Player Ratings

[Cisse]

Reina 6

Finnan 7

Carra 7

Sami 7

Riise 6

Pennant 6

Xabi 7

Stevie 8

Zenden 6

Crouch 6

Kuyt 8, MOM

 

Gonzalez, Momo, Fowler 6

Edited November 4, 2006 by Cisse

[Bjarkinn]

Reina 6

Finnan 6

Carragher 7

Hyypia 7

Riise 6

Pennant 6

Xabi 7

Gerrard 8

Zenden 5

Crouch 6

Kuyt 9

 

Gonzalez 6

Sissoko 6

Fowler 5

[Sion]

Reina 7

Finnan 6

Carragher 7

Hyypia 7

Riise 6

Pennant 7

Xabi 7

Gerrard 8

Zenden 5

Crouch 7

Kuyt 9

[Guest anfieldanfield]

5 = Average performance

 

Reina (5) Flapped at every other cross or corner, but another clean sheet should build some confidence.

 

Finnan (5) Far too cautious, 2-0 at Anfield, I'd like to see him take a chance or two and bomb forward past Pennant, maybe even (dare I say it) score a goal or two. Otherwise solid.

 

Hyypia (6) Solid, commanding, decent distribution.

 

Carragher (6) Same as Sami, will be pleased with another clean sheet.

 

Pennant (5) Offered very, very little when the game was tight and we needed him most, but as soon as the game stretched after Kuyt scored the second, Pennant played as a genuine winger and produced a handful of decent runs and crosses.

 

Gerrard (7) Probably our best player, but still a very mixed bag. Looked decent through the center and combined well with Crouch and Kuyt for the first goal, but came into his own cutting in from the left flank in the second half, slightly wasteful after beating his man though, on one or two occasions. Nice to see the crappy hairstyle's gone. Short back and sides Stevie, good lad.

 

Alonso (6) Controlled the play well, must be very, very difficult for him trying to pick passes with absolutely no movement whatsoever in front of him.

 

Zenden (4) He's just not good enough, it's that simple. Utter s****, offered no goal threat to speak of.

 

Crouch (6) Worked hard, played a big part in both goals, but unfortunately for him, Kuyt's a similar player, just a little bit better, and the two of them together up front lacks raw pace, which is sorely needed in this current side.

 

Kuyt (9) Two goals, tremendous work rate, superb first touch and decent movement. Nice to see a player encourage others as well, he's constantly clapping the intent from Xabi, Stevie, Crouchy and co.

 

Subs;

 

Gonzalez (5) Trotted around the pitch for 20mins, occasionally moulding his hair back into shape and once or twice even breaking a sweat, still managed to contribute more than Zenden though.

 

Sissoko (6) Kept things steady, won a few 50-50's.

 

Fowler (6) Looked sharp and lively for the brief time he was on the pitch, I expect him to start against Birmingham in midweek.

 

Overall (5) Reading were utter s****, we were marginally better.

 

Rafa (6) A win's a win, but Zenden instead of Gonzalez ? Pennant offering nothing AGAIN, not enough movement, not enough creativity, the list of weaknesses goes on....

 

Fans (4) Ok, I wasn't there, and there wasn't much to shout about, but it sounded incredibly quiet at times, getting out sung for 90mins by 3,000 Reading fans is embarrassing.

[Jambo]

You get to mark Rafa??? FFS

[anfield]

Crouch set up both goals, how is he getting such poor ratings? Agree that Zenden and Pennant are below average. Pennant's crosses even when he got them in were into no mans land.

Gerrard is getting back in form though

[meepins]

Keep in mind that Reading didn't attempt to tackle at all... and also had very very little possession.

[Guest anfieldanfield]

You get to mark Rafa??? FFS

 

I took the liberty of marking Rafa on this occasion.

 

[Stevie H]

Crouch (6) Worked hard, played a big part in both goals, but unfortunately for him, Kuyt's a similar player, just a little bit better, and the two of them together up front lacks raw pace, which is sorely needed in this current side.

 

Rafa (6) A win's a win, but Zenden instead of Gonzalez ? Pennant offering nothing AGAIN, not enough movement, not enough creativity, the list of weaknesses goes on....

 

Fans (4) Ok, I wasn't there, and there wasn't much to shout about, but it sounded incredibly quiet at times, getting out sung for 90mins by 3,000 Reading fans is embarrassing.

 

you're full of s*** by the way.

 

crouch and kuyt look very much a partnership and are both scoring goals.

 

"list of weaknesses"? have a f***ing word lad.

 

and you really are not allowed to criticise the fans when you didn't go to the match. embarrassing is having a pop on an internet forum at match-going fans. sort yourself out eh?

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

I thought we played well - we did no more than we needed to.

 

Reina didn't flap at every other cross. He missed one punch

 

Bolo & Pennant had decent games. Sami was a rock & Carra looking a long way back to his best.

 

How can anyone rate Fowler's 5 minutes?

[Puskas]

Alonso (6) Controlled the play well, must be very, very difficult for him trying to pick passes with absolutely no movement whatsoever in front of him.

Kuyt (9) Two goals, tremendous work rate, superb first touch and decent movement. Nice to see a player encourage others as well, he's constantly clapping the intent from Xabi, Stevie, Crouchy and co.

Something does not compute

[stressederic]

I took the liberty of marking Rafa on this occasion.

 

 

But didn't bother with Riise?

 

And don't sit at home in front of the PC and have a go at the fans who were in the stadium.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

Reading played 2 wing backs, hence Finnan & JAR not bombing forward all the time

[John am Rhein]

Keep in mind that Reading didn't attempt to tackle at all

 

That's nice of them!

