We didn't deserve it, but who cares? - My thoughts on the Liverpool game

Anyone else getting frustrated at our inabillity to impose our game on other teams. Other than his part in the goal I thought HBA was poor at best, but it's partly to do with Pardew"s game plan.

We can play "carpet football" better than Liverpool, we can play it with pace and purpose just like them, but we're a better attacking force than they are, which begs the question why are we just parking the bus for the entire second half?

So frustrating, was happy with the 4-3-3 but we barely kept the ball for longer than 30 seconds at a time all game. It's not good to watch lately and we won't keep getting results if we continue to play this long ball stuff. I'm delighted with a point and the work rate of the lads, but the quality of our play is gone down hill since last year.

 

bang on mate! Pardew has started ruined last seasons football for some reason he thinks he can make us better this way? I think he's trying to hard to keep Ba happy

 

Think everyone is aware of how we play now, like Jonas said a week back or so, with it being more difficult now to play effectively in the same vein

We could play better, but I think the tactics today were pretty good. We tried to do what we did versus Swansea last year, just didn't come off as well!
Countering, route-1, whatever, is ok away for me, but it's the home play we need to sort.

 

Our tactics were unfathomable.

they are not the same one week after the next

 

We need new players to keep things fresh... its ok keeping our best players but teams who do their homework real;ise that we are a one trick pony.... we need at least 4-6 new players this next 2 transfer windows of reasonable quality!

 

Cabaye's goal in GIF form for anyone eager to add it to their signature:

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Thought Colo had a good first half but slipped up in the second.

Ben Arfa was your best player in attack for me - always got you out of danger with his dribbling and always looked dangerous.

Was surprised how ineffective both Ba and Cisse were - Agger and Skrtel had them for most of their time on the pitch.

Would be interested in knowing what you thought of our players, Tash.

 

I'd like to see Pardew freshen thing up by dropping Jonas, who constantly slows our passing game by taking three/four unnecessary touches each time he gets the ball. His poor pass to Cisse started the move for their goal. Jonas does work his socks off for the cause, but it's not always enough. I think Anita deserves another start following his performance today.

 

The injuries and suspensions are irksome but they just force are hand into a proper shake up – which we desperately NEED.

In EVERY league fixture this season we've arguably been second best for the majority of the match, possibly with the exception of Sunderland but only just. Each game has shown us being nervy, sluggish, woeful in possession, keen to crawl over the line for a draw and waste time far too early AND frankly awful, awful, awful from set pieces.

It's been long overdue a change in personnel and time to get the younger lads involved, such as Ferguson, Sammy and Bigi. Hell I'd even consider giving Marveaux and Obertan a chance. They can't give the ball away any cheaper than our 'top lads' at the moment.

If you give possession away too easily and fail to exhibit more composure than just lumping the ball up to the opposing keeper then you will struggle in the Premier League. Why are we always just clinging on all the time when we find ourselves in front?
I knew that if we gave Liverpool the kind of license to play second half as we did in the first that they would surely equalise, most likely going on to win it.

Yes Liverpool is a tough place to go, but we've made West Brom and Aston Villa look like world beaters at HOME. I just can't work out why we have so many technically gifted and clever footballers who are not just humbled by inferior opponents (how many of our midfield would you swap for Liverpool's?) but more than that, humbled by an inability to pass, move and retain the ball when they need to most. It's been happening too often this season and we've relied too much on luck than judgement as far as gaining points which is worrying.

 

We are ****e simple as that! we need to chance the entire sytem and start again.

iwe have tried every formation but we dont get it right!!!! get back to something everyone enjoys because the players do not look comfortable and are clealry not enjoying their football.

It wont surprise me if we get beat by Southampton etc if wwe keep hoping the other team misses for 90 mins.

 

Your last paragraph is faultless, and the blame has to be laid at Pardew's door. We have the ability to play some of the best stuff in the league, yet we've served up so much dross this year it's unbelievable. Bringing Bigi & Sammy/Fergie in would certainly freshen things up and bring some pace and energy to our game.

I'm amazed Demba has seven goals this season, his conversion rate must be decent. I would have almost preferred a fantastic display but a loss today (not something I'd ever thought I'd say). Just want to see some signs that we're regaining some sort of form/fluidity.

 

We're far from ****e fella, but the team definitely needs a bit of tweaking.

 

Let's see what Pardew does next game. Our performances in Europa have been a lot more encouraging so perhaps a better blend of tactics and playing staff is required, but as long as we keep picking points up we're going in the right direction, ready for whenever the real performances commence!

14 points isn't great, but it isn't bad either. We're 3 off Spurs and Everton, and considering the Toffees at least have been at their best, that says quite a lot to me!

