ratings vs liverpool

[thinktank]

Didn't he try to just boot it in a Europa game after a poor Naughton backpass and it came off their player and they scored? I can't remember which team it was but it could explain why he tried to be a bit cute with this one.

Lloris should NEVER have been put in that position.

 

[StartingPrice]

Dembélé just pips Verts for MOM, for me - looks to be getting back to were he was before his injury.

Livermore - Does everything in a slightly predictable and pedestrian way but his slight negligence in the first goal aside was very competent today and had a decent game.


Defoe - There was one moment second half where he has the ball on the edge of their box, he has two defenders in front of him, Sigurdsson makes a great move to his left, there are two or three options to his right. Defoe, of course, just blasts the fucking ball straight at the defenders. This is followed by a chorus of "Jermain Defoe, he is yiddo". I'm not sure hwo is stupider, him or the fucking choir.

Ref - Just a note on the ref who I thought was excellent today. Was calm and unfazed by Suarez's antics, backed up by the baying crowd. Was sensible throughout and managed the game superbly.

AVB - Stupidity of immense dimension robbed him of a great tactical victory.

I agree, RE Livermore - folk, again, falling into the fallacy of judging him for what he isn't and not what he is. He was in that midfield today to do a job, and he did it. As a result, we won the midfield which was pivotal in keeping the supply to their attack to a miminum. Anyone expecting Modric or Ghoddle or Gazza or whatever needs a reality check and an understanding of the term horses for courses. He's a squad player, we can't afford to have a squad player who is better than GreasyMessiRomaldoBale!

RE Defoe: I tried to make the exact same point on the match thread after the final whistle, but wouldn't post due to ye olde time-out thang. What is worse than his infuriating profligacy is that whenever he smashes a shot somewhere in the general direction of the goal, while having far better options, a certain section of the crowd insist on singing the Jermaine Defoe, he's a Yiddo song. This annoingly selfish **** needs to be discouraged from being an annoying selfish ****, not encouraged in being an annoying selfish ****. If he could keep his scoring up for a whole season and score 15 more goals a season, he could just about get away with it. He doesn't and he can't. Despite the fact that I have tired of any and all excuses for Adebayor recently (and was he injured today), and that Defoe has scored more this season, I always feel more confident that someone might score when he is on the pitch, if he isn't helping, at least he usually isn't actively hindering. I can't help but have a feeling that I will be more disappointed if Defoe is at the Lane in September than if Adebayor is.

Re the ref: generally, I agree - but Carragher made two yellow card challenges before he was booked. And if he had been less lenient with the odious Mole-Rat he wouldn't have been on the pitch to win a penalty. On the other hand, there was also a borderline from Vertonghen that could easily have gone against us. But that is probably as much to do with the ridiculous Scousers thinking they deserved three clear pens than with the reef being anything other than satisfactory in a difficult job.

RE AVB: I agree - after an energy sapping performance on Thursday night, we pretty much shut them down, had them were we wanted them, and should have killed the game, before ridiculously throwing it away. The only quibble I would have is that I felt he could have made a change around the hour mark. But, just a quibble.

 

[mpickard2087]

Not a bad performance, took a little while to adapt to the tactics but when Dembele finally got to grips with it and started to roam and see more ball it looked a lot better and we moved the ball about quite well. Very annoying that we threw it away due to individual mistakes, hopefully the players can draw a line under it, learn from the experience and move on.

Lloris 6 - Looked to me like he tried to be too clever for the equaliser and prod it towards Ekotto rather than put it in row Z.

Walker 5 - His error changed the game. Also partly culpable for the first goal.

Dawson 6 - Did ok. Not sure if he could have done any more for the opening goal.

Vertonghen 8 - Good game. Really back in form now.

Ekotto 5 - I struggle to remember much of what he did to be honest, but conceded the penalty.

Parker 6 - Did ok.

Livermore 6 - Ditto, although Suarez did run off him for the first goal.

Dembele 7 - Good game, although also part of the mix-up for the first goal.

Sigurdsson 6 - Worked pretty hard, another who was 'ok'. A couple of great chances spurned though.

Bale 6.5 - Didn't get in the game an awful lot, but some moments of real quality.

Defoe - Just fuck off. If that was Adebayor there would be 3568545362 threads on how much of a **** he was. That was a disgraceful performance by him.

