Author Topic: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc  (Read 18104 times)

Offline Alonso_The_Assassin

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #600 on: October 3, 2005, 02:27:23 AM »
Great fucking birthday present, I must say. Feel like absolute shite over here in Oz this morning.

Traore was caught out time and time again and again and just showed us that Warnock is a better positional player than him, no questions asked.

Chelsea worked out Sami for the first time and that is to go on the ground and not the air. They came up with the results.

I think this Garcia criticsm is fucking harsh. He had some nice touchs and didn't give away all that much possession.

In my opinion we were out muscled in the midfield by Makalele and Esssien. Didi looked tired and I think if Sissoko started, the tempo could have been different.

All I'm saying is that the sooner we get Kewell and buy Joaquin the better we'll be! No pace out in the wings and bad service to Crouchie. If we continue to play the same system, this can't go on!
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Offline capt k

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #601 on: October 3, 2005, 02:39:46 AM »
Only read 8/9 pages before adding this so apolo's if it has already been mentioned..

during the game the telly comms, {dunno who } said during the game, that rafa " had apologised to Peter Crouch about the lack ofservice  and PROMISED, that during the january transfer wiidow, there will be a player comming in to rectify the lack of service".....

so itsbeen obvious to Rafa even before the pummelling today..

about the game itself, all points have been covered more than once, all to often tho from emotional not rational points of view.
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Offline Acaustiq

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #602 on: October 3, 2005, 03:19:10 AM »
Watched the highlights. I know my eyes are failing, but I could have sworn Drogba raised his hands to block Djimi's clearance just prior to the pen.

Yeah he did, but so much as try and point it out and its 'sour grapes.'
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Offline C@mry

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #603 on: October 3, 2005, 03:27:33 AM »
Shitty performance  >:( , but let's move on. I'm sure Benitez would have plenty of time to analyze the players' mistakes in this game and provide solutions to them. We still have another 2 opportunities to beat Chelsea at their home turf ..... and I would love to see that happen  :D

Offline SMD

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #604 on: October 3, 2005, 03:32:11 AM »
Bullshit...the team was well able to beat Chelsea, but they fucked up...no name we were linked with this summer would have made any difference.

However, since then, I think Joaquin looks to be a good prospect...

We are able to beat Chelsea - if we're at the top of our game. Our defence looked tired, especially Hyypia. our midfield yesterday just didn't have the legs to join the attack - Gerrard and Garcia were the only ones running but they were also providing the crosses. Who was going to play off Crouch, then?

We're limited in certain areas and as a result we cannot progress as quickly as we'd like. This isn't a kneejerk reaction; in the summer we were all crying out for another defender and at least one right winger. Last night highlighted that our squad is still unbalanced.
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Offline Godmadebloodred

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« Reply #605 on: October 3, 2005, 03:39:37 AM »
It may seem a little shallow coming immediately after the Chelsea match but I fail to see why the Gaffer's put so much faith into Garcia.
I like Garcia but he does give the ball away a little too easily for my liking. He'll get shoved off the ball but that's not his fault given his frame. The thing that annoys me is whenever he gives away possesion by trying to be cute with a back-heel or whatever it is that he does.

I would like to see Rafa tell him to play a focussed attacking game.

Could some of the better analysts here explain why is Garcia so important that he plays regularly. What is it that he brings to the team that is unique.

Given Cisse's speed, I'm truly surprised that he doesn't get to play that much. If he goes, IMO, we'll be the worse for it.

Offline Ken-Obi

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #606 on: October 3, 2005, 04:00:53 AM »
I feel sorry for Rafa for the thankless job of convincing people that the defeat for Chelsea is not the end of all things.

Just like him, I am appalled at how we could be hammered 4 - 1 at home to supposedly a team which were exposed as mortals in the previous edition of the meeting.

The hype and mind games by Jose was working to perfection there, making this game a must-win in which a draw or lost would be catastrophic for, adding unnecessary pressure to perform when a point may have been fairer or even nick a win.

Add that to the overwhelming expectations from the fans to do good from the previous CL game, there you have it - every little bit of a mistake is there for the taking.

What Rafa now must do is gather his troops and their thoughts, to focus on the upcoming matches which would be just as important as this one.

Liverpool vs West Brom is just as important as Liverpool vs Chelsea because both have 3 points and our league position at stake.

Why is that so difficult to see?

