Parky

Vic's back...

Had played very well this season prior to the Marseille game where he was one of ten outfield players to have a shocker - but he's not an Alonso style midfielder and never will be. ...are you absolving Benny of all blame?

the beard looks him look like a right tosser, and he's a miserable twat to go with it. Can't stand these managers who think they are clever dicks becasue they tinker around with their formations and players. 63 changes in 12 games.

Parky stalks his prey... Group A Words fail Benítez after Valbuena strike punishes meek Liverpool Andy Hunter at Anfield Thursday October 4, 2007 The Guardian Anfield has built its reputation on raucous European atmospheres but an unfamiliar sound accompanied Liverpool down the tunnel last night. Boos reverberated around a stadium unacquainted with defeat in the Champions League proper since Rafael Benítez's Valencia won here in October 2002, and the uncharacteristic response was perfectly in tune with a performance the Spaniard readily accepted as the worst of his Liverpool reign.

I'm beginning to think especially looking at comments like this SA has lost some perspective. Maybe we are too big a club for him and he is feeling the pressure. We defended badly cause they attacked beautifully and we didn't have enough positive possession to take the pressure off the def. I'm still totally behind SA but he really needs to get a balanced side out (whenever possible).

Villa to nick it although it's better for us if Spurs win.

When we play bad we for some reason put good performances in against the top 4, for example under Roeder last season: Newcastle 2-2 Man Utd Arsenal 1-1 Newcastle Newcastle 2-1 Liverpool ....I'll take all those scores again please.

Can't wait till we play the big boys.

Agree with most of that. In the tough games there is a call for keeping things tight that is clear, but as some have said in the other thread if this comes at the expense of making us too one dimensional it puts pressure on the defence in another way that is we don't have enough positive posession. Beaking the game up with def players is fair enough but there must be others they can give the ball to who can give us chances to win games...That is what we're lacking.

.....I remember people on here only a few weeks ago saying we didn't really need a creative midfielder as we created a bucket load of chances against Wigan.. mackems.gif YOu know who you are... I don't remember anyone saying that, not telling stories again are we Jack? Were you one of them? mackems.gif YOu're defensive reply is jogging my memory.... YOU particlularly went on and on and on about the chances against Wigan while I was advising caution..."21 chances not good enough and words to that affect. Keep calling me a liar and personalising every post where you quote me...just carry on..with THAT.... If you have summat personal against me I suggest we go to PM. And btw I have no interest in Scientology either....but carry on..

More talented Central Midfielders and a striker to replace Amoebi would improve us greatly. He doesn't seem to want to give up this defensive platform of Butt/Geremi/ and often Smith roped in. More proof today that we are creating very little due to this. It's worrying alright, especially as N'Zogbia or Milner could have been used through the middle to be a bit more aggressive. I'm hoping when they're both back and fully fit he gives Emre and Barton a chance to play together in midfield, those two have much more potantial to create something from there, and their styles should mesh well. Emre and Barton with Geremi as the minder needs trying I agree.

I think you can't really say that until he has more options to throw in there which to be fair he hasn't had due to injuries to both Emre and Barton, the latter earmarked to be his main man in midfield. I agree we don't always have to use those three alongside each other though and I'd like to see Smith in particular taken out of there myself. I do think he'll change the midfield though once Barton and Emre are fully fit and Enrique becomes a permanent fixture at left-back. ...any musing as to why he's dragging his feet on Ricky?

Aye, which puts the defenders under pressure no matter who they are. I said last season that we needed forward players and more creativity to be a better team and I stand by that now. I also said last season that even with better defenders we would still concede goals if we do not have the ability to dictate games and if we do not have the creativity and strikers to offer a serious threat to the opposition. A lot of people didn't agree and probably still don't, but we have better defenders now and we are still looking dodgy. It's a team game and yes, we needed better defenders but we must have the ability to hurt the opposition, for them to know you can hurt them because that will be a factor in how they set out their own game plan. If you do not have that it will give them more freedom to have a go at us and that puts your defenders under pressure. No matter who those defenders are you will leak goals and look dodgy under this kind of pressure. We need to dictate the game more and take that pressure off the back four. We need better players in midfield and up front, we also need better tactics to get the most from those players. We needed that last season and we still need it now. We sold Dyer and Solano which were fair enough decisions, but others have pointed out that we now lack pace (Dyer) and invention (Solano) in those areas. Joey Barton isn't going to give us those attributes whatever his qualities. N'Zogbia moved to the left wing will help, but Milner slows the game down on the right. That's where we might struggle to stretch teams until January when we can put that right. And for god's sake stop playing Geremi and Butt in the same team. blueyes.gif

.....I remember people on here only a few weeks ago saying we didn't really need a creative midfielder as we created a bucket load of chances against Wigan.. mackems.gif YOu know who you are...

