Well, yesterday was a huge disappointment. Not because of Brendan Rodgers, who was blameless - but because it seems like nothing has changed. The problem, like last season, is goals. By the time Gera scored his wonder-strike, we should have been two goals up. Even after we went two down we should have converted. You can say 'it's typical Gera would do that against us' or 'those penalties were awful' but the reality is that if Suarez had finished his chances, it might not have mattered. Hypothetically, if we go two nil up, or even one up, the entire game changes. Maybe the corner that Gera scores from doesn't happen, that sort of thing. Again, we are our own worst enemies - we were wasteful and then, as can happen in football, events snow-balled - the wonder goal, the red card, the second penalty. This may be unpopular, but if I had to point out two players for blame, it would be Suarez and Gerrard. Gerrard is perhaps obvious - his passing led to the first goal, and he wasn't his usual self. Suarez did look like our most lively player, but his wastefulness cost us the game. That is the reality. You have to credit West Brom (although not Shane Long - cheat) for the win, and particularly Lukaku for his goal, but the scoreline did reflect our problems far more than any of their successes. What is the Liverpool way? For the last season, and yesterday's game, it seems that to dominate and lose is the Liverpool way. This must change. I would defy anyone to argue against signing Dempsey now - perhaps not the biggest name, but the type of player we so clearly need. But, onto ratings. Reina - A good performance - couldn't stop any of the goals, made a good save from the first penalty and couldn't get the second. 6 Kelly - Very average game. No mistakes but offered little going forward. Worked hard and was visibly hurt by the scoreline. 5 Skrtel - Average game - didn't look his best, seemed weak in challenges. Very harshly judged for the second penalty. 5 Agger - The great Dane was poor yesterday, and was rightly sent off for his challenge on Long, no matter how little contact there was, or how much long was looking for it. His red started the capitulation. Besides, we shouldn't have been caught cold by Long's runs like we were. 4 Johnson - Missing for the third goal, but was understandably in attack. Bright going forwards, volleyed over a good chance in the opening minutes. 5 Lucas - Another pretty average performer yesterday, as he didn't impose himself on the midfield quite as much as we have become used to. Was very harshly booked by Dowd. Could perhaps have done more to cut out Long and West Brom's breaks, but was not to blame for the worst of the day's action. Subbed off perhaps due to his recovery process. 5 Allen - Our best performance yesterday was from a player who hasn't even trained for a week with us. Allen worked hard, made several (3) good tackles in midfield (100% accuracy) and used the ball well. For the naysayers who will no doubt say he can only pass backwards, Allen made 66/69 of his passes yesterday (96%) and only 9% were backwards. He made more passes than any other player on the pitch. If we can start to click and get goals, he will be huge for us in controlling games. Very promising start. 7 Gerrard - Sloppy and unproductive today when it mattered. Must improve and refind some of his old self. Not a disastrous day for the skipper, but not a memorable one. 4 Suarez - Bright, tricky, creative; but equally wasteful. Suarez seems to be like a coin - you flip heads and he's world class, but if you land tails he's frustrating and profligate. He missed some HUGE opportunities yesterday. 4 Borini - Struggled to get into the game. Looked a little uncomfortable in wide positions when Suarez drifted inside. Did put an effort (cross shot) just wide in the first half and produced a lovely cross in the second half that Suarez should have converted. Muted performance. 5 Downing - Struggled. Was wrongly adjudged as offside when one-on-one with the keeper in the first half, but apart from that was largely anonymous. 3 Carragher - Subbed on for Downing after Agger's red. Did little, perhaps found lacking for the third goal. 5 Cole - Managed to create a good chance for himself that Foster saved well. Subbed off with an injury. 5 Carroll - Had no time to make an impression. Booked by Dowd for the high crime of being fouled. 5 What I would say now is that we need not be completely negative. Our performance in the first half was good - but we need to finish our chances or we will be punished, whether from wonder-goals or from the penalty spot. To end on a somewhat less negative point, the first half was great. We should have scored several times. We played good football. Allen played well. We will improve. The scoreline was harsh. Surely now we will see another winger/forward arrive, or perhaps this Assaidi bloke will answer some of our problems. What a ****ing terrible day yesterday was
Cheers, I hope we get a good debate going. Yesterday was painful, the Mancs LOVED every second of it, understandably.