Why the obsession with beating Chelsea when there are other  37 just as important games to play for?
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Offline zypher

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #607 on: October 3, 2005, 04:11:55 AM »
The difference between yesterday's game and wednesday's game is that yesterday, our defence was not at the immaculate level that was on show on Wednesday, starting with the one mistake by Traore, the defence crumbled as we tried to push upwards to level the deficit. Once we fell behind, we were always up against one of the best side in counter-attacking football in the EPL.

It is one match lost and more lessons learnt for the defence - cant let Chelsea take the lead and try to take them on, otherwise, we'll be punished which was exactly what happened.

It is only 1 fixture lost. I remember some ppl in the forum saying that if we lose this game but we win the other tough games, we might still come good at the end of the campaign for a top 4 finish. I know some doom-sayers are already thinking that 1 win in 6 matches in pathetic but it is still early days and that for the matches that we drew this season, we would have most certainly lost them last season.

Offline sunny_LFC

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #608 on: October 3, 2005, 04:16:53 AM »
Great fucking birthday present, I must say. Feel like absolute shite over here in Oz this morning.

Traore was caught out time and time again and again and just showed us that Warnock is a better positional player than him, no questions asked.

Chelsea worked out Sami for the first time and that is to go on the ground and not the air. They came up with the results.

I think this Garcia criticsm is fucking harsh. He had some nice touchs and didn't give away all that much possession.

In my opinion we were out muscled in the midfield by Makalele and Esssien. Didi looked tired and I think if Sissoko started, the tempo could have been different.

All I'm saying is that the sooner we get Kewell and buy Joaquin the better we'll be! No pace out in the wings and bad service to Crouchie. If we continue to play the same system, this can't go on!

couldn't agree more on all points

i feel like crap today and was just listening to 606 phone in from the bbc pages. a caller mentioned he's trying to work out how we played fairly well in the game and managed to concede 4 goals.

forget that, how often do we concede penalties? basically never! and traore kept reminding me of his mistakes in the CL final. he singlehandedly could have lost us that game (thank god he didn't). i think we have all been patient with him but he fails to perform on so many occasions. he can mess up the simplest of things and it drives me mad. warnock or riise for me.

i can just imagine mourinho and the chelsea players sitting around, watching the game on wednesday and planning what they would do. drogba was told to terrorise sami and it worked. ive never noticed so much, when people said about sami's lack of pace until the last few games. he really has no pace left. but he is excellent otherwise (mostly) but we definately need another CB. our defence looked nothing like it has for the last few months.

granted chelsea were away BUT they played 6 defenders at all times, in a counter attacking game and all the goals came from breaks. also some of our changes were strange, hamman (looked out of it today) off for momo when we needed goals, and flo po when i would have liked to see the djib. anyway.

we rarely make mistakes like today or concede penalties which gives some hope and also makes today so much more irritating and disturbing.


now we have 2 weeks off. there is much work to do for the next 10 games. they are all RELATIVELY easy games (which can sometimes mean nothing) but ones we cannot lose. most we must win. the defence needs sorting out and our attack needs some shape. even if it only tides us over till jan when we can go for wingers:


Saturday, 15 October 2005
Barclays Premiership
Liverpool v Blackburn, 15:00

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Wednesday, 19 October 2005
UEFA Champions League
Anderlecht v Liverpool, 19:45

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Saturday, 22 October 2005
Barclays Premiership
Fulham v Liverpool, 15:00

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Saturday, 29 October 2005
Barclays Premiership
Liverpool v West Ham, 15:00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, 01 November 2005
UEFA Champions League
Liverpool v Anderlecht, 19:45

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, 05 November 2005
Barclays Premiership
Aston Villa v Liverpool, 12:45

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Saturday, 19 November 2005
Barclays Premiership
Liverpool v Portsmouth, 15:00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, 23 November 2005
UEFA Champions League
Liverpool v Real Betis, 19:45

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, 26 November 2005
Barclays Premiership
Man City v Liverpool, 15:00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, 03 December 2005
Barclays Premiership
Liverpool v Wigan, 15:00


that takes us to our CL away game against chelsea and time for some revenge?!...

« Last Edit: October 3, 2005, 04:22:25 AM by sunny_west »
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Offline Squillary

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #609 on: October 3, 2005, 04:21:03 AM »
Can I just say that i thought we did deserve a 1-4 defeat today. That's what it looks like when you play at the top level. The little things - the mistakes - are what leads to goals and they made one and we made loads. They could have had another couple quite easily too, and maybe Crouch could've had one too for that turn, but he missed. If it was 2-6 it would've reflected the game about right.

