Am i alone in thinking

[eskton]

that Momo can't score, will probably never score, and when we go one goal down its pointless keeping him on the pitch. Yes play him in the big games, but if we go behind, he has to be sacrificed for an attack minded player.

[Cam]

I.... must..... resist.

 

But you are right about keeping him on when we're behind. It was always pointless with Hamann and similarly with Sissoko. To take Xabi off was cowardly.

 

Rafa seemed confused today, the team line-up made little sense and even less when Pennant came on. He & Gerrard out wide, both cutting into the middle at every opportunity, Garcia dropping deep, Kuyt heading out wide. No wonder we didn't score, their box seemed to have an anti-Yellow death-cloud hanging over it.

[Cooldude]

I almost agree

 

As hard as Momo tries, he just doesn't offer anything going forward at all

[Nebraska Red]

and after he gets a yellow card, he is less than half the player we know he can be.

 

i could not believe that Rafa kept him on, the lad was petrified of tackling anything in a red shirt and Poll was licking his chops at the prospect of showing his favorite card.

[Cooldude]

and after he gets a yellow card, he is less than half the player we know he can be.

 

i could not believe that Rafa kept him on, the lad was petrified of tackling anything in a red shirt and Poll was licking his chops at the prospect of showing his favorite card.

 

Oh c'mon, he might've been booked but he was still two yellows away from getting sent off

 

Seriously though, I agree with that, too

[Chili Palmer]

The counter arguement to this is the final in istanbul, we were 3-0 down and brought a defensive midfielder on! By keeping Momo/Didi type of player on should allow the rest of our attacking players more liscence to get forward, if we are behind, we put more pressure on Momo and allow the forward players and the full backs to gamble even more.

 

Not saying I agree with it, just pointing out why Rafa does it

[eskton]

i think he should start in a three during the big games, just making the point that if we go behind he doesn't offer anything going forward.

[RP]

 

But you are right about keeping him on when we're behind. It was always pointless with Hamann

 

I'll leave it for someone else to point out the f***ing obvious flaw in that ridiculous statement.

 

Should we take Reina off as well when we go behind?

[Cam]

I'll leave it for someone else to point out the f***ing obvious flaw in that ridiculous statement.

 

Should we take Reina off as well when we go behind?

C'mon, being goalie-less would be entertaining at the very least.

 

Okay, I accept the notion about stemming the flow of their attacks and freeing up forwards to go on the rampage. And I accept Istanbul. But that's a sub change. If that type of players starts and we're 1 or 2 down then surely it's not working. Unless the plan is to lead the opposition into a false sense of security.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

i remember leverkusen

[Guest evil_billy]

Oh c'mon, he might've been booked but he was still two yellows away from getting sent off

 

[To the tune of "Five Times"]

Three times

He booked him three times

In Germany

Poll booked him three times

[Ombudsam]

Momo does offer something going forward. ocassionally he's a great ball carrier.

 

His shooting is literally the worst technique i've seen though

[surfaris]

yes. he can carry the ball sometimes, but offer us nothing with incisive pass/shooting/marauding forward run storming into the penalty box. while fat frank, cesc and schole doing that regularly for their team, we have NOTHING.

 

the argument to play gerrard on the middle as a 3rd central attacking overpowering midfielder.

 

when u were 2 nil down, 13 points behind the top, feck off 4- 4- 2!

[Guest Makaveli Smith]

that Momo can't score, will probably never score, and when we go one goal down its pointless keeping him on the pitch. Yes play him in the big games, but if we go behind, he has to be sacrificed for an attack minded player.

 

you're a f***ing idiot.

 

 

offense meant.

 

I almost agree

 

As hard as Momo tries, he just doesn't offer anything going forward at all

 

are you f***ing serious? I seriously hope yer taking the piss.

 

sissoko isnt an attacking player and has no right being involved in our attacking play.. he gets the ball and is the best in the premiership at doing that. He cant shoot and cant even pass most times but he is very very valuable to the team... team!

 

f*****

 

and after he gets a yellow card, he is less than half the player we know he can be.

 

i could not believe that Rafa kept him on, the lad was petrified of tackling anything in a red shirt and Poll was licking his chops at the prospect of showing his favorite card.

 

i disagree

 

yes. he can carry the ball sometimes, but offer us nothing with incisive pass/shooting/marauding forward run storming into the penalty box. while fat frank, cesc and schole doing that regularly for their team, we have NOTHING.

