Pompey v Liverpool |R|
The Scrutineer
Belhadj with an angled screamer, then Mascherano sent off maybe unfairly.
Abubakr
> 63" Portsmouth 1-0 Liverpool
>
> Belhadj with an angled screamer, then Mascherano sent off maybe unfairly.
82" Portsmouth 2-0
Piquionne just channelled Kanu and scored from an impossible angle.
The Scrutineer
7th Loss for Liverpool!!!
Google Beta User
> 2-0 83" Piquionne, two great goals for Pompey!!!
>
> 7th Loss for Liverpool!!!
Aquilani was unavailable due to injury?
Dossena in midfield...?
Benayoun on the bench?
Why not have a more offensive lineup wiht Gerrard dropped in midfield,
Pacheco given a surprise start (it's the bottom placed team), and
Benayoun in attack as well?
Stephen O'Connell
news:62206b62-f335-4481...@c3g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...
> On Dec 19, 9:29 am, "The Scrutineer" <vla...@bigpond.com> wrote:
>> 2-0 83" Piquionne, two great goals for Pompey!!!
>>
>> 7th Loss for Liverpool!!!
>
> Aquilani was unavailable due to injury?
>
> Dossena in midfield...?
>
> Benayoun on the bench?
Welcome to RafaLand!!!
Google Beta User
> > Benayoun on the bench?
>
> Welcome to RafaLand!!!
Even more depressing Fulham are beating United 3-0 with 15 minutes
left.
If we'd just kept the damage to 4 losses (double last season a
thalfway point) we'd still be in with a shout of the top of table.
Alkamista
Still think staying with Benitez is our best option?
Google Beta User
> > Even more depressing Fulham are beating United 3-0 with 15 minutes
> > left.
>
> > If we'd just kept the damage to 4 losses (double last season a
> > thalfway point) we'd still be in with a shout of the top of table.
>
> Still think staying with Benitez is our best option?
Until an identifed, credible replacement that can come in and do
better (only thing Benitez hasn't done is win the title) then yes.
He at least has to stay at least until the end of season, and give new
players a chance.
Google Beta User
http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/12/forget-red-card-rafa-benitez-is.html
Forget the red card - RAFA BENITEZ is responsible for the shambolic
Portsmouth defeat.
According to Rafa Benitez, Javier Mascherano's red card was the
catalyst for Liverpool's ignominious defeat to Portsmouth today. Well
of course it was! It's not like Benitez is ever responsible for
anything, is it? It's always something/someone else's fault. In
reality though, Benitez is - as usual - the person most culpable for
the team's capitulation.
After the game, Benitez said:
"If you analyse the first half we were doing well, even with their
goal but then came the Mascherano incident. We were a good team in the
first half and the sending off changed everything. We had some
chances, we should have scored, we were controlling the game and
everything changed with Mascherano".
In the words of Jules Winnfield: "Allow me to retort".
Reasons why Benitez is responsible for the defeat:
Overly defensive line-up
Against the bottom team in the league, Benitez's starting 11 contained
8 defensive-minded players!
Agger
Carragher
Johnson
Insua
Mascherano
Lucas
Dossena
Kuyt
5 of those players are defenders; two play defensive-midfield roles,
and one is - for all intents and purposes - a defensive right-
midfielder
Playing two holding midfielders
Why did Liverpool need to play with two defensive-mids against the
POOREST DEFENCE IN THE LEAGUE? Yet more evidence of Benitez's
stultifyingly defensive approach. The team should have been set-up to
attack; instead, it was set-up not to lose.
Dropping Benayoun
WHY?! Benitez's treatment of the player is unbelievably frustrating.
Benayoun is one of the club's best goal threats; he has 6 goals and 4
assists already this season; his superior ball retention skills and
direct play are vital to the team, yet Benitez continually benches/
subs him off.
Liverpool needed to win the Portsmouth game, so why not play the most
attacking line-up available?! Why play it safe and go defensive
against a team that should be brushed aside with ease.
Benitez seemingly has a pathological aversion to playing progressive,
attacking football and allowing his players to express themselves.
Bringing Aurelio on when we needed to win
So - we're 1-0 down in a must-win game and crying out for creativity,
and what does Benitez do? He ignores dedicated ATTACKING players like
N'gog and Babel, and brings on a defender. Once again, this is a
CAUTIOUS move. Aurelio may (allegedly) provide an attacking threat but
his instincts are those of a defender, and funnily enough, that's
because HE'S A DEFENDER!