Subs: One question here, why when we are hoofing the ball into the box in desperation at the end do we not bring on Caulker and just put him up top? Maybe its such a simple, neanderthal tactic that it hasn't found its way into AVB's notebook. Would have been more chance of it being effective than slinging it up the pitch to the options we did have on.

 

[nedley]

From the sublime to the ridiculous (in 3 days).

The ridiculous being the manner in which we vomited up a hard earned three points all over our own shoes. In every other way that was such a good performance. That's the first time this season I have seen Liverpool so thoroughly dominated on their own manor. I can't remember seeing Liverpool create so little.

If I'm totally honest, it was not the performance I was expecting. I was expecting a Liverpool, buoyed by recent form, new signings and gradually getting to grips with Rodgers methodology to control much more of the game. Especially after our Europa tie three days prior. First 5 minutes they looked bright and at it, but as is the way with us now, we were having none it, we slowly set about doing our "thing". And for me it's a thing of beauty. We hunt the ball down, we win it, we pass it, we move.

That was the best performance we've put in at Anfield for as long as I can remember. There were a couple of others in recent years, but compare that to last years insipid embarrassment, the transformation was total.

Parker after a somewhat iffy first 20 minutes settled into the game, Livermore, without being great was bloody competent and Dembele was also very influential and the way he played it was like we almost became a sort of lop sided 433. Those three dominated the midfield, AVB tactically outwitting Rodgers, who eventually realised the problem, bringing Allen on.

I think Walker has actually looked more composed in the last 2/3 games than at any time in his career with us. I think his positional awareness has looked slightly better too - I could be wrong, it's only been a couple of games that it's looked that way. The problem is, despite some progress on these fronts, he has strong negatives in his DNA too, good coaching may negate some, improve the positives etc, but how many times has Walker got away with a poor choice of pass over the last couple of years. He did one against Inter fore-instance, that went unmentioned because it would have seemed churlish after such a good performance by the team and him. He also got away with getting wrong sided and fouling their player (Countinho I think) first half. The mistake today was one of immense proportions. I have no idea what he was thinking or trying.

Defoe was possibly the difference between us cruising to victory and not. He offered so little it was scary. And then when he gets on the ball his half witted tunnel vision invariably wastes the moment. Contrast him with Suarez. It's stark. I think Suarez is a spiteful little ****, but Defoe is an insipid ****. I know who I'd prefer. I think with Suarez in our side we'd be pissing a CL place. What the fuck he was doing for the pen I have no idea either. Bewildering fuckwittedness of immense dimensions. Ekotto's contribution shouldn't be overlooked, rash and unnecessary.

The first goal was also down to some individual errors. Dembele lets their guy run off him, Livermore lets Suarez run, Walker was a bit untidy and Dawson seems to be ball watching unaware of Suarez's movement.

Many, many games you will get away with the individual errors we made today, even Downing's fucking shot went straight at Vertonghen, only to go through his legs.

The sad thing is they meant we didn't reap what a very, very good performance deserved. Well played Spurs.

Individual ramblings:

Lloris - Not sure if he could have done anything different for their equaliser. Apart from that was good I think.

Walker - I think he was having a very decent game until he had an unfortunately typical Walker moment, just even worse than the usual ones.

Dawson - I think there was a moment where Suarez is in front of him and he gets caught watching the ball and in the blink of an eye Suarez has run in and scored. Other than that I think he had a very decent game and has, a bit like Walker, looked a tad more composed of late.

Vertonghen - Outstanding performance.

Ekotto - I know people think's he's clever because he can string three sentences together and drives a noddy car, but I think some of his choices are as stupid as Walker's, at both ends of the pitch. For me, ultimately, like Walker, he doesn't actually contribute enough in an attacking sense for his defensive frailties to trade off. In between (each end) he was, as ever, pretty good. Seeing plenty of ball and contributing to midfield game play.

Parker - Slightly inauspicious start, gave the ball away sloppily a couple of times, but got a grip of the game and therein was very good.

Livermore - Does everything in a slightly predictable and pedestrian way but his slight negligence in the first goal aside was very competent today and had a decent game.

Demebele - Good game, very influential. Constantly involved.

Bale - Decent game, great delivery for the first goal. Kept making himself available and trying to spark something.

