by JBG » Tue Aug 23, 2005 10:25 pm
My thoughts:
Carson: didn't have much to do but did extremely well with what came at him. Their goal was almost impossible to save. An exciting prospect.
Finnan: reasonably sound defensively, but rarely got forward. When he did he looked lively, but looked tired at times tonight.
Warnock: an ok performance. Solid enough, but didn't really get forward and was conservative with his use of the ball.
Hyppia: played reasonably well, although went through a ten minute spell after they scored their goal where he and Josemi looked uneasy.
Josemi: middling enough. Had a shaky spell mid way through the first half where he was very square and flat alongside Hyppia, and made one rash challenge in midfield that led to a dangerous attack. Looked more comfortable in the second half. Good use of the ball but is prone to losing concentration.
Hamman: disappointing performance and looked off the pace.
Sissoko: yet another promising performance and I will go as far as saying that Momo is potentially a Liverpool legend in the making. Has it all: power, pace, energy, strength, decent on the ball. Looks a bit raw at times and will have disciplinary problems as he goes to ground easily, but he'll learn to control that. Our best player tonight.
Riise: threatened the opposition but looked a bit lax and complacent at times.
Potter: got a hell of a lot of the ball in the first half but does not have the ability or confidence to do anything threatening with it. I don't rate this player and he's not good enough for the first team.
Djbril Cisse: looked dangerous at the start and for a while he and Nando gelled, but was cast adrift in the second half and barely got a sniff.
Morientes: Not his worst game for Liverpool but rarely excited. Was guilty of over elaboration and does not look sharp enough at present to make the kind of impact he made at Monaco.
Subs:
Luis Garcia: made little impact when he came on. Messes and farts about too much. I don't really rate Garcia that highly as he is too much of a sloppy off the cuff footballer to my liking although he is a valuable squad member as he can contribute - occasionally - a moment of magic.
Bolo Zenden: did ok, and did some good things, but so far for Liverpool he has not put in a performance any better than Vladi Smicer. I think he's a useful squad player, however.
Pongolle: not on long enough to rate.
Jolly Bob Grumbine.