Re: More Football Chat : Sat Jan 01, 2011 7:23 pm  

Lord God Jose Mourinho wrote:

They never made any mention of it in the report, but for me Joe Cole looked offside.

I'm looking forward to seeing it later, from my seat he looked miles off - practically on the goal-line.

I was hoping Bolton would win, so I was a bit miffed that they scored so I might be biased - but everyone around me was celebrating and I just said "he was offside, he must have been offside". I was halfway up the Centenary stand just to the Kop end of the pitch so had a decent view.

Very patchy game all in all, Liverpool seemed to have serious confidence issues, seeing what wasn't happening off the ball today was as telling as things going wrong on the ball - they weren't a patch on the Liverpool team I saw in the flesh in April in the Europa League semi. Despite the last minute euphoria there were plenty of grumbles from supporters on the way out, and I can't say I blame them.

Re: More Football Chat : Sat Jan 01, 2011 7:25 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Everton wont go down. If it came down to it I think they would do quite well at backs against the wall stuff. We are also one of the few teams who can win away from home.

You mention the midfield is lacking, but i don't see that. Everytime I've watched Everton this season, bar away to Man City, they have pretty much dominated general play, had more possession, corners, shots and shots on target than the opposition. That doesn't strike me as a pattern of a team lacking in midfield.

The only thing lacking with Everton is goals. Not enough of them from defense (None that I can remember bar the odd Baines free kick), not enough from midfield. Moyes doesn't seem to have any faith in any of his strikers. I think he should just pick the two (Possibly one away, but definitely two at home) and go with them. Players like Yakubu and Saha are the type that might take 6 or 7 games to score. But once they did they could then score 10 in 5 games. Playing the odd 20 minutes here and there does nothing for a forward, it's all about consistency. I feel so sorry for Beckford who is given 6 or 7 minutes then thrown in for the odd full game. It's not fair to expect him to deliver in those circumstances. Again, if Moyes thinks he's up to it, give him a long run in the side.

You have three tough Premier League games coming up next, which could determine how you finish the season; Tottenham at home, Liverpool away, and revitalized West Ham at home. I can't see Everton going down myself, Wolves, Fulham and Wigan I fear are in the most danger.

However, our win today was a great result, and from what I watched of the game we started strongly and carried on throughout. We looked a threat going forward and had a bundle of chances created on goal. Torres looked to be playing with a smile on his face, I thought Aurelio had a good game and was solid, shows you why he should be playing at left back instead of Konchesky. Gerrard was awesome, spreading the play, creating chances and then collecting two assists. Torres' goal was a brilliant well worked goal and a superb finish, Johnson played it to Gerrard with Gerrard picking out his collegue with a pint point ball for Torres to volley home about 7 yards out. Having said that, Cole's go was offside by about half a yard, a yard, I'd say, however some suspicion is that the final ball game of Johan Elmander and not Maxi, either way the goal stands and its a great win considering the performance we gave just three days ago. However, we need to kick on here and back it up with a win away at Blackburn on Wednesday.

Re: More Football Chat : Sat Jan 01, 2011 7:33 pm  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

When you say things like 'jammy European cup win' and fail to mention his other strong 'runs' in Europe with both Liverpool and Valencia, you only portray yourself as ignorant and borderline thick.

You might not agree with the way Benitez does things, you may not agree with every player he signs and you may think that the past couple of years for him are his true 'level', but his record speaks for itself and he has as good as CV as there is at the moment.

It's not as if that run to the final was some kind of amazing magical journey where everyone got beaten 5-0 by the all-conquering Liverpool. Other than beating Leverkusen and Juve, I don't recall any of the games being particularly magnificent. Or maybe remembering games is an indication of thickness? Guess you can be the judge.

As far as I can see, Benitez's successes have depended a lot on his work with Paco Ayesteran. Like Clough without Taylor, it's not quite the same.

Re: More Football Chat : Sat Jan 01, 2011 7:35 pm  

Lord God Jose Mourinho wrote:

What a ****ing baby Ferguson is.

