Liverpool FC Forum

A.B. wrote:

BarryBelfast wrote:

A.B. wrote:Can't help but to think that Reina would had saved all those three goals.

And some people doubt his quality

Lets kill Dudek then?

Better yet, sell him while we still can.

Redman in wales wrote:

Lando_Griffin wrote:It may have escaped everyone's attention, but Arsenal had THEIR reserve 'keeper in goal aswell.

Don't blame Rafa for a truely sh*tty display by an International Goalkeeper. There's only so much a manager can do in those situations.

I think if today has highlighted anything about the team, it's our lack of pace along the back line. With Sami being phased out, the other defenders just do not have the ability to read a situation like the big Finn, so they NEED pace to come out on top.

I also re-iterate that Riise just is not good enough to play at left back, especially against swift wingers.

I thought Pennant was pretty good again, and looks to have gained some confidence from the Bolton game.

The others were pretty much their usual selves, with the obvious exceptions playing badly.

Special mention to the Kop aswell. Impeccable support. Whoever sorts these things out deserves a knighthood.

i agree with lando in most points there.

reading through all the drivel on here there are a few points to make.

1. Dudek
dudek played because he is a good international keeper, because he was promised to play in the cup games and to give reina a rest.

the goals were not soley his fault. yes he could have done more to save them, but when was the last time he played against quality opposition? - he was not match fit. his reflexes were slower than usual as he isn't playing regular football against top class opposition. Poor defending, ball watching, and a simple mistake by carra were just as much to blame as dudek. don't make him a scapegoat for the defeat.

I feel that it was his reaction time and positioning that cost him, but they were a result of not playing regularly.

and as lando mentioned, arsenal had their reserve keeper in goal as well. - and how much did we test him? - 2, yep, TWO shots on target (according to SSN anyway)

2. substitutions
The only bit that puzzels me to be honest. maureen is well documented for making bold substitutions when all is not going well, and quite often it pays off. Why bellers didnt get on the pitch i dont know - if he wasnt fit then fowler should have been on the bench, and if fowler wasn't fit, then el zahr or lindfield could have been on the bench as an attacking option. then we could also have been daring and bring on a striker for a midfielder, or a midfielder for a defender.

I can only assume that as arsenal were defending so deep, rafa thought this would nulify one of craigs main attributes (his speed and hanging off the shoulder of the last man) - so he decideded to keep crouch and kuyt on (who imho, did the best they could in that situation)

That second half would have been ideal for robbie, but sadly being 4th choice has its downsides.

3. this is the same liverpool squad that after beating bolton, many people were saying we can finish 2nd or even 1st

make your minds up!

when we beat bolton, two threads were started about how we could finish 2nd... and some said even 1st. this is the same squad that lost to arsenal , and now everyone claims we're sh.it, criticising crouch, risse, garcia etc

basically everyone loses sometime. thats football. you can not win every game. look at the second half again. the lads gave it their all, but could not find a way through an arsenal back 4, well a back 8 really,  because they were sitting so deep and were quite content to have 10men behind the ball. - its a good tactic, and one we've used on many occasion in knockout tournaments.

we lost against one of the top 4 sides in the country, and arguably the best pure footballing side in the prem. deal with it.

alxy wrote:here's the bad news.... from www.liverpool.tv:

Rafael Benitez explained the reason Jerzy Dudek replaced Pepe Reina in goal against Arsenal was down to a promise he made the Pole at the start of the season.
The Liverpool manager told Dudek he would start in the domestic cup games for Liverpool this season. The Istanbul hero missed the Carling Cup 3rd round win over Reading due to suspension but played in the 4th round win at Birmingham.

"At the start of the season I told Jerzy that Pepe was the number one goalkeeper but I made a promise to him that he would play in the Carling Cup and FA Cup. Once you make a promise you don't go back on your word.

"I thought he did okay against Arsenal and he didn't really have a lot to do besides the goals."



This means Dudek is back on goal for the Carling Cup as well? I hope Rafa's obligation to LFC means more than his commitment to one poorly performing individual. Yes, Jerzy might appreciate one attempt at making up for his bad game yesterday, but what's the point? We're not going to hold on to him so better to start Reina and dump Jerzy this transfer window.

Nothing against Jerzy though. He gave us the Champion's League. But like Djimi, thanks for the memories and time we moved on....

A noble gesture but a silly decision.  We were holders of the FA Cup and the competition's always going to throw up some significant opposition.  You need to play your best team and that includes your in-form #1 keeper, not the lad rusting on the bench.  I really respect Rafa as a manager but this decision is shocking.

Let's just hope he made Robbie a similar promise regarding the league cup.