Armin_Tamzarian

Yep the later shooting was woeful but overall that's the best he's played in a long time and deserves to be recognised. Davies has been one of Bolton's most effective players in the past few years. He's embarrassed lots of decent defenders so don't underestimate the job JAR did on him.

Riise played well today. Not sure why some are having difficulty acknowledging that?

I thought he had his best game for ages, contributed well in the attack and nullified Davies physical play in defence. A very good game from him.

Another Spanish Fan has posted a great translation of a Torres interview on Rawk. Well worth a read.

Couple of lads are trying to get some help for a flag for Wednesday. Idea is for each person to make a bedsheet flag which can be combined at the front of the Kop. It would read: 1. AS ALWAYS WE (10 letters) 2. ARE FOCUSSED (11) 3. ON SUPPORTING (12) 4. OUR MANAGER (10) Which is both a nice play on Rafa's press conference and reflective of the fans viewpoint. If you could get one of the flags completed by Wednesday either let me know or visit the thread and volunteer. There's loads of support for the idea but few willing or able to get a flag made. http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/...308#msg3569308 Instructions on making your own as well as a few templates at: www.kopbanners.org

John Scales was a quality player, it's just a shame that his fitness problems stopped him completing his career with Liverpool. He's a switched on guy, was in Liverpool a couple of years ago promoting youth football. He knows why that late 90's side didn't fulfill its potential as well.

James Lawton is one of the best football journalists in the country. He's written some brilliant articles on Liverpool. He's also one of the few to consistently nail the lies told about Hillsborough. I don't entirely agree with the article quoted but there's some truth there and I'd never dismiss Lawton outright.

I've already said this on rawk but what the hell. Riise played well last night. I think one of the major reasons he's getting a game is his physical strength and workrate. Qualities Rafa prizes very highly, probably because his style of play demands so much from players. If he plays Riise at LM he knows he can get 60 or 70 minutes of lungbusting runs, working the opposition whilst covering our LB and still move JAR back for the final 30 when he brings on a 'luxury' player like Kewell or Babel, who will find much more space than JAR enjoyed in the earlier part of the match. Admittedly they're also more adept at using it. He's taking ridiculous stick at present, online and at the match. He has his flaws no question but people are ignoring the positive contributions he's making and it's not fair. He played his part in that game, including assists for a couple of the goals and plenty of hard running. Pepe made a point of acknowledging his part in the first goal which makes me wonder if the poor form/criticism is getting to him. Yes he's been off form but it's also a case of the crowd turning on him. His flaws have always been there but as the team has improved they've become more obvious and the crowd less tolerant. I think he's improved under Benitez, aerially and to a lesser extent positionally but such a one footed player is going to suffer in comparison with Finnan, Aurelio or Arbeloa. We're tending to hold the ball for longer, playing in a confined space further up the pitch and playing less directly than under Houllier and again that's highlighting some of JAR's weaknesses. What's striking now however is that some in the crowd have completely lost any patience with the player whatsoever. It's mirrored on the forums with many people declaring that they've had enough. At the game however it's got ridiculous. I was surprised when his payslip didn't reveal his full name to be John Arne Fer f***s Sake Riise. All players take stick but increasingly where JAR's concerned even if another player has landed him in it or sent him a ball Alonso would struggle with it's sufficient that it's Riise involved for a large number of frustrated supporters to be on his back. What's unfair however is this isn't a player who has given up, who isn't showing for the ball or trying his hardest, just someone in bad form and with certain deficincies in his game, particularly evident given our style. I think he'll go either in January or the Summer and it'll be the right thing for all concerned when he does. In a team playing more directly and willing to exploit his immense capacity for hard work he'll have an opportunity to be praised for the good work he does and not get slaughtered for the weaknesses in his arsenal but until that time, whilst he's wearing a red shirt we as a crowd would do well to get off his back. He's getting selected for a reason and it's a reason that his manager and teammates can appreciate even if a buildup of frustration means we can't. Pepe went running out of his goal to acknowledge JAR's contribution last night. Perhaps it was a subtle signal to all of us to remember that there's a guy trying his best out there that can contribute if he gets the chance.

They definitely shouldn't be in the same side if we're playing 2 up top. It was painful watching last week, no pace, busy but unthreatening I think one journo described it. Yesterday was different, if Torres had been fit that combo could've worked well. It puts Gerrard further forward in a central position whilst allowing one of Voronin or Torres to support the striker as and when, or at least I'm guessing that was the plan. We'd have a better mix of 4 strikers if we'd kept Bellamy.