Aye, which puts the defenders under pressure no matter who they are. I said last season that we needed forward players and more creativity to be a better team and I stand by that now. I also said last season that even with better defenders we would still concede goals if we do not have the ability to dictate games and if we do not have the creativity and strikers to offer a serious threat to the opposition. A lot of people didn't agree and probably still don't, but we have better defenders now and we are still looking dodgy. It's a team game and yes, we needed better defenders but we must have the ability to hurt the opposition, for them to know you can hurt them because that will be a factor in how they set out their own game plan. If you do not have that it will give them more freedom to have a go at us and that puts your defenders under pressure. No matter who those defenders are you will leak goals and look dodgy under this kind of pressure. We need to dictate the game more and take that pressure off the back four. We need better players in midfield and up front, we also need better tactics to get the most from those players. We needed that last season and we still need it now. Some still fail to understand the linkage between the three components of the team and how the failings of our ability to dictate or even keep the ball meaningfully puts pressure on the defence. Excellent post. Next week HTL's masterclass on tempo.

If Emre didn't go so deep I may appreciate him a bit more. I don't have a problem with Dyer as a forward, I think just think is a poor midfielder. Again he goes to deep when he is played as a CM I like them a bit rough in the sack myself. To each his own though.

More talented Central Midfielders and a striker to replace Amoebi would improve us greatly. He doesn't seem to want to give up this defensive platform of Butt/Geremi/ and often Smith roped in. More proof today that we are creating very little due to this.

Tell me how long are you going to justify this nonsense? Exactly what is nonsense about it? Point out the specifics and debate for once. There are 15 page threads (started by me) on here where I debate mate. You're basically trotting out the inj flim flam. What has SA got no foresight...Doesn't he know a semi-crock and a perma crock when he sees one? Common sense and safety alone doesn't a football team make. **Imo you're one of the best football posters on this board I'd like to see you cut loose a bit more.

Smith wasn't signed as a creative player. He was signed as a utility player and a cover for the forwards. People continuing to blame one signing for our malaise are missing the big picture. Sam needs to be braver and start the proper left back for a change. Did we need that? Because it certainly hasn't worked so far. More bookings than good performances, certainly goals and/or assists. £6m wasted. I'd have rather we spent £3m on a striker, and £3m on an attacking mid instead of £6m on neither. In hindsight I agree with you and at the time we needed at least one more attakcing player I agree. BUT Smith is a good player and I still believe he will come good in important games...You can't blame him for being started in unbalanced formations and in strange roles.

Thought he played well today.

Smith wasn't signed as a creative player. He was signed as a utility player and a cover for the forwards. People continuing to blame one signing for our malaise are missing the big picture. Sam needs to be braver and start the proper left back for a change.

Tell me how long are you going to justify this nonsense?

Agreed. I still don't understand why we only bought defensive players in the summer. I've been saying this since August. But the it will be alright SA is rebuilding it will take 60 million years hold sway on this board. You were for the Smith signing before you even try and take the high ground. We are still awaiting N'Zogbia and Barton to really play in midfield. Won't take "60 millions years" but how about we wait until our best team is fit before judging hey? We woudn't be waiting for anybody if we had bought one or two alternatives. ...and I'll judge when I fucking like alright? If we went for Elano (or similar) instead of Smith would we be a better team? You can go away and think about that one sweety xxx Yes we would and you of all people full well know my thoughts on getting a creative player in you tease. I'll continue to stand up for Smith and I thought he showed more fight today than the whole side put together and he's got better hair.

Totally agree SA can't see the obvious at the moment and I'm struggling to see why.

Agreed. I still don't understand why we only bought defensive players in the summer. I've been saying this since August. But the it will be alright SA is rebuilding it will take 60 million years hold sway on this board. You were for the Smith signing before you even try and take the high ground. We are still awaiting N'Zogbia and Barton to really play in midfield. Won't take "60 millions years" but how about we wait until our best team is fit before judging hey? We woudn't be waiting for anybody if we had bought one or two alternatives. ...and I'll judge when I fucking like alright?