LFC v Arsenal Match Thread

[Jürgen4PM]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=36802.msg973877#msg973877 date=1256766147]
I'm a little bit disappointed by that. Arsenal weren't particularly good - despite what the absolutely fucking nauseating commentary would you have believe... Arsenal's ball wizardry... ball wizardry!!! - and had we shown a bit more quality up front, we could have gotten something out of that. Real shame.
[/quote]

The "DNA" comment made me vomit!

 

[Farkmaster]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=36802.msg973877#msg973877 date=1256766147]
I'm a little bit disappointed by that. Arsenal weren't particularly good - despite what the absolutely fucking nauseating commentary would you have believe... Arsenal's ball wizardry... ball wizardry!!! - and had we shown a bit more quality up front, we could have gotten something out of that. Real shame.
[/quote]

Yea, I mentioned the commentator earlier, it was awful.

There were a couple bright spots in their midfield though, which Plessis and Spearing don't compare favorably to.

Babel should have made a game of it, but he's got no balls.

 

[dee]

[quote author=RealRedBlood link=topic=36802.msg973889#msg973889 date=1256766367]
now starts the jizzfest over Arse's youngsters. Ramsey & Gibbs will get most on them for sure, Merida might get whitened aswell, thank fuck Wilshere wasn't playing or they'd have another piece on him on SSN.
[/quote]

Hmmm.. but Ramsey was MotM by some considerable distance so why not. He's only fucking 18!

 

[dossena]

"Liverpool STILL can't win at the Emirates"

Wowzers!!

Who gives a fuck.. It's the CC!!

Dossena's conclusion:
Our reserves ain't THAT bad.
Cavelieri is bad. 5
Skrtel still needs a lot of work. 5
Degen got unfair flak in the past 1.5 years. 7
Kyrgiakos would not get his contract extended. 4
Insua can hit the ball. 6
Kuyt was our best defender of the night. 7
Plessis and Spearing won't make it. 4
Babel is a useless rapping lump. 4
Voronin after a rusty start was actually good. 6
N'Gog was better. 7
Aquilani can play.

 

[Sunny]

Ngog actually impressed me at times tonight.

 

[TheBunnyman]

[quote author=rebel23 link=topic=36802.msg973897#msg973897 date=1256766456]
[quote author=Red Mullet link=topic=36802.msg973885#msg973885 date=1256766294]
[quote author=rebel23 link=topic=36802.msg973880#msg973880 date=1256766242]
N'Gog and Babel are terrible striking options and Kuyt and Voronin are not good enough either

we badly need a striker of some sort.


[/quote]

There's a blonde lad that's meant to be pretty good.
[/quote]

He can't play 50 games a season unless you like weak/unreliable finishing it needs improving

[/quote]

I would agree generally, but this seems a strange game to choose to say it, as both Wash and Voronin played quite well.

 

[The Slugmonster]

[quote author=JimmyK link=topic=36802.msg973839#msg973839 date=1256765486]
Fuck me Aqaman's wiki's already been updated..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberto_Aquilani


Some people are too keen...
[/quote]

Well at least you thought of checking it before the end of the game!!



Some people are too keen...!! 😛

 

[Wizardry]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=36802.msg973877#msg973877 date=1256766147]
I'm a little bit disappointed by that. Arsenal weren't particularly good - despite what the absolutely fucking nauseating commentary would you have believe... Arsenal's ball wizardry... ball wizardry!!! - and had we shown a bit more quality up front, we could have gotten something out of that. Real shame.
[/quote]

I think ball wizardry is a fair bit over the top but they really did move the ball around very nicely at times.

Agree with the finishing; how Babel didn't get a touch on that ball across goal is hard to believe - and it's happened a few times with him. If he had the brain of Voronin then he'd be a great player - some would say any brain would make him dangerous but Voronin does seem to think the game quite nicely. In no way did I think he was really good in this game - he doesn't have the physical capabilities to be good enough for Liverpool but you can see his thinking was better than a lot of other players - and light years ahead of Babel.

Aquilani?? The main interest I had in the game was to see him so pleased he got 25 minutes or so. One beauitful ball to the right, a lot of running and "how did he get back there?" moments but also some pretty poor touches and flicks going nowhere. It was a pretty hectic game but he looked a little rushed to me and didn't seem to know how to control the pace.

He'll get better and will improve with games but Rafa is right; it's going to take him some time. Signing him while injured for this season looks the biggest gamble I've ever seen Rafa take. I hope it pays off.

 

[dee]

[quote author=dossena link=topic=36802.msg973906#msg973906 date=1256766546]
"Liverpool STILL can't win at the Emirates"

Wowzers!!

Who gives a fuck.. It's the CC!!

Dossena's conclusion:
Our reserves ain't THAT bad.
Cavelieri is bad. 5
Skrtel still needs a lot of work. 5
Degen got unfair flak in the past 1.5 years. 7
Kyrgiakos would not get his contract extended. 4
Insua can hit the ball. 6
Kuyt was our best defender of the night. 7
Plessis and Spearing won't make it. 4
Babel is a useless rapping lump. 4
Voronin after a rusty start was actually good. 6
N'Gog was better. 7
Aquilani can play.

