Fantastic first half from Rangers. The best we have played under Redknapp imo. Fer should have scored, missing a sitter. He was unlucky with a header that hit the bar. Austin probably should have scored. With Liverpool playing one up front, Rangers were able to push Isla and the excellent Yun forward, leaving Onuoha, Dunne and Caulker to mark Balotelli. The club say it was 3-5-2 although I know there is a lot of disagreement about this. It looked like 3-5-2 at the ground. Dunne was the pick of the Rangers defenders first half imo. 2nd half Liverpool changed things a little in midfield, swapping Gerrard back to his usual deeper role in front of the back four. This made them more solid and they were far more competitive in midfield. Dunne's own goal was clumsy imo and he should have done better. Vargas turned the game on its head and he must start the next game. Two excellent goals and he looks a class or two above Austin I'm afraid. Henry should have hacked Sterling down in the build up to their 2nd goal and taken one for the team. Caulker was unlucky with the last minute winner imo and simply couldn't have got out of the way. Fer was completely brainless with that last minute free kick. Blast it into the loft........play it into the corner....anything but float it up to their centre backs to clear!! Idiot!! Payer ratings and comments: McCarthy - 7 - Looked very good and should retain his place. Onuoha - 8 - Solid as you like until he went off injured. Dunne - 6 - Excellent until that very clumsy own goal. Caulker - 7 - Unlucky for the 2nd own goal. Best game for us imo. Isla - 8 - Fantastic first half when he played like a right winger. More subdued 2nd half when he had to drop back. Yun - 8 - Superb. Must start every game. Henry - 6 - Solid performance. Should have taken one for the team and stopped Sterling breaking away for their 2nd goal. Sandro - 7 - Very solid in front of the back four, but again went off injured!!!! Fer - 4 - Some nice touches, but was lazy when not tracking back and missed an utter sitter!! Totally brainless with that last minute free kick which I'm still fuming about. We had the point and threw it away!! Austin - 6 - Not good enough overall and probably should have scored. Did well with the header for Vargas's first goal, but coughed up possession too often imo. Vargas must start with BZ next game. Oh BZ - 8 - Bloody excellent and terrorised the Liverpool defence until he ran out of steam. Subs : Phillips - 3 - Simply awful.......again! Vargas - 9 - Simply fantastic and must start the next game imo. Traore - 5 - Not much time to make an impression. Overall there was much to be pleased with and encouragement for the future. I just can't get that stupid last minute free kick out of my head which cost us the draw we so richly deserved. Thoughts?
Great effort from all today. Needs to continue. Other than Vargas, Sandro and Henry were our best when together - they dominated midfield. Liverpool had but one decent chance 1st half and they had to move Gerrard back 2nd half to stop them. Harsh on Fer who hit the woodwork twice 1st half, though he should have scored with at least the shot. Also harsh on Phillips who got a few crosses in OBZ and Charlie needed. Thought Yun was ok but never an 8, and lacks Traore's aerial strengh.
Thanks Col. 4 for Fer (has a ring to it, no?) Maybe a tad harsh but only a tad. Sadly I agree about Charlie unless he can replicate the sort of quality for his Soton goal. Vargas! His movement and vision and speed actually (dare I even think this?) reminds me of Suarez! Easily a 9.
I fear the performances of BZ and Vargas have put Charlie on the bench. Vargas looks a far better prospect at this level imo.
You know I'm going to disagree with you on Dunne Col I though he was immense today and easily our best defender. He was very unlucky with the goal but like everybody else he switched off for a split second. But a 6.................. Have to say I though Ned looked really good too until he went off.
I said he was our best defender mate. He would have got a 7 or 8 but I felt that the clumsy own goal was very costly and avoidable. Fer was the villain today........brainless!!
o I just think it's very unfair to reduce Dunne to a 6 for an OG that at least five of our players switched off for and Caulker gets a 7 for also scoring an OG and in general not playing as well as Dunne. Sometimes I wonder what Dunne has to do to impress people. The neutral pundits used the word 'giant' and 'immense' today.
Col, I have to agree with just about all your comments and scores. My missus is still complaining about my Fer-induced mood. With the exception of Phillips, there were good performances all round but McCarthy, Onuoha, Yun, Isla (first half) and OBZ stood out. It was surprising, unusual and very welcome to see some real passion from Harry in his press conference. If he can keep that up and the players can build on this level of performance, I might just start thinking that we have a chance of survival this season.
They all switched off for the goal but Dunne was the one stood right in the centre and had to the most switched on of all, especially with his experience! He also called back Chaulker who was going forward for the free kick at the end, had he been up he may have won the ball when it was put in there, instead they broke away and Chaulker scores the own goal after Dunne got skinned, a 6 is generous IMO!! Fer wasn't perfect but was much improved and was actually a goal threat as well, should have done much better with the first but was very unlucky for the second against the bar, if it was a 4 and 6 I'd be swapping them around!
Dunne was right to keep Caulker back. Fer should have put the ball into the top tier of the loft. Point won!!
He also called back Chaulker who was going forward for the free kick at the end, had he been up he may have won the ball when it was put in there, instead they broke away and Chaulker scores the own goal after Dunne got skinned, a 6 is generous IMO!! Are you really serious?
Vargas was a revelation today, he's clearly way better than any of us thought and his awareness, reading of the game and speed of thought makes you wonder why he hasn't featured from the start of the season. As Tim Vickery said a few weeks back if Harry can get him playing he'll be a star...
Fair enough. I may have a bit of a downer on our Richard. 6 was probably a little harsh to be fair.[/QUOTE] I don't want to see Dunne in our team THIS year any more than you Col but I'd take him any day of the week over Rio or Hill. He was very solid today and but for a momentary lack of concentration by our whole team he would have had his best game for us. Unlike Rio he doesn't lack commitment or effort, he's simply too old.
So when Rio makes a mistake for a goal against West Ham he is enemy number one and should never wear the shirt again, Dunne makes a terrible error and scores an own goal, then gets skinned for the winner but should get high ratings?!? He had a solid enough game but made big mistakes that got punished.
Unlucky today. No way you deserved to lose. Has to be said that the lad Fer was ****ing dreadful. Failed to score when it was harder to miss, gave the ball away almost every time he had possession and the free kick at the end was just a joke The only thing that saved him from being the worst player on the pitch was Balotelli. Truly awful.