We really were that far behind. Some else said 'not in their league' and that's about right, whether individual errors caused it or not. If you hadn't noticed, we were playing at home as well - once a fortress. That's how clear-cut it was. That's why I feel like I do...  :-[

Offline Ken-Obi

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #610 on: October 3, 2005, 04:21:29 AM »
that takes us to our CL game against chelsea and time for some revenge?!...

That would probably be what Jose is looking for, again too much hype and focus on one game that it becomes critical. The only difference is that this time it would be, but there's a need to devote time for Anderlecht and Betis. Muffing it up against the latter two just to win against Chelsea is against what a 'per game' focus is about.
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Offline Bambino

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #611 on: October 3, 2005, 04:32:19 AM »
The scoreline was so flattering, we had most possession and got the ball into their box more than they did into ours.  and we should've had peno. again.  Their last 2 goals were against a 3 or 2 man defence.  Here goes:

Traore - shocking.  Only stayed on coz Riise was amazing down the left.  
Hyypia - very poor, bad day at office.
Finnan - amazing, our best player on the day.  His crossing was quality.  Should he take some set pieces?  His left foot was good, left back for now anyone with Barragan on right?
Croutch - sometimes mate, face the goal.  Shocking miss aswell, should've hit target.  Not convinced of standards required for such levels.  
Riise - 2nd best player on day, a threat down the left
Gerrard - needed his trademark inspiration when 3-1 down and it wasn't there.  Still love him.  Usual self in 1st half.  Cracking goal.  
Reina - unlucky with peno.  still rushed off his line at times when shouldn't.  
Hamann - usual reliability in middle
Alonso - a joy to watch
JC - usual
Garcia - in and out of game, but odd bit of magic at times.

Benitez - the 1st time I've questioned his substitutions.  Cisse should've come on earlier for Hamann, tactical reasons.  Needed 2 strikers all match, never mind 2nd half.  Should've subbed Crouch for Pongolle at same time.  Maybe Traore for Sissoko with 3 at the back when 3-1 down aswell.   4-5-1 is shite aswell.  Bet the Chelshit defence were bricking it having to cope with Crouch on his own!  Need 2 strikers up there, end of.  Goals mean points, and points win prizes.

Chelsea were cheating b'stards.  Joe Cole doing Hollywood,  :wanker Drogba crying when not getting his own way,  :wanker  they tried to bully us and 'influence ' the ref all game as usual, no need with the money and quality they've got.  Poll  :wanker  was giving usual shite decisions all game, booking wrong players all over the place.  We should've had peno and JC booked for actually breaking up a fight!   :no    

You know how good you are when you play Chelsea, they are generally a class above, but still beatable.  We learned lessons I hope.  Rafa especially.  It's only one game in the season.  We'll turn it around no doubt.
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Offline sunny_LFC

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #612 on: October 3, 2005, 04:33:41 AM »
That would probably be what Jose is looking for, again too much hype and focus on one game that it becomes critical. The only difference is that this time it would be, but there's a need to devote time for Anderlecht and Betis. Muffing it up against the latter two just to win against Chelsea is against what a 'per game' focus is about.

i agree. but don't think the revenge factor will play a major role for that game, being CL,  just that it is always something that will be on my mind (i want to beat them). we do have to concentrate on our other CL games. they are all in amongst that list of 10 above. we can't leave our qualification down to the chelsea game.

but going there, away against chelsea, we can play a strong defensive game, going forward on the counter with breaks. like they did. when we are on form and alert it suits us. we play it well when required, especially away.

our reverse league game to them is in feb (i think) and after the transfer window. a winger or 2 and defender later perhaps we can get our league revenge instead...
« Last Edit: October 3, 2005, 04:37:07 AM by sunny_west »
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Offline JonC

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #613 on: October 3, 2005, 04:54:55 AM »
 :no I am not angered and ashamed by loosing the match.... its the way we lost it that's really dissapointing. The fact that half of our defence was caught napping, service was poor, no flair / spark and creativity in the last 1/4 of the field really ticked me off. Saw some encouraging signs but saw even more discouraging signs. Rafa i think brought on Cisse way to late to influence the game... his formation and tactics worked until the defence went to sleep. Whatever it is s!@t happened and its time to move on. They might be the English champions but we are the Kings of Europe. No time to saulk... we have way too much work ahead to look back.  YNWA!