[/quote]


That's actually quite a good assessment

 

[RealRedBlood]

[quote author=Dee link=topic=36802.msg973905#msg973905 date=1256766538]
[quote author=RealRedBlood link=topic=36802.msg973889#msg973889 date=1256766367]
now starts the jizzfest over Arse's youngsters. Ramsey & Gibbs will get most on them for sure, Merida might get whitened aswell, thank fuck Wilshere wasn't playing or they'd have another piece on him on SSN.
[/quote]

Hmmm.. but Ramsey was MotM by some considerable distance so why not. He's only fucking 18!
[/quote]

Was more impressed with gibbs to be honest, but that was when Ramsey had already gone off, lol.

 

[madmax]

[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=36802.msg973865#msg973865 date=1256766002]
Ref makes the keeper move 5 yards back to take a free kick whilst he blows the whistle. Why?
[/quote]

He was not fit enough to let the play carry on anymore...

 

[RealRedBlood]

Looking forward to Aquilani slowly starting to get to full match fitness, looks good, great passer.

 

[Red Mullet]

[quote author=madmax link=topic=36802.msg973921#msg973921 date=1256766798]
[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=36802.msg973865#msg973865 date=1256766002]
Ref makes the keeper move 5 yards back to take a free kick whilst he blows the whistle. Why?
[/quote]

He was not fit enough to let the play carry on anymore...
[/quote]

Quiff

 

[Jürgen4PM]

[quote author=Sunny link=topic=36802.msg973907#msg973907 date=1256766572]
Ngog actually impressed me at times tonight.
[/quote]

Same here.

He's coming along quite well.

 

[Farkmaster]

[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=36802.msg973916#msg973916 date=1256766707]
Signing him while injured for this season looks the biggest gamble I've ever seen Rafa take. I hope it pays off.
[/quote]

I thought signing Babel for 11M was his biggest gamble and said so at the time. Let's hope this plays out better.

 

[Shadey]

Sendaros handled with both hands :-X

 

[gkmacca]

[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=36802.msg973903#msg973903 date=1256766521]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=36802.msg973877#msg973877 date=1256766147]
I'm a little bit disappointed by that. Arsenal weren't particularly good - despite what the absolutely fucking nauseating commentary would you have believe... Arsenal's ball wizardry... ball wizardry!!! - and had we shown a bit more quality up front, we could have gotten something out of that. Real shame.
[/quote]

The "DNA" comment made me vomit!
[/quote]

Quite. Buy in a much better player every now and again, play them a few times and...wow! Your youth 'set-up' is amazing!

 

[EmreChan]

[quote author=FPI Project link=topic=36802.msg973930#msg973930 date=1256766934]
Sendaros handled with both hands :-X
[/quote]

Ball wizardry

 

[Wizardry]

[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=36802.msg973928#msg973928 date=1256766923]
[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=36802.msg973916#msg973916 date=1256766707]
Signing him while injured for this season looks the biggest gamble I've ever seen Rafa take. I hope it pays off.
[/quote]

I thought signing Babel for 11M was his biggest gamble and said so at the time. Let's hope this plays out better.
[/quote]

Yeah, that looks a huge gamble now. But the timing of this one is remarkable; the season after we make only our second title challenge in nearly 20 years he sells one of the best passers in the league, a player integral to our great performance, and buys an unproven Italian for close to our record transfer............ and does so while the player is injured.


He's got a lot to lose considering the thoughts and hopes of the fans at the end of last season.



One other thing from this match....... bloody hell Degen has got some acceleration. I couldn't quite work out what his top pace was but his ability to go from 20% to about (presumably) 95% was jaw dropping. If he had a cross like Finnan we could use him at RM/RW.

 

[dossena]

[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=36802.msg973944#msg973944 date=1256767370]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=36802.msg973928#msg973928 date=1256766923]
[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=36802.msg973916#msg973916 date=1256766707]
Signing him while injured for this season looks the biggest gamble I've ever seen Rafa take. I hope it pays off.
[/quote]

I thought signing Babel for 11M was his biggest gamble and said so at the time. Let's hope this plays out better.
[/quote]

Yeah, that looks a huge gamble now. But the timing of this one is remarkable; the season after we make only our second title challenge in nearly 20 years he sells one of the best passers in the league, a player integral to our great performance, and buys an unproven Italian for close to our record transfer............ and does so while the player is injured.


He's got a lot to lose considering the thoughts and hopes of the fans at the end of last season.



One other thing from this match....... bloody hell Degen has got some acceleration. I couldn't quite work out what his top pace was but his ability to go from 20% to about (presumably) 95% was jaw dropping. If he had a cross like Finnan we could use him at RM/RW.
[/quote]
Regardless of where we finished the previous season, I think it was more like Xabi wanted to leave, and Rafa was trying to find the best value for money replacement.