Are they excuses and apologies or simply judgments and opinions? I can't speak for others but I've no problem criticising the team or manager when they give a performance such as Marseille. It was terrible, dreadful stuff. Unacceptable if you prefer. However I've also no problem looking at yesterdays result in the context of where the two teams are coming from at that moment in the season. We may not have won yesterday, we may have been frequently outpassed and made to chase the ball but we improved on the previous few performances and why shouldn't that improvement be recognised? We were playing a side that were flying, 12 wins on the bounce including a midweek goal fest in Europe whilst we were losing in Turkey. There are weaknesses and flaws in the side and we miss key performers but yesterday's performance would've beaten Birmingham or Spurs, if they'd managed that we'd all be feeling better. The season is a marathon and at the moment we've not yet lost too much ground. I'm not happy to be in sixth and there's things I'd change if I could but the manager wouldn't be one of them.

I hate him a little more each time I watch him play. I think I've yet to see a game where the opposing fans weren't baying for his blood. He's a cheating conniving snide s***house of a player.

There's a lot of doom and gloom about today but I took some comfort from that display. Although we spent too long chasing shadows as Arsenal turned it on we had a better shape and understanding than we've shown for some time. They rarely got through us completely and they are a seriously good side at the peak of form and confidence. If we'd held out for the win we'd have felt lucky but no question we were worthy of a draw. Given the capitulation to Marseilles and other recent displays this one has to be seen as an improvement, in performance if not result. Crouch hit a beautiful shot soon after coming on, looked a real threat. Sadly the team tired yesterday which left him increasingly isolated. No reflection on Kuyt or Voronin who worked hard but perhaps the injuries prevented Rafa from injecting fresh legs in this area of the field where they were so sorely needed. Have to say that with Crouch on from the beginning and adequate support for him throughout I think we'd have scored more than the one goal. Let's see him a regular fixture over the next few weeks, perhaps with Babel involved to give us pace in support.

That's a needless straw man to throw into the debate and I'll bet you know it too. There isn't one of us here who want anything other than Liverpool at the top of the league so why imply otherwise?

The analogy swiftly breaks down but if you want to pursue it you should explore the relative costs of options a and b. It's seldom the case in business that replacing one position would necessitate a whole series of further personnel changes.

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The lads around me were all convinced the announcement distracted the players. It seemed surreally loud and almost timed with the Spurs attack. I think Kev owes the entire ground a pint.

The performance in the stands was almost as bad as that on the pitch. Although the lad next to me observed that Cisse almost got more support as a visitor than he received as a player. A fair few did stay and applaud Marseilles at the end which at least shows some of the old respect for opponents remains. Otherwise it was just one more disappointment on a rotten night.

I'm going to Dr D's Jon, might see you there.

http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index....20287.0#post_c1

Wasn't a bad game. A fiver for an adult and £2 for kids. Free if your lucky enough to have a season ticket, not sure if PTS counts. Given the size of crowd for the first one I think it's going to be a popular venue for the reserves,good for them to play in front of a reasonable crowd and even better for the LFC.tv cameras trained on a full stand. The size of the crowd (3400) took the Wolves staff by surprise and kickoff was delayed by 15 minutes. The seated side stand was filled and the Martin Dawes stand opened to take the spillover. It was a pity the terrace stands weren't available as I'd sooner have stood. There was also an annoying 'no alcohol' within sight of pitch rule although as I was driving it was academic. Obviously a good opportunity for parents to treat their kids. Was a family crowd and so language had to be restrained. Decent game though and Liverpool were unfortunate not to get a draw. At times we played some nice stuff. There's no experience in our side, we won't be winning the reserve team league but at least every player there is looking to the future and hoping to make it. Sunderland had some more recognisable names, Connolly, Musampa and Ian Harte making a return to English football. Greg Halford was another who played in the top flight. I was impressed by Plessis, quite a classy midfielder with good awareness. Both San Jose and Huth performed well against some decent Sunderland movement up front. The Sunderland rightback also looks one for the future. Putterill might've struggled but a lot of credit has to go to the defender. I didn't catch his name but he looked useful and worth keeping an eye on. Spearing is a good player but he's so small, if he doesn't grow a bit is it sensible to talk of him as a cb? I'm hoping he's still got a bit of growing to do because he's talented and determined enough. Plessis has the advatage of height and if he fills out a bit and progresses he looks the part. http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N...071002-2110.htm

Too many sharp edges on those rooks. Draughts would be more prudent.

I thought Aurelio improved as the match went on. Certainly offered more going forward than JAR who had a poor game.

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