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Offline MalRed

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #614 on: October 3, 2005, 05:08:07 AM »
It was painful. 6 pages into this thread and I think I've had enough. I really have no idea at all why so many of us are saying the scoreline does not reflect the real situation. Let's have a bit of graciousness and concede that the EPL champions played us off the park.

Sure, it's fair to say that DT and SH cost us the game but look further and you'd realize the whole team let us down.

However, some of Rafa's choices lately have been baffling. Heck. I am so low now, I am wearing black as if mourning.

Come on you Reds! Let's put a run together and storm up the table.

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Offline OzAndy_Red

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #615 on: October 3, 2005, 05:10:55 AM »
Like previously said, they figured us out today.  Once Traore made one hell of a
fuck-up (and not the only one for the day), it opened up the flood-gates for their
counter-attacks.  They looked far too dangerous in attack.  Hyypia had  a shocker, his lack
of pace is becoming more and more obvious as the season progresses.  Would have liked
Sissoko to have started, with Djib partnering Crouch and I wish Flo can get a run of games.
At least he can hold the ball up, run at defenders (more than one usually) and run at the by-line.
Lessons must be learnt from this game.  To me it was bleeding obvious, the overall amount of talent
in their first team / squad compared with ours.  Back to the drawing board Rafa, we need fuckin goals!

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #616 on: October 3, 2005, 05:14:38 AM »
In Chelsea's "huddle" at the end of the game - it is quite clear from TV pictures that drogba joins the circle and makes "wanking" gestures - much to the amusement of the rest of the Chelsea players.

Is this sort of sexual gesture not a public order offence?


Yeah I saw that too...c*nt

Can this nugget not be fined for his actions?
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Offline Jonno

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #617 on: October 3, 2005, 05:48:03 AM »
Did they play us off the park? I don't think so, to me, it's a combination of us being woeful and them capitalising their chances, and the result shows.

We were wasteful in our possession and often ran out of ideas, with Crouch the only option upfront, we'll hoof, cross and pass to him, but Crouch not being the fastest players around, need support around him, that's where we lose out, if Gerrard stuck to his task, Garcia provide the support he's suppose to, the result might still be a defeat, but more respectable, or even a draw.

The match yesterday highlighted all our weakness, slow centre back, no width whatsoever and the frontline that has no support. Drogba, while we are so willingly bag him for not being able to score, but he showed why Maureen is willing to shell out 24M for him, he is able to bring others into play, and it showed yesterday, he is involve in all their goals. If you put Crouch to Drogba, and compare them, I'd say that a there aren't much between them, perhaps Crouch edge Drogba in terms of being able to hold the ball a little better, but the big difference is that while Drogba has plenty of support, Crouch would be happy if there's a player that can get to the end of his flick ons.

I think that defenders generally knows how to play Crouch, they just simply double team him. It showed too many a time that many sides are more than happy to put 2 defenders on Crouch to put him off, or muscle him out of the challenge, which is not hard, due to his lighweight frame. The down side for them is that they risk being exposed as they would have less payer covering the area should the midfielders arrive late to have a pop, which have not happen for us. I don't remember seeing that at all this season.

Another thing that has been bothering me for a while now, is that when we lose out on a challenge, the player are more than happy to stay down, hope for a free kick and whine about it when it's not given, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought one of the first rule to a football player is to "play to the wistle"? If the referee does not blow, play on. Well, that was what I was taught when I was playing (something similar to your Sunday league). It seemed that we are too continental in that sense. Too willing to go to ground at the slightest nudge and hope for a free kick that doesn't bear fruit. Are we still playing the percentage game like how Houllier preached? Perhaps it's time we look at it again.

While we laugh and tease Chelsea Kiev being mercenaries, but if you see how they work for each other as a team, you can't help but look back at our team where they seemed a little disinterested at times. I might've missed out lots of things as I only saw the game on TV, therefore, could see lots of "off the ball" things.

Overall, that showed what we are lacking of, not talent, but the spirit to work for each other, not to mention perhaps some new playing staff. If you really ask me, I'd say we are an above average team with a few outstanding individuals, who got things right and won the European Cup, don't get me wrong, I was made up for it, but that doesn't mean that we are what we led ourselves to be. As suppose to top teams who are outstanding with a couple of average or even below par individual.

