Topic: CUP FINAL - Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool: Full time

[dernaroy]

Roy Keane's observation that we play like a 5-a-side team, in that we lack movement, hit the mark for me. At one time use to call for more of it, thinking it would lead to Barcelona style football, I was wrong and I think Keane is spot on. We looked very static yesterday.

Interesting observation since we apparently play a lot of 5 aside in training.

[Shanks1965]

We need another Lucas.

Not a backup.

A top DM who can play alongside Lucas or rotate with him.

He's so important to us that we can't go into another season without another legitimate option when he's out.

We need a lot of things mate and it al takes time and investment. The trouble is we spent a lot of money this season and largely we havent seen anything like any sort of return on the investment. Whether its the signings or the training or the tactics os the morivation I dont know. I do know that if we do go and sign the player you are suggesting we need it wont be an end to our problems unless we get it right both on and off the pitch.

[kellan]

Should have changed it at half time. I'm struggling to understand why we didn't.

If Andy had come on at the start of the second half that would have given us another 10 minutes at least (and I do believe we would have made it 2-2 with more time). When you look at Chelsea's performance after Carroll did arrive, there's even reason to believe they wouldn't have scored that second goal in the first place.

60th minute substitutions are for tired legs. Tactical substitutions need to happen whenever necessary. This is by no means the only reason why we lost, but it did contribute to our downfall.

[placidcasual]

What bothers me most about yesterday is Dalglish isolating Suarez by playing him up front with little support. Given that Suarez and Dalglish have similar DNA as players surely Dalglish should be acutely aware that Suarez is at his best dropping off a striker and dragging defenders with him. The predictable tactics cost us the game yet again.

Carroll was absolutely superb when he came on. Hope he takes belief from that because he has shown his hand in the last few weeks - he is brilliant when on form.

[MazzaRed]

Gerrard doesn't work hard enough to track runners sprinting towards the box. He only does it like 50% of the time. Someone needs to call him out on this or leave him at CAM.

Leave him where he's at his best CAM....Lucas will be back next season

[west_london_red]

That is an arse of an answer, and I can't be arsed answering it. Night, night.

call it an arse of an answer or not, I dont believe theres any thing there that isnt correct.

[Solomon Grundy]

We need another Lucas.

Not a backup.

A top DM who can play alongside Lucas or rotate with him.

He's so important to us that we can't go into another season without another legitimate option when he's out.

You know there were certain posters on here that were adament we din't need a Mascherano type holding midfielder in our starting eleven. Often stating Utd didn't use one as a way of backing up their argument.

[Solomon Grundy]

Leave him where he's at his best CAM....Lucas will be back next season

The thing is Gerrard was suppose to be playing as a CAM, but kept having to come deeper to help out Spearing and Henderson who kept getting over-run. Leaving Suarez completely isolated up top.

[Babelcopter]

It's easy to say with hindsight that Carroll should have come on at half time but so many times he's come on an been absolute gash! If he'd come on and been shite we'd all be calling the substitution as the time of death. He did really well yesterday though, didn't have time to moan or go to ground and he looked unplayable because of his attitude. Let's see it more Andy!

[careful on these streets, I've heard stories]

It's easy to say with hindsight that Carroll should have come on at half time but so many times he's come on an been absolute gash! If he'd come on and been shite we'd all be calling the substitution as the time of death. He did really well yesterday though, didn't have time to moan or go to ground and he looked unplayable because of his attitude. Let's see it more Andy!

The point is what we were doing in the first half wasn't working AT ALL.

[Shanks1965]

The thing is Gerrard was suppose to be playing as a CAM, but kept having to come deeper to help out Spearing and Henderson who kept getting over-run. Leaving Suarez completely isolated up top.

Is exactly what happened which was largely attributable to them having better midfield players than us in that part of the pitch.

[Anywhichwayicant]

The thing is Gerrard was suppose to be playing as a CAM, but kept having to come deeper to help out Spearing and Henderson who kept getting over-run. Leaving Suarez completely isolated up top.

But he was also coming deep to take the ball off the foot of Skrtel.

[TOMMO86]

Got back early hours of the morning. Woke up feeling down about yesterday.

Wrong team selection

Was it 4-1-4-1 he went??

Carroll was superb

[careful on these streets, I've heard stories]

The thing is Gerrard was suppose to be playing as a CAM, but kept having to come deeper to help out Spearing and Henderson who kept getting over-run. Leaving Suarez completely isolated up top.

Mate, Gerrard needed to Hendo and Spearing weren't able to get the ball forward, kept passing sideways and backwards we were stuck in our own half with the ball and no way to get forward so Gerrard had to drop deep for the ball.

[LFC-Dan]

Kenny didn't sign Kuyt though did he. I totally agree with you though.

I see what you're saying. You can't start with an average player such as Downing just because you've splashed crazy money on him though! Surely its about starting with the players who have the experience and the right mentality? Especially in a cup final! Dirk's scored loads of big goals against those rentboys in the past aswell.

