Yeah,the Eto'o early foul on Hendo was at least a yellow card.High and late,just below the knee.It does not matter at what time a foul like that is made.We've all seen red cards for similar challenges. Lets keep our heads up for the second half of the season,we are making good progress
Disagree on a lot of that. We all said before these games that we won't get anything, we didn't, and people complain. Bad refereeing has let us down in both games, unfortunately.
Ok, so we didn't play them off the park- do we really expect that? We all know we're a work in progress and there's still improvement to be made, but we were worth a draw in each of the last two games, and the fact we didn't get them is down to appalling officiating. When we're good enough to steamroll over teams like City and Chelsea despite poor decisions then we can disregard them. Until then we rely on competent and fair refereeing to see that justice is done.
I don't think we were really worth a draw but we did as much as we could. both teams we played were more athletic, more physical and faster in and around the middle of the park. chelsea played us off the park for 45mins. after that they eased off. when we scored v city they took it up 2 gears and killed us. We have a lot of scope to improve and the likes frankly of allen and lucas need a good honest appraisal as not mobile enough
Then we''re screwed as that means nobody in our midfield is mobile enough. I seem to remember Allen, hobbled with injury busting a gut and being the first back to make a last ditch tackle on the edge of our box. Need to see it again but he started off on that run as high as Hendo, Positioning aside, he's been obviously injured for ten minutes, good heart, teamateship and communication from the rest of that midfield eh?
I don't agree with the sentiment that we look disinterested. I do agree that chelsea were faster to the ball. here are a few home truths 1. shako and skertl are donkeys on the ball relatively speaking... so is mingolet. the three passing it at the back was meat and drink to chelsea who happily closed them down and forced error after error 2. our decision making and passing was woeful. i lost count fo the stupid short passes in our own half putting a team mate under pressure. we simply didn't pass AND move. we passed it and stood still, there was little movement of note and where there was the pass was delayed allowing chelsea to again easily close down. 3. allen and lucas were exposed as players lacking real mobility. they were hounded out of it. 4. glen johnson is woeful.. sorry but the last 3 games... he;d be dropped for any top 4 side. he goes through these spells and needs to be dropped for a spell to regroup. very poor yet again. 5. We threw in goals v city and cheslea. neither side scored a goal like say oh about 10 of suarez's goals this year... ones where you go fair enough lads you were f'n brilliant and deserved that one. Mingolet threw two in. we cannot cut a cross out to save ourselves out wide and we cannot defend set pieces. these 3 defensive frailties cost us time and again but with many personnel changes have not been resolved.
thats trying, that doesn't mean he's mobile enough..... trying and as you say "making a last ditch tackle" sounds to me like a) you are not in position OR someone else isn't... Look at the who thing, we were pressed extremely well by chelsea, they knew where to hit us... city sat off our midfield and thats where we got joy until they conceded and suddenly we were under huge pressure. I've no problem with lads trying but I have to call it like i see it. henderson is the only "athlete" we have and he is playing far to far forward for me. Why? he's better deeper passing it and using that ability to get around.. he's not up to it in advanced areas where it needs trickery. Allen is ok but he's not the guy to turn us from 7th to 4th and he sure as hell aint the guy to drive us on from that lofty position. Trying is fine, cos its expected... fiar play but i'd like all players to try... look at little brad smith thrown on there cos others aint up to it, stuck at virtual left wing and unable to even get a ball. I felt sorry for the kid. he tried but is it enough? no. the reason flanagan got taken off in games was he was not doing well, nobody complained that he;d a stormer the week before. We've no options form the bench and we ran our legs out v city... we tried tonight but couldn't break thier pressing game.... cheslea and city just showed why they are going to be top 4 and why we'e work to do.
My point was, that he "tried" despite going into the game injured and I questioned that the player near crippled for ten minutes got to the tackle before the "athlete" who as far as I know wasn't injured. It was clear Allen was suffering and yet Hendo allows him to go make that run and last ditch challenge. So not very athletic and apparently no communication in that midfield. Flanigan was taken off because his pre match injury worsened to the point he couldn't continue in that Cardiff match. Yet you name him rather than the Johnson who has not put one performance above mediocre this season. Yet he's supposed to be the star in his prime. He's dandered around like he's on holiday. They might as well name Sterling as RB as he made it back more often than Glen. Yes, all players mentioned aren't champions material but we knew that before these two matches and as far as I can remember you Predicted the points actually made in this block of four so don't understand why you seem so disappointed. According to that prediction we overperformed if ref decisions are the only thing that end up costing us two points out of six. Otherwise its as predicted no matter how we performed no? We are half way through and still competitive for top 4. One game is enough for a two place swing at the moment. Ill be more concerned if we get beat by Hull. And there's still Sturridge to Return, and possible acquisitions to be had next month.
Just seen on MOTD that Jose is now complaining about punditry favouritism towards Liverpool. Can someone tell me how this effects him, his players and the league in general please...?
Bit strange since the loudest voice telling him he was talking ****e today was Gary Neville. That's some punditry bias in our favour I'm sure lol
Alan Shearer and Kevin Kilbane on the MOTD panel, both said Chelsea should have had two reds; Eto'o and Oscar. they also both said we should have had apenalty but not sure if they meant the Terry or Eto'o one
Gullit, Lebouf, Petit, Vialli, Wise, Ray Wilkins, etc, etc... Glenn Hoddle was on the panel today too
No disasters have happened yet, we are in a good place. Disappointed but not in a bad position at all.
I sort of agree on the Chelsea game but I don't think it was played of the park but bullied into submission, we need to toughen up but the chavs and Mourinho are masters at this. Against Man City I watched a 50-50 game where we ran them very close there were plenty of opportunities where we could have got more goals. Disappointed not to get more out of the last 2 games poor finishing cost us at City, Chelsea were just better than us on the day but the ref robbed us of a point.
You didn't deserve anything from the game imo. Chelsea were the better side throughout & looked good value for their win. Suarez was quiet & without him being your inspiration then you're just ordinary imo.