Still, that is the toughest run of games so far, with other supposedly easier games coming up, I hope that we'll find the right balance and start scoring and get more points on board. 7 points from 6 games, with a minus 2 goal difference is just not on, not to mention our league position, again, close to the bottom (4 points) than the top (17 points). Come on lads!!!
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Offline mr_mad_master

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #618 on: October 3, 2005, 06:27:27 AM »
is times like these that YNWA should really mea somthing to a Red. So were not invinceble anymore? We can still do alot in this season. As Rafa said 'it is only one game'. Well done to the Koplites who sung it out to the en. Everyone has 2 weeks to move on then come blackburn at home. Inspire the Reds to get us back on track.

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Offline andrewt67

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #619 on: October 3, 2005, 06:29:16 AM »
Not a good performance - gutted. 

Traore - you're shit and you fucking know you are.

Enough said.

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #620 on: October 3, 2005, 06:34:40 AM »
Rafa's first year and a bit has been like a tight-rope walking act. Periods of good  play are continually offset by a run of poor games usually in the League, followed by some decent performances again. He still has not come to grips with the League's strength and pace and his tactical stubburnous and man management skills raise some concern. The treatment of Cisse and Henchoz last year stand out.

On balance the signs of optimism slightly shade the causes for concern and one suspects with the right buys we could challenge or at least cut the gap. The single most worrying aspect to the start of this season is the negativity of playing a 4-5-1 system against so-called lesser teams without genuine wingers.

His purchases have been hit and miss too. Xabi, Momo and Garcia are his best while the jury is out on the rest. Zenden is too slow, Josemi same, Moro does not quite seem like his normal self. I know Rafa has been limited by funds so we can't totally blame him for some of the buys.

We now have a lot of possession, but don't have the ability to make quick thrusting counter attacks after selling Baros who use to make tireless runs stretching the opposition and getting down the lines. Now we have a surfeit off midfiled passers who have no outlet for their passes apart from a back to goal Crouch who is useless without support.

Lets please be objective, yesterday, mistakes cost us, but even without them the best we could have hoped for would have been to try and nick it, whereas they with their personnel they just need one goal, so the onus would be on us to attack, which plays right into their hands for the quick counter attack. Our play has become too slow, predictable and cautious in the League without a direct running goal threat upfront.

Rafa will now have to seriously look at the formation as playing Crouch alone in a 4-5-1 without wingers does not work.
« Last Edit: October 3, 2005, 08:37:35 AM by Twelfth Man »
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Offline SwedenRed

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #621 on: October 3, 2005, 06:49:00 AM »
Poor, poor, poor...
1 League win!
13th in the Premiership...2 points from Relegation.
Apart from Everton, lowest goals scored in the Premiership.
Those are the facts and hardly a record for the European Champions.
Last wednesday, Chelsea came out for a draw and got one...it was a different Competition where a draw was ok away from home. Yesterday, a League match, we put out a similar tactical defensive formation, but Chelsea came at us. We were trounced.
Thats it, this supporter is going to speak out...hear goes..., we must scrap this boring and negative one man up front play! Ok Raffa, you have tried it, it has failed...lets move on to a conventional 2 man up front and threaten teams once again. This tactic might have worked at Valencia, but it sure does not work in our League. One other thing, Crouch is well out of his depth...he showed a couple of good touches, but still lacks strength and awareness in the box to get on the end of crosses ect. The only way we will see him score is in a goalmouth scramble against Everton!
Raffa, sort it, this is embarrassing, start playing attacking football and lets win some games.

Offline SwedenRed

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #622 on: October 3, 2005, 06:58:37 AM »
Rafa's first year and a bit has been like a tight-rope walking act. Periods of good  play are continually offset by a run of poor games usually in the League, followed by some decent performances again. He still has not come to grips with the League's strength and pace and his tactical stubburnous and man management skills raise some concern. The treatment of Cisse and Henchoz last year stand out.

On balance the signs of optimism slightly shade the causes for concern and one suspects with the right buys we could challenge or at least cut the gap. The single most worrying aspect to the start of this season is the negativity of playing a 4-5-1 system against so-called lesser teams without genuine wingers.

His purchases have been hit and miss too. Xabi, Momo and Garcia are his best while the jury is out on the rest. Zenden is too slow, Josemi same, Moro does not quite seem like his normal self. I know Rafa has been limited by funds so we can't totally blame him for some of the buys.