[Bootle Buck]

Reina 6 Comfortable

Finnan 6

Carra 7.5 Quiet game but was magnificent

Sami 7

Riise 5 He seems to be really up for it one week then noty the next

Pennant 6 He looks very undecided with his final ball

Xabi 7 passed the ball well today

Stevie 7.5 Some great running

Zenden 5.5 Never seems to do that much

Crouch 6 His two assists made up for a very quiet game

Kuyt 8, MOM

[Guest anfieldanfield]

But didn't bother with Riise?

 

And don't sit at home in front of the PC and have a go at the fans who were in the stadium.

 

This is a fair shout, and I apologise.

 

Did you go to the game then ? Was it as silent as it sounded ?

 

 

 

you're full of s*** by the way.

 

crouch and kuyt look very much a partnership and are both scoring goals.

 

"list of weaknesses"? have a f***ing word lad.

 

and you really are not allowed to criticise the fans when you didn't go to the match. embarrassing is having a pop on an internet forum at match-going fans. sort yourself out eh?

 

Dont get me wrong, I'm a massive Crouch fan, and as I stated, he did well for both the goals, I just feel as if we sorely lack pace in our attack with those two up front.

 

As for the list of weaknesses, we were poor today, very poor.

 

Fortunately, Reading were worse.

[CarraLegend]

 

As for the list of weaknesses, we were poor today, very poor.

 

 

We werent very poor at all, we just coasted the game in first gear. If any other top team does that it's "Oooh arent they great, they dont play their best and win easy enough" Does my head in.

 

We werent great by any means and we were a bit static at times with our movement but we scored two goals, could of scored more, controlled the whole game and limited them to near enough f*** all that doesnt add up to very poor in my book. Very poor was our defence at Everton, finishing against Chelsea etc not today.

[Guest roger]

Reina 6

Finnan 7

Carra 7

Sami 7

Riise 6

Pennant 6

Xabi 6

Stevie 8

Zenden 6

Crouch 7

Kuyt 8, MOM

[Guz]

I can see Kuyt and Crouch playing the same role (and hopefully bringing similar success) as Crouch and Morientes did at home last year. Pace upfront becomes less of an issue when teams sit deeper and we have more of the ball further up the field, which is usually the case except against the better sides in the league.

[Guest anfieldanfield]

We werent very poor at all, we just coasted the game in first gear. If any other top team does that it's "Oooh arent they great, they dont play their best and win easy enough" Does my head in.

 

We werent great by any means and we were a bit static at times with our movement but we scored two goals, could of scored more, controlled the whole game and limited them to near enough f*** all that doesnt add up to very poor in my book. Very poor was our defence at Everton, finishing against Chelsea etc not today.

 

Some fair points, I'll give the lads the benefit of the doubt then, and presume they had another gear or two if necessary.

 

One things for damn certain, we'll have to play a hell of a lot better against Arsenal in a week's time.

[Stevie H]

I can see Kuyt and Crouch playing the same role (and hopefully bringing similar success) as Crouch and Morientes did at home last year. Pace upfront becomes less of an issue when teams sit deeper and we have more of the ball further up the field, which is usually the case except against the better sides in the league.

pace up front isn't an issue in the slightest in home games. away, yes, but at home when we need to break teams down crouch and kuyt are a bloody effective pairing.

[Mike]

i can see scot carson being our number 1 next season.

[Benitez]

"anfieldanfield" where do you start Oh I know, you dont.

 

Sure we didn't shine, but sometimes when you play teams who have one intention, and that is to nothing but put 11 behind the ball, you have to take the 'prettyness' out of football. Hey, such is life eh. I know it isn't the entertaiment you pay for, had you paid for it.

 

And you know what, that is why we have someone like Dirk Kuyt, to do something we've been accused of not doing in the past - score scruffy goals. I was delighted to see that. 2 crappy scruffy goals, that put paid to a team who's best effort was to stop us playing.

 

And as for Pennant, he actually was one of our better players, despite the fact he was getting marked by 3 players. The fact you say Gerrard was one of our better players, but Pennant offered little, suggests you either wheren't watching, or have your favourite players.

Edited November 4, 2006 by Benitez

[floyd the barber]

some weird ratings on here, makes me wonder if those have actually watched the game/?!?!?!

 

right, i watched the full game..heres my ratings

 

 

reina 6 didnt have a great deal to do, except for clattering into the reading forward first few mins of the games, and one nervous flap 2nd half..

 

finnan 6 fairly quiet game for finnan, hardly any threat came down his side...did ok when going forward

 

hyypia 7 excellent game from sami, again was not under too much trouble at the back, yet got forward really well and nearly scored a screaming ronnie whelan-esque curler from 25 yards

 

carra 6 , same as finnan and hyypia as to being not too troubled, yet still looks jittery to me and not like the usual carra...one note, got forward a few times like hyypia and a good shot first half that just went over the bar

 

riise 6 quiet game for riise, didnt do a whole lot...cant remember much about his performance except one weak shot wide 2nd half

 

alonso 6 did ok, sprayed the passes around well...played fairly deep today,still finding his best form i believe

 

gerrard 7 worked his socks off, always looking to get involved...best ive seen him for awhile

 

pennant 6 did ok, but with the amount of the ball he had..should`ve done a whole lot more, still seems to be struglling to beat players and is cutting inside far too often

 

zenden 6 some nice touches, didnt get involved a whole lot..

 

crouch 7 worked hard, held the ball up well...worked superbly with kuyt, especially with the movement of the ball

 

kuyt 8 mom, was involved in all our best stuff...always shouting at teammates, trying to help....gonna be a fantastic player for us

 

 

overall a 6.5....a decent workmanlike performance, great to get a victory after a midweek champs league game....and of course, a clean sheet

Edited November 5, 2006 by Winding Wheel

[Spike]

7's all round with an 8 for kuyt