The Jan 2nd Premiership thread (then rest)

Tusky

wow! what a goal! Garcia 2-2!

Davei141

2-2

Ronan|Raven

Garcia 2-2

Be nice to hold onto this now!

Shred

You beauty!

Chardee MacDennis

cisee on for sissoko, going for the win - i like it

HashSlinging

class goal. we need to win this, cisse to score winning goal.

Ronan|Raven

Cisse goes close with a header.

therecklessone

Barcodes 1-2 Boro

Sourness' swansong?

Chardee MacDennis

therecklessone wrote:

Barcodes 1-2 Boro

Sourness' swansong?

wouldnt be surprised!! but who can they replace him with? and it will prob mean giving the new guy money to spend in jan, do they have enough of it?

county

2-2 newcastle

therecklessone

Call_me_al wrote:

wouldnt be surprised!! but who can they replace him with? and it will prob mean giving the new guy money to spend in jan, do they have enough of it?

Hang on, 2-2 now, he might last a few more games (hopefully)...:D

Chardee MacDennis

then again maybe not?

2-2 lee clark just scored

mike65

Well the run had to end at some point, I guess Pool fans can just be thankfull its a draw not a loss.

Mike.

Davei141

We normally lose at the reebok so cant complain.

Ronan|Raven

Yup, a hard earned point.

Chardee MacDennis

but it was too defensive slip ups that cost us, hopefully not back to old ways!!! think hyypia needs a rest soon, hopefully he will get that in the 2nd half of the season with new faces coming in

therecklessone

Bolton not an easy place to visit, so a 2-2 draw ain't bad for Liverpool.

Wigan lose again, thats 7 defeats in 10...lucky they did so well at the start of the season...Brum with a much needed win...

Fulham beat Sunderland, wonder is Mick's arse in the bacon slicer yet.

Good win for Everton, and don't be surprised if the knives come out for Curbishley.

Barcodes snatch a draw at home to Boro, Sourness should hang on a while yet.

Shred

Phew, that was nerve wrecking. Would have been nice to win it but 1 point is better than the zero the pool got at the reebok last year I s'pose.

mike65

There was a notion doing the rounds that McCarthy might get replaced by Keegan but I son't see that!

Mike.

Chardee MacDennis

they were talking bout that on jimmy hills programme yesterday, but as someone mentioned keegan needs a huge warchest to do rescue them, as much as i hate mccarthy he will get sunderland back up in 2007

HashSlinging

yup have to agree, a hard earned point. Overall a very good christmas campain, best liverpool team in years, great to see em doing so well.

therecklessone

Call_me_al wrote:

they were talking bout that on jimmy hills programme yesterday, but as someone mentioned keegan needs a huge warchest to do rescue them, as much as i hate mccarthy he will get sunderland back up in 2007

Common sense would suggest that sacking him now would be pointless, unless Sunderland are bought by a Russian billionaire there's no signings they could make to save their season. Whether Mick's the man to take them back up (to stay) I don't know. I think McCarthy is like Dave Bassett, Championship standard and not much more.

Lex Luthor

Call_me_al wrote:

but it was too defensive slip ups that cost us, hopefully not back to old ways!!! think hyypia needs a rest soon, hopefully he will get that in the 2nd half of the season with new faces coming in

No prem games now till 14th so he has a chance to rest..I wanna see the big man line out at Anfield on the 14th

Lemlin

Blackburn vs. Pompey at half 7, the day of football is just beginning!

Chucky the tree

Call_me_al wrote:

they were talking bout that on jimmy hills programme yesterday, but as someone mentioned keegan needs a huge warchest to do rescue them, as much as i hate mccarthy he will get sunderland back up in 2007

very suprised. i think keegan going back to manage newcastle is a much more realistic possibility.

therecklessone

Two great free kicks at Ewood Park so far.

Lemlin

Just watch Pedersen. The man is a genius.

Rikand

Come on MGP!!!!

Lemlin

We've got the biggest Dickov in the world!

Pest scores, 2-1.

Rikand

another good result for blackburn tonight, gives them 3 wins out of 3 for the christmas period, excellent run for them and we're up to 8th now!

Lemlin

Rickylovesuall wrote:

another good result for blackburn tonight, gives them 3 wins out of 3 for the christmas period, excellent run for them and we're up to 8th now!

Yep, we're only seven points off Champions League, and ten off survival. Was a bit touch and go at the end there.

Steven Reid had a great game though, hopefully he'll get a run in the Ireland team under the new manager.

mike65

Cough! Listen if you lot finish ahead of Bolton that'll please me! Seriously though Blackburn seem to be a much more effective footballing side this season.

Mike.

Lemlin

mike65 wrote:

Cough! Listen if you lot finish ahead of Bolton that'll please me! Seriously though Blackburn seem to be a much more effective footballing side this season.

Mike.

Glad to hear you think so. We've Bolton in our next game at Ewood, so hopefully we can continue the good form.

Pompey were lucky not to have Diao sent off too. Watching the match tonight, I wasn't sure which team is known as Blackeye Rovers. Bentley certainly seemed to be on the receiving end of a few tough tackles.

