A few home f****g truths

[rjlfc]

Where do I start? Despite feeling furious and boiling inside, I'm trying to keep this constructive/honest and making points I've been feeling this season (and the end of last season).

 

1. Sami - been a rock for us since he joined, but looks geriatric-like. Passing now even worse than it used to be. NEVER finds a man with a forward ball and constantly caught out of position.

 

2. JC - fans favourite, but lets be honest, looks the player he looked 3-4 years ago - off the pace, sluggish and lacking in quality.

 

3. Alonso and Garcia - sorry to say this, especially to the die hard Xabi fans, but both are luxury players we can't afford to play at present. Xabi's main contribution is his passing, he offers little going forward or defensively, but right now he can't even pass for toffee and is only contributing to slowing our already pedestrian game down. How Luis was left on the pitch today was beyond me - like Alonso, gave possession away 80-90% of the time he had it.

 

4. I love Momo, but please lets not all go OTT and make him out to be the next Vierra, he's a LONG way from that, but he will get better. But again, gives possession away as much as he wins it.

 

5. Does Riise look unfit, or really off the pace? Where the Riise belting up and down the left we know?

 

Notice the pattern here, thats half the team who are lacking in quality/sharpness for various reasons. Gerrard isn't excluded from criticism, but its time to go back to basics, Momo and Gerrard in the middle. Speedy left, Pennant right. Looks balanced, give them a few games run together. When Agger is fit, play him and Carragher, but I hate to say, unless Palletta comes good this season we are looking at needing a new quality centre half.

 

Now the most worrying factor of all - our movement/style of play. It's been a problem on and off for a few years IMO. We are just so static as a team. How often to you see players running off the ball, making angles, creating space, pulling teams out of position, playing neat triangles etc? Hardly ever. Everything is very methidical, players stood in their position waiting for the ball, so when they get it, its got to go straight back to where is came from. No wonder we are finding it almost impossible to score, as its got to be the perfect passage of play. Just watch Arsenal, Utd and to a lesser extend Chelses(they have go the quality to play through teams and grind every result out). Theres so much interplay and running off the ball.

 

I'm sure Rafa is a supreme tactician, but bizzarely, it almost seems like 75% of the team are heavy footed and methodical, and its expected that throwing 1 or 2 players with place in the team will sort it out??!! You need to he a whole team thats mobile and I'm afraid to day we just ain't got it, by a long shot. Very slow back two, the two fulll backs (even Finnan) becoming increasingly immobile over time. Two defensive minded centre midfielders and a centre midfielder at right/left midfield, its no wonder Bellamy, Kuyt and Crouch look so isolated.

 

It's frustrating and baffling, but yet again we've gone from a team looking like its on the verge with only a few quality additions required to a team a mile away from what is the most important. There's always next year? How many more f****ng times have we got to say that, and half way through October........

[Newport Red]

Where do I start? Despite feeling furious and boiling inside, I'm trying to keep this constructive/honest and making points I've been feeling this season (and the end of last season).

 

1. Sami - been a rock for us since he joined, but looks geriatric-like. Passing now even worse than it used to be. NEVER finds a man with a forward ball and constantly caught out of position.

 

2. JC - fans favourite, but lets be honest, looks the player he looked 3-4 years ago - off the pace, sluggish and lacking in quality.

 

3. Alonso and Garcia - sorry to say this, especially to the die hard Xabi fans, but both are luxury players we can't afford to play at present. Xabi's main contribution is his passing, he offers little going forward or defensively, but right now he can't even pass for toffee and is only contributing to slowing our already pedestrian game down. How Luis was left on the pitch today was beyond me - like Alonso, gave possession away 80-90% of the time he had it.

 

4. I love Momo, but please lets not all go OTT and make him out to be the next Vierra, he's a LONG way from that, but he will get better. But again, gives possession away as much as he wins it.

 

5. Does Riise look unfit, or really off the pace? Where the Riise belting up and down the left we know?

 

Notice the pattern here, thats half the team who are lacking in quality/sharpness for various reasons. Gerrard isn't excluded from criticism, but its time to go back to basics, Momo and Gerrard in the middle. Speedy left, Pennant right. Looks balanced, give them a few games run together. When Agger is fit, play him and Carragher, but I hate to say, unless Palletta comes good this season we are looking at needing a new quality centre half.

