Why does having a free shot on goal matter? You can have a free shot on goal from the half way line. To me it didn't look like a clear goalscoring opportunity as he wasn't in control of the ball and Clyne was coming across.
Got to admit, that is very impressive. Re: Jack Cork. I'm one of his biggest fans, but I actually think his injury may be a blessing in disguise. Both Wanyama and Reed could really do with getting some more experience in some games where the pressure is off. Hoping Big Vic will blossom and prove all his critics wrong (including me).
I don't see Corkie's injury as good in any way. A part of me hop es we have the best defensive record for the last ten games with Vic playing, however I know that there will be some major bed wetting and pass counting going on now. I didn't see any of yesterday as I just got back from US, but in a one nil victory, the knockers are pointing out Vic's poor passes and remember the exact moments that happened. That is a psychological mind set and you are stuck there. When will some people just accept that Jack Cork passes the ball and controls the ball better than Victor Wanyama, but they are equally important and play in different ways and offer different strengths. Why do some of you continually have to nit pick on the players who aren't your favourites. For the love of Saints, get behind the fella if Jack is out and give him a few games to get up to speed.
Shame about Cork...what will you all find to talk about Statistically this was like most of our performances, but this time we managed the goal and the clean sheet. We need a) to score more goals and b) defend better more often. Sounds b****y obvious, but then why don't we do it. We rarely play badly...there's just a little 5% improvement needed in our game. Shaw is getting closer to a goal...he had that great shot on target without looking up....could have caught them on the hop...will do soon. JRod is turning into a right little bargain...I have to say (modestly, of course ) that I pointed out at the beginning of the season that he brought something new and desperately needed to the team. Lambert so close again...please let him score at SMS next Saturday. He is so often a lick of paint from a goal. Lovren was lucky that the ref considered Clyne was covering for him...have seen them given. We do get more fouls than we used to under Nigel...think this is part of Mauricio's style...if all else fails bring 'em down, preferably in midfield where red cards/penalties don't happen. P.s. Lallana was great again. Get your suntan oil ready, Adam.
According who Whoscored.com: Cork Pass Success % - 86.1 Av. Passes - 45.1 Tackles - 2.3 Interceptions - 0.9 Wanyama Pass Success % - 81.3 Av. Passes - 45.1 Tackles - 2.8 Interceptions - 1.6 They're good at different things and both have impressive stats. Now shaddap.
With the Lovren challenge, it shows the importance of players who were chasing back to continue to do so, even after the whistle. After the foul Clyne kept on running so he was in a position where he would have been able to cover. This will be factored in the refs mind, even though he made up ground after the foul was given. Can't believe the Cork/Wanyama thing is still going. We are very lucky to have both and we should appreciate what each of them do to enhance the team, rather than their negative attributes.
I watched it and there was a good case for a red, but Webb was well positioned to make his own mind up, he did not look at his assistant who may have given a different view on it, another day and there is no doubt that it would have been us down to ten men, but for once we had a couple of bits of fortune, sadly lacking in many games. Spiders booking was less clear, replays showed he clearly got to the ball first but his leg bounced off of the ball upwards into the opponents leg, no real intention to bring the player down.
I believe the law is a "clear" goalscoring opportunity. In the Kaboul case Eto was in the process of taking a first time shot and was pushed in the back and prevented from taking that shot. It seemed harsh because of the double punishment thing we had discussed the other week. In the Lovren case there are just far too many questions to make it a clear goal scoring opportunity. Did he have full control of the ball and his balance? Would Clyne have been able to cover? Take away the challenge from Wanyama before and the Saints midfielders in close pursuit and you may have had another outcome.
I'm not commenting because I didn't see the game. My previous comments have been solely based on my own observations. Personally, I'll take the win. Whats incredible to me is that despite it apparently being a scrappy game and one in which, at last, we appeared to have a bit of luck, we still had 64% of the possession.
If you watch the Lovren incident, then watch Kaboul's sending off at Stamford Bridge, you have to conclude that a) Lovren was a bit lucky, and b) there's not much consistency from referees.
That sums it up nicely. I read on Squawka that the length of Cork's passes are longer, on average, than Wanyama's, which surprised me as Cork seems to do the simple passes and Wanyama does a lot of long balls.
May I just remind everyone Cork (injured) and Fox (left on loan) are on this months page for the clubs calender, its happnened again!
Real shame about Cork's injury, if it is indeed serious, but if he had to get a bad one at some point, then there are many worse times/situations to get it. And hopefully it might also lead to JWP and Reed getting a fair bit of game time too. As for the Lovren foul, it was a nailed on red card as me. No debate. We got away with that one. But that is football. Liverpool got away with not giving away a penalty against us last week, when Lallana was knocked down.
