Liverpool FC Forum

by **account deleted by request** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:37 pm

I didn't watch the game, but its obvious to me that Rafa got his team selection, tactics and subs spot on. We went at them from the off and created chance after chance against a shaken and demoralised Arsenal. Our attacking formation and the way we threw bodies forward took Arsenal completely by surprise, and once it was clear that we were still struggling to find the net Rafa quickly adjusted the team and brought on his first subs...... what a manager! Like I said........... I didn't see the game

by **tubby** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 1:51 pm

s@int wrote:I didn't watch the game, but its obvious to me that Rafa got his team selection, tactics and subs spot on. We went at them from the off and created chance after chance against a shaken and demoralised Arsenal. Our attacking formation and the way we threw bodies forward took Arsenal completely by surprise, and once it was clear that we were still struggling to find the net Rafa quickly adjusted the team and brought on his first subs...... what a manager! Like I said........... I didn't see the game

Actually id say Rafa DID get his tactics right. The goal was a lapse in concentration that probably wouldn't have happened if Carra not gone off. We were toothless up front but so were they for the most part.

by **heimdall** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 1:58 pm

s@int wrote:I didn't watch the game, but its obvious to me that Rafa got his team selection, tactics and subs spot on. We went at them from the off and created chance after chance against a shaken and demoralised Arsenal. Our attacking formation and the way we threw bodies forward took Arsenal completely by surprise, and once it was clear that we were still struggling to find the net Rafa quickly adjusted the team and brought on his first subs...... what a manager! Like I said........... I didn't see the game

As said I didn't see the game as I was out on a date, sorry about that bungle but you do know there is life outside of football, don't you? :Oo:

I have no idea how I managed to annoy you Bungle by coming on here, admitting I didn't see the game and politely asking how we did, and people call me an enigma. BTW I do manage to watch most games so relax I do kind of know what I'm talking about.

by **mkingdom** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:01 pm

Ngog was very poor last night.

Obvious and easy to say but Torres would have put that chance away, rather than dithering over it and letting Gallas get the tackle in.

Babel looked "at it" when he came on, and we must give him a go up front instead of Ngog next game.

It is well documented, but with the likes of Torres and Benny to return, we are looking more like our old selves and they can only improve the side.

Losing at Arsenal is no real surprise or shame for any team, but we were unlucky not to get a point, with Babel's shot and the blatant handball on the final whistle.

Very frustrating, and we are paying the price for not having a proven back up for Torres....again/still.

by **Reg** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:50 pm

Bottom line is we had sufficient opportunities in the first half to have slotted a couple and killed the game.

In the second half we were on the back foot and it was fairly inevitable they were going to score.

We didnt win because we didnt have a gifted forward to take advantages of the opportunities presented.

Would have been a different game with Torres up front or even a RVN, MO style of temporary solution forward brought in on the cheap.

by **LittleHobo** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 5:40 pm

Rafa has a formula in the big games and he will NEVER change........keep it tight, close down, work hard, counter attack

hes had success with it and he thinks this is the only way to play big games

by **Waldo** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 5:46 pm

It was a pretty brutal game to be honest. Not much good football played by either side. Turning point for me was Carra going off injured and I was never comfortable after that moment. World class save from Aluminium from Babel (who looked lively when he came on), blatant hand ball but the TV replay suggested it was outside the box anyway. That being said we would still have been presented with a decent opportunity to score from a free kick.!!

I think we did enough to get a point but it was not to be on the day.

by **Scottbot** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 6:12 pm

Reg wrote:Bottom line is we had sufficient opportunities in the first half to have slotted a couple and killed the game.

In the second half we were on the back foot and it was fairly inevitable they were going to score.

We didnt win because we didnt have a gifted forward to take advantages of the opportunities presented.

Would have been a different game with Torres up front or even a RVN, MO style of temporary solution forward brought in on the cheap.

Pretty much sums the game up Rich lad. There was nothing wrong with the way we set-up, taking into account our general form this season, if we'd opened up and gone after them they would have killed us 3 or 4 nil. Anyone who has posted comments about us coming out and attacking Arsenal on their own patch is completely naive. Chelsea won 2-0 the other day despite Arsenal bossing possession for virtually the whole game, the diffference being Drogba.

The result sucked but I was fairly encouraged by the performance yesterday. That's as hard as i've seen the lads work all season and they will need to continue in the same vein until Yossi and Torres get back.

I still can't understand what is going on with Riera though. Makes non sense to play Maxi ahead of him for 90 minutes.

by **parchpea** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 6:19 pm

Benitez doesnt beleive in his team and in hs own mind we are only fit to stop decent sides playing rather than imposing ourselves on them. We went out there like a bottom 3 team hoping to avoid defeat rather than a top 4 outfit looking to show what we can do.I understand an element of caution against good players but its really disrespectful to send a Liverpool team out like that not only to the fans that travelled but to the heritage and soul of the football club. At least lets show some heart and expression out there.I expect much more from Liverpool but unfortunately I get the impression Benitez has dumbed the team down that both players and fans beleive that this is as much as we can expect from our club.Come on, we have to put on a better show than this surely.

by **account deleted by request** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 6:30 pm

parchpea wrote:Benitez doesnt beleive in his team and in hs own mind we are only fit to stop decent sides playing rather than imposing ourselves on them. We went out there like a bottom 3 team hoping to avoid defeat rather than a top 4 outfit looking to show what we can do.I understand an element of caution against good players but its really disrespectful to send a Liverpool team out like that not only to the fans that travelled but to the heritage and soul of the football club. At least lets show some heart and expression out there.I expect much more from Liverpool but unfortunately I get the impression Benitez has dumbed the team down that both players and fans beleive that this is as much as we can expect from our club .Come on, we have to put on a better show than this surely.

Spot on especially the bit in bold

by **tubby** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 6:48 pm

The element of caution is probably due to how fragile our state of mind is given the :censored:

time we have been having this season.

As someone nicely put it in another thead, Rafa is going back to what he knows best - grinding out games with a defensive approach and nicking the odd goal here and there. We were leaking goals left right and centre before and last nights goal was the only one we have let in since when? Remember also we have Torres, Johnson and Yossi all to come back, 3 of our most influential players. There is a real danger we could miss out of 4th spot if we are not careful so we need to grind out results and pick up points instead of worrying about if we are playing sexy football. Of course I want to see us playing the old pass and move but thsi season has so far been a disaster. We need to salvage 4th and then rebuild in the summer so we can be ready for next season.

by **Reg** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 7:10 pm

Last year we complained we kept drawing and Rafa needed to go for it if we were going to win the league, now we say that Rafa´s good at grinding out draws - how times have changed.

by **Bad Bob** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 7:30 pm

Scottbot wrote:There was nothing wrong with the way we set-up, taking into account our general form this season, if we'd opened up and gone after them they would have killed us 3 or 4 nil. Anyone who has posted comments about us coming out and attacking Arsenal on their own patch is completely naive.

Now that's spot on. :nod

by **account deleted by request** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 7:55 pm

I don't agree at all, Arsenal were coming off 3 defeats and a draw in their last 4 games in which they had conceeded 8 and scored 2, AND WE ARE SUPPOSED TO TREMBLE IN FEAR.

by **Reg** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 7:57 pm

Regardless of the point S@int and maybe you´re right, we didnt have anyone with any teeth upfront to put them to the sword.

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