 

apart from the Sunderland game we should have lost every single game!! our new tactics our unfathomable and we will lose more often that win if we stick with them.

reality will kick in once we play west ham at home with all our best players missing and lose.

 

I'd have to agree – at the moment it's just so frustrating. I actually explained to someone BEFORE today's match EXACTLY how our play would be catagorised or described and it was spot on.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not an NUFC fan that expects us to go and batter Liverpool at Anfield. However, I happen to believe that we were facing one of the poorest Liverpool teams I can remember for many years and one that doesn't possess many players that I'd swap ours for.

But again, we've struggled to really impose ourselves and our ability to play on them for any sustained period. Taking the lead was frankly up to that point unexpected, after which the team reverted to shutting up shop. I mean Tim Krul is time wasting with 30 minutes to go!

At the moment I'd settle for no points but an energetic, coherent, positive display – from start to finish. Hell, I'd even just be happy with getting the fundamentals of pass, move, cross etc etc...

 

I agree with pretty much everything you've said. We've looked distinctly average, if not down right poor for most of our league games so far this season.

Now, while all of that can't be down to Pardew, I've noticed a change in him this season - which isn't for the better. One of the things I disliked the most about Pardew before he came to us, was his arrogance - especially when at West Ham. He used to bob his head around in post-match interviews, with this air of cocky-ness about him, which didn't seem justified. I think his being awarded with all of the awards and plaudits last season (which were justified), seems to have gone to his head. I've noticed that head bobbing creeping into his interviews lately, which has coincided with our poor performances. The talking up our chances of fourth follow this trend. Ambition isn't a bad thing to have, far from it, but it needs to be tempered with humility and hard work.

It seems like we haven't set the same objectives as last season, ie: setting targets in small batches, like getting 'X' amount of points over a certain amount of games. Which in turn, seems to have had our players less focused on the next game - Taylor saying before the Man United game, that he was more looking forward to the Sunderland game is a case in point. While not a horrible thing to think, it's another thing all together to admit it in public. There's many cliches in football, but not looking past the next game is probably one of them that rings true the most.

Hopefully, we'll get back to basics and get the squad more focused sooner than later. Although we're doing OK, results wise. Our performances have becoming more and more concerning.

 

If he does he will play who though? I think we need to stop defending so deep and actually go full throttle at teams.

 

Not sure what game you guys are watching but let's get a few things straight here: Usually Liverpool roll us over, they did so last year big time, the year before and the one before that. Barton sending off anyone? Come on, we usually lose 2 or 3 nil at their place. It's a hard place to go to, especially fo rus. Their crowd gets them up for it. I thought we dealt very well with the early pressure. We had 2 enforced changes due to injury by 50 minutes. Yes, Liverpool have been poor at times this season, they don't score goals, which they showed again today, but they're a pain in the ass to play against and they are actually 2-3 players away from being a championsleague side again.

Yes they were on top after we had our captain and centre half sent off. Boohoo. Like Craven Cottage Anfield has been a terrible place for us and I for one am very content with a point. I don't quite see the brilliance in Suarez' goal, it was good effort but a huge defensive error, from more than one player of ours. We scored a beautiful goal.

Colo screwed up. I think he tried to pull out but Suarez clearly got under Colo's skin. I'm sure Suarez was chit-chatting to Colo in spanish all game long. Eventually someone will injure Suarez unfortunately. He's making too many enemies too fast. But that's his problem.

We have a run of winnable games coming up and we've been unbeating for a few games now. Had we hold onto our lead today we would have been on 16 points, one point behind everton in 4th. Frankly, I don't see any reason for negativity. If we can go unbeaten the next 4 games we'll be sitting pretty in 5-7 place by christmas. While pretty much being THE only british team in european competitions who is ruling their group stages.

We've not hit our stride no question. But we're doing reasonable well results wise while playing pretty poorly. No ACON for the Dembas. I'm looking forward to the next few weeks. I'd like to see a midfield of Anita and Gael though for a game or two. I don't understand what Jonas has to offer playing down the middle. He's not a great passer. He's a willing, but clumsy tackler. His strong points are running and winning free kicks. Jonas should be competing with Ben Arfa for a spot. Of course he'll continue to start the next few matches given that he seems to be the stand in skipper.

 

Usually Liverpool are a top 4 side??

we usually can pass and not just hoof the ball

Gael and Anita?

West Ham will rape us without Cabs, Tiote, Col and Ba

I'm saying it now we are going to struggle all season.

 

But you say that EVERY season... Including last season... Is it some sort of solipsist reverse psychology?

Chillout dude