Sigurdsson - Worked hard, incredibly unlucky not to score.

Defoe - There was one moment second half where he has the ball on the edge of their box, he has two defenders in front of him, Sigurdsson makes a great move to his left, there are two or three options to his right. Defoe, of course, just blasts the fucking ball straight at the defenders. This is followed by a chorus of "Jermain Defoe, he is yiddo". I'm not sure hwo is stupider, him or the fucking choir.

Ref - Just a note on the ref who I thought was excellent today. Was calm and unfazed by Suarez's antics, backed up by the baying crowd. Was sensible throughout and managed the game superbly.

AVB - Stupidity of immense dimension robbed him of a great tactical victory.

Absolute spot on summary.

 

[mpickard2087]

Didn't he try to just boot it in a Europa game after a poor Naughton backpass and it came off their player and they scored? I can't remember which team it was but it could explain why he tried to be a bit cute with this one.

No that one the pass from Naughton was short but he got there first, tried to transfer it back onto his left foot (instead of having a swing with his right) and got caught out by the attacker.

 

[thinktank]

From the sublime to the ridiculous (in 3 days).

The ridiculous being the manner in which we vomited up a hard earned three points all over our own shoes. In every other way that was such a good performance. That's the first time this season I have seen Liverpool so thoroughly dominated on their own manor. I can't remember seeing Liverpool create so little.

If I'm totally honest, it was not the performance I was expecting. I was expecting a Liverpool, buoyed by recent form, new signings and gradually getting to grips with Rodgers methodology to control much more of the game. Especially after our Europa tie three days prior. First 5 minutes they looked bright and at it, but as is the way with us now, we were having none it, we slowly set about doing our "thing". And for me it's a thing of beauty. We hunt the ball down, we win it, we pass it, we move.

That was the best performance we've put in at Anfield for as long as I can remember. There were a couple of others in recent years, but compare that to last years insipid embarrassment, the transformation was total.

Parker after a somewhat iffy first 20 minutes settled into the game, Livermore, without being great was bloody competent and Dembele was also very influential and the way he played it was like we almost became a sort of lop sided 433. Those three dominated the midfield, AVB tactically outwitting Rodgers, who eventually realised the problem, bringing Allen on.

I think Walker has actually looked more composed in the last 2/3 games than at any time in his career with us. I think his positional awareness has looked slightly better too - I could be wrong, it's only been a couple of games that it's looked that way. The problem is, despite some progress on these fronts, he has strong negatives in his DNA too, good coaching may negate some, improve the positives etc, but how many times has Walker got away with a poor choice of pass over the last couple of years. He did one against Inter fore-instance, that went unmentioned because it would have seemed churlish after such a good performance by the team and him. He also got away with getting wrong sided and fouling their player (Countinho I think) first half. The mistake today was one of immense proportions. I have no idea what he was thinking or trying.

Defoe was possibly the difference between us cruising to victory and not. He offered so little it was scary. And then when he gets on the ball his half witted tunnel vision invariably wastes the moment. Contrast him with Suarez. It's stark. I think Suarez is a spiteful little ****, but Defoe is an insipid ****. I know who I'd prefer. I think with Suarez in our side we'd be pissing a CL place. What the fuck he was doing for the pen I have no idea either. Bewildering fuckwittedness of immense dimensions. Ekotto's contribution shouldn't be overlooked, rash and unnecessary.

The first goal was also down to some individual errors. Dembele lets their guy run off him, Livermore lets Suarez run, Walker was a bit untidy and Dawson seems to be ball watching unaware of Suarez's movement.

Many, many games you will get away with the individual errors we made today, even Downing's fucking shot went straight at Vertonghen, only to go through his legs.

The sad thing is they meant we didn't reap what a very, very good performance deserved. Well played Spurs.

Individual ramblings:

Lloris - Not sure if he could have done anything different for their equaliser. Apart from that was good I think.

Walker - I think he was having a very decent game until he had an unfortunately typical Walker moment, just even worse than the usual ones.

Dawson - I think there was a moment where Suarez is in front of him and he gets caught watching the ball and in the blink of an eye Suarez has run in and scored. Other than that I think he had a very decent game and has, a bit like Walker, looked a tad more composed of late.