 

Now the most worrying factor of all - our movement/style of play. It's been a problem on and off for a few years IMO. We are just so static as a team. How often to you see players running off the ball, making angles, creating space, pulling teams out of position, playing neat triangles etc? Hardly ever. Everything is very methidical, players stood in their position waiting for the ball, so when they get it, its got to go straight back to where is came from. No wonder we are finding it almost impossible to score, as its got to be the perfect passage of play. Just watch Arsenal, Utd and to a lesser extend Chelses(they have go the quality to play through teams and grind every result out). Theres so much interplay and running off the ball.

 

I'm sure Rafa is a supreme tactician, but bizzarely, it almost seems like 75% of the team are heavy footed and methodical, and its expected that throwing 1 or 2 players with place in the team will sort it out??!! You need to he a whole team thats mobile and I'm afraid to day we just ain't got it, by a long shot. Very slow back two, the two fulll backs (even Finnan) becoming increasingly immobile over time. Two defensive minded centre midfielders and a centre midfielder at right/left midfield, its no wonder Bellamy, Kuyt and Crouch look so isolated.

 

It's frustrating and baffling, but yet again we've gone from a team looking like its on the verge with only a few quality additions required to a team a mile away from what is the most important. There's always next year? How many more f****ng times have we got to say that, and half way through October........

 

Some good point raised there, with not much to contradict. But even allowing for all of the above, what will it take to motivate players that are earning fortunes; playing for one of the world's greatest clubs against their biggest rivals in front of a crowd of 75,000+? There is something dreadfully wrong when so many of our players can give the impression of not giving a toss.

 

It maybe something of a cliche, but after todays shower of a performance, I really do wonder what is the motivating factor for some of these so called professionals.

[rjlfc]

Very true. Most of them need their a*** kicking.

 

Having just read and listened to Benetiz, I walked away even more baffled and bemused. Apparently we played well, worked hard and controlled the game. It's like listening to f*****g Houllier all over again. I just hope that what he says to the players is different to what he says to the media, but just once, it would be nice to hear a Liverpool manager come out and give the fans a bit of honesty. Today was completely embarassing, I can't even say Utd played tha well. Can we just hear a manager come out and say it wasn't good enough, do fans at least deserve that.

[anfieldgaz]

Where do I start? Despite feeling furious and boiling inside, I'm trying to keep this constructive/honest and making points I've been feeling this season (and the end of last season).

 

1. Sami - been a rock for us since he joined, but looks geriatric-like. Passing now even worse than it used to be. NEVER finds a man with a forward ball and constantly caught out of position.

 

2. JC - fans favourite, but lets be honest, looks the player he looked 3-4 years ago - off the pace, sluggish and lacking in quality.

 

3. Alonso and Garcia - sorry to say this, especially to the die hard Xabi fans, but both are luxury players we can't afford to play at present. Xabi's main contribution is his passing, he offers little going forward or defensively, but right now he can't even pass for toffee and is only contributing to slowing our already pedestrian game down. How Luis was left on the pitch today was beyond me - like Alonso, gave possession away 80-90% of the time he had it.

 

4. I love Momo, but please lets not all go OTT and make him out to be the next Vierra, he's a LONG way from that, but he will get better. But again, gives possession away as much as he wins it.

 

5. Does Riise look unfit, or really off the pace? Where the Riise belting up and down the left we know?

 

Notice the pattern here, thats half the team who are lacking in quality/sharpness for various reasons. Gerrard isn't excluded from criticism, but its time to go back to basics, Momo and Gerrard in the middle. Speedy left, Pennant right. Looks balanced, give them a few games run together. When Agger is fit, play him and Carragher, but I hate to say, unless Palletta comes good this season we are looking at needing a new quality centre half.

 

Now the most worrying factor of all - our movement/style of play. It's been a problem on and off for a few years IMO. We are just so static as a team. How often to you see players running off the ball, making angles, creating space, pulling teams out of position, playing neat triangles etc? Hardly ever. Everything is very methidical, players stood in their position waiting for the ball, so when they get it, its got to go straight back to where is came from. No wonder we are finding it almost impossible to score, as its got to be the perfect passage of play. Just watch Arsenal, Utd and to a lesser extend Chelses(they have go the quality to play through teams and grind every result out). Theres so much interplay and running off the ball.

