Liverpool FC Forum

by **A.B.** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 11:08 pm

The most horrible game played at home this season.

We had so much of the possession and only got one goal out of it. Much of the first half we spent passing the ball around and created almost nothing in the box.

Second-half was a bit better, continued to control the game but still gave Pompey some hope of getting something out of this game. Scored and after we scored we fell asleep. All of our players stopped fighting for the ball and gave Pompey room, deep down inside I had a feeling that this wasn't over. We should had finished them off but we took the foot of the pedal and let in a horrible goal.

We got a taste of our own medicine, letting in a goal in the last seconds of the game. Arsenal,Manchester United,Southampton,Newcastle and now us have all bottled it at the very last few minutes of the game.

Ratings:

Dudek:: did not have much to do but the goal he let in was simply awful. 6/10

Traore:: fought for the ball but gave much of it away, below average passing, good replacement but not good enough to start. 6.5/10

Carragher:: simply solid. 7.7/10

Finnan:: did a better job than Josemi, solid for the most part. 7/10

Hyypia:: could had done better at the end as his lack of pace gave Lua Lua the chance to head the ball into the goal. 6.7/10

Nunez:: had two or three chances to score, got involved some good and some average crosses, needs more time to get used to the pace of the game. 6.7/10

Hamann:: did a good job protecting the back four, attacked more than usual. 7.5/10

Gerrard:: apart from the goal he made chances for others and for himself but not his best performance. 8/10

Alonso:: made good passes but was often too quiet. 7.7/10

Kewell:: improving and improving, getting more involved in the game, taking chances when he has them, one of his best performances this season. 7.7/10

Baros:: worked hard but his poor first touch let him down most of the time. 6.5/10

Overall: performance was simply not good enough, should had finished it off.

by **mrcool2003** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 11:16 pm

i agree there, was a poor performance, especially the first half, we seem to only play half a match every match thats the problem

by **A.B.** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 11:21 pm

The problem was lack of hunger. We looked slow and tired especially at the end of the second-half. I think the win over Olympiakos has cost us a total of 6 possible points in the Premiership. This game should had been put away or at least more pressure added.

by **XSD** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 11:23 pm

5 points in our last 4 prem games - ****** dismal.

And just to point out the obvious:
15 points behind Chelski (out of the title race in Decembre again)
11 points behind Everton (the blueshite for gods sake!)
10 points behind Arsenal
6 behind the scum, who are probably laughing (6 points behind Champions league as well right now)
4 points behind Middlesboro (ahem, middleswho?)

This isn't good enough, not at all. I thought we had learnt how to handle the smaller clubs at Anfield now, but we were awful 1st half, and missed too many chances when they came, like usual.

by **A.B.** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 11:26 pm

Inconsistency strikes again. One step forward, two steps back.

by **Gareth G** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 12:27 am

It wasnt really a poor performance, yes in terms of shooting and goal oportunities it was, i agree we need to start being more lethal in front of goal, but with a lone striker it aint gonna happen. Playing one up is very difficult for players to find passes that will rip open defences, it is one less person to pass to. However it was nice to see some very crisp passing and Hamann, Alonso and Gerrard were absolutly awesome together tonight in my opinion.

Portsmouths goal is being put down as a goalkeeping error, not really in my eyes though. The way i see it was Dudek was in the correct position as he was anticipating the cross, it was only when the cross was fluffed and was heading towards goal the Dudek had to scamper across to cover it, he done exeptionally well to keep that initial cross / shot out in the first place. The commentators said he should have palmed it else were, but as an ex keeper i know exactly what Dudek was doing...he had no time to think were he could palm it, if he had of thought about that he would have been picking the ball out of the net from that action. All in all he didnt have much to do, but what he did he looked very good, its unfair to blame him for the goal!

Why is no one signaling out 6.ft odds Sami Hyppia for not winning a header against 5.ft odds Lualua?

I think this is a case of people overreacting about our keeper situation if im honest.

No one ever seems to spot the positives in our games, for me our passing was a joy to watch tonight and its very promising the way our central midfield unit played, also a big shout out to Harry, thought he played well tonight and i could see his confidence rising once he heard the reaction of the Kop applauding his shots. Hes getting there slowly.

Again, im not too impressed with Nunez. He hasnt really got himself involved too much in any of our games so far.

I cant really fault the back four bar some stray passes by Traore, thought they all played well.

Baros, usual self, run his socks off but he needs to be paired with someone as i said above...especially giving his recent return from a hamstring injury, but much to be asking him to play on his own. I think Pongolle desrves a run out with him for a few games.

Overall, i think we are in need of maximum points from our next few games.

by **A.B.** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 12:33 am

Kop well said. Dudek wasn't really to blame but I think he could had done better, Hyypia let us down he didn't mark Lua Lua correctly. Kewell had one of his better games today, he's improving in every game and it's good to see that.

Step by step we go up the table. Is it easy? No but can we do it? Of course, we're LFC.

by **Gareth G** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 12:57 am

I suppose he could of maybe tipped it over, but his foremost concern would have been keeping the ball out from the cross...if i was Dudek i would have been thinking keep this out and where ever it goes is a bonus, unfortunately it turned out to be a bonus for Lualua too!

by **Gareth G** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 1:00 am

Just been on the Liverpool site, Benitez is refusing to blame Dudek for the goal.

by **jymbojetset** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 1:04 am

A.B. wrote:Step by step we go up the table. Is it easy? No but can we do it? Of course, we're LFC.

Good point, slow but sure we'll get there.

AB as you pointed out in other thread - not much positivity arround, but just look at the people posting now, the ones who can see the positives in tonights performance. These are the ones who's opinion are the first you look at in a post. i.e. yourself, St Mike, LFC etc - ALL to a man seeing the positives. (Sorry forgot to add kop in there as well!)

I'm not saying to look through rose tinted glasses, but agreeing with you that yes things are slowly (very slowly) getting better.

I don't think its one step forward and two back, its the other way arround. Come the end of the season, we'll be in the top 3.

YNWA

by **Stan Laurel** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 1:05 am

It was disappointed game, we could have done better tonight.

I am worried about Hyypia, he doesn't looked good to me anymore and Nunez had a poor game, but I will give Nunez more time to settle it.

by **Paul C** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 1:11 am

Just got back from Anfield, the match was ******, first half no one ran off the ball and they were just walking round, second half was better but as usual we couldn't kill the game :angry:

by **A.B.** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 2:43 am

Just got back from Anfield, the match was ******, first half no one ran off the ball and they were just walking round, second half was better but as usual we couldn't kill the game

No I think this was the first time that we couldn't kill off the opposition at home. The amount of games we've played in a week must had some effect on the players.

by **LFC #1** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 3:39 am

first half was dire, big improvement in the second hald, but we still lack firepower up front and have to rely on 30 yaard screamers to score goals at the moment.

disappointing to give a goal way in the 90th minute, 1-1 at home to pompey isn't good enough - here's to an improved performance against Newcastle.

by **kazza** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 9:25 am

KOP-1892 wrote:Just been on the Liverpool site, Benitez is refusing to blame Dudek for the goal.

Raffa actually said "I did not see it, I'll have to see it again on video" When he does he probably will blame Dudek.

You are right about Hypia though, he should have dealt with Lua Lua.

The lack of consistency in the team is worrying.

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