[spare us the cutter]

 Gerrard Playing as a quarter back, what a joke.

[Alf]

We were awful in the 1st half but improved in the 2nd. Carroll was outstanding while Enrique & Spearing were abysmal. Reina should have done better with the opener getting beaten by his near post but couldn't do anything to have stopped the 2nd. Gutted.

[skeebo]

Am I the only person who think Brad Jones should have started after having a decent game in the semi? Like Carra, Reina doesn't have the god given right to come straight back in.

[Fuzion6]

Got back early hours of the morning. Woke up feeling down about yesterday.

Wrong team selection

Was it 4-1-4-1 he went??

Carroll was superb

You spoken to Jay yet? Poor guy had the worst game he could

[Alonso_The_Assassin]

You'd really have stayed to watch the racist John Terry lift the cup in front of supporters who disrespected the 96? Fuck that.

It's bullshit. I don't blame anyone for leaving prior to the presentation. You want to talk about disrespect. Try the three Chelsea supporters at the entrace of the the second flight of steps giving it to our lads as they went up to receive their runners up medals. One by one, having a word with each of our players. One of the c*nts said nowt when Agger walked past him. It was on the coverage for all see (yes, I put myself through the pain). They can get to fuck, the lot of them, as far as I'm concerned.

[Fordy]

You spoken to Jay yet? Poor guy had the worst game he could

Not the worst game - just totally out of his depth.

[Mr Boat]

Am I the only person who think Brad Jones should have started after having a decent game in the semi? Like Carra, Reina doesn't have the god given right to come straight back in.

I think you maybe. I agree Jones did have a good game but looked seriously nervous and didn't really have much to do. Not disrespecting him in anyway, mind.

[Discipline]

Gerrard Playing as a quarter back, what a joke.

lol

[SmithyTheRed]

We need better players.
We need to learn that if in doubt, take a yellow.
...And we could do with some luck cos we haven't had much lately.

[Bjinxi]

Am I the only person who think Brad Jones should have started after having a decent game in the semi? Like Carra, Reina doesn't have the god given right to come straight back in.

Hell no. Jones had a good game but he looked shaky at times. Rather Doni than Jones but Reina all the way

[Groundskeeper Willie]

Too bad we are hell bent on giving games away. Chelsea were there for the taking, but we dug ourselves too deep a hole. Reina again leaving the front post. That is a save even I would´ve made.

Suarez had a poor game, Gerrard was pretty much a non factor, poor Spearing was dreadful. Enrique gets a brain freeze every time he crosses the central line. Downing was doing his absolute best impression of the invisible man yet again and I don´t see a future here for him anymore.

Pretty much all the players who are our leaders let us down yesterday.

Carroll was an absolute beast and should have started.

[Discipline]

I wonder what would of happened if all of the players on the pitch ran to Carroll after that 'ghost goal' in celebration.

[Tom_B]

55-60 minutes of sitting so deep and not pressing at all until Chelsea were 30 yards from our goal cost us. They pressed us all over the pitch and generally had more energy than and us and wanted it more in those minutes. I lost count of the amount of times we had the ball in our own half and Suarez was the only player moving forward. Downing and Bellamy seemed glued to the halfway line at times and it was a case of them waiting for the ball to come to them instead of making forward runs.

One day soon we will learn that we can't constantly win finals by playing well after going behind.

Having said that, in the last half hour we were really good. We weren't just slightly better at that point, we were miles better. I think the tactics were wrong and that cost us, and we lost the final as much as Chelsea winning it.

[JJ Red]

The decision to start without Carroll was entirely justified IMO. Bar Downing (and taking into account Lucas' injury) the team that started was our best XI. Carroll was immense when he came on but this season he has been bad far more times than good.

Selection was entirely justified however, tactics and preparation can easily be questioned.

[stevo747]

     Unortunately, it was sadly predictable the 1st 60 minutes . The centre of midfield was always going to be the problem , we needed to play 3 in the middle due to Chelsea's quality and playing style plus our current lack of quality in these positions. Consequently Gerrard playing in the middle spent most of his time trying to get the side going by coming deeper and taking responsibility . Our greatest problem was that the other 2 choices in midfield really lack quality at the moment , one will never have it and the other is still learning, plus the only other option is a 19 year old still learning his trade.
     I don't necessarily think starting  with Carroll would have made things any better, midfield would still have been a problem. I thought the team picked was the best possible with personnel available , its the personnel available that was the worry .

[Fat Scouser]

call it an arse of an answer or not, I dont believe theres any thing there that isnt correct.

Don't get defensive. I'm not even having a dig at you, and I'm certainly not chuffed with what's going on, either. But think about, there's loads wrong about that view. By talking about binning Dalglish within 18 months, we're actually talking the future of the club here, what it really is, what it means, what it should be about and where it's going.