Benitez has used the same tactic several times this season, but has it
ever worked?! Has bringing on Aurelio ever propelled the team to
victory? NO. If Benitez really wanted to win the game he would have
brought on N'gog and Babel. Instead, he (IMO) played for the draw.
Changing a winning team.
Liverpool played 442 against Wigan and won the game. Why change things
against Portsmouth?! Why not just stick with a winning team? For about
5 seconds on Wednesday night, I thought Benitez might finally have
seen the light, but inside I knew that he would never stick with 442.
After all, there's no point in sticking with a formation and line-up
that works, is there?
Persisting with Gerrard behind Torres
This tactic no longer works! Anyone can see that. Forget what's
happened in the distant past; look at the present and the recent past;
it is clear that Gerrard/Torres is no longer a viable option.
Another reason that partnership should be retired is that it makes the
team ultra-reliant on just two players. Usually, Gerrard and Torres
don't spark in the formation, the team suffers. In a 442, the
responsibility is spread around the team a little more, and Torres has
another striker with whom to share the burden.
If we are to play Torres up front alone, then as I've argued for
months, Benayoun should play in the hole, and Gerrard should play in
central midfield.
Building a team that lacks creativity
It was 70 minutes before Liverpool had a shot on target today. That is
simply unacceptable. This is what happens when you prioritise defence
over attack, and play a creatively bankrupt midfield of Lucas, Masch,
Dossena and Kuyt
Anti-football midfield partnership
How many times does this point need to be made? The Lucas/Mascherano
partnership is simply not good enough. Playing two defensive-minded
holding midfielders in *every game* is suffocating the team and
providing no play-making impact whatsoever.
The team needs a playmaker; someone who can start attacks; spray
passes about; link midfield to attack; join attacks and chip in with
assists/goals. (Hmmm. Remind you of anyone?)
Lucas and Masch provide none of that. Everyone can see that their
partnership is not beneficial to the team but Benitez pigheadedly
refuses to change or adapt, which is one of his biggest weaknesses.
As I've argued from the start of the season, Gerrard - when fit -
should be playing in CM alongside either Lucas or Masch, with Yossi
playing in the hole. When Liverpool HAVE played this formation, the
team has won and scored lots of goals (Hull, for example).
And consider this: Lucas on the bench v Wigan = Liverpool win. Lucas
starts v Portsmouth = Liverpool defeat. Coincidence? I think not.
Persisting with Dirk Kuyt
What did Kuyt contribute to the performance in an attacking sense?
Next to nothing. As usual. Still, he continues to start and finish
every game while players who contribute (i.e. Yossi), are regularly
benched.
Building an unbelievably slow team
Torres aside, is there a slower first XI in the entire league?
Watching Liverpool's players struggle to run is really quite painful.
And forget about counter-attacks; what is the point when our players
are too slow to take advantage?
Spending 17m on a defensively-suspect right back
Once again, Glen Johnson gifted a goal to the opposition. His
'defensive' header in the box went straight to a Belhadj, who hammered
in the opening goal. Against Arsenal last week, he was responsible for
both goals conceded; the own goal, and then allowing Andrei Arshavin
the space to fire off a shot.
Johnson has been excellent at times going forward but there is no
denying that fact that he is defensively suspect and prone lapses in
concentration/awareness.
It is no coincidence that since Johnson arrived, Liverpool's defensive
solidity has plummeted. Yes, there are other reasons for our poor
defensive performance, but Johnson's attacking ability should not mask
the reality that he is (arguably) not a long-term solution to
Liverpool's right back problem.
Benitez inexplicably chose to spend 17m on a defender when there were
other areas of the team that needed strengthening more urgently. Did
we really *need* Johnson? I would argue no. Liverpool could've bought
a good right back for 6-8m, and put the rest towards a back-up striker/
left-right attacking midfielder.
Spending 18m on Aquilani
The Aquilani farce continues. He is now injured again (quelle
surprise); that is not the problem though; we should expect Aquilani
to pick up little knocks here and there. The problem is that Benitez
chose to buy a player with a horrendous injury history. This issue has
been discussed to death but it was a negligent, indefensible decision.