Vertonghen - Outstanding performance.

Ekotto - I know people think's he's clever because he can string three sentences together and drives a noddy car, but I think some of his choices are as stupid as Walker's, at both ends of the pitch. For me, ultimately, like Walker, he doesn't actually contribute enough in an attacking sense for his defensive frailties to trade off. In between (each end) he was, as ever, pretty good. Seeing plenty of ball and contributing to midfield game play.

Parker - Slightly inauspicious start, gave the ball away sloppily a couple of times, but got a grip of the game and therein was very good.

Livermore - Does everything in a slightly predictable and pedestrian way but his slight negligence in the first goal aside was very competent today and had a decent game.

Demebele - Good game, very influential. Constantly involved.

Bale - Decent game, great delivery for the first goal. Kept making himself available and trying to spark something.

Sigurdsson - Worked hard, incredibly unlucky not to score.

Defoe - There was one moment second half where he has the ball on the edge of their box, he has two defenders in front of him, Sigurdsson makes a great move to his left, there are two or three options to his right. Defoe, of course, just blasts the fucking ball straight at the defenders. This is followed by a chorus of "Jermain Defoe, he is yiddo". I'm not sure hwo is stupider, him or the fucking choir.

Ref - Just a note on the ref who I thought was excellent today. Was calm and unfazed by Suarez's antics, backed up by the baying crowd. Was sensible throughout and managed the game superbly.

AVB - Stupidity of immense dimension robbed him of a great tactical victory.

Perfect.

 

[thinktank]

RE Defoe: I tried to make the exact same point on the match thread after the final whistle, but wouldn't post due to ye olde time-out thang. What is worse than his infuriating profligacy is that whenever he smashes a shot somewhere in the general direction of the goal, while having far better options, a certain section of the crowd insist on singing the Jermaine Defoe, he's a Yiddo song. This annoingly selfish **** needs to be discouraged from being an annoying selfish ****, not encouraged in being an annoying selfish ****. If he could keep his scoring up for a whole season and score 15 more goals a season, he could just about get away with it. He doesn't and he can't. Despite the fact that I have tired of any and all excuses for Adebayor recently (and was he injured today), and that Defoe has scored more this season, I always feel more confident that someone might score when he is on the pitch, if he isn't helping, at least he usually isn't actively hindering. I can't help but have a feeling that I will be more disappointed if Defoe is at the Lane in September than if Adebayor is.

I can't see AVB keeping him.

 

[HodisGawd]

Well, apart from the errors that were punished, I thought we were good. It was a good game, it was just that for the first time in a while we didn't get the breaks. Oh well, onto the next game. Jesus you lot are whingers.

 

[eddiev14]

I thought everyone, bar two players, played really well today. Special mention for Dembele and Vertonghen, they were absolutely brilliant!

Walker was absolutely appalling though. He just seems to switch off - someone really needs to deal with his ability to concentrate. Not only the terrible, suicidal backpass but the amount of times he lets players get goal side of him. He has all of the tools to be an excellent defender, but he needs to improve his concentration very quickly or he'll quickly lose the trust of his team mates and become yet another English 'prospect' that is over hyped but doesn't make the grade.

It is also interesting that our only other poor player on the day, Defoe, was the one who made the other terrible defensive error. I really like him but his decision making is poor (mainly in attack of course).

There are now only very small differences between us and United/City. I honestly think that we are close to a title challenge now and my hope is that the coaches notice these small differences as well.

We can either sort them out by improving the player on the training pitch (which I think we can do with Walker), or by making a move in to improve us in the transfer market (which we all know needs to happen in the striker department).

Over to you Andre and Daniel...

 

[stonecolddeanaustin]

Didn't he try to just boot it in a Europa game after a poor Naughton backpass and it came off their player and they scored? I can't remember which team it was but it could explain why he tried to be a bit cute with this one.

That was the Maribor game. He tried to do a pull back assuming the striker would run straight past him but it just didn't work. On both occasions the right choice would have been to just put his laces through it but hindsight is a wonderful thing. I still think the defender takes a much greater share of the blame in both instances, particularly today.

 

[StartingPrice]

I can't see AVB keeping him.

