What's that annoyingly overly used cliché? Oh yeah; good teams win while playing bad, or in our case score 5. Thought we lacked energy in the middle, Lucas and Gerrard are slow when they're running back towards goal and Henderson was everywhere again who had a decent(ish) game. But the game was as I expected, separated by perhaps quality - the quality proving to be Suarez & Sturridge, who at any point in a game can produce something out of nothing. The "penalty" wasn't a penalty for me, it wasn't a dive either but he was certainly waiting for the contact, Stoke can feel very hard done by on that one and full credit to them as they were superb at times and really made us work for our win. Cissikho and Johnson looked vulnerable the whole match, can't wait till Enrique is back and I'm hoping today will prompt Rodgers in to delving in to the transfer market in search of a new RB. But this is a ground where you have to put in a fight to win, very rarely do teams play well here and that's due to the intimidating setting and the work-rate of the Stoke team, but for me that's another test which we have passed. They've lost once at home in 12 months, a ground that has only seen 7 goals this season and we scored 5, which shows where our strengths are. Aston Villa next, another must-win game as Everton travel to Anfield the following week. 3 points, back up to fourth, bring on the next.
your title does sum it up. I totally agree about the energy levels. I felt that coutinho wasn't up to it today, his movement was non existent... swapping gerrard and lucas was weird but it's like saying finally gerrard you can't get back so don't go forward.... lucas looked unable for that role.. I agree on the so called pen. I'd go even more. simulation is technically no contact and is the word used by the world of officialdom. a dive is a fans term i guess and for me that was a flop, a dive whatever... at 4-2 the game was over and stoke had given up largely.... we flogged them all 3 goals really. their second was henderson and gerrard and their third was mingloet flog and players not being in position. So yeah, bit of lukc, a lot of grit from suarez and sterling and maybe henderson, toure... the rest were like passengers. we got a win, we are 4th and 5 points off top hoping arsenal don't make it 6 so that could be one of the 6 points back. Roll on villa!.... 3 points a must... its the run in now.. all but city are on a huge run.
I actually thought we showed a bit of grit and fight against Stoke. We weren't afraid to get stuck in which was nice to see. But in the end, the difference between to the two sides was that we had a top class attack, and this attack is carrying this team.
A great result for you boys today well done! In seasons gone by you would have capitulated after they came back to equalise but you are made of sterner stuff these days and you also have Suarez and Sturridge! A great game for the biased neutrals and I hope you boys can now push on for the title!
We suckered them into playing an open game by purposely allowing 3 free goals on us. Great tactical decision by BR. #revisionismtocalmthebloodpressure
Will have a word on Cissokho here. The lad's a trier for sure, not bad on the ball, decent runner, but he constantly needs another player to tell him what to do and where to put himself on the pitch. Every time I saw him today, Toure, Skrtel, Gerrard were pointing out where he needed to be and he's looking at them to do it. It was the same against Oldham last Sunday. Defense still needs sorting.
I was quite excited when he signed him - he was immense at Porto and Lille, and despite having a terrible time at Valencia, I was convinced he still had it in his locker. After todays performance, I really cannot defend him. Looked so leggy and reactive. Compare him to Sakho, who is of similar build, Sakho looks more positive and pro-active, reads the game quicker but can also react quicker. Cissokho made Adam look like Usain Bolt with the skill of Neymar. A new left back is badly needed, and that was before Enrique was injured.
He's definitely a good squad player to have but I feel if we want to push on to new heights, then he needs upgrading as well.
Absolutely, was thinking similar thoughts when I was watching. Adam is so ordinary and today he looked like he's up for the Ballon d'Or. His goal was a good strike but Toure's 'marking' was appalling, gave him all the time in the world.
There's no contest, I'd rather have the Spanish built like a brick ****house bombing forward chest out than Cissokho's cluelessness.
Enrique takes on defences, he's much more creative, and never ever gets bullied off the ball. his fault is that sometimes he tries a bit too much but he's by far our best option, imo. If anyone knows of an upgrade who we can afford, and who wants to come to us, then bring 'em on.
Couldn't agree more. He's a liability when he flies into overdrive but at least he's doing something even then!
I keep thinking that maybe the issue of leaking goals is down to our attacking style of play but it's an argument that jusn't stack up when you look at the goals we are conceding. So often they are down to individual mistakes which is I think actually a good thing (bear with me). I think it's a good thing as in it's something we can work on and definitely improve on without compromising the way we go forward. Undoubtedly having Enricky back will improve us, Cissokho was a decent gamble by BR but it just hasn't worked. At least we aren't stuck with him. I'd also be more than happy for Flannel to be given a chance at RB as I just can't believe how shaky and downright disinterested Johnson looks Still work to do and plenty for BR to get his teeth in to but I just couldn't be more impressed with the work so far this season, I'm loving the attacking play and genuinely look forward to going to watch us. I hope we can strengthen a bit this window and provide a bit more competition at right back and in the midfield but all in all it's a case of so far so good imo.
