Liverpool FC Forum

[whylongball?]

I wouldnt call him world class yet.....he needs to be a lot more consistent in terms of scoring

WTF? He's got the best ratio for minutes played out of any of our strikers, not his fault he doesn't get enough games.

Anyway, my view on the match:

Reina (6) - Didn't have too much to do, but dealt with problems when they arose. Can't be blamed for the goal.

Aurelio (7) - Looked a lot more like the player I thought we were buying in the summer, some brilliant crosses, not to mention the free kick, but most importantly more defensively sound than I've seen him all season.

Carragher (6) - Quiet by his standards, but then again did any of our defenders have much to do? Pulled off a vital challenge against Adebayor, can't blame him that they didn't cause us many problems.

Agger (7) - Not sure if he actually knew too much about the goal, it didn't even seem to change direction after he touched it. Same as JC, not a lot to do, but an extra point for the goal.

Arbeloa (8 ) - Well, Carra's said it, and I agree with him. This guy's gonna be a first team regular. Sublime cross for the first, defensively sound, and always a threat going forward. So glad we got him rather than that muppet Neill, just goes to show second choice can be best sometimes.

Gonzalez (6) - Same as the rest of the season, great in patches, but overall not a quality performance. I really think Rafa did the wrong thing talking him up so much before he arrived. Not jumping on the 'get rid of him' bandwagon, as I think he will improve vastly, he is showing glimpses of what he can do, but not there yet. Brilliant first time cross in the first half though.

Alonso (5) - Went missing for most of the game. I commented to my mate on thirty odd minutes that it was the first time I'd heard a commentator mention his name. Definately one of his worse games.

Mascherano (9) - What a difference a new club can make! I was encouraged by is debut, but this was a spectacular performance. Much as Alonso wasn't mentioned, Mascherano was involved in near enough every build up. Excellent performance, great tackling, great passing, very encouraged for the future.

Pennant (7) - Another player who stepped up to the mark today. Back heel for the first - Absolutely magnificent. This lad is starting to look better & better, he put in a couple of lovely crosses today, definately looked like he had a point to prove after being left out of the England squad, and who better to do it against?

Gerrard (6) - Looked jaded, after his performance against Andorra, who can blame him? Should have probably buried the only decent chance he had, probably didn't realise that a touch would've completely wrong footed Gallas.

Crouch (10) - What can I say? Whenever you doubt Crouchinho, he's there to prove you wrong. The perfect hatrick, one with his left, right & head. The first & third were brilliant, but the second was probably the most important for him, considering the stick he's had over his aerial ability. F#ck knows what treatment they gave you Crouchy, but it seems to have strengthened your neck muscles.

Just a hat trick and u think he's world class?
He is very good and still can improve a lot especially with his heading but it takes a lot more to be world class imho.
Thiery Herry is world class..someone who performs week in week out, from year to year...
Btw, was it his first hat trick for liverpool?

[Lucky]

How random can you get ? Here i was reading all the posts on how brilliant we were against Arsenal
then all of a sudden it becomes a full on fruit discussion !!

You're right. This thread should continue focusing on our glamourous victory over arsenal. Sorry for the interval.

[club_Levis]

[Crouch (10) - What can I say? Whenever you doubt Crouchinho, he's there to prove you wrong. The perfect hatrick, one with his left, right & head. The first & third were brilliant, but the second was probably the most important for him, considering the stick he's had over his aerial ability. F#ck knows what treatment they gave you Crouchy, but it seems to have strengthened your neck muscles.

Just a hat trick and u think he's world class?
He is very good and still can improve a lot especially with his heading but it takes a lot more to be world class imho.
Thiery Herry is world class..someone who performs week in week out, from year to year...
Btw, was it his first hat trick for liverpool?[/quote]
First for LFC & probably in his career. He was brilliant yesterday though.We still need a world class striker for us to have any hope of lifting the EPL trophy.

[tubby]

What were Arsne Wengers comments after the game i never saw the highlights.

[EddieC]

Just a hat trick and u think he's world class?
He is very good and still can improve a lot especially with his heading but it takes a lot more to be world class imho.
Thiery Herry is world class..someone who performs week in week out, from year to year...
Btw, was it his first hat trick for liverpool?

To be fair, I never said he was 'world class' nor do I believe him to be. I simply stated that every time people put him down or write him off he seems to answer them in perfect fashion. I do feel though that he is definately worth keeping, I can't think of a player who can hold the ball up & bring others into play like he can. Considering the type of player he is, to have a ratio of 0.42 goals per game isn't bad at all in my book, which incidentally is the best ratio at the club. Unfortunately whatever he does isn't gonna be enough for some small minded people who can't see past the fact that he doesn't look like a footballer and realise that he's actually a decent player.

[Ace Ventura]

A few people have mentioned the system used yesterday and i really agree with what the majority are saying, Rafa seems to like this formation, it is solid and compact when we dont have the ball (one of the bosses major priorities) but it also allows us to counter quickly, with better wide players that system could be fantastic.
Imagine Ribery and Quaresma (just examples) on either wing, we would pose so much more threat and having the protection of Alonso and Mascherano behind them it genuinley would cause any side problems.

