Bit of a whinge...

[rjlfc]

This is not a major moan, thought I'd post this win lose or draw.

 

Postives first -

Looked fairly comfortable for periods

Clean sheet

Agger played well

Kuyt

Some players 'rested' for Sunday

Not a bad result

 

Now the little whinge.

 

The game was there for the taking against a poor side. When you think we were fairly comfortable for long periods, that was on top of what I thought was an awfull midfield performance. Momo and Zenden give the ball away far too often in the middle. I know Rafa was thinking about Sunday, but taking Momo off and leaving Zenden on was risky, thought we carried Bolo all second half as he was neither breaking up tackles or going forward and they got into the game at that point. Forgot he was playing for the most part.

 

After a bright start, Pennant went downhill fast and got caught in position far too often. Have been very unimpressed by Aurelio so far, think Rafa was on the juice when he described him as a better passer than Xabi

 

Bellamy and Kuyt looked very bright and would have caused havoc with a bit of decent service and support from a decent midfield we left them far too isolated. don't know if this was down to the quality of midfield or overly cautious approach, or both. Probably more the latter, as the introduction of Xabi, Gerrard and later on Gonazalez had little impact. Gerrard and Kuyts long range efforts aside, very dissappointed we didn't put more pressure on their defence.

 

As stated, not too bad a result, bit frustrating as it could have been more, but does anyone else feel sometimes that sometime Rafa is more concerned with the next game than the current one? Apart maybe from West Ham at home, each team selection so far has left us that little bit short. Momo and Zenden in the middle a couple of times, Crouch and Fowler up front (please not again) etc.

 

Its just a bit frustrating, when we were all craving a fast start (remember our season started earlier than most), that we've have taken our foot off the pedal to a degree. Get a settled strong side, with minimal changes, hit the ground running at the start and get some wins in the important first few weeks of the season. The rest would have taken care of itself to a degree. I feel its backfired to a degree where we are now on the backfoot, already worried about falling 8 points behind Chelsea or 11 behind Utd, looking off form and still some big games to play.

 

There's no disaster going on, but we've made things uneccessarily difficult too early in the season imo.

 

Told you it was only a little whinge

[Earl Hafler]

This is not a major moan, thought I'd post this win lose or draw.

 

Postives first -

Looked fairly comfortable for periods

Clean sheet

Agger played well

Kuyt

Some players 'rested' for Sunday

Not a bad result

 

Now the little whinge.

 

The game was there for the taking against a poor side. When you think we were fairly comfortable for long periods, that was on top of what I thought was an awfull midfield performance. Momo and Zenden give the ball away far too often in the middle. I know Rafa was thinking about Sunday, but taking Momo off and leaving Zenden on was risky, thought we carried Bolo all second half as he was neither breaking up tackles or going forward and they got into the game at that point. Forgot he was playing for the most part.

 

After a bright start, Pennant went downhill fast and got caught in position far too often. Have been very unimpressed by Aurelio so far, think Rafa was on the juice when he described him as a better passer than Xabi

 

Bellamy and Kuyt looked very bright and would have caused havoc with a bit of decent service and support from a decent midfield we left them far too isolated. don't know if this was down to the quality of midfield or overly cautious approach, or both. Probably more the latter, as the introduction of Xabi, Gerrard and later on Gonazalez had little impact. Gerrard and Kuyts long range efforts aside, very dissappointed we didn't put more pressure on their defence.

 

As stated, not too bad a result, bit frustrating as it could have been more, but does anyone else feel sometimes that sometime Rafa is more concerned with the next game than the current one? Apart maybe from West Ham at home, each team selection so far has left us that little bit short. Momo and Zenden in the middle a couple of times, Crouch and Fowler up front (please not again) etc.

 

Its just a bit frustrating, when we were all craving a fast start (remember our season started earlier than most), that we've have taken our foot off the pedal to a degree. Get a settled strong side, with minimal changes, hit the ground running at the start and get some wins in the important first few weeks of the season. The rest would have taken care of itself to a degree. I feel its backfired to a degree where we are now on the backfoot, already worried about falling 8 points behind Chelsea or 11 behind Utd, looking off form and still some big games to play.

