Arsenal tuesday

[Kevin D]

Sigh. I have to admit if we were to lost the title, I'd rather we lost it like we did yesterday than the abject surrenders or negative displays we've seen this season.

 

On sheer hunger, team spirit and will to win our side is faultless and I can't have a go at them, nor would I want to. I thought our play is ponderous in the first half, but the second saw the tempo increase dramatically with the ball being moved about that bit quicker, and at this level that makes a lot of difference. Had Gerrard played, we may have had a rout. Yossi was, as I'm sure many have said, outstanding. Drive, decision making and end product; it was like Gerrard was playing. I didn't think Torres looked fit but thats the mark of the best striker in the world, unstoppable even though he's clearly tired.

 

As much as I'd like to leave it there, it would be slightly disingenious as I was livid with our defending, or lack of it. Javier Mascherano is meant to be the best DM in the world but his distribution was non-existant, his defensive screening, laughable and I watched him jog as Arsenal attacked out helpless backline far too often for my liking. I didn't think our defence could play worse than we did last week - although considering the scale of the threat an exception could have been made- but I was well wrong. Our two fullbacks were very,very poor. Aurelio's infuriated me moreso because at 2-1 up we were free to impose our game on them and perhaps be more "compact" but when he gifted them that goal, we were always vulnerable on the counter. Will let the CB's slide because of the lack of protection they were given which was criminal and our wide players didn't exactly help out defensively.

 

I have to admit to being mystified as to why Dirk was taken off, in the rough&tumble of the last 20 minutes, he's at his most effective. Perhaps he was tired and I'm not aware. It was incredible watching us play attacking football that we've demanded on here this season; however the real astonishment on my part was the complete abandonment of what brought us to the dance in the first place, our solidity. The 4th goal was coming and given we're about as useful as Richard Keys at, well, anything from corners I'm still not sure why sent so many forward leaving the brilliant but slow Alonso exposed.

 

While we're on Alonso, shows his professionalism by kicking the ball out only for that spiteful,overrated smegma eating cunt to show what a dirty little cheat he is. I can't believe people don't see how despicable Fabregas is. Would have loved Xabi to stick his studs right down Fabregas leg, stick that on your shit show you utter wanker.

 

Anyway, well done to our forward players, our crowd and the Arsenal. Think that's all she wrote but if we learn the lessons from this season and act accordingly, the league is ours to win next season.

[The 5th Benitel]

You are missing my point.

 

The bit i've highlighted is s half the story the rest of the sentence should be "and because our covering players didn't do their job".

 

I know what you're saying but Mascher is normally brilliant covering in front of the defense but he had an off day both with and without the ball. Aside from the goals they hardly had a shot at goal and the ones that killed us all came from mistakes (the last one would never have happened if we weren't desperate in the last mins of the game). They did have a bit too much possession in midfield but they didn't get that many chances from it, in fact i can only remember one. You cant expect our players to constantly be in position when we have the ball or we'd never attack in the way that has been bringing us so much success. Plus, it was JM who lost the ball for their first and he cant cover himself.

 

Gettiing tackled in the box, a centre half playing in their centre forward and a left back perfectly squaring the ball for the same player are all just bad mistakes and unless he was getting man marked (which no one would have sadi was neccessary) their not likely to get stopped by a covering player.

 

Like Vidic when we played the mancs it was mistakes combined with coming up against a quality attacker that cost us the game. Plain and simple.

[Stephen Adams.]

I've got a strange feeling about this one.

I keep saying and people keep saying to me that it should be a good game, but really I'd take a fucking dreadful game as long as we win.

If it's another great game but we draw 4-4 again, I'll come out of the ground gutted that we're (possibly) out of it, whereas a shit 1-0 and I'll be bouncing down the road.As for the team, I'm not really bothered about whether it's Agger or Skrtel at centre half or Aurelio or Insua at left back, but I hope Yossi gets the nod rather than the Lucas-Alonso-Mascherano midfield we saw at Chelsea.

 

Gobshite.

[Torvald Utne]

BENITEZ: REDS ARE ON RIGHT TRACK | Football Transfer News, Football News, Fixtures, Results, Match Reports, Stats

 

and the article itself just for Tom R...

 

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez believes he finally has his team playing the way he wants but it may have come too late for them in the Premier League title race.

 

The Spaniard has built a reputation of being cautious and unadventurous but in their last eight matches in all competitions they have scored 27 goals.

 

Uncharacteristically they have conceded 12, with successive 4-4 draws against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League and last night's epic against Arsenal at Anfield which handed the initiative back to arch-rivals Manchester United in the championship run-in.

 

Sir Alex Ferguson's side may now be second in the table but it is only on goal difference and they have two matches in hand, the first of which is at home to Portsmouth tonight.

 

After Liverpool's 4-0 Champions League victory over Real Madrid in mid-March - which signalled the start of their goalscoring run - captain Steven Gerrard claimed the "shackles were off".

 

However, Benitez insists he has not switched tactics and their recent form is merely a result of months of hard work finally paying off.

 

"There is not really [a change of emphasis]. The understanding between the players is better," said the Liverpool boss.

 

"This week we were talking in training sessions and we could see the team were playing with a lot of confidence.

 

"We didn't need to say anything because they knew what to do.

 

"Because we have been practising so many times during the season the players know now what to do.

 

"For me we have the same mentality, the difference now is we play better. We have more confidence and we can score more goals."

Although Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun scored two apiece in the second half against the Gunners, Liverpool could have been in total control of the game before the interval had they taken their chances and also not found goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski on form.

 

Benitez said their form in front of goal was improving and that was due to rising confidence levels.

 

"If we can keep Torres fit it will be much better and you can see Benayoun is on fire," he added.