Guy:Incognito

Call_me_al wrote:

as much as i hate mccarthy he will get sunderland back up in 2007

And back down in 2008


Watching motd. Rafa said he wasnt happy with a draw. Seriously whats going on in his head, HE PICKED THE POXY TEAM!!! he has some mental back when it comes to Traore, they were looking at 4 balls over the top from Bolton. The defence steps up brilliantly,all bar poxy Traore standing a yard or two behind the rest of them like the donkey he is. #He is a waste of space who instills panic in the rest of the defence.

Davei141

Yeah hes either out of position or playing somebody onside. And whats worse, hes rubbish in the air!

Guy:Incognito

it's so funny watchign playing trying to be hard when they clearly arnt. fletcher tackled lampard and then said somethign to him when they were getting up so lampard walked towards him going what did you say" while pushing players out of the way who were trying to intervene. fletcher kept running away till the ref came over , when he then moves forward so the ref is between him and lampard,,, and he's giving it all the hold me back hold me back.:)

mayordenis

yeah lampard is one tough cookie . . . .

Guy:Incognito

mayordenis wrote:

yeah lampard is one tough cookie . . . .

Well that just makes fletcher even more of a tit then doesnt it.

Lex Luthor

I think Liverpool were lucky to get the draw.

Nolan had a very good penalty claim.

Sissoko was lucky not to get sent off for his stamp on that other schmuk bag.

Traore played Stelios onside, when he was one-on-one with the keeper.

I'm happy with the 10 pts from the 4 games Liverpool got over the xmas period.

Lemlin

Lex Luthor wrote:

I think Liverpool were lucky to get the draw.

Nolan had a very good penalty claim.

Sissoko was lucky not to get sent off for his stamp on that other scum bag.

Traore played Stelios onside, when he was one-on-one with the keeper.

I'm happy with the 10 pts from the 4 games Liverpool got over the xmas period.

Whatever your opinion of Diouf, I don't think its fair to label him a scumbag. His time at Liverpool didn't work out but he seems to be doing well at Bolton.

Big Nelly

Lex Luthor wrote:

I think Liverpool were lucky to get the draw.

Nolan had a very good penalty claim.

Sissoko was lucky not to get sent off for his stamp on that other scum bag.

Traore played Stelios onside, when he was one-on-one with the keeper.

I'm happy with the 10 pts from the 4 games Liverpool got over the xmas period.

Read the charter, your not allowed to use the word scum in reference to anybody on here.

Guy:Incognito

Lemlin wrote:

Whatever your opinion of Diouf, I don't think its fair to label him a scumbag. His time at Liverpool didn't work out but he seems to be doing well at Bolton.

While your not allowed to call anyone a scumbag, it's rarely as applicable to anyone else. He didnt just spit at someone while at Liverpool he has done it a few times. I would regard spitting at someone as the lowest form of abuse. Dont even get me started on his diving.

Rikand

Stekelly wrote:

While your not allowed to call anyone a scumbag, it's rarely as applicable to anyone else. He didnt just spit at someone while at Liverpool he has done it a few times. I would regard spitting at someone as the lowest form of abuse. Dont even get me started on his diving.

true, perhaps we should apply for a permission to use a special term, in this case, lol

PiE

You should all be banned for taking lightly the subject of calling a poor chap a scumbag.

:rolleyes:

Yea, knew this match would be tricky for the 'Pool. I probably would have taken 2-2 before kickoff tbh.

Lemlin

Stekelly wrote:

While your not allowed to call anyone a scumbag, it's rarely as applicable to anyone else. He didnt just spit at someone while at Liverpool he has done it a few times. I would regard spitting at someone as the lowest form of abuse. Dont even get me started on his diving.

I witnessed this first hand last year against Blackburn but I still wouldn't refer to him as scum.

Lex Luthor

Lemlin wrote:

I witnessed this first hand last year against Blackburn but I still wouldn't refer to him as scum.

You're right Lemlin, he's not worthy of that name.

I apologise for my use of the 4 letter word....post has been re-edited.

Haven't changed my opinion of Diouf though....

Sissoko better watch himself, because he's gonna be targeted from now on in.

The run of wins for Liverpool was gonna come to an end at some stage...better it came now to a strong team away from home and getting a draw. Bolton afaik, have only conceded 2 goals at home all season before this game, so it was a good result. Not many teams will walk away from the Reebok this season with a point.

redspider

So, Liverpool's run comes to an end. Perhaps due in this case playing into the hands of the opposition, by changing the way that the team has been playing recently, and by not creating anywhere near the number of chances that are normally created in recent matches.