We now have a lot of possession, but don't have the ability to make quick thrusting counter attacks after selling Baros who use to make tireless runs stretching the opposition and getting down the lines. Now we have a surfeit off midfiled passers who have no outlet for their passes apart from a back to goal Crouch who is useless without support.

Lets please be objective, yesterday, mistakes cost us, but even without them the best we could have hoped for would have been to try and nick it, whereas they with their personnel just need one goal, so the onus would be on us to attack, which plays right into their hands for the quick counter attack. Our play has become too slow, predictable and cautious in the League without a direct running goal threat upfront.

Rafa will now have to seriously look at the formation as playing Crouch alone in a 4-5-1 without wingers does not work.
Excellent post Twelfth Man! Exactly my sentiments.

Offline Hong Kong Phooey

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Chelsea's Defence
« Reply #623 on: October 3, 2005, 07:15:40 AM »
Just fantastic, they way they hunt in packs always get a foot in -  John Terry was superb.

How did he get across to Crouch to stop a Van Bastenesque goal? We had them on the ropes early in the second half, which is quite an achivement. They might be boring, they might be an annoying bunch of cockney TW*TS but hats off to the defence.

That said I'd still quite like to see Carvalho tarred and feathered - and Drogba really is a knob of the highest order

Offline evie

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #624 on: October 3, 2005, 07:25:15 AM »
I'm pissed off like everyone but have to say some of the stuff on here is ridiculous. The slating of Garcia is ridiculous. He has not played well recently but today he was quite good, finding space where none existed and NOT losing the ball constantly as he has done recently. It is difficult for a player of his type when the opposition have nine in defence as all the onus to create is on him. However, I thought he gave it a good go.

Sami was very poor today as was Djimi but others must shoulder the blame too. Carra let Drogba push him about too much like in the Marseille game a couple of years back and Finnan apart from a spell at the start of the second was anonymous in attack and loose in his positioning.
I support Rafa implicitly but he needed to put Cisse on today to give Chelsea something different to think about. Chelsea had Crouch sussed today and Carvalho won most things in the air.
The Xabi/Stevie/Didi combination worked quite well but there was still little support ariving for Crouch who didn't hold it as well as Wednesday.
Riise was in the pocket of Gallas.

There needs to be more ambition from now on at home and away as we need to go on a long WINNING run until Xmas.

Heads up everyone cos we are Liverpool and we are European Champions. :wave

hear hear  :wave
I mean seriously how the fuck does he do it? How is he so fucking brilliant that his brilliance makes everyone play better?

Offline SMD

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Re: Chelsea's Defence
« Reply #625 on: October 3, 2005, 07:29:50 AM »
Without sounding too much like sour grapes, one of the reasons their defence looks so good is because they defend with so many players. You've got the back four rarely venturing forward, Makalele just in front, almost playing more of a sweeper than a defensive midfield and against us you saw Essien and Lampard pretty much as holding midfielders - the wingers and strikers almost isolated but because of their pace, they can manage.
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Offline jamiehill

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #626 on: October 3, 2005, 07:40:18 AM »
My only comfort is that Chelsea now will have to play against 11 man defences for the rest of the season!
The English club proved that miracles really do exist. I've now made Liverpool my English team. They showed that football is the most beautiful sport of all. They showed their unconditional support at half-time when they were losing 3-0 and still they didn't stop singing." Diego Maradona

Offline stevenalonsa

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Re: Chelsea's Defence
« Reply #627 on: October 3, 2005, 07:55:26 AM »
i don't think yesterday we played balls to our wingers well.  Only in the second half sinama got some oppurtunities to run at del horno.

Garcia was very rarely seen with the ball.  Even if he looses possession he makes some good contributions with the ball in his feet. 

Crouch troubled their defences a bit but the only thing i worry is why don't Crouch get his head to the ball from corners and freekicks.  He wins all balls from open play but i can't understand why he couldnt do the same in setplays.

Offline gramck24

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Re: Chelsea's Defence
« Reply #628 on: October 3, 2005, 08:07:08 AM »
Without sounding too much like sour grapes, one of the reasons their defence looks so good is because they defend with so many players. You've got the back four rarely venturing forward, Makalele just in front, almost playing more of a sweeper than a defensive midfield and against us you saw Essien and Lampard pretty much as holding midfielders - the wingers and strikers almost isolated but because of their pace, they can manage.

