Post Match - Spurs
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It was a Cantastic performance.
I didn't think we'd win it with 20 mins to go but a superb 3 points against a very in form side.
Hopefully Studge can stay fit for 25 more games!
I didn't think we'd win it with 20 mins to go but a superb 3 points against a very in form side.
Hopefully Studge can stay fit for 25 more games!
He didn't get the news that Reus already signed a new contract.
Before this game, I wanted Can to stay in the back three, as it gave us a stable defence, and we didn't really know what state any of the possible RCB replacements were in. I've been saying since before the Bolton FA Cup replay though that we cannot give up on Lovren yet and that we need to see if we can resuscitate him in the cup games so that we get him ready to offer us flexibility and cover for injuries at the back. Sakho, for example, has shown back and leg problems in two of these last few games.
Now that we have two cup games before Southampton, Lovren needs to play at least the weekend game against Palace, and if he doesn't flop - get another shot against Besiktas. If he can be the next guy who rebounds superbly from a setback in his career here, we'll be a stronger unit for it. Rebuilding his form and confidence will give us the chance to push Can up a rank in some games to shore up the midfield in Lucas' absence - we ceded that battle to Spurs in the first half and Southampton have an even better group of midfielders than Spurs.
Now that we have two cup games before Southampton, Lovren needs to play at least the weekend game against Palace, and if he doesn't flop - get another shot against Besiktas. If he can be the next guy who rebounds superbly from a setback in his career here, we'll be a stronger unit for it. Rebuilding his form and confidence will give us the chance to push Can up a rank in some games to shore up the midfield in Lucas' absence - we ceded that battle to Spurs in the first half and Southampton have an even better group of midfielders than Spurs.
Considering the totally deserved slagging Migs embarrassing shite before Christmas received it must also be noted that he was top fucking notch last night...
It's all a big improvement, even when not everyone is on their game we are still producing reasonable performances and picking up points....
me likey
Hmmm...
In the second half we were no great shakes it was pretty scrappy stuff and there was definite relief that we scored the winner after conceding 2 poor goals.I found it annoying to watch us back off as much as we did after scoring. On a number of breaks I thought we were ridiculously slow pushing up to support attacks but I suspect that may be due to the volume of games at the minute...
I didn't feel it was as good as some other of our more recent displays, it could well have finished a draw. That said it was delightful to beat that fucking shower... and I really enjoying the team absolutely mugging Mario when he got the winner.
We missed a DM big time and only seemed to get a foothold again when Can moved into midfield, because he dominated the ball alot more and protected when he needed to. Also Lallana helped in keeping hold of the ball and being alot more composed than Henderson and Gerrard were. Considering the way they play in and around the edge of the box, it was probably one of the worst games we could have then gone into without Lucas.
That said, they scored an offside goal and although they threatened and played good stuff, we had our chances too and would have ran away with it, had we had a fit Sturridge and Lallana playing instead of Markovic, who despite the fortuitous goal, was pretty poor all night.
Carrying on about Markovic, he's so powder puff it's unbelievable, the amount of times he was shrugged off the ball, or he got into promising positions and made totally the wrong decision, was frustrating. I just don't get what he has in this tank. He's not a great passer, he's one dimensional at taking players on and he gets out fought too easily.
Sakho made some great interceptions but was again his own worst enemy with rash passes when under pressure, the amount of times he fizzed it into Gerrard/Hendo/Lallana when in a deep midfield position with two opponents on their backs, was ridiculous. We were lucky late on that Lallana has that knack of turning on a six pence, because anyone else would have buckled under the pressure. The comedy moment on the byline when Sakho pulled their player down was what seems to be his customary mad moment, and they seem to be getting more and more frequent. He's as strong as an ox, his interceptions can be great and his passing when under less pressure is brilliant at times, but his hairy moments are making him look like a calamity.
As for Can, he's fucking brilliant, eh?
That said, they scored an offside goal and although they threatened and played good stuff, we had our chances too and would have ran away with it, had we had a fit Sturridge and Lallana playing instead of Markovic, who despite the fortuitous goal, was pretty poor all night.
Carrying on about Markovic, he's so powder puff it's unbelievable, the amount of times he was shrugged off the ball, or he got into promising positions and made totally the wrong decision, was frustrating. I just don't get what he has in this tank. He's not a great passer, he's one dimensional at taking players on and he gets out fought too easily.
Sakho made some great interceptions but was again his own worst enemy with rash passes when under pressure, the amount of times he fizzed it into Gerrard/Hendo/Lallana when in a deep midfield position with two opponents on their backs, was ridiculous. We were lucky late on that Lallana has that knack of turning on a six pence, because anyone else would have buckled under the pressure. The comedy moment on the byline when Sakho pulled their player down was what seems to be his customary mad moment, and they seem to be getting more and more frequent. He's as strong as an ox, his interceptions can be great and his passing when under less pressure is brilliant at times, but his hairy moments are making him look like a calamity.
As for Can, he's fucking brilliant, eh?
23. Can vs Spurs
33. Ibe vs Spurs
Bossing it like Mike & Pip:
33. Ibe vs Spurs
Bossing it like Mike & Pip:
Oh and one more thing - I thought we defended all their corner kicks very well in the game. Or Spurs were just as bad as us in taking them.