This was a different Liverpool team. On paper it looked like a 4-4-2, with:

---

Reina

---

Finnan - Carra - Hyypia - Traore
Gerrard - Sissoko - Hamann - Kewell
--- Pongolle -- Crouch ----

But in practice, the team did not play 4-4-2 but moved around, with Pongolle switching sides, Gerrard playing in the centre at times but also on the left, as well as Kewell on the right(!) at times and in the centre. It was a real mess as we had on occasion this 4-3-3:

---

Reina

---

Finnan - Carra - Hyypia - Traore
Sissoko - Hamann -- Gerrard
- Pongolle - Kewell - Crouch

Go Figure. Benitez had gone for muscle with Traore and Sissoko, and to some extent Hamann, and left the lighter creative players on the bench, such as Alonso and Garcia and also other players with perhaps more prowess, such as Riise (v Traore) and Cisse (v Pongolle). Sam was happy that Liverpool had adjusted their setup and their game. As it turned out, Bolton were unlucky not to get a penalty or two, and they nearly broke the offside trap several times.

The 1st goal was a real mess by Reina, he dropped the ball with what should have been an easy catch in the 6 yard box. As the ball fell Hyppia was clearing it only for Reina to half block it as he tried to recover and the ball went straight towards the Bolton defender who reflex headed it over the line past a despairing Carragher. A soft goal for Liverpool to give away. I would blame Reina 100% for this goal.

Bolton had as many chances as Liverpool did, in a match that was tight. It was only a matter of time before Benitez changed things around. Liverpool got a penalty, a correct call as O'Brien was just late on Gerrard in the box, but equally Bolton would have had similar shouts earlier in the match. Gerrard scored it, so at 1-1 it looked like it was going to be a sweet comeback for Liverpool, perhaps like Celtic's 2-3 win over Hearts on New Years day.

But Bolton kept at it, trying to spring the gap - a good through ball from midfield by Nolan ended up with a cross into the 6-yard area and Diouf, of all people, scrambled it home in a bundle tackle with keeper and defender. Liverpool's defence should have and could have done better, not only on this occasion but throughout the match. Reina also should have done better for this goal but was not to blame.

So, 2-1 down and the clock was ticking. Liverpool were in the game a but more, and at least the creative aspects of Garcia came through, as he controlled the ball well on his chest giving himself a yard against his marker and got off a good shot from near the edge of the box beating the keeper low and to his near-side.

It ended 2-2 and it was probably a fair result. Liverpool fans will feel that this is not the way they should play, and rightly so. Even after 10 wins they are capable of getting 3 pts at Bolton. But like many people, I'm of the opinion that they were due a bad day at the office at some point.

This "bad day" certainly wasnt helped by Benitez's selection, I dont think. Liverpool dont have a large squad to pick from with Zenden out, but why he would leave off Riisse from such a match and put on Pongolle with Cisse on the bench is unusal. If anything, Cisse has such physical attributes that you would think that he would be ideal for such a game.

Stekelly wrote:

Rafa said he wasnt happy with a draw. Seriously whats going on in his head, HE PICKED THE POXY TEAM!!! he has some mental back when it comes to Traore, they were looking at 4 balls over the top from Bolton. The defence steps up brilliantly,all bar poxy Traore standing a yard or two behind the rest of them like the donkey he is.

Traore is poor at handling these defensive manoeuvers, thats for sure. But I think playing these types of traps is not a good tactic for Liverpool, as they do not have the pace, apart from Carra to recover back if the trap is sprung. And if you set it so often, its only a matter of time before it is sprung.

At least Liverpool got a point from the match, rather than dropping all 3. And hopefully, Benitez will have learned a lesson .... or two.

Let's just put this one down to experience.

redspider

Jivin Turkey

Very critical of the performance there Redspider IMO.

redspider wrote:

It ended 2-2 and it was probably a fair result. Liverpool fans will feel that this is not the way they should play, and rightly so. Even after 10 wins they are capable of getting 3 pts at Bolton. But like many people, I'm of the opinion that they were due a bad day at the office at some point.

While Liverpool may have notched 10 in a row, they were all very winnable games. Bolton away are a hard test for any team. Just look at their record. I don't think Benetiz will be overly disappointed with a point.

redspider wrote:

This "bad day" certainly wasnt helped by Benitez's selection, I dont think. Liverpool dont have a large squad to pick from with Zenden out, but why he would leave off Riisse from such a match and put on Pongolle with Cisse on the bench is unusal. If anything, Cisse has such physical attributes that you would think that he would be ideal for such a game.

Cisse was unfit. Hence him being on the bench.

I'm also certain that if Liverpool played the likes of Garcia, Risse and Alonso and were physically bossed on the pitch you would be criticising the selection. These are the type of games Liverpool were losing last year, the tough physical ones, Benetiz's selection made sure that if anyone was going to be the physical side it was going to be Liverpool. The tactic's paid off, a good point was won, and a victory was just a post away.

Cast your mind back to last year, the scenario I just described happened in this fixture. This year Liverpool did not leave empty handed.

Rikand

Man City Vs Spurs just getting under way anybody lucky enough not to be working, watching this ?

Lemlin

Rickylovesuall wrote:

Man City Vs Spurs just getting under way anybody lucky enough not to be working, watching this ?

Yep, just as boring as last night so far.

Edit: Mido just scored after a mistake by Distin.