                    Reina

Finnan      Carragher  Agger    Aurellio

               Alonso   Mascherano
Quaresma                               Ribery
                     Gerrard

                      Crouch

I said in my previous posts that both full backs impressed massivley yesterday and i believe that was down to the protection of Xabi and Masher allowing them more freedom, at times Eboue and Clichy didnt know who to pick up and it worked a treat.
If Gerrard hadnt played a massive part in midweek for England it could of been even worse for Arsenal because he was picking up the ball in the areas where you want to see him have it, but looked jaded.

Arsenal were poor and missing there two best strikers so maybe we are getting a little carried away.
But if you cant get carried away after demolishing one of the fellow big sides so convincingly when can you ?

[Ace Ventura]

double post

[Smeg]

Great game, Crouch was very good. But please lets not get carried away and start thinking we can build a title winning team around Crouch.

Why not ?

He will never be clinical enough with his chances. Simple. Did you watch the bolton game? or blackburn away? or utdd at home? Generally he gets plenty of chances at home but doesnt take enough.

There isnt alot wrong wit how we play now, we just need a really top draw striker and we'll almost be there. If kewell gets fit then weve got him and pennant wide, someone up top with Kuyt or Bellamy and gerrard and alonso in the middle.

Depends on kewell's fitness like, but we might need another left midfielder as gonzalez will never be good enough.

So, a new striker, gerrard in the middle against most teams, and move heaven and earth for Alvez if he leaves. Roll on number 19 

[Alanay]

It was an excellent performance!

[shanks72]

Who'd have thought Crouchie would get a hat trick!   Nice One!!

A VERY pleasant win..and (even though my dad's an Arsenal fan) I'm glad we slaughtered them!

[whylongball?]

Just a hat trick and u think he's world class?
He is very good and still can improve a lot especially with his heading but it takes a lot more to be world class imho.
Thiery Herry is world class..someone who performs week in week out, from year to year...
Btw, was it his first hat trick for liverpool?

To be fair, I never said he was 'world class' nor do I believe him to be. I simply stated that every time people put him down or write him off he seems to answer them in perfect fashion. I do feel though that he is definately worth keeping, I can't think of a player who can hold the ball up & bring others into play like he can. Considering the type of player he is, to have a ratio of 0.42 goals per game isn't bad at all in my book, which incidentally is the best ratio at the club. Unfortunately whatever he does isn't gonna be enough for some small minded people who can't see past the fact that he doesn't look like a footballer and realise that he's actually a decent player.

right u didn't state he's worldclass...neither did i put him down for once.
I think he is best at what he's doing which is the link up play (no one else does it better imo). What we need now is Eto or someone who can score lots of goals.
And i agree with you on keeping him. He's actually so good with his technique. Could have scored another goal with his scissor kick!!

[luvliverpool]

FANTASTIC result........I am well chuffed..........we stuck it right on them

[Jimenez]

Weve got quality on the left after all. Fabio was just magnificent. He was essential in this game, shame he couldnt score, it was still a great performance. Great defending, too, he links up pretty well with Gonzalez, as seen in the Lincoln City friendly. . MOTM for me together with Crouch.


Im surprised with the Gonzalez negativity here. He contributed little in the first half, except for the cross and the header to set up Crouch. But he was on fire in the second half. I counted 3 or more potential assists, and , he schooled Eboue in speed after taking the ball from Fabregas and delivered a good cross, unlike at Arsenal away.Great performance? Nope. Disapointing? Far from it.

[stmichael]

Great performance and result on Saturday. I've read a bit of the thread and there does seem to be a big difference in the opinions of people who watch it on the box compared to those who went. I'll tell you how I saw it.

1. Gonzalez was very very poor again. His confidence seems low and I'd much rather see Riise at left midfield, despite his limitations.

2. Mascherano had an excellent game, breaking up so much play it was a fine defensive midfielders performance. If he plays that well tomorrow then we won't miss Momo one bit.

3. Jermaine Pennant was a constant threat, although he does need to calm himself down when decisions don't go his way, as he runs around like a loon for the next five minutes. I've stated many times that I like the kid and i can see something in him, even though he has a cocky attitude. He's come on leaps and bound since christmas imo.

4. Excellent all round performance from Crouch. One of the best "lone striker" performances I've seen in a very long time. Whatever anyone says about the lad, that's 16 goals in 24 starts this season which is right up there with the very best. Having said that, I still don't think Rafa will start him against PSV tomorrow.

5. Aurelio will be a major asset for us if he stays fit and could well make the left back spot his own next season. Fantastic balls in for the second and third goals. For Crouch's header, Riise would have smashed a shot over the bar from 40 yards. Arbeloa played well aswell.

All in all a very good display even if Arsenal weren't at the races. I have to say though, having watched them on Saturday, I think Fabregas needs three months off from playing football. The guy looked absolutely knackered. And as for Baptista, how the guy scored 4 against us in the Carling Cup I'll never know.

[whylongball?]

Gonzalez was very very poor again. His confidence seems low and I'd much rather see Riise at left midfield, despite his limitations.

i could tell that from watching  TV