I noticed yesterday and last Wednesday night that when we were coming forward, Essien was utilised to sort of man-mark Gerrard. Not to the extent that he followed his shadow eveywhere he went, but at the times we were going forward and looking at our most dangerous. Considering Gerrard is the player looking most likely score for us at the moment, our wingers who ever they may be need start supporting/supplying Crouchy better.

Offline Monkey Red

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #629 on: October 3, 2005, 08:12:23 AM »
Look on the bright side. At least  they didn´t put 5 past us. That would´ve rammed our "5" chant right down our throats, wed´ve never heard the last of it. Five is our number!

'It'll whisper to them of Liverpools five glorious European Cup victories"

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #630 on: October 3, 2005, 08:13:24 AM »
We were poor, but not 4-1 poor.

Silly defensive errors cost us, worst game I've seen Sami have for a while. It just highlights how much we needed a centre-back in the transfer window - otherwise it's left to Sami to play 2 games in a week, something he doesn't look comfortable doing.

Traore had a poor game, although he was let down by Poll for the penalty he shouldn't have gone to ground there. Chelsea are boring, but they'll punish teams that give them chances - that's what makes them successful.

Yes Poll was shit, yes they were cheating dickheads as usual - but we need to look at ourselves and learn the lessons.
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Offline DukeRed

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Re: Chelsea's Defence
« Reply #631 on: October 3, 2005, 08:15:59 AM »
Excellent display. We simply could not get behind them. We were restricted to playing in front of a superbly organised defence shielded by Makalele and Essien. Gallas was superb as was Del Horno in denying our Riise and Garcia any room. We need to add more pace to our wings.

Offline Roper

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Re: Chelsea's Defence
« Reply #632 on: October 3, 2005, 08:21:38 AM »
They basically defend 1st, and play second [which is Carra-esque]...and thats why they are so good/effective. Terry isnt arsed about hoofing it into the stands if it means a goal is saved - and that to me is good policy.

Offline Walshy®

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #633 on: October 3, 2005, 09:04:24 AM »
i'll tell you what happened, we got shit on by lady luck today BIG TIME. No way was that a 4-1 game it was even, lucky penalty (leading up to it) they got the run of the ball, poll was a fuckin disgrace giving us fuck all, crouch gets his head punched off by cech.

i give the fuck up.

Behave lad.  We were shit end of.  Luck had nothing to do with it.

Offline garcia's da man

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #634 on: October 3, 2005, 09:07:30 AM »
Do me a favour, i no ur pissed off, but dont fucking slag garcia for doing exactly what fucking cisse does, at least garcia looks like he gives a fuck, seeing as cisse is such a fcuking "fans favouite" he doesnt fucking show it, every time the ball doesnt go within 1 yard of him, he throws his arms in the air an fucking moans, am not trying to say Garcia is the answer, but dont fucking say Cisse is when he does so fucking much worse than Garica when he gets a chance, When he plays up front maybe, but while he plays, he should try, and he doesnt the c*nt.

I said today in the ground, "FOOTBALLERS WHO DONT RUN" and that was agreed by a few people by me, fair enough Xabi dont need to make runs, hes there to pick them, But Riise, Gerrard, Crouch, Garcia and every other payer going foward needs to fucking move. How hard is it to run while ur on 30000 a week. fucking dead hard if u ask me. Reatards.

Whatever mate!
Luis Garcia he drinks sangria...Please dont take our Luis away!!

Will keep on defending him no matter what...

LFC is my life!!

i viva España

Offline Dick Emery

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #635 on: October 3, 2005, 09:07:35 AM »
It ended up at 4 because we gave away some very cheap goals. The penalty summed up Djimi's day and, for their 2nd goal, Sami turned like the QE2. That last goal was the worst goal I've seen us concede in 32 years of active attendance at Anfield.

For large parts of the match, though, I thought we did well. Sadly, we still have some players who aren't good enough. They're not awful players they just aren't good enough. Chelsea have good players in all positions and in reserve. The likes of Traore and Riise wouldn't see the light of day in their squad.

Offline garcia's da man

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #636 on: October 3, 2005, 09:10:34 AM »
Do me a favour, i no ur pissed off, but dont fucking slag garcia for doing exactly what fucking cisse does, at least garcia looks like he gives a fuck, seeing as cisse is such a fcuking "fans favouite" he doesnt fucking show it, every time the ball doesnt go within 1 yard of him, he throws his arms in the air an fucking moans, am not trying to say Garcia is the answer, but dont fucking say Cisse is when he does so fucking much worse than Garica when he gets a chance, When he plays up front maybe, but while he plays, he should try, and he doesnt the c*nt.

