Liverpool FC Forum

[metalhead]

What was Diop doing?


It looked like he was trying to fly like Superman or Supergirl.

You probably noticed how at some point Diop faced Alonso like asking something and Alonso made gestures like "go away idiot".

The actual conversation was: I want to be the Liverpool Goalie.

Alonso didn't deem the proposition serious.

Then Diop tried to prove himself as a keeper in that play.

Alonso wasn't really interested in what Dioup wanted to say

[NANNY RED]

:laugh:  Im killin meself laughin here did anyone see Rooneys head on match of the day

Before I started laughing my head off, for some reason I started singing "Hey now, your an all star!" 

What a he looks  Bald as a cout 

[Kharhaz]

[Sabre]

If you look at Bad Bob's match  info thread, you'll see a stat that says "Passing success" and the wise stats say today it was 84 or 83.

If you look the game of Chelsea, the passing success is 83.

IMHO, every one would agree our passing was way better the other day and against a better opposition, today passes were more dull. So, I never really understood some of these in match stats like passing success or territorial advantage. Even posession stat doesn't tell me a lot, in Stamford Bridge we hadn't more posession than today what it was more quality.

If anyone thinks this stats are useful somehow, I'd want to know their opinion! the fact is that those numbers are included in the analysis of every footie site, so they must have some meaning?

[metalhead]

Rafael Benitez reflected on the 1-0 win over Portsmouth and admitted he always had belief that his team would score after another late show at Anfield.

Steven Gerrard's 75th minute penalty kept the Reds top of the Barclays Premier League and the boss felt it was important his team kept up their winning momentum after Sunday's triumph at Chelsea.

"Clearly the win was more important than the performance," said Benitez. "After the victory against Chelsea it was important to get the three points tonight.

"We changed four players and still won the game and the message for the squad and everyone is we can make changes and still win. We used players with different qualities and we always had belief we would score.

"Portsmouth are a good team and we needed to be patient and keep passing the ball and creating opportunities. Being patient was the key word for us tonight.

"Everybody could see Portsmouth were defending well and they had a lot of bodies behind the ball so it was not easy to find the space. So we had to be precise with our final pass.

"We were very dominant in the first half and controlled the game. We had our chances and we regained the ball quickly.

"I thought the second half was more open and at the end we were a little nervous because they were playing a lot of long balls up to Crouch.

"I don't remember Pepe having a shot to save. Okay, we won the game with a penalty but we had other chances."

Despite seeing his team remain three points clear of nearest rivals Chelsea at the top of the Barclays Premier League, Benitez claimed he's taking nothing for granted.

"We will try to be at the top of the table for a long time but our idea as always is to think about one game at a time and the next three points," said the boss.

Benitez also revealed that Robbie Keane and Albert Riera were on the bench as a precaution because they were both nursing knocks from the weekend.

"Keane and Riera had some problems and were a little bit tired so I wanted to protect them," he added.

---------

I dont like the bold part bit

[Kharhaz]

"We were very dominant in the first half and controlled the game. We had our chances and we regained the ball quickly."

But from this we can take a positive. Ive noticed this season how hard the midfielders and attackers are harrasing the opposition when they have the ball to enforce mistakes. The attacking players especially. This I like very much, as it shows more effort to get the result and work for a good result.

[Sabre]

I don't think it's a defiant message to tell everybody that he's going to start a massive rotation campaign Metalhead.

I think it's more a message for some players to tell them they still can be part of the team and they will have the odd chance to show it.

[metalhead]

I don't think it's a defiant message to tell everybody that he's going to start a massive rotation campaign Metalhead.

I think it's more a message for some players to tell them they still can be part of the team and they will have the odd chance to show it.

Hopefully sabre.

[RUSHIE#9]

That must be the shittiest win we've had this season.!!

But a win is a win.

The team selection was frustrating but required I think. After two very tough games in succession away from home there were bound to be a few tired limbs in the squad. What was frustrating was the amount of changes from Rafa and I think that showed in the disjointed performance.

The back four looked like a well oiled machine as usual, but that was the only department that didn't undergo vast changes.
I thought prior to the game Sami might come into the team to deal with the inevitable aerial balls that would be put in for Crouchie. It was a good move by Rafa as he nullified the aerial route and threatened a fair bit at their end.

Midfield looked very disjointed at times to me. Lucas was okay but he really does look out of his depth in the premier league at times. Alonso and Gerrard looked like their usual steady selves but Pennant provided very little quality for me. Babel looked alright on the left but compared to Riera he has a long way to go to be considered a regular starter.

Up front Kuyt seemed to struggle against an admittedly well parked team bus. At times the anxious goal-shy striker of the past 12 months returned. The incident were he got tangled up with Xabi illustrated this perfectly. He had some very good chances but spurned most of them.

AS for the penalty, all that can be said is WTF was that Diop thinking??
Answer, who gives a flying fook, he handed us (literally) the three points and our march to the 19th league title in our 116 year history can continue. 

[shanks72]

:laugh:  Im killin meself laughin here did anyone see Rooneys head on match of the day

I was well surprised.....didnt know he'd had it done.


Anyways...only saw a few highlights of our match....

but Kuyt looked good and Benayoun. I really like Benayoun as a player.

It's hard to gage a lot from just the highlights tho.

Seen abit more since and Gerrard looked as amazing as ever!

[DanAn]

I thought Hyypia put in a sound performance, I just thought Gerrard was the best player on the pitch tonight by some distance. He was at the forefront of every dangerous opening. A couple of excellent through-balls for Benayoun and Kuyt (one which resulted in our best opportunity), he was always looking to get on the ball and set someone up or get the strike in. I didn't think Hyypia coming in changed the game in any significant way.