 

[Wizardry]

[quote author=dossena link=topic=36802.msg973952#msg973952 date=1256767683]
[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=36802.msg973944#msg973944 date=1256767370]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=36802.msg973928#msg973928 date=1256766923]
[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=36802.msg973916#msg973916 date=1256766707]
Signing him while injured for this season looks the biggest gamble I've ever seen Rafa take. I hope it pays off.
[/quote]

I thought signing Babel for 11M was his biggest gamble and said so at the time. Let's hope this plays out better.
[/quote]

Yeah, that looks a huge gamble now. But the timing of this one is remarkable; the season after we make only our second title challenge in nearly 20 years he sells one of the best passers in the league, a player integral to our great performance, and buys an unproven Italian for close to our record transfer............ and does so while the player is injured.


He's got a lot to lose considering the thoughts and hopes of the fans at the end of last season.



One other thing from this match....... bloody hell Degen has got some acceleration. I couldn't quite work out what his top pace was but his ability to go from 20% to about (presumably) 95% was jaw dropping. If he had a cross like Finnan we could use him at RM/RW.
[/quote]
Regardless of where we finished the previous season, I think it was more like Xabi wanted to leave, and Rafa was trying to find the best value for money replacement.

[/quote]

Rafa made Xabi's mind up for him with his treatment the previous season. It was up to Rafa to step in and change his mind - which he clearly didn't do. The Xabi of two seasons ago loved Liverpool with a heart felt passion - you don't lose that because of a bad experience with a manager; it just has to be re-kindled.

Xabi definitely wanted to leave and give a nice little "fuck-you" gesture to Rafa by doing it after such a great season. It was up to Rafa to convince him to stay IMO. Can you imagine Sir Bob or Shanks watching as one of their top 3 players left in a seriously pissed off way because of the treatment they received?

Having said all that it's the decision to sign Aquilani that is the big part of the gamble. I can't believe how desperate I am for him to hit the ground running and provide that class which will release both Gerrard and Torres.

 

[gkmacca]

[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=36802.msg973972#msg973972 date=1256768382]
Rafa made Xabi's mind up for him with his treatment the previous season. It was up to Rafa to step in and change his mind [/quote]

No it wasn't. If Real hadn't changed its regime, he wouldn't have gone there, the mercenary twat. Let's not revive that old canard.

 

[dossena]

[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=36802.msg973972#msg973972 date=1256768382]
[quote author=dossena link=topic=36802.msg973952#msg973952 date=1256767683]
[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=36802.msg973944#msg973944 date=1256767370]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=36802.msg973928#msg973928 date=1256766923]
[quote author=Wizardry link=topic=36802.msg973916#msg973916 date=1256766707]
Signing him while injured for this season looks the biggest gamble I've ever seen Rafa take. I hope it pays off.
[/quote]

I thought signing Babel for 11M was his biggest gamble and said so at the time. Let's hope this plays out better.
[/quote]

Yeah, that looks a huge gamble now. But the timing of this one is remarkable; the season after we make only our second title challenge in nearly 20 years he sells one of the best passers in the league, a player integral to our great performance, and buys an unproven Italian for close to our record transfer............ and does so while the player is injured.


He's got a lot to lose considering the thoughts and hopes of the fans at the end of last season.



One other thing from this match....... bloody hell Degen has got some acceleration. I couldn't quite work out what his top pace was but his ability to go from 20% to about (presumably) 95% was jaw dropping. If he had a cross like Finnan we could use him at RM/RW.
[/quote]
Regardless of where we finished the previous season, I think it was more like Xabi wanted to leave, and Rafa was trying to find the best value for money replacement.

[/quote]

Rafa made Xabi's mind up for him with his treatment the previous season. It was up to Rafa to step in and change his mind - which he clearly didn't do. The Xabi of two seasons ago loved Liverpool with a heart felt passion - you don't lose that because of a bad experience with a manager; it just has to be re-kindled.

Xabi definitely wanted to leave and give a nice little "fuck-you" gesture to Rafa by doing it after such a great season. It was up to Rafa to convince him to stay IMO. Can you imagine Sir Bob or Shanks watching as one of their top 3 players left in a seriously pissed off way because of the treatment they received?

Having said all that it's the decision to sign Aquilani that is the big part of the gamble. I can't believe how desperate I am for him to hit the ground running and provide that class which will release both Gerrard and Torres.
[/quote]
The first paragraph was really your take on what might have happened. For all we know, Rafa could've offered Montse to Xabi, in exchange of him staying.

The fact of the matter is, that Rafa has publicly stated that he wanted Xabi to stay. Xabi wanted to join the galacticos. We didn't have that much money and Barry has fucked off to City. Rafa then assessed his options, then decided that Aquilani at a discount price was the best value.

I agree that it is a gamble, but I think that it was forced to him by Xabi wanting to leave and us having no dosh.

 

[Jack D Rips]

Apart from the last ten minutes Voronin was SHIT. Put a bit of effort in near the end when it was too late. Also responsible for their first goal. As for Babel im just sick looking at him now.