better stay fit. (replaced hyypia)

Momo has been man of the match so far, with bellamy not far off (looks very sharp)

Perhaps anderson isn't up for the first team - looked a bit hapless in the first half.

[Bob]

gerrard playing up front and we look dangerous in attack

[Bob]

crouch nice finish - yard offside. Centre from gerrard