Just back from the match

[oakie bob]

Well drove up there, got called in to the office to do some work.so thats the petrol paid for, bumped into slapnuts, as for the game............well we look lightweight, Plessis can pass a ball 2 yards but looked out of his depth, we need wingers, Dossena a defender I dont think so, Torres looked frustrated, Keane looked like he had never met any of the side ad the only time him and Torres linked was when he cleared Torres shot off the line..............Give Gordon his due, after Alonso nearly lobbed him he agreed with us a the front that he had been very lucky.............Oh great finish by Torres to put 3 points on the board, we didnt play well, but we won..........this is how leagues are won

[SkippyjonJones]

I though dossena looked ok - as for plessis - looked like he was under strict orders to get the ball and immedialey pass it to a team mate.

 

not sure the keane and torres partnership has settled down yet

[Gunga Din]

I though dossena looked ok - as for plessis - looked like he was under strict orders to get the ball and immedialey pass it to a team mate.

 

not sure the keane and torres partnership has settled down yet

 

the partnership will take a bit of time to gel, but i think it will work. I think Dossena will turn out ok, he certainly takes no prisoners, and i think he might be a good signing considering how weak our left midfield position is.

[JonShar]

Think Dossena will become very solid once he gets used to the pace/tempo of the league. He stays on his feet when he makes challenges too for the most part, I like that.

 

Plessis, I'm with Mike - looked like he was there to break up attacks and pass the ball to Stevie.

 

Torres & Keane will of course take a while to gel, thought we all knew that. They're both class and will come good together.

 

I'll miss Xabi if he leaves.

 

The new keeper kit is the dogs dangly bits, I like it.

Edited August 16, 2008 by JonShar

[SkippyjonJones]

The new keeper kit is the dogs dangly bits, I like it.

 

 

jonshar - keeper fashionista!!!

[Tones]

Im happy with Plessis. Certainly looks to be under instruction to stop the play and pass the ball which he seems to be doing well.

 

Keane needs a goal, confidence looks a bit short at the minute but it will come.

[JonShar]

jonshar - keeper fashionista!!!

 

Ha, I'll happily take that name!

[MFletcher]

I thought Plessis did OK today. He had one or two excellent first touch passes early in the game, although I suspect he was under instruction to keep it simple and that's why he preferred to look backwards and sidewards. Xabi has the confidence to get his head up and look forward, and that gave us fresh impetus in attack after the break.

 

I do like Plessis though. He's still a bit raw, and this was shown when he lunged at someone in the first half, clipped him but the ref played advantage and he was out of position, but I think he has all the tools necessary to make a success of himself. He seems comfortable on the ball, has a keen eye for a pass, has the right physical shape etc. about him. He's a good prospect.

[surf]

The new keeper kit is the dogs dangly bits, I like it.

 

Absolutely. A single true colour, with a white trim, not too flashy or too cluttered. Love it.

[JRC]

They're a much better team than last year - Malbranque, a fit Richardson, Chimbonda - and already had a decent home record last year; bound to be up for the first game, against a top 4. We were without Masch, some new boys in, nervous after Wednesday's horror show.

 

Yet we effectively ran it from half an hour in. Good call for the old head (Sammi) coming in, got some great headers in when they tried to bombard us. We were a bit sloppy at times, but after that first rush, their only sniffs of chances came from mistakes or balls breaking luckily.

 

With Dossena, we may have to accept a little less defensive solidity for more attacking intent, not something we're used to.

 

Keane and Torres struggled, Gerrard effective in spurts. Again, after 30 minutes, I thought Kuyt and Bennayoun were really effective - might go as far as calling Dirk our best player, alongside Xabi.

 

Torres is just a living God. Took him a while to get his first away last year. Today is exactly how a World Class striker, even if off form, turns 1 into 3 points - twas ever thus, and something Chelsea and ManU have perfected.

 

We can play better, but this was fully deserved, and in it's own way, highly encouraging.

[anny road]

i like the keeper kit too

 

thought we did ok....first half we looked undercooked

 

second half we got going a bit..

 

 

considering Gerrard and Torres (goal apart: SWOOON) were poor and will get better and better

 

it bodes well

[chrisbonnie]

i have to say, i hope Dossena settles in quicker than he his, he`s getting beat a little too often for my liking, diouf was giving him a terrible time for most of the first half, god help him when he comes up against Ronaldo or Nani

[Red]

From the armchair at 3am it all looked a bit blurry.. til' the coffee kicked in at half time, then we started to play a lot better. By the 60th minute we were dominating and every attack they had, seemed to result in the ball being gratefully gobbled up by Pepe. Good win in the end and you could see the look of relief on the lad's faces, like a big weight had been lifted. Keane will come good I think, he's just trying way too hard.

Edited August 17, 2008 by Red

[anny road]

Dossena will take time

 

look at Evra's first few games

or even Skrtel

 

 

he got better second half

[Dan]

I think Dossena will be good for us. His distribution and defending is already a visible improvement on last year. Given a bit more time and I reckon he'll get better.

[gkmacca]

I thought Dossena was morphing into Alan Kennedy (on a bad day) yesterday. Barney Rubble-ish build and head down posture runnung forward. I like that diagonal pass he plays, though. Hopefully he'll settle quickly.

[Will]

Sami was excellent after one early error

Thought Doss was good yesterday

[Paul_LFC]

I have no worries at all about Dossena. He has the right style for the league, we needed a big lad on the left side as we always seem to get pushed around on that side. When the going gets tough, he'll stand out.

[Stevie H]

Sami was excellent after one early error

Thought Doss was good yesterday

agree, i thought dossena played alright for his league debut. he even used his right foot to make one clearance.

[JonShar]

i have to say, i hope Dossena settles in quicker than he his, he`s getting beat a little too often for my liking, diouf was giving him a terrible time for most of the first half, god help him when he comes up against Ronaldo or Nani

 

Diouf will give every left back in the league problems this year, he's a skillful player. Just not much end product.