Danny Murphy

[robinhood]

[quote author=Bradley link=topic=40861.msg1131169#msg1131169 date=1278318969]
[quote author=robinhood link=topic=40861.msg1131163#msg1131163 date=1278318592]
Bradley, I'm not sure that year is fair taken as a reflection of his tenure overall
[/quote]

Your right, we struggled to notch up goals during Rafa time and he was too defensive. But you can't say that he failed to allow training on attacking aspects of the game.

Hopefully Hodg will take a more balanced approach between attack & defense.
[/quote]

I think I can say it. When we were good, we mostly relied on individual performances from two absolutely world class attacking players, supported by a world class playmaker and DM.

I don't remember there being many games when we won because of good team passing/play, whihc is something the right manager can teach.

Now I'm not pretending Roy can do it, but he has suggested that he's going to try.

 

[Bradley]

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=40861.msg1131174#msg1131174 date=1278319245]
You can say it. Babel did, for one.
[/quote]

Yeah, but Babel, well he's a moron and maybe needed to see the bigger picture outside running down blind alleyways.

 

[robinhood]

[quote author=Bradley link=topic=40861.msg1131178#msg1131178 date=1278319599]
[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=40861.msg1131174#msg1131174 date=1278319245]
You can say it. Babel did, for one.
[/quote]

Yeah, but Babel, well he's a moron and maybe needed to see the bigger picture outside running down blind alleyways.
[/quote]

i.e. training

 

[manwithnoname]

I think I can say it. When we were good, we mostly relied on individual performances from two absolutely world class attacking players, supported by a world class playmaker and DM.

I don't remember there being many games when we won because of good team passing/play, whihc is something the right manager can teach.

This is gibberish

 

[robinhood]

[quote author=Brendan link=topic=40861.msg1131182#msg1131182 date=1278319986]

I think I can say it. When we were good, we mostly relied on individual performances from two absolutely world class attacking players, supported by a world class playmaker and DM.

I don't remember there being many games when we won because of good team passing/play, whihc is something the right manager can teach.

This is gibberish
[/quote]

You're wrong

 

[Farkmaster]

[quote author=robinhood link=topic=40861.msg1131184#msg1131184 date=1278320134]
[quote author=Brendan link=topic=40861.msg1131182#msg1131182 date=1278319986]

I think I can say it. When we were good, we mostly relied on individual performances from two absolutely world class attacking players, supported by a world class playmaker and DM.

I don't remember there being many games when we won because of good team passing/play, whihc is something the right manager can teach.

This is gibberish
[/quote]

You're wrong
[/quote]

You are wrong, we played some really good attacking football which used all our forward players as well as our full backs.

 

[robinhood]

[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=40861.msg1131186#msg1131186 date=1278320405]
You are wrong, we played some really good attacking football which used all our forward players as well as our full backs.
[/quote]

These are your abiding memories?

Mine are of mostly reasonable players looking like they'd never seen each other before.

 

[Farkmaster]

[quote author=robinhood link=topic=40861.msg1131188#msg1131188 date=1278320652]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=40861.msg1131186#msg1131186 date=1278320405]
You are wrong, we played some really good attacking football which used all our forward players as well as our full backs.
[/quote]

These are your abiding memories?

Mine are of mostly reasonable players looking like they'd never seen each other before.
[/quote]

That's because you are being a miserable bastard about it.

My thoughts on Rafa's reign aren't one thing, because it was a progression, apart from the last year. Our play changed a decent amount over the years, but when he had the team for it, Rafa produced a team that could play some decent stuff.

The idea that ANY manager wouldn't practice attacking play is just stupidly naive.

 

[robinhood]

[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=40861.msg1131190#msg1131190 date=1278321110]
That's because you are being a miserable bastard about it.

My thoughts on Rafa's reign aren't one thing, because it was a progression, apart from the last year. Our play changed a decent amount over the years, but when he had the team for it, Rafa produced a team that could play some decent stuff.