The team has suffered as a result of not having a top-quality FIT
player making a contribution from the start of the season.
To add insult to injury, Benitez's handling of Aquilani has been a
joke, with player clearly frustrated and (probably) demotivated after
only 4 months at Anfield. If Benitez stays at Anfield, Aquilani will
not last 5 years. He will be gone/dumped, just like Robbie Keane.
Staggering inability to motivate players/inspire confidence
Benitez is not and never has been a motivator. In my view, he does not
inspire confidence in his players and he does not have the ability to
get the best out his team. We have seen examples of this before, but
this season is s sustained exampled of his inability to properly
motivate players.
Do I need to remind anyone that Liverpool were playing the league's
WORST TEAM?! If Benitez cannot motivate his players to do the business
against Portsmouth (!) then there really is a fundamental problem
somewhere.
The red card was inconvenient, but there was still enough quality on
the pitch to get something out of the game. If we had a manager who
was capable of motivating players, perhaps the game might not have
been lost.
This season has been a ceaseless merry-go round of misery; even in our
darkest days under Graeme Souness, it was never this bad; and whilst
Benitez is at the club it is never going to change. He has been making
the same mistakes over and over for the last 5 years, but the CL/FA
Cup win, and the latter part of last season papered over the cracks.
Basically, 5 years of overly defensive line-ups; dodgy substitutions;
poor transfer performance, and man-management catastrophes have come
home to roost, and Liverpool have suffered big time.
I really hate to say this, but I told you so.
I have been arguing for the last 4 years (and more) that Benitez is
not right man for the job. I have been highlighting the same mistakes
over and over again, trying to illustrate exactly *why* he's not the
man for the job. I've been shouted down endlessly by the pro-Benitez
brigade, but maybe now people will finally WAKE UP to the fact that he
is NOT the right man to lead Liverpool.
Read more: http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/12/forget-red-card-rafa-benitez-is.html#ixzz0aB5XRtHx
ken.o...@gmail.com
>
> Even more depressing Fulham are beating United 3-0 with 15 minutes
> left.
Late in the second half, with the score 3-0, the crowd was singing,
"Can we play you every week?" LOL
The Doctor
Abubakr <delta...@gmail.com> wrote:
Loserpool humiliated.!! I hope they drop!
--
Member - Liberal International This is doc...@nl2k.ab.ca Ici doc...@nl2k.ab.ca
God, Queen and country! Never Satan President Republic! Beware AntiChrist rising!
http://twitter.com/rootnl2k http://www.myspace.com/502748630
Merry Christmas 2009 and Happy New Year 2010
Enzo
> 63" Portsmouth 1-0 Liverpool
>
> Belhadj with an angled screamer, then Mascherano sent off maybe unfairly.
Unfairly?
Macherano is a criminal in the disguise of a football player.
A horrid, mean, talentless and cynical brute. Any side fielding
him loses my support.
Abubakr
> On Dec 19, 1:11 pm, Alkamista <alkami...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > Even more depressing Fulham are beating United 3-0 with 15 minutes
> > > left.
>
> > > If we'd just kept the damage to 4 losses (double last season a
> > > thalfway point) we'd still be in with a shout of the top of table.
>
> > Still think staying with Benitez is our best option?
>
> Until an identifed, credible replacement that can come in and do
> better (only thing Benitez hasn't done is win the title) then yes.
The only thing he's done is fluke a penalty shoot-out win in Istanbul.
Benny
> From : s_deb...@yahoo.com
> Unfairly?
> Macherano is a criminal in the disguise of a football player.
> A horrid, mean, talentless and cynical brute. Any side fielding
> him loses my support.
Steve Bruce is also moaning about Turner's red card, he was sent off for
elbowing a player in the face. It's amazing how EPL fans, players and
coaches still don't understand what does and does not constitue a foul.
Back to Mascherano to even suggest he was unfairly sent off is
ridiculous. It was a typical Mascherano challenge. He went in on Ben
Haim STUDS UP. It's the type of challenge that warrants six red cards
let alone one. Mascherano also injured himself in the process and as he
got to his feet the ref showed him a red card. Poetry and it's about
time refs wised up to his game. This season refs in the EPL have showed
more balls than before, they're not giving as many cheap penalties to
Liverpool and Man United, and appear to be waving more cards. There's
still a long, long way to go before the officiating is balanced.