To be honest, I think it's already gone, and will never be the same again. We are just another cog in the global entertainment industry that football has become. We'll probably become a smaller and smaller one as time passes. Maybe, we'd be better off becoming like say, Cardiff. I really don't know. But what we are becoming, and what the top of football has become, isn't really my cup of tea. Each generation takes over and has their own game. They do things their way. Well, this over hyped, money grubbing, shite isn't what I signed up for.

The game's gone to fuck. Kenny would be better off out of it, enjoying his family and friends. But he won't give in like some think. If he goes, he will have been pushed, and that's that. It's all over. Liverpool will have nothing to do with the monster Shankly built. It will be just another commodity, like Weetabix, but my brand loyalty will be just about finished.

[Tom_B]

The decision to start without Carroll was entirely justified IMO. Bar Downing (and taking into account Lucas' injury) the team that started was our best XI. Carroll was immense when he came on but this season he has been bad far more times than good.

Selection was entirely justified however, tactics and preparation can easily be questioned.

But the point isn't about the "best 11" on paper, it's as simple as looking at the Barca match. The best pass and move team in the world couldn't break Chelsea down effectively so why would we? Carroll gave us another option and the defenders shot themselves when he came on. Yes, they were tired, but it's still no coincidence.

[Pheeny]

Gerrard Playing as a quarter back, what a joke.

so we lost because Gerrard was playing American Football...

[gazzathered]

That's a shame being something we have always been very quick to criticise other supporters for in the past.


Classless. ESPN were interviewing Chelsea at that point so I missed that wonderful example of sporting behaviour.

Majority had gone, I left as soon as he lifted it, stayed for the very reason that I think you should just stay and not be a sore loser but it was hard doing it.

[redrockydennis]

Don't get defensive. I'm not even having a dig at you, and I'm certainly not chuffed with what's going on, either. But think about, there's loads wrong about that view. By talking about binning Dalglish within 18 months, we're actually talking the future of the club here, what it really is, what it means, what it should be about and where it's going.

To be honest, I think it's already gone, and will never be the same again. We are just another cog in the global entertainment industry that football has become. We'll probably become a smaller and smaller one as time passes. Maybe, we'd be better off becoming like say, Cardiff. I really don't know. But what we are becoming, and what the top of football has become, isn't really my cup of tea. Each generation takes over and has their own game. They do things their way. Well, this over hyped, money grubbing, shite isn't what I signed up for.

The game's gone to fuck. Kenny would be better off out of it, enjoying his family and friends. But he won't give in like some think. If he goes, he will have been pushed, and that's that. It's all over. Liverpool will have nothing to do with the monster Shankly built. It will be just another commodity, like Weetabix, but my brand loyalty will be just about finished.

Saddens me but I think it was hicks who came out with the weetabix analogy, and he wasn't wrong.

[steveeastend]

It wasn´t, and it isn´t the fans fucking it up though, it´s the people at the club.

And it wasn´t Rafa, of course, like some ex players, players or media people wanted to make us believe, in fact he overachieved.  And when it comes to the decision since Rafa left, it wasn´t our ex owners neither, H&G, who wanted to bleed out the club but for sure didn´t advise Purslow to bring in the likes of Konchensky while trying to sell Lucas f.e.

The people at the club fucked it up big time, not the fans and not modern times football.

[redmen9]

Surprised Enrique's coming in for criticism.  He hardly set the world alight but al least he had the balls to have a go at getting down the wing, Henderson and Downing's first reaction was always to look for a pass backwards.  Lacked confidence in their own abilities.  Too many players off key just when you hoped that a few might rise to the occasion.  Ho bloody hum!

[brussels sprout]

I wonder what would of happened if all of the players on the pitch ran to Carroll after that 'ghost goal' in celebration.

Wonder what would have happened if one of the players had followed the ball and made fucking sure it hit the back of the net

[Tom_B]

Surprised Enrique's coming in for criticism.  He hardly set the world alight but al least he had the balls to have a go at getting down the wing, Henderson and Downing's first reaction was always to look for a pass backwards.  Lacked confidence in their own abilities.  Too many players off key just when you hoped that a few might rise to the occasion.  Ho bloody hum!

His passing was horrendous mate and he was as much at fault as anyone for the first goal. I'm a big fan of his but he was poor.

[nik1981]

Surprised Enrique's coming in for criticism.  He hardly set the world alight but al least he had the balls to have a go at getting down the wing, Henderson and Downing's first reaction was always to look for a pass backwards.  Lacked confidence in their own abilities.  Too many players off key just when you hoped that a few might rise to the occasion.  Ho bloody hum!

Thought he was our worst player to be honest.
Lost count of the times he lost possession.
Even my gf mentioned it and she knows nothing about footie.
Big Andy's performance the only positive for me.
I just dont like the style of football we playing with him in our team.