 

There's no disaster going on, but we've made things uneccessarily difficult too early in the season imo.

 

Told you it was only a little whinge

 

 

[Guest Kev]

It was a poor PSV team but they still caused the odd problem, it was a game we should have won but could have lost.

 

Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United would have probably had a more attacking attitude and got the three points. 3 points against Galatasaray is now a must as a result of this draw.

[Guest Sabre]

I think we got it spot on. If we had pressed too much PSV would have done us. Their forwards were sharp and when they got one on one against us they were making space for their attacking midfielders. Two well managed teams out there playing out a considered game. We just needed a bit more spark from someone but Aurelio and Pennant both faded.

[Maldini]

They're not a poor side.

[Swipe]

The other game in the group was a 0-0, so the next game is really the start of the competition!

 

I was frustrated and disappointed with the result, but i know deep down it's a decent one.

 

Main disappointment was Zenden.

 

For me, he falls into the Jermaine Jenas category of "what exactly does he do?".

[Guest Kev]

They're not a poor side.

 

Considering what they were two seasons ago, they were a few minutes from Istanbul if you remember.

[anny road]

on the back of a thumping by Spurs, Arsenal or City...Arsenal, Chelsea and United would have done the same

[chrisbonnie]

Bellamy had pretty much gone out of the game by the time he went off. He was starting to look tired.

 

at that stage aurelio was the one that looked more knackered then anyone else, Bellamy wasnt that bad

[el_berto]

I think the team did well enough tonight. Had more spark than previously. OK players did fade mainly Bellamy, Zenden and Pennant. But we had to try and lift the whole team spirit from Saturday.

 

But, put it this way, we win the next 3 European Cup games at Anfield, we are through.

[Paisley]

 

Have been very unimpressed by Aurelio so far, think Rafa was on the juice when he described him as a better passer than Xabi

 

 

 

His corners were doing my head in ~ not one of them cleared the first defender. That 'better passer than Alonso' quote looks very dubious at the moment. It's still early days but I haven't been impressed with what I've seen of him yet either, his performances have just made me miss Riise.

Edited September 13, 2006 by Paisley

[growler]

a clean sheet, first since april. Gerrard, Alonso, Kuyt, Crouch, Bellers, gonzales, pennant, fresh for sunday, and a point away from home against a decent team. Ok the performance was a bit poor and not worth rising at 4.30am for, but regardless of that, I think its a bit early to get the knives out.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

feckit. I'm happy with a clean-sheet & an away point. Win our home games & we're all-but through now. It's a better result for us (at this stage) than it is for them

[Maldini]

 

at that stage aurelio was the one that looked more knackered then anyone else, Bellamy wasnt that bad

Wasn't saying he was bad, just that he was tired, he had run himself into the ground. Agree about Aurelio though, he looked knackered from about the 50th minute on.

[Guest AnfieldGrass]

We're just not getting the breaks atm, if not for an inch or two here or there, the game could have had a few goals. 4-2 would have been a fair result to us given all the "should have scored" chances. Many more positives to take, I am sure rafa wanted an away goal and I doubt he plans to draw a game. Stevie looked hungry, aurelio was sharper (looked string on the ball too), Kuyt was awesome, Bellamy was excellent, some periods of good flowing football. After the s****y f***ing weekend this was a decent reply.

 

ps. and stop yer f***ing whining.

[Kahnee]

but I've been left really flat yet again by our seasons start.

 

Ever consider that the problem is yours for having too many expectations?

[RedBilledChough]

the manager made 6 changes from Saturday with next Sunday in mind and the team did pretty well.

That's the bit I'm finding a little exasperating - picking the team with the next game in mind. So what happens on Sunday? Do we chop and change again with Newcastle coming up? I can't see how we'll achieve the consistency we showed last season (with a settled side) with this constant heavy rotation.

 

It was a decent result last night but could and should have been better.