The idea that ANY manager wouldn't practice attacking play is just stupidly naive.
[/quote]

*Of course* they must have had to practice attacking play at some point, but how much and of what quality has to be left entirely up to the imagination.

I'm not being a miserable bastard, but from my point of view it wasn't enough and it probably wasn't the of the right quality, and that was borne out on the pitch.

I do not believe that they did a great deal in terms of classic small numbers team games (similar to 5 a side) to develop passing and movement in smaller areas, because even at the best under Rafa, they were never particulaly convincing at this sort of thing.

 

[SaintGeorge67]

Babel has had enough chances. Now we should give him another because he might try harder under a different manager? Bollocks.

 

[StevieM]

[quote author=robinhood link=topic=40861.msg1131188#msg1131188 date=1278320652]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=40861.msg1131186#msg1131186 date=1278320405]
You are wrong, we played some really good attacking football which used all our forward players as well as our full backs.
[/quote]

These are your abiding memories?

Mine are of mostly reasonable players looking like they'd never seen each other before.
[/quote]

Mine are of tearing Man Ure & Real Madrid new arseholes.

I choose to remember good things.

 

[robinhood]

When Alonso pretty much dictated the movement throughout the side, which was abjectly lost when he was sold, which Benitez tried to replace with Aquilani, someone who is never a deep-lying playmaker... and Torres delivered stunning solo performances up top

As far as I'm able to tell, those attacking displays had fuck all to do with Benitez's training methods

EDIT: Alonso didn't play in that game against Utd, did he? Gerrard had a belter of a game from CM, where Rafa basically refused to play him last season when it was so desperately needed

 

[StevieM]

[quote author=robinhood link=topic=40861.msg1131227#msg1131227 date=1278325212]
When Alonso pretty much dictated the movement throughout the side, which was abjectly lost when he was sold, which Benitez tried to replace with Aquilani, someone who is never a deep-lying playmaker... and Torres delivered stunning solo performances up top

As far as I'm able to tell, those attacking displays had fuck all to do with Benitez's training methods

EDIT: Alonso didn't play in that game against Utd, did he? Gerrard had a belter of a game from CM, where Rafa basically refused to play him last season when it was so desperately needed
[/quote]

I was pretty sure Mascherano & Lucas played in Cm and Gerrard played in the hole.. where Benitez used him regularly during one os his most influential seasons.

But I wouldn't have been entirely sober watching the game... so for all I know Dosenna could have outpaced their defense and scored with a cracking lob...

 

[robinhood]

I remember the Dossena bit clearly, but maybe I'm thinking Gerrard played deeper because I'm sure Torres scored from a Gerrard pass that came from quite deep, but you're probably right, Lucas and Mascher probably did play.

 

[SummerOnions]

[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=40861.msg1131222#msg1131222 date=1278324583]
Babel has had enough chances. Now we should give him another because he might try harder under a different manager? Bollocks.
[/quote]

The only reason i'd want to play him is if i thought we could increase his market value. We won't, so he shouldn't get a chance over someone better, or at least with a less shit attitude.

 

[doctor_mac]

[quote author=robinhood link=topic=40861.msg1131237#msg1131237 date=1278326681]
I remember the Dossena bit clearly, but maybe I'm thinking Gerrard played deeper because I'm sure Torres scored from a Gerrard pass that came from quite deep, but you're probably right, Lucas and Mascher probably did play.
[/quote]

They did, and Gerrard played behind Torres.

 

[Stulikesdrums]

Torres scored from Skrtel's hoof.

 

[bkwitche2]

[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=40861.msg1131112#msg1131112 date=1278304663]
[quote author=bkwitche link=topic=40861.msg1131109#msg1131109 date=1278303235]
Contents of said surprise as yet undetermined.
[/quote]

Surprises are surprising?



[/quote]

SUrprised?

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=Stulikesdrums link=topic=40861.msg1131264#msg1131264 date=1278332103]
Torres scored from Skrtel's hoof.
[/quote]

Yup. Dossena (after coming on as a sub) scored from a Pepe kick.

And Lucas and Mascher played in the middle, with Gerrard off Torres.

 

[mark1975]