Just Back from the Match

[Guest Portly]

Quite an entertaining match versus Cardiff tonight.

 

Some tosser on 606 has just been ranting about Lucas Leiva, saying that he was terrible, but the reverse was the case. Shows the type of punter you tend to get at Carling Cup matches. Lucas hardly put a pass wrong all evening, he had a fairly free role to drift here and there and did very well. Definitely quality.

 

Little El Zhar also had an excellent game on the right - in view of our dearth of wide players, I would like to see him get some Premiership games, I'm sure he wouldn't let us down. As a winger, definitely better value than Kuyt! His goal was a screamer, and the way he was set up for the shot, seems to indicate that he must have acquired a reputation for shooting among the squad.

 

Yossi was devastating when he came on. I don't think he has had enough football for us since we signed him. He made Stevie's goal with a brilliant run. Again, as a left winger, I would prefer him to Voronin!

 

Hobbs was solid at centre-back, but I wouldn't get too excited yet because he was up against Fowler and Hasselbaink, neither of whom are greyhounds these days.

 

Itandje had an excellent game in goal, and pulled off a couple of important saves. I am a bit less worried now about what would happen if Pepe Reina got injured.

 

The one disappointing performance was from Sebastian Leto. He chickened out of a couple of 50-50 tackles, and as so often happens, hurt himself as a result - after the second, he went off. I just don't think this guy has the skill or the balls to succeed in the Premiership.

 

It was nice to see Harry Kewell come on for the last 15 minutes or so - he did a job but nothing spectacular at that stage in the match when we were basically making sure we kept hold of the ball.

 

I thought Cardiff were pretty good - their defence was predictably muscular and they had a few chances including the ones that were well saved by Itandje. Fowler and Hasselbaink were both lacking mobility and were pretty well snuffed out by Carra and Hobbs.

 

The usual nonsense from Cardiff supporters - a couple of them were escorted out of the Anfield Road end by the police, and there was trouble behind me in the Main Stand on a few occasions. The police were out in force outside the ground.

 

Robbie got a great welcome back to Anfield. Lots of people took the opportunity to give their "Fowler" shirts one last outing.

[Cunny]

that lad on 606 was a dick but Lucas was poor tonight. His passing was very sloppy, I don't know how you can say he hardly put a pass wrong.

[Mike]

that lad on 606 was a dick but Lucas was poor tonight. His passing was very sloppy, I don't know how you can say he hardly put a pass wrong.

lucas for most of the game was very good, but he faded badly towards the end when he was taken off.

[Hugh]

lucas for most of the game was very good, but he faded badly towards the end when he was taken off.

 

That's a fair assessment....

[Redwire]

The police were out in force outside the ground.

 

I've not seen so many police for a while. They were everywhere, even well away from the ground.

[Nerik]

He was not to be seen after he was taken off. Chicken.

[Redwire]

lucas for most of the game was very good, but he faded badly towards the end when he was taken off.

 

That's how I saw it. He got a bit sloppy late on and looked tired.

[Cunny]

at about 7:15 there was 5 police vans speeding down Oakfield Road, anyone know what was going on?

 

The Flat Iron was full of Cardiff fans.

 

There was some kind of rumpus on block 206 on the Kop after they scored.

[Billy Dane]

also good to see us making far more accurate passes than the hoofing we have had lately. Thought Lucas played well, but as has aready been said tired badly towards the end of the game.

[Billy Dane]

There was some kind of rumpus on block 206 on the Kop after they scored.

 

2 Cardiff fans celebrated and a few idiots around them got upset about it. When we scored the second one a brave lad ran down half a dozen rows to thump one of the Cardiff fans. Shortly after the two Cardiff lads left. Not too sensible of the Cardiff fans to celebrate so much when they scored, but the reaction of the Liverpool fans around them was a bit pathetic IMO. We're supposed to be the big club, they were at their cup final.

[pjwy]

Quite an entertaining match versus Cardiff tonight.

 

Some tosser on 606 has just been ranting about Lucas Leiva, saying that he was terrible, but the reverse was the case. Shows the type of punter you tend to get at Carling Cup matches. Lucas hardly put a pass wrong all evening, he had a fairly free role to drift here and there and did very well. Definitely quality.

 

Little El Zhar also had an excellent game on the right - in view of our dearth of wide players, I would like to see him get some Premiership games, I'm sure he wouldn't let us down. As a winger, definitely better value than Kuyt! His goal was a screamer, and the way he was set up for the shot, seems to indicate that he must have acquired a reputation for shooting among the squad.

