Ressies Vs Blackburn

[Reggie]

The Liverpool team in full is:

 

1. Jerzy Dudek

2. Alvaro Arbeloa

3. Emiliano Insua

4. Jack Hobbs (capt)

5. Gabriel Paletta

6. Javier Mascherano

7. Jermaine Pennant

8. Boudewijn Zenden

9. Robbie Fowler

10. Craig Lindfield

11. Fabio Aurelio

 

Substitutes:

 

12. Stephen Darby

13. Daniele Padelli

14. Robbie Threlfall

15. Paul Anderson

16. Ronald Huth

 

 

Offal

[Alonso]

Probably to keep those not on International duty match fit. It'll also give match practice to those first teamers who haven't had that much recently.

[Magic8Ball]

someone posted Pennants stats on here a while back; the thing that stood out for me was the high number of crosses (about 80)and the low number of assists (about 2).

 

kind makes you wonder doesn't it?

 

 

is it:

A) the team is not set up to capitalize on wingers ie the strikers are not in the box for the cross

 

B) the crosses are extremely poor ?

[cymrococh]

fair play to Hobbs if he can skipper that lot effectively.

[Alonso]

someone posted Pennants stats on here a while back; the thing that stood out for me was the high number of crosses (about 80)and the low number of assists (about 2).

 

kind makes you wonder doesn't it?

is it:

A) the team is not set up to capitalize on wingers ie the strikers are not in the box for the cross

 

B) the crosses are extremely poor ?

Bit of both I'd imagine. There's also crosses that reach our players but don't result in goals.

[Maldini]

Yeah, I'd say a bit of both too, his actual delivery is great but he's usually delivering it from too deep because he won't take on people. The angle makes it harder for the forwards to make anything of them.

[_00_deathscar]

We also don't put many people into the box...

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

someone posted Pennants stats on here a while back; the thing that stood out for me was the high number of crosses (about 80)and the low number of assists (about 2).

 

kind makes you wonder doesn't it?

is it:

A) the team is not set up to capitalize on wingers ie the strikers are not in the box for the cross

 

B) the crosses are extremely poor ?

 

statistical proof that crossing is pointless

[jon_hall]

We also don't put many people into the box...

 

Aye the amount of times he gone to cross or has crossed and not one single player in the box.

[Magic8Ball]

Yeah, I'd say a bit of both too, his actual delivery is great but he's usually delivering it from too deep because he won't take on people. The angle makes it harder for the forwards to make anything of them.

 

Could be a big factor in the threat from his crosses; interestingly thought Beckham was able to cross really well from deep - so there is no reason Pennant couldnt do the same. Having said that I would like to see Pennant get to the bye line more often and cross from there.

Maybe a pre-season of sprint training will give him the extra 1/2 yard to beat his man and get a cross in from the bye-line

[oojason]

There does seem to be lack of bodies in the box at times - espeically away matches.

 

eg - on Sunday vs Villa there were several times Aurelio was in a crossing poition, looked up and saw Bellamy on his own against 4 Villa defenders close together. No one arriving late, nor arriving on the back post - so Aurelio did the right thing and passed the ball square inside to a centre-mid to keep possession and try to start another attack.

[Kindred]

3-0 up at half time.

 

Linfield

Fowler

Pennant (25yarder!)

[The Hitman]

We also don't put many people into the box...

Which compounds the problem that Pennant presents by not trying to get past his man,and crossing from deep,early on.Because he doesn't often try to beat his man,a lot of our midfielders and occasionally even our strikers are still quite deep as well,meaning that there's nobody there to meet the early cross.

Need to work on both areas.

[windy city red]

Which compounds the problem that Pennant presents by not trying to get past his man,and crossing from deep,early on.Because he doesn't often try to beat his man,a lot of our midfielders and occasionally even our strikers are still quite deep as well,meaning that there's nobody there to meet the early cross.

Need to work on both areas.

 

That puzzles me abit really. I feel he has the ability to, but more often than not, he choses to pass it sideways/backwards or release the ball too early. Same goes for Gonzales.

[Magic8Ball]

That puzzles me abit really. I feel he has the ability to, but more often than not, he choses to pass it sideways/backwards or release the ball too early. Same goes for Gonzales.

Suspect its confidence and not wanting to screw up his big/final chance - he clearly holds Gerrard in high regard --- Must admit he does seem to be progressing slightly

hopefully tonights goal will give him confidence and he'll get the balance right between going to the bye-line, cutting in, and crossing early

[Mike]

he's not good enough

[CarraLegend]

I feel he has the ability to, but more often than not, he choses to pass it sideways/backwards

 

Spot on, thats the most annoying thing is he could rip most of the left backs in this League to pieces ala like when he come on the other day against Villa. He always used to tear apart whoever we had at left back when we played against him aswell.

 

Dunno what the reason he hasnt been doing it a lot for us is though to be fair his performances lately although mainly as sub have been very encouraging.

[windy city red]

He always used to tear apart whoever we had at left back when we played against him aswell.

 

My memory isnt too good, but didnt he burn past riise to set up smith's goal at anfield when we played leeds a couple of years ago? That was stuck in my mind for a while.

[CarraLegend]

My memory isnt too good, but didnt he burn past riise to set up smith's goal at anfield when we played leeds a couple of years ago? That was stuck in my mind for a while.

 

Yep he certainly did. Luckily crappy Paul Robinson give us a goal in return.

[Kite]

From the report on the Offal, sounds as though Pennant was MOM there tonight.

[Sion]

seems to have found his level

[Guest JV]

seems to have found his level

[fyds]

Finished 4-1 with Zenden getting the last one.

[Igors Uncle Dave]

Did we have anyone there? I culdnt make it unfortunately but I wantto know how Insua played please

[fyds]

He doesn't get a mention in the match report Dave - they particularly rated Fowler, Pennant and Zenden. At 4-1 it's possible the defence had little to do but did it well.