The game against West Ham was won in the 1st minute. I don't mean to sound arrogant but based on current form, we knew nothing will stop us the moment that first goal went in. By half time, the game was dead and buried. All hopes turned towards Sunday to the Manchester derby. It was a huge disappointment in the way City was rolled over by a rampant Man United side. I agree that the 2 goals were beautifully taken but I expected City to put up a stronger challenge. Alas, it was not to be. Once again, I felt Man United had it easy. Many teams accorded too much respect to them. However, I remain defiant over the title challenge until the very last point is lost. Man United's game against Wigan is perhaps our last chance. They need 4 more points to win the league and have 3 more games to play. Too easy? Probably. If they draw or lose to Wigan tonight, out title hopes will still be alive. But the important thing is this: even if they win tonight, we must not lost faith and belief. This is football and anything can happen. They can still lose their last 2 games and we will have to be in a position to take advantage should that unlikely scenario become a reality. Whatever happens, we need to keep winning, keep fighting. I hope Rafa drills that into the players' heads.
Whatever happens to the title challenge, I feel we need to make a few changes in the summer. For one, the right back position needs to be strengtened. Philip Degen has been a disappointment after being out for the whole season and playing only one first team game so far. He needs to go. So does Arbeloa. He is too slow and too cumbersome at times. In central defence, with the departure of Hypia, we will need extra cover. The left back position looks pretty healthy at the moment with Insua, Aurelio and Dossena all playing well. In midfield, Lucas needs to be sold. Yes, SOLD! He is one of the worst brazilian players I have ever seen. Alonso MUST stay. I can understand why Rafa wants Gareth Barry. With the addition of another strong midfielder, Gerard can be freed to play further up front and his partnership with Torres can only do us good, provided the both of them remains fit. Having said that, perhaps an additional striker will do us no harm. For our flanks, it is looking really good and there is really no requirement to buy another player in that department.
Title or not, it is still progress we made this season. Looking back, there were games where we should have won instead of drawn. And if Gerard and Torresd had started more games together, perhaps we may be in a better position than we are right now.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
I just love this song....
LIVERPOOL is the religion!
ANFIELD is our church!
THE KOP is our choir!
STANLEY PARK is our lurtch!
RAFA is our saviour!
GERRARD is the god!
CARRAGHER is our force!
while Lampard's the lazy sod!
PAISLEY laid the foundation!
SHANKLEY built the house!
now RAFA'S doin the garden!
COZ WE ARE F**KING SCOUSE!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Wastefulness
We had more than 23 attempts at goal against the Magpies last night and the scoreline merely read 3-0. Don't be get me wrong! I was glad we secured another 3 points and kept up the pressure on Man United. I was happy we played well enough although I feel at times we could have done better.
My point is this: against bottom half teams, we can afford to be wasteful in front of goal and get away with it. Against a team like Arsenal, Chelsea or Man U, we will be punished for it. We need to be clinical and lethal in front of goal. Alonso hit the same spot on the horizontal twice, Gerard did it once. Kyut was guilty, as usual, of too many misses. Riera started the first 15minutes of the game as though he was playing for the Magpies.
Although we have been playing well, in order to be Champions in the league, I feel we need to add that element of aggression and lethality in our play. We have been guilty of being too soft at times. I'm not sure if this is due to the fact that we have a large contingent of spanish players and they are not known to be an extremely physical league in Europe. Or perhaps its the culture within the club. Liverpool has always been known to be pass-and-play team since the Shankly days. We were never known to intimidate our opponents or win a game by being physical or aggressive. However, the key is balance. We can't be too soft or do we need to be too aggressive. What we need is to continue our passing game and get the players to display more grit and agression when the need arises.
Aggression and precision. These, I hope, will be the fundamental building blocks for next season. Until then, we need 9 points in the last 3 games and hope for a miracle. Nothing is won or lost yet.
My point is this: against bottom half teams, we can afford to be wasteful in front of goal and get away with it. Against a team like Arsenal, Chelsea or Man U, we will be punished for it. We need to be clinical and lethal in front of goal. Alonso hit the same spot on the horizontal twice, Gerard did it once. Kyut was guilty, as usual, of too many misses. Riera started the first 15minutes of the game as though he was playing for the Magpies.
Although we have been playing well, in order to be Champions in the league, I feel we need to add that element of aggression and lethality in our play. We have been guilty of being too soft at times. I'm not sure if this is due to the fact that we have a large contingent of spanish players and they are not known to be an extremely physical league in Europe. Or perhaps its the culture within the club. Liverpool has always been known to be pass-and-play team since the Shankly days. We were never known to intimidate our opponents or win a game by being physical or aggressive. However, the key is balance. We can't be too soft or do we need to be too aggressive. What we need is to continue our passing game and get the players to display more grit and agression when the need arises.
Aggression and precision. These, I hope, will be the fundamental building blocks for next season. Until then, we need 9 points in the last 3 games and hope for a miracle. Nothing is won or lost yet.
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