 

Yossi was devastating when he came on. I don't think he has had enough football for us since we signed him. He made Stevie's goal with a brilliant run. Again, as a left winger, I would prefer him to Voronin!

 

Hobbs was solid at centre-back, but I wouldn't get too excited yet because he was up against Fowler and Hasselbaink, neither of whom are greyhounds these days.

 

Itandje had an excellent game in goal, and pulled off a couple of important saves. I am a bit less worried now about what would happen if Pepe Reina got injured.

 

The one disappointing performance was from Sebastian Leto. He chickened out of a couple of 50-50 tackles, and as so often happens, hurt himself as a result - after the second, he went off. I just don't think this guy has the skill or the balls to succeed in the Premiership.

 

It was nice to see Harry Kewell come on for the last 15 minutes or so - he did a job but nothing spectacular at that stage in the match when we were basically making sure we kept hold of the ball.

 

I thought Cardiff were pretty good - their defence was predictably muscular and they had a few chances including the ones that were well saved by Itandje. Fowler and Hasselbaink were both lacking mobility and were pretty well snuffed out by Carra and Hobbs.

 

The usual nonsense from Cardiff supporters - a couple of them were escorted out of the Anfield Road end by the police, and there was trouble behind me in the Main Stand on a few occasions. The police were out in force outside the ground.

 

Robbie got a great welcome back to Anfield. Lots of people took the opportunity to give their "Fowler" shirts one last outing.

 

I'd agree with all that except for Lucas..I thought he looked lightweight even against tonight's opposition.I've seen him quite afew times now and have yet to see anything inspiring about him.Perhaps I'm missing something?

 

The big disappointment though is Leto.I've seen him in the reserves and he's looked excellent but tonight,he did'nt want to know when the tackles kept flying in and any 50-50 ball was not going to be his!

 

As for Benny,the lad's brilliant at times and just as good at unlocking defences as Garcia was imho.An excellent signing.

[Cunny]

2 Cardiff fans celebrated and a few idiots around them got upset about it. When we scored the second one a brave lad ran down half a dozen rows to thump one of the Cardiff fans. Shortly after the two Cardiff lads left. Not too sensible of the Cardiff fans to celebrate so much when they scored, but the reaction of the Liverpool fans around them was a bit pathetic IMO. We're supposed to be the big club, they were at their cup final.

 

 

especially after what happened to some of our lot at Wigan

[crisps]

Yosi was excellent when he came on, just wish he'd feckin shoot a bit more!!!

 

Lucas was oreyt, but as said got a bit sloppy towards the end.

 

Very good return for Aurelio and nice to see Kewell back who did nothing spectaclar but was tidy.

 

Don't think Crouch did his chances much good for starting at weekend and in his first start (as i can remember) el zhar has scored as many games as pennant has since he's been here...

 

seemed like there was a scrap amongst the cardiff fans too at one stage (about 30 mins)

Edited November 1, 2007 by crisps

[Guest Portly]

Very good return for Aurelio

 

Aurelio's a top quality player and his defending has improved a hell of a lot since he first started with us.

 

If he wasn't so bloody injury-prone he would have made the left back position his own by now, and Johnny Riise would have been on his way!

[beejay]

I thought Lucas was terrific, particularly in the 1st half. Great first touch, played it simple and always looking for the ball. A great foil for Gerrard who prospered as a result.

 

He did tire in the last quarter and made a couple of sloppy mistakes but he looks real quality to me. Leto again looked lightweight and will need more time. El Zhar did well and what a blinding goal!

 

Hobbs a bit iffy in the air for the size of him but decent on the ball.

 

Promising performances and having seen the academy kids last night, I'm excited about our future - Nathan Ecclestone, Amoo, Pacheco & Irwin all looked great prospects, although the Hungarian lad missed a string of sitters.

[Zoob]

I didn't see the game tonight - just brief highlights - so can't comment on Lucas tonight. But every time I've seen him, he seems very confident on the ball, looks for forward passes, and has an excellent pass completion ratio.

 

I can't believe how little footall Benayoun has played for us this season. He seems one of the best at dribbling past players and is clearly very intelligent. He needs to be more selfish and shoot more, but was unlucky not to score right at the end of stoppage time - keeper made a good save. His run and pass to Gerrard (allbeit against a tired defence) was very good, and If he played more games, I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up with 15-20 assists.

[mooks]

Itandje had an excellent game in goal, and pulled off a couple of important saves. I am a bit less worried now about what would happen if Pepe Reina got injured.

But how did he warm up? That's what I want to know ...

[Snoeker]

But how did he warm up? That's what I want to know ...

