always said that ferguson cannot pick a decent goalkeeper - went through 12 after schmeichel before he signed van de saar - buying such a young goalkeeper is a huge risk - he cant drop him as it would totally destroy him but all teams are going to see him as a weak link - also looks like manure will be without their two first choice centre backs for a while
I thought we showed some good signs (obviously in the first half) and, overall, I'm still optimistic for our season. With only Man U winning the first game out of the big 4, a draw is fine. Have to agree with the majority of posters that maybe starting Hernderson over kuyt was erroneous. I'd have brought him out for the last 20 mins to run the defense ragged - probably moving kuyt to the middle to replace suarez. Also, the lack of aquilani must mean he's off - which is a massive shame, IMO. Have reiterate LJ - chin up boys! YNWA
And their first choice right back as Rafael is out for 10 weeks. I was always expecting Glassback to get injured, as for Vidic, that is going to be a huge loss.
Yep, United won but with De Gea still looking shaky, Vidic, Ferdinand and Rafael out Jones, Smalling and Evans will face a test now
It doesn't matter Suarez will take the piss out of them again,we'll open up Man Uniteds central midfield quicker than it takes Jordan to open her legs on a saturday night out. Seeing as they don't have a keeper, we'll destroy them without breaking a sweat.
I'm suprised Ferguson didn't go for a proven prem keeper for the next couple of years to replace VDS. Someone solid who isn't brilliant but will produce a 7 out of 10 every game. Instead he's paid massive money for a young keeper who comes from a league where if you blow on the keeper it's a foul. It'll be very interesting to see if he can cope against the likes of Stoke with their long throws, Andy Carroll and others..
Generally, I think we are all disappointed with the result and the second half performance. I think Kenny made some mistakes in this match which have already been highlighted in this thread, which includes starting Flanagan over Kelly, and Henderson over Kuyt. The most annoying mistake he made was not using Aquilani but I think this is the final nail in the coffin and we can expect Aqua to leave very soon. Without Suarez, our attack looks toothless. Downing showed he can provide the creative spark out on the wing but we needed a player in the centre who could link the midfield and attack and we don't have anyone apart from Suarez and Aqua. Felt sorry for Flanagan but I won't let one poor game ruin the reputation that he has earnt over the past season as a promising young talent. However, I hope people now realise that the defence still needs work and that we cannot over-rely on Flanagan, Wisdom, Wilson and Robinson. I heard that we put a bid in for Cahill? Not sure if its true but I would definately have him in our team. Carragher needs replacing - it's a sad fact but its true. Not only is his defensive ability starting to decrease, but his continious 'hoofing' disrupts our flow and we are unable to keep possession and build attacks. Cahill will be able to keep the ball and pass the ball, alongside Agger. My final point is re. Andy Carroll. I'm still not convinced by him - I don't believe his style of play is suited to Liverpool. We rely on quick passing, good touch and good movement. In my opinion, he posseses none of these attributes and I would actually prefer if Kuyt started upfront. Unless Carroll drastically improves, I can Kenny being forced to make a big decision and having to drop him.
Heres my view. 1. there was nothing wrong with team selection 2. I thought in preseason we played too many 45 min games and the players simply were not as fit as they needed to be, for instance squeezing in the galatasary geme meant reserves were looked after not first teamers. This is why i felt we faded... our first team players are undercooked but thats ok if we build as the season goes on. 3. Lucas faded worst of all and this is simply due to no preseason. simple. 4. Suarez taking the pen showed something.... the top sides have disipline not the guy who shouts loudest. eg lampard v drogba thing... i want to see us establish a peacking order and quick, no gerrard = kuyt, netheir = adam... why suarez was allowed to just pick the ball up and decide he was taling it i don't know. 5. boh fll backs for us were conservative. understandable 6. we allowed sunderland to go in 1-0 down and come out with fight i nther bellies... if it had been 2-0 at half time they'd have fallen apart. 7. the ref was not do hot, he allowed way to much cynical stuff to go, particulalry from ferdinand but then started letting anyone who flopped over get a free... in other words was inconsistent. the sending off decision was also poor and as with a lot of other refs they really need to consult as a matter of course not by expection with linesmen. That was a shocker tbh 8. we gave everyone a taste but look at the bench.... why no aquilani is one thing but in the end our attacking options were kuyt and n'gog. it shows that while we've done all we can in one transfer window we still have more to do.... meireles comign on to play in behind when half fit is another example of this. I think we'll improve over the course of the next 5 games in terms of fitness and team play but we need to be honest and say thats 2 points lost
If Kuyt had been on the pitch, he surely would have taken it? He's never missed for us as far as I'm aware. Though I've probably put the mockers on him now. Sorry mito, posted before reading yours.
no probs, can only reply to what you see. I think we just need to figure it out and i wonder most right now about the next game, is it a good or bad time to play arsenal... they are in turmoil but are we able to exploit it and finally get 3 points? no very sure. we'll be a bit better next game but we must build on a few things.... and cut a few things out. 1. build on adam, good start for him but fitness an issue as is lucas. 2. when we ran out of steam the midfield didn't show for passes enough, this builds on point 1.... but the stupidity of thumping it at carroll when there's nobody within 20 yards of him to take advantage of a kock down is lunacy. you know exactly when we're out of ideas or have lost cohesiveness as carra reverts every time. 3. suarez and downing good..... henderson not so good. henderson didn't get enough time in preseason to play imo, nobody did in the first 11. sitck with it is my message, let them improve performance level... 4. if we are short of fitness we need to blitz sides early get the couple of goals then make the subs and control the game... by passing it not hoofing it.
To be fair, I believe Suarez was a regular penalty taker for Ajax and Uruguay so I had no problem with him taking the penalty. Had Kuyt been on the pitch, I'm sure he would have done so. I'm just suprised at the fitness levels - we should be in great shape, we should be fully prepared for the start of the season. Lucas and Suarez both faded which is understandable considering their participation in the Copa America. Charlie Adam will need to improve this fitness, we should be carrying no passengers in the centre despite his good performance technically. This is what worries me about having Carroll in the team (through no fault of his own). Carragher will continially hoof the ball and as I mentioned previously, it ruins the flow of the game and we are unable to retain the ball and build attacks. I think we desperately need another CB to replace Carra, someone who can pass the ball and not resort to the long balls up top.
bit early to push the panic button. Long way to go in the race. Chelsea and Arsenal have dropped points too. Keep the chins up