 

"Two or three players are doing well in attack and that could be a massive difference.

 

"Always we have a lot of shots and lot of opportunities but now we are scoring more goals."

 

With five matches remaining there is no more room for error and although Benitez believes that pressure may have affected the performance on Tuesday night, he stressed the players cannot allow themselves to be crippled by it in the run-in.

 

"Sometimes you play with a bit of anxiety and you make mistakes," said the Spaniard.

 

"It is something we have to manage if we want to keep going until the end of the season.

 

"We showed against Arsenal we are a good team with a good mentality and great character but also I think we have to improve.

 

"It is difficult to know where the title challenge lies because you never know what will happen in the next game.

 

"We know we have to keep going in every single game and see what happens at the end.

 

"United still have to play against Arsenal and Manchester City."

 

Arsenal could yet do Liverpool a favour if they win at Old Trafford on May 16, the penultimate weekend of the season.

 

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger certainly does not think the title race is over and has pledged his side will be totally committed when they visit Manchester on the penultimate weekend of the season.

 

"Don't worry at Liverpool, we will go to Manchester United and try as well to win in the championship," said the Frenchman.

 

"United had a little bit of a problem before the interruption of the Champions League. How they bounce back will certainly be decisive.

 

"It is still very open."

[Moo]

Last night was strange, I felt proud but pissed off.

Pissed off first at the refereeing, then pissed off at our defending.

 

Today I feel immense pride. Went into work and a West Ham supporter said they're loving us at the moment and willing us to win every match, and a Man City supporter said "I wish I supported Liverpool".

Cheered me up.

[Torvald Utne]

believe Benitez or Brownie, Stringvest, RedKnight & Zigackly....tough decision.

[Torvald Utne]

Last night was strange, I felt proud but pissed off.

Pissed off first at the refereeing, then pissed off at our defending.

 

Today I feel immense pride. Went into work and a West Ham supporter said they're loving us at the moment and willing us to win every match, and a Man City supporter said "I wish I supported Liverpool".

Cheered me up.

 

a manc I know who is usually mouthy, cocky and gloating said we were awesome and we don't know when to give up.

[stringvest]

believe Benitez or Brownie, Stringvest, RedKnight & Zigackly....tough decision.

 

I believe Gerrard. I think Rafa's bamboozling you with his mind games and interview speak. If you don't believe there's a change in approach between holding on doggedly to a 1-0 lead or not committing sufficient people into the box for 70 minutes against mediocre teams and the approach last night, that's fine.

 

You can try to rationalise it all you want, and there are obviously good reasons (at least to Rafa) why we adopted the tactics we did in the first half of the season, but I think you might find the players (at least the home grown players) will tell you how it is.

[ratcatcher]

Football's a funny old game as someone once said.

 

Still cant believe the poor defending and reina not touching the ball yet conceeding four goals!

 

And will someone tell arseshavin to stop doing that 'ssshhhh!' thing with his finger? Its disrespectful, dont you know!

[Torvald Utne]

I believe Gerrard. I think Rafa's bamboozling you with his mind games and interview speak. If you don't believe there's a change in approach between holding on doggedly to a 1-0 lead or not committing sufficient people into the box for 70 minutes against mediocre teams and the approach last night, that's fine.

 

You can try to rationalise it all you want, and there are obviously good reasons (at least to Rafa) why we adopted the tactics we did in the first half of the season, but I think you might find the players (at least the home grown players) will tell you how it is.

 

Racialist

[RedKnight]

believe Benitez or Brownie, Stringvest, RedKnight & Zigackly....tough decision.

 

Eh?

[Torvald Utne]

Eh?

 

Eh? What?

[RedKnight]

Eh? What?

 

Why am I named in a post about believing Rafa or posters on here? Exactly what have I said?

[INTORRESTING]

we have obviously changed it is clear for the whole world to see.

 

I love Rafa but how we are playing is more than just taking our chances, the shackles are off and he is giving his players a back handed compliment there imo. Praise without a slap on the back

 

Play slowly, grind out results then unleash it in the second half of the season, that is how he does things. He needs to do what we have been doing the last 6 weeks from day one next season

[Thants]

.

[Stephen Adams.]

But Rafa is Houllier n disguies and will never know how to chase a game wheras Hiddink would

 

Its very sad indeed

 

You're a stupid cunt.

And you're not funny.

[INTORRESTING]

no pressure hiddink, play your best 11 and see what happens. Be great to see what he would have been like taking us over in 2004 but that cant happen. Doubt he would have won number 5 though. One of the best achievements in football history

[stringvest]

Why am I named in a post about believing Rafa or posters on here? Exactly what have I said?

 

It's your fault RK. Stop it at once. You're only making it worse for yourself.

[zigackly]

Benitez is hardly going to say his approach was wrong earlier in the season. If the players are saying they are attacking more, and more to the point, we can all see it with our own bloody eyes, then I see no point in being ostrich-like about it. I'm not disputing that they are more confident, or that it helps us having Torres back, but the fact is we are pushing miles further up the pitch and committing more men forward, which is a tactical change.

[Torvald Utne]

It's your fault RK. Stop it at once. You're only making it worse for yourself.

 

Exactly, stop trying to weasel out of it.

[lfc123]

[Kevin D]

Why was Kuyt taken off? Anyone?

[Stephen Adams.]

Why was Kuyt taken off? Anyone?

 

Obviously it was political and he hates him really.

[Code]

The last Arsenal goal was almost a carbon coby of the one they scored against us last season in the CL with Walcott running the lenght of the pitch before he passed the ball for someone to tap in.

[SpeedyG]

believe Benitez or Brownie, Stringvest, RedKnight & Zigackly....tough decision.

 

hahahahahaha good work. Remember though you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink!