we need to start pl games like that

[Mike]

half an hour of that against practically every team we've drawn against this season and the games are over.

[Swipe]

Agree.

 

We'd have turned frustrating draws into wins if we'd gone at some of the teams like we did last night.

 

Especially considering the s**** we've dropped points to at Anfield this season

[Logic]

Agreed. Most teams in the league would crumble under that pressure. And when that has happened (when we are 1 or 2 goals up) we can go back to being cautious.

 

Instead we seem to do things the other way around.... which doesn't make sense.

[John am Rhein]

In a nutshell what we need to do is reach peak performance in every game...

 

And the opposition being 1-0 down before kick off would help too.

[Logic]

In a nutshell what we need to do is reach peak performance in every game...

 

And the opposition being 1-0 down before kick off would help too.

No. Just enter the game

 

a) motivated

 

and

 

b) intent on getting an advantage in the game asap.

 

Instead of going into games careful with the hope of getting a goal from somebodies individual brilliance.

[David Hodgson]

half an hour of that against practically every team we've drawn against this season and the games are over.

 

There have been games where we've started well, but got frustrated too quickly. Ok, we've not been that devastating in an opening before, but we've been good at the beginings of games, but allowed them to fizzle out if we don't get the early break.

[Tosh]

To be fair, after Torres turn and Masch hitting the bar from the resulting corner I did think... "gonna be one of those nights, loads of chances and no goals".

 

Many of the draws have been of the many unscored chances variety.

 

What is frustrating is that we know that the team cn do that to anyone, but seems not to....

[David Hodgson]

No. Just enter the game

 

a) motivated

 

and

 

b) intent on getting an advantage in the game asap.

 

Instead of going into games careful with the hope of getting a goal from somebodies individual brilliance.

 

Agreed. There is an art to being able to start a game at a tempo.

[kop205]

Are we talking about the team or the crowd?

[fred milne]

Are we talking about the team or the crowd?

I was just about to post the same.

[Whitey]

There have been games where we've started well, but got frustrated too quickly. Ok, we've not been that devastating in an opening before, but we've been good at the beginings of games, but allowed them to fizzle out if we don't get the early break.

 

Just watched the replay, and not sure I've ever seen Torres so 'up for it' ....he was all over the place. Stevie too.

 

I think that might have had a knock on effect.

 

Maybe he was like that in the changing rooms too before the game.....as the rest were being fed raw meat

[Hassony]

can't we get paul mckenna in to make the players think that we are playing real madrid before every game

 

 

might have to do it for the fans as well!

[Knox_Harrington]

Torres/Gerrard up top, both looking fully fit and putting it about. Makes a massive difference.

[yellow jumper]

the problem has always been that our average performances aren't quite good enough week in week out. think that's more to do with the quality of the squad overall than a particular lack of intent. of course it's easier to sustain that intent (and confidence and momentum) when you're winning without even turning it on, something the mancs have proved capable of for long stretches. we haven't consistently.

 

i think criticism of rafa in regards to his buys is fair enough (however obscured by the antediluvian processes at the club), think much of the rest of the 'negative', 'cold', 'doesn't get it' analysis is pure nonsense.

 

last night we had our best team out, a great atmosphere against a european giant and our two match winning players performing out of their skins. that it's not like that every week is no suprise.

[Flight]

We'd play like that much more often if we had our best 11 players available more. isn't that the first time we've been able to field that side, this term ? We've missed Nando massively.

 

 

We have a fantastic first 11-14 players, we need more strength in depth to do better in the Prem.

[Duncan Disorderly]

might have to do it for the fans as well!

Nail on head.

 

At some matches; sorry MOST matches; you could hear a pin drop. What's that about?

[Sion]

lost count the amount of people today who came out with the 'why don't you play like that every game'

might actually go mental on the next person who says it

[billybunter]

getting a team motivated for every match like that, surely we would burn out by mid season?! We got 3 or 4 injuries from last night

 

its hopeful thinking believing that players can be as up for a match like that week in week out.

 

I do agree we need more of that though

[Rimbeux]

The attitude rather than the performance is something we need to bottle (seeing as you cant expect that level all the while). It's taking the game as opposed to waiting for something to play off, for example the other teams intentions, a goal, one of our 'big' players coming up with something. We looked comfortable taking the initiative, so much so that you wonder why we so often shy away from doing it.

[pipnasty]

Madrid had to score last night so it was a bit different to teams who basically come to Anfield for a 0-0 draw. It's about doing what is appropriate in the given circumstances. It appears that we really caught Madrid out last night and that was important too. If we start all of our games like we did last night, then you lose that element of surprise I suppose. But, we know that when we play like that, no other team on the planet can touch us really but how many games is it possible to play like that?

[Conrad]

Torres/Gerrard up top, both looking fully fit and putting it about. Makes a massive difference.

 

Yep. And how often have that front 6 started this season?

[Rimbeux]

Madrid had to score last night so it was a bit different to teams who basically come to Anfield for a 0-0 draw. It's about doing what is appropriate in the given circumstances. It appears that we really caught Madrid out last night and that was important too. If we start all of our games like we did last night, then you lose that element of surprise I suppose. But, we know that when we play like that, no other team on the planet can touch us really but how many games is it possible to play like that?

 

The fact is teams come knowing they can sit back and survive some shadow boxing, they dont sit back s***ting themselves, and that is the kind of fear we need to instill. There are not many sides who are actually any good on the counter attack even though they will profess to be attempting to play it, so I dont think there is much of an argument for being left exposed against 14/15 teams.

[nrkintheuk]

Agreed. There is an art to being able to start a game at a tempo.

 

Deportivo La Coruna basically won La Liga on their forrm in the first 20-30 mins of games under Irureta in 2000 (I think).

 

Torres/Gerrard up top, both looking fully fit and putting it about. Makes a massive difference.

 

Yep

[Saintslfc13]

Are we talking about the team or the crowd?

 

 

Was thinking the same thing. The support needs to be that way every home game. I understand the european nights are our specialty but just look at what that does for our team and the way it scares the life out of the opposition.

 

 

We'll get treated to much more moments like last night if we support the same way.

[John am Rhein]

No. Just enter the game

 

a) motivated

 

and

 

b) intent on getting an advantage in the game asap.

 

Instead of going into games careful with the hope of getting a goal from somebodies individual brilliance.

 

Well that won't always be sufficient