 

I'm sure Rafa is a supreme tactician, but bizzarely, it almost seems like 75% of the team are heavy footed and methodical, and its expected that throwing 1 or 2 players with place in the team will sort it out??!! You need to he a whole team thats mobile and I'm afraid to day we just ain't got it, by a long shot. Very slow back two, the two fulll backs (even Finnan) becoming increasingly immobile over time. Two defensive minded centre midfielders and a centre midfielder at right/left midfield, its no wonder Bellamy, Kuyt and Crouch look so isolated.

 

It's frustrating and baffling, but yet again we've gone from a team looking like its on the verge with only a few quality additions required to a team a mile away from what is the most important. There's always next year? How many more f****ng times have we got to say that, and half way through October........

 

 

 

Totally agree, a very well made post put across very well.

 

Especially after todays performance!!

 

Very true. Most of them need their a*** kicking.

 

Having just read and listened to Benetiz, I walked away even more baffled and bemused. Apparently we played well, worked hard and controlled the game. It's like listening to f*****g Houllier all over again. I just hope that what he says to the players is different to what he says to the media, but just once, it would be nice to hear a Liverpool manager come out and give the fans a bit of honesty. Today was completely embarassing, I can't even say Utd played tha well. Can we just hear a manager come out and say it wasn't good enough, do fans at least deserve that.

 

 

I too had to look and listen to Rafa after the game.....Im sure i heard GH in there some where.

 

I never thought id be saying this of the man but he is slowly starting to baffle me with his comments.

[Nebraska Red]

the managers are scared sh**less of slagging off players to the media.

 

if Rafa comes out with anything controversial, the gutter press is all over it and we are back to all the speculation about players and who wants a move etc.

 

i would rather he said nothing, but he has to do these after match things and ends up sounding like an excuse on legs.

[Athelstan]

We look a good lower half of the table side.

[Guest evil_billy]

Very true. Most of them need their a*** kicking.

 

Having just read and listened to Benetiz, I walked away even more baffled and bemused. Apparently we played well, worked hard and controlled the game. It's like listening to f*****g Houllier all over again. I just hope that what he says to the players is different to what he says to the media, but just once, it would be nice to hear a Liverpool manager come out and give the fans a bit of honesty. Today was completely embarassing, I can't even say Utd played tha well. Can we just hear a manager come out and say it wasn't good enough, do fans at least deserve that.

 

Ironically, I don't think the quote: "We don't destroy our heroes today when we worshipped them yesterday" could be more apt...

[Spike]

Totally agree, a very well made post put across very well.

 

Especially after todays performance!!

I too had to look and listen to Rafa after the game.....Im sure i heard GH in there some where.

 

I never thought id be saying this of the man but he is slowly starting to baffle me with his comments.

 

Rafa is just protecting his players it seems. I was told by someone close to the club (honestly - emailed the secret email ring with this a few weeks back) that Raf is absolutely f***ing fuming that the players can't take what they are being prepared for and trained in onto the pitch.

[Chili Palmer]

Rafa is just protecting his players it seems. I was told by someone close to the club (honestly - emailed the secret email ring with this a few weeks back) that Raf is absolutely f***ing fuming that the players can't take what they are being prepared for and trained in onto the pitch.

 

Are you saying we have stupid players?

[Guest Kev]

Maybe Rafa is way too technical or finds it hard to explain himself. Remember the puzzled look Robbie gave him when he was trying to tell him what to do, and Zenden has done it this year as well.

[Guz]

Anyone who gets annoyed at Rafa's interviews needs their heads testing. He very rarely has a go at his players and his english is no where near good enough to be saying the exact things he wants to. His command of english is no where near other foreign managers like Mourinho, Wenger or even Houllier. Not under pressure anyway. His words were all mumbled and he looked totally dejected in front of the cameras. At one point I thought he'd start ranting in spanish.

 

Couldnt give a f*** if he sounded like Ged. He ain't ged, never was and never will be. He's Rafa f***ing Benitez, former European Champion. We're playing terrible at the moment and he'll be the first to acknowledge it but rest assured he'll get us out of it.

[Chili Palmer]

Maybe Rafa is way too technical or finds it hard to explain himself. Remember the puzzled look Robbie gave him when he was trying to tell him what to do, and Zenden has done it this year as well.

