Hysteria

[HC]

Lets all take a step back.

It wasn't that bad. If we played against Chelsea or any decent side tonight, we could've been on the end of a royal spanking, as it is.

It was a nothing match, we bossed the first half, creating very little and were very unfortunate to go in 2 down, let alone 1 down.

Second half was slack too, it's hard to pin the blame at any one door as there's so many places it should go but at the same time; fair play Villa, they pinned back Glen and Insua very well. Thus giving us zero width.


One count of blood rush to the head and one Own goal seperate the two sides.

We're still without Aurelio - I'm less convinced with Insua with the more frequently he starts.

Still without Aquilani - Lucas is average at best

Riera - not fully fit - Was a very useful player last season regardless of doubts about him long term

then there's Dogger, we'll have a better squad when he's back,obviously

Roll on Bolton and prepare for a Stoke like backlash, Megson 😉

 

[FoxForceFive]

well said that man.

 

[singlerider]

However, we need to get up to speed fucking sharpish

 

[ibromurph]

You know there's a fair chance we'll lose against Bolton (not our strongest ground).. and what then. 4 games.. 3 pts? Panic button?

 

[keniget]

It's still early days of course and as I said in the match thread, Utd have proven that a shit start is not the end of your season.

That said, this is excuse making is sadly all too familiar. The team don't look right, the midfield is poor.. I mean even Kuyt looks like he's finally run out of energy. I hope this serves as a major kick up the ass and they get their shit together fucking fast because if they don't, it might very well end up being too late.

 

[madmax]

One of those days.

Players got banged up real bad.

Got nothing from the ref.

Unlucky to give away first two goals.

We had a few good chances to score and should have done better with those.

need to suck it up.

 

[eecheerow]

People will say what they want... we've lost as many matches through the first three this season as we did all last.

And the worst of it is you fear there's more to come.

 

[Shadey]

Were gunner rip bolton another arse..

 

[spider-Neil]

liverpool's problem was they simpy gave away too many set pieces, the second villa took the lead we played into their hands with them sitting back and hitting us on the break.
one problem that was the hallmark of the spurs defeat was we simply don't move the ball fast enough, players like yossi especially take too many touches of the ball.

also I think riera is going to be sold.

 

[FoxForceFive]

[quote author=madmax link=topic=35440.msg931807#msg931807 date=1251147422]
One of those days.

Players got banged up real bad.

Got nothing from the ref.

Unlucky to give away first two goals.

We had a few good chances to score and should have done better with those.

need to suck it up.
[/quote]

yep, glad to see some people have perspective

 

[HC]

A fair chance of beating Bolton?

What the fuck? No there isn't. Although, yeah we do and squeaky bum time will start, alright.

Spurs - Never a push over under 'Arry

Villa - Always well organised

Stoke - Shite and got rightly battered.

I'm not saying we shouldn't expect wins against the first two there, we should; however far too many components were off the boil on both occasions.

 

[Squiggles]

I'm all for trying to be positive, but little consolation can be gained from tonight or indeed the Spurs performance.

We lost 2 games in 38 last year.

We've now equalled that in three. There's more than enough reasons to be very concerned.

 

[MaschedUp]

[quote author=Hardcastle link=topic=35440.msg931794#msg931794 date=1251147179]
Lets all take a step back.

It wasn't that bad.
[/quote]

We're not clinical in front of goal (fucking again), we can't pass to save our lives and dodgy as fuck at the back.

Minus Torres and Gerrard, we are fucking toothless.

Imagine what's going to happen if we continue this shite against some top sides?

 

[flufferama]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=35440.msg931816#msg931816 date=1251147569]
I'm all for trying to be positive, but little consolation can be gained from tonight or indeed the Spurs performance.

We lost 2 games in 38 last year.

We've now equalled that in three. There's more than enough reasons to be very concerned.
[/quote]

Yup.

 

[LadyRed]

I agree there's no need for mass hysteria, no calls for Rafa to be out or any such foolishness. But a bit of realism is necessary.

We lost two games last season, this season we've managed to do that within the first four. We went the whole season without losing a home league game last season, we've lost on already this season.

Our biggest problem: the midfield, is not about to change anytime soon. Aquilani is some distance away from fitness, and even when he is fit, he'll need time.

 

[FoxForceFive]

passing is not theproblem. It's movement, there isnt any.

 

[spider-Neil]

a really good rule of thumb is don't pay too much attention to the league table till at league ten games, as long as the points gap is no more than 6 points then we are still in with a shout. don't panic, it's not worth it.

 

[HC]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=35440.msg931816#msg931816 date=1251147569]
I'm all for trying to be positive, but little consolation can be gained from tonight or indeed the Spurs performance.

We lost 2 games in 38 last year.

We've now equalled that in three. There's more than enough reasons to be very concerned.
[/quote]

And utd lost to Burnley the other night.