Yep. Worries me that Rogers said that they all worked really hard and he can't criticise any of the players? You what? They are the only ones to blame.
He can't really come out and name names though can he. Yesterday was tough, thought we were playing ok up until the goal but without much penetration other than GJ down the left. Downing pretty useless as usual and Suarez was equally wasteful (and selfish at times). Can't argue with those ratings really NI.
See this is what I like not over the top, but not blinkered by the red tinted glasses. We have to get goals, we have some time to get that player in who will get goals and we need to get him in. Another thing I would put in there is after the first goal, we looked really shaky at the back. Skrtel's 2nd pen might have been harsh but why are you dallying on the ball in the back like that? How did we get so stretched out by Shane Long for the first ( granted Skrtel slipped)? I hope the loss of Clarke does not hurt our backlines shape too much this season.
Chelsea are getting completely outplayed by Wigan, defending like they are playing Barcelona with 10 men again. But what have they done? Took their chances and lead by 2 goals in the first 10 minutes. I got a bad feeling about this season now, just can't see us with a 15+ goal scorer.
Will Borini get them? Still to be seen, and is Carroll the man? I know he needs time but we need goals and we need them sooner than later. Lisandro Lopez from Lyon is a poacher who has slipped back under the radar to look at, soldado rejected spurs but could we entice him? Negredo is in no better situation at Sevilla than we are, can he help us score the goals? Since the loss of Torres we have not replaced this.
Borini to replace Kuyt but can he get those 10 goals or so? Assaidi replaced Maxi same story, but no one has replaced Torres getting even while injured 15 goals a game and as much as we want Carroll to come good will he get those goals for us? Suarez seems to only score in Internationals, can't stop scoring for them, need to ask their coach what is the secret?
He plays on the wing for them Also he has a better understanding with both other forwards, here he works well with Borini, but neither of them have a connection with Downing, because Suarez and Borini are intricate, intelligent players, Downing just isn't either of those things and doesn't fit in.
Calm & measured appraisal NI Rev! Can only hope that Borini gets more comfortable after a few games and imposes himself on games more. He's kind of sitting in Suarez Shadow at the moment. Also in a few games time we will hopefully see Assaidi (spelling?) to add to the creativity & penetration and let Downing know he can sit on the bench for half a season if he doesn't buck his ideas up. This can on one hand take the pressure off Suarez in terms of chance creation but I'd also hope BR puts it in him to improve chance execution as its why he's paid after all. Still think we need another striker for when it's just not happening for those above. And some more quality in the full back positions; specifically the LB. I expect us to look more & more solid at the back when Lucas gets up to full speed but again it highlighted our dependence on a full strength Lucas.
Let's not forget Cavani either, miles ahead of Carroll. I wonder if we are even looking at Forwards? Or who we are looking at in general?
And I hate to do it but I hope Cole takes his time recovering. We have to pay the b*stard but i don't want to see his face again. Glass legged prick.
Thats a fair assessment, however you're going a bit easy on Gerrard, as he was dreadful. The longer the game went on..the worse he got.
What marks for Dowd? I'll be very generous and give him -643. Need a goalscorer and, whilst not wanting a scapegoat, ive up on Downing now.
Id give the entire team at least 1 mark more than you have given , we played ok 1st half with 70% possesion, and Suarez payed well and looked dangerous all game, just couldnt score.But playing well doesnt always win games,putting ball in onion bag does This could be a blessing in disguise, if FSG get " THERE OWN " cash out.We still need a striker, Damiao still hasnt been bought, now it looks like we havnt got Sahin, get Isco, top quality and cheap with Malaga selling players for fun.BUT FSG really dont wanna spend THERE OWN, spending the clubs profits no probs, there own money no way, I thought they said they wanna win If FSG DONT gete there own money I WILL GUARANTEE, we will have this situation of not being able to attract top players YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, we will have year of finishing 6th.Sort it out FSG