[RP]

 

The game was there for the taking against a poor side.

 

 

Have you seen their home record?

[Kahnee]

Have you seen their home record?

 

Come on, you can prove anything with facts. They're a poor side - someone said so on here so it must be true. Their five titles in the last seven years means squat...

[Cunny]

decent result away from home against experienced champion's league campaigners.

performance was ok too, could have won with a bit more luck.

 

one of our strengths last season was the left handside with Riise and Kewell, at the moment we don't look dangerous down the left at all

[Dave_the_Red]

That's the bit I'm finding a little exasperating - picking the team with the next game in mind. So what happens on Sunday? Do we chop and change again with Newcastle coming up? I can't see how we'll achieve the consistency we showed last season (with a settled side) with this constant heavy rotation.

 

It was a decent result last night but could and should have been better.

 

 

Far as I?m aware Rafa rotated his team last season

 

 

Ppl look for every fault, I find that exasperating.

[Lee W]

Think this quote from Rafa, sums things up:

 

"We were intent on a clean sheet after what happened on Saturday...."

[Stevie H]

good away point that. neither of galatasaray or bordeaux will win there. PSV are far from a poor side.

 

thought there were far more positives than negatives and was certainly an improvement on saturday's debacle.

 

Far as I?m aware Rafa rotated his team last season

Ppl look for every fault, I find that exasperating.

fans only criticise rotation when we don't win. nobody was complaining after the charity shield were they?

[Kahnee]

Far as I?m aware Rafa rotated his team last season

Ppl look for every fault, I find that exasperating.

 

It wasn't rotation - Gerrard was "dumped" on the bench. David Maddock's says so, so it must be true

[honourablegeorge]

This is not a major moan, thought I'd post this win lose or draw.

 

Postives first -

Looked fairly comfortable for periods

Clean sheet

Agger played well

Kuyt

Some players 'rested' for Sunday

Not a bad result

 

Now the little whinge.

 

The game was there for the taking against a poor side. When you think we were fairly comfortable for long periods, that was on top of what I thought was an awfull midfield performance. Momo and Zenden give the ball away far too often in the middle. I know Rafa was thinking about Sunday, but taking Momo off and leaving Zenden on was risky, thought we carried Bolo all second half as he was neither breaking up tackles or going forward and they got into the game at that point. Forgot he was playing for the most part.

 

After a bright start, Pennant went downhill fast and got caught in position far too often. Have been very unimpressed by Aurelio so far, think Rafa was on the juice when he described him as a better passer than Xabi

 

Bellamy and Kuyt looked very bright and would have caused havoc with a bit of decent service and support from a decent midfield we left them far too isolated. don't know if this was down to the quality of midfield or overly cautious approach, or both. Probably more the latter, as the introduction of Xabi, Gerrard and later on Gonazalez had little impact. Gerrard and Kuyts long range efforts aside, very dissappointed we didn't put more pressure on their defence.

 

As stated, not too bad a result, bit frustrating as it could have been more, but does anyone else feel sometimes that sometime Rafa is more concerned with the next game than the current one? Apart maybe from West Ham at home, each team selection so far has left us that little bit short. Momo and Zenden in the middle a couple of times, Crouch and Fowler up front (please not again) etc.

 

Its just a bit frustrating, when we were all craving a fast start (remember our season started earlier than most), that we've have taken our foot off the pedal to a degree. Get a settled strong side, with minimal changes, hit the ground running at the start and get some wins in the important first few weeks of the season. The rest would have taken care of itself to a degree. I feel its backfired to a degree where we are now on the backfoot, already worried about falling 8 points behind Chelsea or 11 behind Utd, looking off form and still some big games to play.

 

There's no disaster going on, but we've made things uneccessarily difficult too early in the season imo.

 

Told you it was only a little whinge

 

 

 

Little whinge, but I couldn;t disagreee with any of it. Agger does look very promising indeed. He'll give Sami a run for his money this year.

 

You wonder how wise it was pinning our central midfield hopes on Zenden, rather than Hamann. I know who I'd rather have.