I wouldn't be so sure about Babel as a second striker either, he hasn't enough awareness, his first touch isn't good enough, and he's not the type of player to link up play in and around the box. He's a very good impact player though.

I can understand Gerrard as MOM he was definitely pulling all the strings in attack but to then to argue Hyypia didn't change the game in any significant way, that leaves me scratching my head. He was directly responsible for the penalty and it wasn't a fluke, we saw how close he came on the other side. I think Diop was desperate, saw Hyypia was going to have another chance, and cracked under the pressure. He may not of been in everything like Gerrard but I would argue he was almost the difference between a win and a draw.

Re: Babel fair enough. I agree with the limitations you've mentioned, I just think his strength, pace and powerful shot offers more than Benayoun against the Portmouth defence. Mind you Benayoun is my least favourite player at Liverpool so perhaps I am bias.

[Dalglish]

I went to the game and Kuyt was his usual hard working self and probably one of the better players on a tough night but if your going to challenge for the title then you have to grind out a few results along the way and Portsmouth are 6th or 7th which surprised me.

I watched the game and thought Gerard was quiet. Then I get home and watch the highlights on MOTD and realise he is instrumental in most everything we create so what do I know ! 

Pennent provided yet more evidence that at this level he just isn't cutting it. He may not have wanted a transfer to Stoke or Blackburn but he isn't exactly playing himself out of the January transfer window !  

Crouch got a decent welcome at the start of the 2nd half with the KOP singing his song as did James.

Another 3pts in a game which in past seasons we may well have only taken the 1pt.

Saturday at Spurs should prove interesting and if we win that one then we can really push on with a home game against WBA the following week..........

Walk on

[DanAn]

The team selection was frustrating but required I think. After two very tough games in succession away from home there were bound to be a few tired limbs in the squad. What was frustrating was the amount of changes from Rafa and I think that showed in the disjointed performance.

The back four looked like a well oiled machine as usual, but that was the only department that didn't undergo vast changes.
I thought prior to the game Sami might come into the team to deal with the inevitable aerial balls that would be put in for Crouchie. It was a good move by Rafa as he nullified the aerial route and threatened a fair bit at their end.

Midfield looked very disjointed at times to me. Lucas was okay but he really does look out of his depth in the premier league at times. Alonso and Gerrard looked like their usual steady selves but Pennant provided very little quality for me. Babel looked alright on the left but compared to Riera he has a long way to go to be considered a regular starter.

Up front Kuyt seemed to struggle against an admittedly well parked team bus. At times the anxious goal-shy striker of the past 12 months returned. The incident were he got tangled up with Xabi illustrated this perfectly. He had some very good chances but spurned most of them.

AS for the penalty, all that can be said is WTF was that Diop thinking??
Answer, who gives a flying fook, he handed us (literally) the three points and our march to the 19th league title in our 116 year history can continue. 

Spot on Rushie.

I think this was a game where rotations were needed but I am in agreement that it showed up in our play. It was a lot of changes but all of them except possibly Masch for Lucas were with good reason I suspect.

I know what you mean about Lucas, too me he looks nervous which hopefully he will settle with more game time.

Riera has been a savior for us IMO. I have been thinking all season we need a RB but now I am starting to think that if we could get someone like Riera on the RW the we would be a much stronger team.

I have top say I a very happy with the team though. I have massive confidence that nobody can. It's just the draws I am worry about.

[LFC2007]

I thought Hyypia put in a sound performance, I just thought Gerrard was the best player on the pitch tonight by some distance. He was at the forefront of every dangerous opening. A couple of excellent through-balls for Benayoun and Kuyt (one which resulted in our best opportunity), he was always looking to get on the ball and set someone up or get the strike in. I didn't think Hyypia coming in changed the game in any significant way.

I wouldn't be so sure about Babel as a second striker either, he hasn't enough awareness, his first touch isn't good enough, and he's not the type of player to link up play in and around the box. He's a very good impact player though.

I can understand Gerrard as MOM he was definitely pulling all the strings in attack but to then to argue Hyypia didn't change the game in any significant way, that leaves me scratching my head. He was directly responsible for the penalty and it wasn't a fluke, we saw how close he came on the other side. I think Diop was desperate, saw Hyypia was going to have another chance, and cracked under the pressure. He may not of been in everything like Gerrard but I would argue he was almost the difference between a win and a draw.

Re: Babel fair enough. I agree with the limitations you've mentioned, I just think his strength, pace and powerful shot offers more than Benayoun against the Portmouth defence. Mind you Benayoun is my least favourite player at Liverpool so perhaps I am bias.

He was a threat in the air on a couple of occasions, but that's par for the course from him and I certainly didn't think his presence was anything like as significant as Gerrard's over the course of the match. Regarding the penalty decision: He went in for the header as he always does, but was the penalty decision more a result of his presence or more a result of a superman impression by Diop? I think it was the latter; an inexplicable act that you don't see very often, a gift if you like. Perhaps his presence was of partial significance at that stage in the match, but the point was; over the course of the game, Gerrard's influence was more significant to the way in which we played and ultimately to the result. He drove us on so we could actually get corners from which to threaten, he even provided the corners! He set the platform which enabled us to win, and for me that's why he was our most important player on the night. And besides, Agger's good on the deck, so who's to say Agger wouldn't have played some part in going forward had he played?

Gerrard was far more instrumental over the course of the game (not least because he's a midfielder and not a CB). He drove us forward at every opportunity, he created great chances for Benayoun and Kuyt in particular, and as you say, he pulled the strings.

[Toffeehater]

James also denied us a few times , made up 3 hard earned points , no doubt my mates will say we were lucky but them