Shit happens. It's never nice to lose but fair play Villa they took their chances.

We were shite and I'm sure there'll be some dressing room abuse being handed out right about now - Im very confident about the weekend and Bolton.

Riera is the best player we've got for the left and likewise Aurelio at left back.

For me, they are massive losses - if they are both back on Saturday and fully fit,I'll be over the moon.

 

[Flanders]

[quote author=Hardcastle link=topic=35440.msg931794#msg931794 date=1251147179]
Lets all take a step back.
It was a nothing match
[/quote]
???

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=FoxForceFive link=topic=35440.msg931826#msg931826 date=1251147702]
passing is not theproblem. It's movement, there isnt any.
[/quote]

the movement is the symptom of slow passing not the cause. too many players were taking two touches when they could have simply kept the ball moving with one. we were moving the ball ridiculously quickly in the final games of last season.

 

[Farkmaster]

I'm not hysterical, and we've played worse games, but I have not found the beginning of this season entirely unexpected. We are worse than last season. Our worst is worse, our best is not as good.

We had a team that was more than the sum of its parts, right now we are less than the sum of our parts. That will change but if it doesn't change soon, we'll be well in the shit.

This summer was a catastrophe, and I couldn't understand any optimism going into this season. Think about what it would feel like to be Gerrard or Torres or Carragher or any other player on the team, so close last year, but not quite, after all that effort. Then over the summer you lose one of your best teammates, and there's a palpable sense that there's no financial backing for the project ahead. That plus a couple shit results and you've got shit morale. Momentum is everything.

 

[ibromurph]

[quote author=Hardcastle link=topic=35440.msg931815#msg931815 date=1251147569]
A fair chance of beating Bolton?

What the fuck? No there isn't. Although, yeah we do and squeaky bum time will start, alright.
[/quote]

Bolton are a good set piece team.

We are shit at defending set pieces.

Ergo, there's a likelihood they will score. Also, it seems like we've gone back to the days of hoping that we score 1st, so our 2 defensive midfielders can help us protect a lead.
Else if we don't score 1st, it seems like it's all huff and puff with very few clear cut chances made.

Moreover, last season we had a lot of luck early on. Now we're not getting it (tonight) we're bemoaning the fact that we're not good enough to overcome it.
As Keni said, all these excuses sound far too familiar. No doubt we'll be on here in Feb, 15pts behind United going to Old Trafford "to keep our title hopes alive".

 

[keniget]

[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=35440.msg931850#msg931850 date=1251148007]
I'm not hysterical, and we've played worse games, but I have not found the beginning of this season entirely unexpected. We are worse than last season. Our worst is worse, our best is not as good.

We had a team that was more than the sum of its parts, right now we are less than the sum of our parts. That will change but if it doesn't change soon, we'll be well in the shit.

This summer was a catastrophe, and I couldn't understand any optimism going into this season. Think about what it would feel like to be Gerrard or Torres or Carragher or any other player on the team, so close last year, but not quite, after all that effort. Then over the summer you lose one of your best teammates, and there's a palpable sense that there's no financial backing for the project ahead. That plus a couple shit results and you've got shit morale. Momentum is everything.
[/quote]

Good post and I fully agree.

 

[Skullflower]

at least the yanks won't get away with the shit they've pulled this summer.

 

[spider-Neil]

one thing to bear in mind is we lost twice last season but got a ridiculous amount of draws (12) manu lost 5 times (FIVE TIMES) but hardly draw and beat us to the league. the point I'm making is there are plenty of places were we can make up the points we achieved last season.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

Well said Spidey.

 

[the_khl]

We lost at Spurs last year and if I'm not mistaken we drew at home against Stoke.

We lost today against Villa in what was so obviously never going to be our night. To many players with broken jars and black eyes outthere to recover from the quadrupple miss of chances early on.

Anyways to sum it up, that leaves us trailing with 1 point when compared to the same fixtures last Season. Not all is lost, not even close, but a game like tonight certainly isn't something to behold.

 

[rebel23]

what makes this worse is Villa are average and offered nothing only SET PIECES but then we lacked a spark to get back into it and make them cave.

maybe because the team isnt fit etc. I dont know but it was lacking.

 

[vikas]

Torres
Riera Gerrard Benayoun Kuyt
Mascherano
Insua Carragher Skrtel Johnson
Reina

From now until Aquilani is fit please.

 

[Squiggles]

[quote author=vikas link=topic=35440.msg931891#msg931891 date=1251148609]
                    Torres
Riera   Gerrard  Benayoun  Kuyt
                Mascherano
Insua Carragher Skrtel Johnson
                   Reina

From now until Aquilani is fit please.
[/quote]

Agreed

I do think Yossi could learn the LW spot, but posters are right, it's costing us in terms of width.

And Lucas just isn't good enough to make up for Mascherano's...specialist nature.