He won't talk to the BBC because they called his shady son shady. He instantly recalls loan players from Preston because they sack the manager who has guided them to bottom place.

Oppo supporters should be singing songs about Fergie's sons every week.

All spot on. Mixing the personal and professional.

Saying that, Mancini keeps sending Platt out to speak to the Beeb and Kidd on Sky. It's a bit odd, especially when you see Crazy Tony on almost every day talking about Stoke.

Re: More Football Chat : Sat Jan 01, 2011 7:54 pm  

Urmston Wire wrote:

It's not as if that run to the final was some kind of amazing magical journey where everyone got beaten 5-0 by the all-conquering Liverpool. Other than beating Leverkusen and Juve, I don't recall any of the games being particularly magnificent. Or maybe remembering games is an indication of thickness? Guess you can be the judge.

As far as I can see, Benitez's successes have depended a lot on his work with Paco Ayesteran. Like Clough without Taylor, it's not quite the same.

Pako Ayesteran was nothing but a fitness coach.

As for our run, we were good all the way up to the final, we were less 'lucky' than the all-conquering Inter were last year, but they won't be remembered as 'jammy' winners. Dismissing somebody winning the biggest club trophy in the world as 'jammy' is an indication of thickness, particularly as he nearly repeated the feat a couple of years later.

Benitez's successes have depended a lot on having a strong board behind him that will support his every decision. His type of coaching relies heavily on fresh faces, it relies heavily on players being determined and it relies heavily on depth of squad. The moment a player becomes 'weaker' or 'slacker', Rafa wants rid, but how many boards will support a manager who wants to get rid of 5+ players every summer?

Re: More Football Chat : Sat Jan 01, 2011 7:55 pm  

In other news, come to us, Mr. Rangnick.

Re: More Football Chat : Sat Jan 01, 2011 9:10 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Everton wont go down. If it came down to it I think they would do quite well at backs against the wall stuff. We are also one of the few teams who can win away from home.

You mention the midfield is lacking, but i don't see that. Everytime I've watched Everton this season, bar away to Man City, they have pretty much dominated general play, had more possession, corners, shots and shots on target than the opposition. That doesn't strike me as a pattern of a team lacking in midfield.

The only thing lacking with Everton is goals. Not enough of them from defense (None that I can remember bar the odd Baines free kick), not enough from midfield. Moyes doesn't seem to have any faith in any of his strikers. I think he should just pick the two (Possibly one away, but definitely two at home) and go with them. Players like Yakubu and Saha are the type that might take 6 or 7 games to score. But once they did they could then score 10 in 5 games. Playing the odd 20 minutes here and there does nothing for a forward, it's all about consistency. I feel so sorry for Beckford who is given 6 or 7 minutes then thrown in for the odd full game. It's not fair to expect him to deliver in those circumstances. Again, if Moyes thinks he's up to it, give him a long run in the side.

The problem we have in midfield is that we are basically a poor man's Arsenal - All pretty passing from side to side, but absolutely zero penetration, bar Baines's crosses from the left, which, if the opposition do their homework correctly, can be successfully foiled.

We lack pace, a killer pass and, most importantly, a leader in the middle of the park.

I agree that its doubtful we will be relegated, I was pointing out that I don't think there are definitely 3 sides worse than us....Similarly though, I struggle to see a great number of teams who are a lot better than us either.

Ultimately, the league is very tight from top to bottom and it worries me massively, that our lack of firepower and midfield penetration could leave us in great peril.

Re: More Football Chat : Sat Jan 01, 2011 10:26 pm  

Dita's Slot Meter wrote:

we are basically a poor man's Arsenal

Superb. That is how I see it too. Very attractive moves at times but as penetrating as an inflatable sword.

Re: More Football Chat : Sat Jan 01, 2011 11:26 pm  

Awful display by Utd today but three very big points.

Re: More Football Chat : Sat Jan 01, 2011 11:37 pm  

Wire_85 wrote:

We're Man United, we'll do what we want.

*cringe*