 

the argument to play gerrard on the middle as a 3rd central attacking overpowering midfielder.

 

when u were 2 nil down, 13 points behind the top, feck off 4- 4- 2!

 

frustration understood. but there isnt a single player on the planet who can gain possession as well as sissoko. I tihnk he's fantastic... fantastic and massively raw.. he is a player that needs lots of work and huge attention but once he gets things goihng he could be one of the best playerson the planet... then where are yer scholes, cesc etc? behind him

[anfield]

Of course it ridiculous to make that statement because of Istanbul However, one has to concede, when we are behind, the way things stand, neither Alonso nor Sissoko provide any attacking threat. At this point, Alonso doesnt even provide the defensive coverage that Hamann did so taking Alonso off was not a bad idea.

[Dule]

Momo should have come off yesterday, not Alonso. Gerrard was dropping back too far because Momo was pushing up the pitch so much for nothing.

[Rimbeux]

Momo does offer something going forward. ocassionally he's a great ball carrier.

 

His shooting is literally the worst technique i've seen though

 

But it ends in nowt and running into trouble near alll the time.

 

 

you're a f***ing idiot.

offense meant.

are you f***ing serious? I seriously hope yer taking the piss.

 

sissoko isnt an attacking player and has no right being involved in our attacking play.. he gets the ball and is the best in the premiership at doing that. He cant shoot and cant even pass most times but he is very very valuable to the team... team!

 

f*****

i disagree

frustration understood. but there isnt a single player on the planet who can gain possession as well as sissoko. I tihnk he's fantastic... fantastic and massively raw.. he is a player that needs lots of work and huge attention but once he gets things goihng he could be one of the best playerson the planet... then where are yer scholes, cesc etc? behind him

 

 

 

Are you serious. As the most advanced central midfield player he has no choice but to be involved in our attacking play, and while he can't do the things you point out, our attacking play will suffer. If he was a player who sits in front of the back four, playing it simple you might have half a point. As you put him up there, compare where Gerrard, Veiera and Keane were at his age, three players who at the time played a very similar role and game.

[_00_deathscar]

The counter arguement to this is the final in istanbul, we were 3-0 down and brought a defensive midfielder on! By keeping Momo/Didi type of player on should allow the rest of our attacking players more liscence to get forward, if we are behind, we put more pressure on Momo and allow the forward players and the full backs to gamble even more.

 

Not saying I agree with it, just pointing out why Rafa does it

 

The counter argument to that being...Sissoko isn't Hamann is he?

 

Whilst performing the same job, they are different types of players.

[Cooldude]

The counter argument to that being...Sissoko isn't Hamann is he?

 

Whilst performing the same job, they are different types of players.

 

That's right, Hamann can always find the incisive killer pass, he always had that in him apart from what we know we can do. Momo can't pass and can't shoot, and his runs seems to always amount to nothing in the end

 

Keep in mind that it's not me saying Momo's s***, I love the guy and what he does best, but what he does best ain't involved in our attacking play

[lawrie]

Are you serious. As the most advanced central midfield player he has no choice but to be involved in our attacking play, and while he can't do the things you point out, our attacking play will suffer. If he was a player who sits in front of the back four, playing it simple you might have half a point.

And herein, I believe, lies one of the the main reasons why we haven't scored in open play away from home in the Premiership this season.

[Chili Palmer]

The counter argument to that being...Sissoko isn't Hamann is he?

 

Whilst performing the same job, they are different types of players.

 

True, but I was replying to a post that pointed out that the same problem we have with Momo, we had with Didi, hence my response.

[D.Boon]

Sissoko was gash yesterday, didnt control the ball once all afternoon.

 

Him and Alonso in the centre doesnt work in my opinion as neither want to get forward at all. When Sissoko gets near the box he just panics and looks to get rid as soon as he can.

 

This guy is far from the player some on here like to make out.

[Eskimo]

I think there is still a case for playing all 3 but for me the balance doesn't seem right, for some reason I have it in my head that Momo sat a lot deeper last season allowing Xabi and Steve to get further up the pitch, with Xabi covering when needed.

[Figaro]

I think it's just a question of lack of form throughout the team - but Sissoko needs to learn to finish what he starts...

[Guest Anders Honoré]

Momo does offer something going forward. ocassionally he's a great ball carrier.

 

His shooting is literally the worst technique i've seen though

 

true. He offers absolutely nothing once he has carried it towards the final third though. Hamann had more strings to play when he went forward than momo has at the moment.