--
http://soccer-europe.com
Rss feed : http://soccer-europe.com/RSS/News.xml
Jussi Uosukainen
> http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/12/forget-red-card-rafa-benitez-is.html
>
> Forget the red card - RAFA BENITEZ is responsible for the shambolic
> Portsmouth defeat.
>
I agree with his points about this game. I disagree with his opinions
about some individual buys (Aquilani and Johnson are quality players)
and Rafas track record. I think Rafa made a lot of
progress, and last season was a great result. This season many players
who were great last season have regressed visibly (Kuyt, Gerrard,
Carra), while Benitez has not done enough to turn things around.
--
/jussi
"It's always funny until someone gets hurt...
And then it's just hilarious!"
* Faith No More
Alkamista
> On Dec 19, 1:11 pm, Alkamista <alkami...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > Even more depressing Fulham are beating United 3-0 with 15 minutes
> > > left.
>
> > > If we'd just kept the damage to 4 losses (double last season a
> > > thalfway point) we'd still be in with a shout of the top of table.
>
> > Still think staying with Benitez is our best option?
>
> Until an identifed, credible replacement that can come in and do
> better (only thing Benitez hasn't done is win the title) then yes.
I think you're asking the wrong question. The question isn't if anyone
can do better, the question is, can anyone do worse right now? And I'm
not being facetious.
Enzo
>
> > Unfairly?
>
> > Macherano is a criminal in the disguise of a football player.
> > A horrid, mean, talentless and cynical brute. Any side fielding
> > him loses my support.
>
> Steve Bruce is also moaning about Turner's red card, he was sent off for
> elbowing a player in the face. It's amazing how EPL fans, players and
> coaches still don't understand what does and does not constitue a foul.
>
> Back to Mascherano to even suggest he was unfairly sent off is
> ridiculous. It was a typical Mascherano challenge. He went in on Ben
> Haim STUDS UP. It's the type of challenge that warrants six red cards
> let alone one. Mascherano also injured himself in the process and as he
> got to his feet the ref showed him a red card. Poetry and it's about
> time refs wised up to his game. This season refs in the EPL have showed
> more balls than before, they're not giving as many cheap penalties to
> Liverpool and Man United, and appear to be waving more cards. There's
> still a long, long way to go before the officiating is balanced.
>
> Rss feed :http://soccer-europe.com/RSS/News.xml
And miles from the ball. He was nowhere near the ball, it was a
100% destructive challenge. I am of the opinion that breaking a
person's leg should constitute, after review from an appeals board
ascertains that there are no extenuating circumstances or
accident, a minimum 1-season ban. If thats the case, bastards like
this
guy would think twice before doing this.
chris m
<ju...@iki.fi> wrote:
> Google Beta User <madr...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > Alkami, Jussi & 7@ch your thoughts on this post?
> >
>
> > http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2009/12/forget-red-card-rafa-benitez-is.html
> >
> > Forget the red card - RAFA BENITEZ is responsible for the shambolic
> > Portsmouth defeat.
> >
>
> I agree with his points about this game. I disagree with his opinions
> about some individual buys (Aquilani and Johnson are quality players)
> and Rafas track record. I think Rafa made a lot of
> progress, and last season was a great result. This season many players
> who were great last season have regressed visibly (Kuyt, Gerrard,
> Carra), while Benitez has not done enough to turn things around.
If Aguilani is a quality player why the hell doesn't he let him on the
field, instead of Lucas who does nothng, and wtf did he start Dosenna
against Pompey?
chris m
Jussi Uosukainen
Rafas handling of Aquilani has been bizarre, I agree. That does not
however mean that he is not a quality player.
And the team he put out against Pompey just made me happy I could not
watch the game, I'm afraid I might have said some rather harsh words at
the screen...
--
/jussi
You're perfect, yes, it's true
But without me you're only you
Stephen O'Connell
>
> Rafas handling of Aquilani has been bizarre, I agree. That does not
> however mean that he is not a quality player.
Are you saying that the mighty Rafa doesn't know best? He sold Crouch and
Keane and now doesn't seem to think much of Aquilani to play him... So
what do we know?
> And the team he put out against Pompey just made me happy I could not
> watch the game, I'm afraid I might have said some rather harsh words at
> the screen...
RafaLand = In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is King!