 

LOL was thinking the same thing

[Lou]

lucas for most of the game was very good, but he faded badly towards the end when he was taken off.

Totally agree. I don't think he misplaced a single pass up to midway through the second half and much of it was one-touch football. It's a shame he tired so quickly because he'd have been a contender for MOTM otherwise.

The biggest disappointment for me was Babel. I expected to see El Zhar get knocked off the ball easily as he looks so slight but he had a decent game. Babel on the other hand looked really lightweight and Stevie/Carra need to introduce him to the concept of 'getting stuck in'.

It's great to have our captain back to normal though - he made some great runs forward and should have had more than one goal.

The dick-head who phoned in 606 and said he left at half time because he was so out-raged that Stevie/Carra played must surely have been a Bitter in disguise

[kop205]

Agree with pretty much everything in the original post.

 

Like what I've seen of Lucas so far, looks like a proper footballer, although I agree he faded. Intelligent player though.

 

El Zhar did okay and a few more goals like that form Pennant wouldn't go amiss. If he has that in his locker then he is worth lokking at again, although he is a bit lightweight.

 

There is simply no comparison between Aurelio and he-who-shall-not-be-named as footballers. You saw tonight the difference between genuine long passes into Crouch and aimless, high hoofs. Aurelio also has a lovely touch and control and whips a great cross in. Just a shame his fitness will always be an issue because he helps us look so much more balanced.

 

Also agree that Leto was the one who missed a chance to impress.

 

As for their fans, that is small time if it was ours who started the ruck in thr Kop, but then given the way they were behaving before kick off I'm not surprised one or two people were pissed off. I always go to the Flatty for a pint pre-match but there was a real air of menace there last night, loads of dicks in Stone Island blatantly hammering the spliffs and a few doing lines of coke, all trying to eyeball any red passing by and singing anti-scouse songs. My mate went in to order the beers and I followed him in after to tell him not to bother. We were starting to attract a fair bit of attention and comments so thought better of it.

[Leo No.8]

It amazes me that some people can see the two passes Lucas misplaced towards the end when he tired, and failed to have noticed how good he'd been in a quietly effective way up to then.

 

I said when he underhit a crossfield pass with about 20 minutes left that was the first time he'd failed to find a red shirt all night, despite the fact he's constantly made himself available for the ball throughout the game. He largely kept things ticking very nicely in the middle and played very maturely.

 

Hope he's fit enough to fill Xabi's boots again on Saturday although judging from the last 15 mintues he probably won't be. And of course that means it'll be the comedy stylings of Momo Sissoko again...

[timbos goals]

I thought Lucas was terrific, particularly in the 1st half. Great first touch, played it simple and always looking for the ball. A great foil for Gerrard who prospered as a result.

He did tire in the last quarter and made a couple of sloppy mistakes but he looks real quality to me. Leto again looked lightweight and will need more time. El Zhar did well and what a blinding goal!

 

Hobbs a bit iffy in the air for the size of him but decent on the ball.

 

Promising performances and having seen the academy kids last night, I'm excited about our future - Nathan Ecclestone, Amoo, Pacheco & Irwin all looked great prospects, although the Hungarian lad missed a string of sitters.

 

I think your summation is spot on. Lucas's first time passing is a delight. He's the engine oil in the midfield, the sort of player who's contributions to the team can often be overlooked as most of it is just helping the ball on to a colleague. Reminds me of Gordon Milne - an unsung hero. Wouldn't be surprised if Wenger is eyeing him up as we speak.

 

Leto has clearly got the skills but he is as inconsistent in a game as any player I've ever seen. It could be his application or maybe his stamina but at times he just seems to freeze. Other times he comes up with some fantastic bit of improvisation. Given his undoubted skills it probably is worth a year or so to see if he matures - like we used to do years ago.

 

We did something similar with McManaman I seem to recall. Persevered. I seem to recall Macca was successful from the start against weaker opposition but shoite against anyone half decent or pacy. Yet eventually he acclimatised until he became for a while almost unplayable at his best. Leto has the ability and potential to reach that sort of level but he has got a lot of ground to make up and an awful lot of flaws to iron out. I wouldn't put money on him but the opportunity is still there for him I feel if he sorts out his blank spots.

[honourablegeorge]

Wasn't Lucas supposed to be Brazil U20 Captain?

 

Sky Commentators last night were claiming the same for Arsenal's Denilson.

[pipnasty]

I didn't see the game but I think that I only really need one question answered;

 

Did we play pretty triangles?

[Dee]

when is the draw for the next round?