 

Maybe they are 2 of our really stupid ones! and if Rafa is struggling to get his message across then one of his coaches should do it. ffs bring in a translater to do it, give Moaninho a call, he used to do it and he really wanted to work at liverpool anyway!

[Spike]

aye lets bring in mourinho FFS

[DazzlaJ]

Are you saying we have stupid players?

 

There are intelligent players?

[Chili Palmer]

aye lets bring in mourinho FFS

 

You really missed the point on that one didn't ya! (it was bring him in as a translator, if you're still struggling!)

 

There are intelligent players?

 

True, now that Le Saux is retired, I can't think of any!

[pjwy]

Where do I start? Despite feeling furious and boiling inside, I'm trying to keep this constructive/honest and making points I've been feeling this season (and the end of last season).

 

1. Sami - been a rock for us since he joined, but looks geriatric-like. Passing now even worse than it used to be. NEVER finds a man with a forward ball and constantly caught out of position.

 

2. JC - fans favourite, but lets be honest, looks the player he looked 3-4 years ago - off the pace, sluggish and lacking in quality.

 

3. Alonso and Garcia - sorry to say this, especially to the die hard Xabi fans, but both are luxury players we can't afford to play at present. Xabi's main contribution is his passing, he offers little going forward or defensively, but right now he can't even pass for toffee and is only contributing to slowing our already pedestrian game down. How Luis was left on the pitch today was beyond me - like Alonso, gave possession away 80-90% of the time he had it.

 

4. I love Momo, but please lets not all go OTT and make him out to be the next Vierra, he's a LONG way from that, but he will get better. But again, gives possession away as much as he wins it.

 

5. Does Riise look unfit, or really off the pace? Where the Riise belting up and down the left we know?

 

Notice the pattern here, thats half the team who are lacking in quality/sharpness for various reasons. Gerrard isn't excluded from criticism, but its time to go back to basics, Momo and Gerrard in the middle. Speedy left, Pennant right. Looks balanced, give them a few games run together. When Agger is fit, play him and Carragher, but I hate to say, unless Palletta comes good this season we are looking at needing a new quality centre half.

 

Now the most worrying factor of all - our movement/style of play. It's been a problem on and off for a few years IMO. We are just so static as a team. How often to you see players running off the ball, making angles, creating space, pulling teams out of position, playing neat triangles etc? Hardly ever. Everything is very methidical, players stood in their position waiting for the ball, so when they get it, its got to go straight back to where is came from. No wonder we are finding it almost impossible to score, as its got to be the perfect passage of play. Just watch Arsenal, Utd and to a lesser extend Chelses(they have go the quality to play through teams and grind every result out). Theres so much interplay and running off the ball.

 

I'm sure Rafa is a supreme tactician, but bizzarely, it almost seems like 75% of the team are heavy footed and methodical, and its expected that throwing 1 or 2 players with place in the team will sort it out??!! You need to he a whole team thats mobile and I'm afraid to day we just ain't got it, by a long shot. Very slow back two, the two fulll backs (even Finnan) becoming increasingly immobile over time. Two defensive minded centre midfielders and a centre midfielder at right/left midfield, its no wonder Bellamy, Kuyt and Crouch look so isolated.

 

It's frustrating and baffling, but yet again we've gone from a team looking like its on the verge with only a few quality additions required to a team a mile away from what is the most important. There's always next year? How many more f****ng times have we got to say that, and half way through October........

 

 

A really excellent post with which I completely agree.Watching Liverpool's insipid play is real frustration ..I watched Arsenal against Reading and they have always three or four runners who move up field quickly to make themselves available and give options when in posession.By contrast when we have the ball up the pitch there's invariably no one up in support!A prime example in the first half today when our one front man Kuyt had the ball near the corner and put a cross in there's was absolutely nobody to get on the end of it and the ball sailed across the goalface to the opposite corner flag!

[Spike]

You really missed the point on that one didn't ya! (it was bring him in as a translator, if you're still struggling!)

 

You're right sorry lad

[Chili Palmer]

You're right sorry lad

 

Its alright pal, I bet if we lose another game someone will post that and mean it!

[Widnesian]

Amongst all the disappointment this is the most sensible post I've read.

[zimmie4444]

True, now that Le Saux is retired, I can't think of any!

 

He reads the Guardian don't ya know..