I said today in the ground, "FOOTBALLERS WHO DONT RUN" and that was agreed by a few people by me, fair enough Xabi dont need to make runs, hes there to pick them, But Riise, Gerrard, Crouch, Garcia and every other payer going foward needs to fucking move. How hard is it to run while ur on 30000 a week. fucking dead hard if u ask me. Reatards.

Sorry mate didnt mean you i meant that other prick your quoting
Luis Garcia he drinks sangria...Please dont take our Luis away!!

Will keep on defending him no matter what...

LFC is my life!!

i viva España

Offline garcia's da man

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #637 on: October 3, 2005, 09:12:20 AM »
Right, my previous 2 posts were deleted for abusive language on this so ill be brief....Up to this point Rafa has been inept and inadequate as a coach in the premiership...last season 37 points behind 1st place,11 defeats away from home, lost 5 out of 6 to the top 3, picked Salif Diao to start the derby at Goodison which we lost leaving Xabi Alonso on the bench, his diabolical treatment of a great servant Stephane Henchoz in which he ignored him was truly shameful, almost cost us the Champions league title when he gifted Kaka freedom of the park by not picking Hamann to nullify him..that shambolic decision almost finished us but thankfully a miracle occured and rafa got out of jail....this season, 17 points behind 1st place at Oct 2nd, totally alienates Cisse with scandalous comments after his match winning Super Cup final performance by saying it would entice a possible buyer for him rather than say it could spark him off into a goalscoring run for us, also forgetting that if Cisse could not be sold before the deadline then he'd be called upon this season....How on earth can Cisse perform when your manager has basically publicly pleaded for sombody to take him??? MISMANAGEMENT!!!!!! Continues to pick Traore and Garcia who are both useless...traore has so many weaknesses it would take me all night to go through them all, while luis garcia, aside from the odd goal, contributes very little..hes small, weak, slow, wayward passer, poor in the tackles, gets bullied with ease, gives no protection defensively to the full-back, cannot go past people, rarely crosses, spoils so many promising moves...basically his lack of talent means he has no place in a team with supposed title aspirations....Ahhh, but unlike Cisse hes one of rafas favourites and it was him that bought him, so he is almost certain of a starting place. In the premiership rafa has done zilch.....im left cold by his shamful treatment of some players, even Gerrard says rafa is hard to get along with...i mean if a captain doesn't feel close to his manager what hope is there? I aint convinced with Rafa, the CL win was incredible but focussing entirely on the prem, raf has done sweet **** all...i cannot see that changing.

Whatever mate!
Luis Garcia he drinks sangria...Please dont take our Luis away!!

Will keep on defending him no matter what...

LFC is my life!!

i viva España

Online Twelfth Customer

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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #638 on: October 3, 2005, 09:17:05 AM »
It ended up at 4 because we gave away some very cheap goals. The penalty summed up Djimi's day and, for their 2nd goal, Sami turned like the QE2. That last goal was the worst goal I've seen us concede in 32 years of active attendance at Anfield.

For large parts of the match, though, I thought we did well. Sadly, we still have some players who aren't good enough. They're not awful players they just aren't good enough. Chelsea have good players in all positions and in reserve. The likes of Traore and Riise wouldn't see the light of day in their squad.

Riise form has been a little down this season but he is a quality player for us.
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Re: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 4: post-match reports, considered analysis etc
« Reply #639 on: October 3, 2005, 09:20:21 AM »
Im tired of people slating Cisse, the lad doesnt even get a chance to play and when he does play he's played out of position. How would you feel, if after he worked his heart out to come back from an injury that most thought he might never come back from. He finishes the season off decently starts the season off really well, then finds out the club were willing to sell him to bring in someone else, then he's continously being played out of position, and now he's lucky if he even gets a start. People now keep getting on his back because he's not doing anything but he's played so little and he's still scored more goals then anyone apart from gerrard. If you watched the game, you'd see for that few minutes that Cisse came on he already created on chance for Crouch and was good off the ball. Benitez said he wanted Cisse to be angry, well he was angry now he gone from a roaring tiger to a small little kitten. He has so little confidence its actually sad to see. I feel the club have treated him so badly, its enough to bring any player down. People slating Cisse need to get a fucking clue and watch the game properly. He's not a right winger, he never has been, what do people want from him.
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