I kinda feel bad being quite so harsh about a player who when he is lashing the goals in we all go Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa - but, frankly, when that ain't happening, which majority of time, then his smashing the ball hard within 15 degrees either side of true North, or doing nothing when he could set someone else up, leaves me in a position where I just sigh, now, whenever the ball goes anywhere near him. We can but pray (for Divine Intercession ) that he will go into a lashing them in phase between now and the end of the season, and then be trundled off somewhere on a level with his abilities (ironically enough, someone like Liverpool)

 

[jonathanhotspur]

RE Defoe: I tried to make the exact same point on the match thread after the final whistle, but wouldn't post due to ye olde time-out thang. What is worse than his infuriating profligacy is that whenever he smashes a shot somewhere in the general direction of the goal, while having far better options, a certain section of the crowd insist on singing the Jermaine Defoe, he's a Yiddo song. This annoingly selfish **** needs to be discouraged from being an annoying selfish ****, not encouraged in being an annoying selfish ****. If he could keep his scoring up for a whole season and score 15 more goals a season, he could just about get away with it. He doesn't and he can't. Despite the fact that I have tired of any and all excuses for Adebayor recently (and was he injured today), and that Defoe has scored more this season, I always feel more confident that someone might score when he is on the pitch, if he isn't helping, at least he usually isn't actively hindering. I can't help but have a feeling that I will be more disappointed if Defoe is at the Lane in September than if Adebayor is.

Wouldn't surprise me if he wasn't. Maybe someone decided his head wasn't right.

 

[StartingPrice]

Wouldn't surprise me if he wasn't. Maybe someone decided his head wasn't right.

According to someone on the Injuries thread, he is back for Fulham (along with Lennon and Demspey).

 

[Flashspur]

I'd give it to Verts. We had enough of the ball for a draw to be a fair result. The individual errors were terrible but that's football. The main thing now is that the lad's recover and win the next one. Stupid sending Townsend on loan. Really dumb when you dont have wonger cover! Who makes these stupid decisions at THFC?

 

[thinktank]

I kinda feel bad being quite so harsh about a player who when he is lashing the goals in we all go Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa - but, frankly, when that ain't happening, which majority of time, then his smashing the ball hard within 15 degrees either side of true North, or doing nothing when he could set someone else up, leaves me in a position where I just sigh, now, whenever the ball goes anywhere near him. We can but pray (for Divine Intercession ) that he will go into a lashing them in phase between now and the end of the season, and then be trundled off somewhere on a level with his abilities (ironically enough, someone like Liverpool)

Let's face it, the guy is like one of those kids you remember playing football with in the playground when you were at school who was a greedy little fucker and didn't care one bit about it and it was all about their little ego and nothing else.

Absolutely had it with him. He's incapable of developing.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

According to someone on the Injuries thread, he is back for Fulham (along with Lennon and Demspey).

I reckon he was very lucky not to get a second yellow against Arsenal for throwing himself down in their box after accidentally controlling a dropping ball with his arm.

 

[tippspur59]

Dembele,I thought he brilliant today.

 

[Wellspurs]

Dembele mom for me till I realised Verts scored both goals and loads of vital tackles.

 

[Mattspur]

Lloris 6 - Should have never been put in that position with the second goal.
Walker 5 - Why? Not great for the first goal either.
Dawson 6 - Seemed very exposed today.
Vertonghen 8 - 2 great goals today. Has now scored more goals the Adebayor in the PL.
Ekotto 5 - Should have never been put in that position with the penalty.
Parker 6 - Got stuck in.
Livermore 5 - Got stuck in but looked out of his depth. I always think he's a liability and was proved right.
Dembele 8 - Best midfielder on the pitch.
Sigurdsson 6 - Made some poor decisions but did OK.
Bale 7 - Doubled his assist tally for the season.
Defoe 3 - The only good thing he did in front of goal was at the wrong end.

 

[stemark44]

Dembele was a beast in midfield today but Vertonghen just shades it for MOTM.

Defoe as usual is consistent at being inconsistent.

I said a few months ago that our biggest weakness was at LB and RB.................nothing has changed on that score.
Walker and Ekotto are always reckless when they make challenges in our box..........pushing,shoving and tugging at players shirts.
Everytime they approach a player in our box my heartbeat rises considerably.
Still fuming after that defeat today and Ekotto swanning about like he hasn't a care in the world...............doesn't f****** help!