Yeah good call on the glaring hole that Lucas not being there left. Spurs were just pinging little triangles around Gerrard for fun in that first half.
I agree with Mark on Markovic, he was fucking crap. It's actually a surprise we managed the full points last night when you consider that Marko, Gerrard, Coutinho and Henderson were awful. That's pretty much the whole midfield.
Thank god for Can, Ibe, Skrtel and Ming, who were the outstanding performers last night against one of the best Spurs sides I've seen in years. Special mentions to Lallana and Ballotelli of course.
Thank god for Can, Ibe, Skrtel and Ming, who were the outstanding performers last night against one of the best Spurs sides I've seen in years. Special mentions to Lallana and Ballotelli of course.
Markovic wasn't crap imho. He was one of the reasons we created so many chances in the first half.
His pressing and work rate were very good. Scored a great goal aswell.
Don't think Henderson was awful either. Gerrard and Coutinho didn't have the best of games..
For all those who cant see why Henderson is important to this side:
His pressing and work rate were very good. Scored a great goal aswell.
Don't think Henderson was awful either. Gerrard and Coutinho didn't have the best of games..
For all those who cant see why Henderson is important to this side:
Thought both Ibe and Moreno played well tbh.
Our central midfield were all over the place until Can was pushed forward.
Gerrard shouldn't be playing there.
Lovren was impressive when he came on. Maybe we should push Can forward and start Lovren while Lucas is out injured.
Our central midfield were all over the place until Can was pushed forward.
Gerrard shouldn't be playing there.
Lovren was impressive when he came on. Maybe we should push Can forward and start Lovren while Lucas is out injured.
Our midfield was dramatically shite. Our left side was awful. However individual performances managed to cover for that.
Moreno worked hard but wasn't great.
Ibe was absolutely superb. It says something when you have all these big names on the pitch and you are giving the ball to a 19 yr old kid on his 3rd start asking him to win us a game. He didn't disappoint though. I love him already. He's just got that "no fear" about him, watching him go past about 4 players last night then bouncing another fucker off the ball was a joy to behold.
The lesson learnt tonight is that I think Mr Gerrard is done against quality opposition. Unfortunately.
Ibe was absolutely superb. It says something when you have all these big names on the pitch and you are giving the ball to a 19 yr old kid on his 3rd start asking him to win us a game. He didn't disappoint though. I love him already. He's just got that "no fear" about him, watching him go past about 4 players last night then bouncing another fucker off the ball was a joy to behold.
The lesson learnt tonight is that I think Mr Gerrard is done against quality opposition. Unfortunately.
Underlined rather than learned, I'd say. IMHO, sad though I am to say so, it's been becoming clearer for a while.
I think this was my favourite moment
Not too clever though. I know he was trying to help keep possession, but at this point of the game, why play a ball like that and risk gifting possession to them? Just boot the ball way into the stands so they have to take a throw near the corner flag in their own territory and risk turning the ball over back to us.
coutinho looked so rushed - almost as though it was his first game in the epl.
Re lazar, he seems to shit himself when he gets the ball and is always looking for a backwards pass asap. It's like the idea of running with the ball is a last resort. He needs to start picking that ball up on the halfway line and doing some damage. I thought he was poor again last night.
Last night maybe wasn't his best game but I reckon that has something to do with him being switched away from wingback, where he's done well in recent matches. Rodgers likes his players to be versatile and that's fair enough when the need arises, but for my money he's tinkering a bit more than I'd like to see.
I'd give that a go if Lovren has another good game in the cup before we risk him in the league.
On the other hand, Markovic could even have had very few minutes before yesterday had Rodgers persisted on playing him only in his natural position. He'd been meh up to the point Rodgers made the switch, which then gave him the opportunities to get playing time, experience and confidence.
I thought Markovic was ok last night, really. It still feels like he's feeling his way into the league, and it's like he's made a conscious decision to play it safe for now.
It looks like it might be a bit of a project with him. He's got lots of good attributes but we need to find a way of moulding them into an effective PL player.
It looks like it might be a bit of a project with him. He's got lots of good attributes but we need to find a way of moulding them into an effective PL player.
I don't know why all the emphasis is on us Shipping goals after this when if we had the same luck Spurs had it could have easily been 4/5-1.
Not only that, we were carrying a couple of passengers- coutinho put in his worst performance for 12 months and Gerrard and Henderson were hapless at times / throughout.
It's unlikely that any combination we field in the middle will be that bad between now and the summer again.
Sturridge wasn't fit and Mignolet is looking like a premier league keeper finally.
Can is a pure beast too. I think we should be looking forwards and Utd, arsenal, spurs and Southampton all have another legitimate contender (points wise) after last night.
Not only that, we were carrying a couple of passengers- coutinho put in his worst performance for 12 months and Gerrard and Henderson were hapless at times / throughout.
It's unlikely that any combination we field in the middle will be that bad between now and the summer again.
Sturridge wasn't fit and Mignolet is looking like a premier league keeper finally.
Can is a pure beast too. I think we should be looking forwards and Utd, arsenal, spurs and Southampton all have another legitimate contender (points wise) after last night.
Dreamunbeliever
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