It was. He ever so slightly clipped Billy Jones. And, top be fair, Skrtel got away with two good penalty shouts (as did McAuley on tugging back Suarez despite Robbie savage's cliché-ridden observation on MOTD)
Liverpool v WBA - Post Match
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It was. He ever so slightly clipped Billy Jones. And, top be fair, Skrtel got away with two good penalty shouts (as did McAuley on tugging back Suarez despite Robbie savage's cliché-ridden observation on MOTD)
Yep i don't think our defense was given a thorough examination to talk about it all that much, yet in spite of talking about the great goals we are seeing it fit to talk about the defense more. However, as that is what the whole forum is doing, i will join in.
I think Toure's performance levels have dropped from where it was earlier in the season. I'm hoping he has a better game against his former club.
If Agger is coming in place of anyone, it has to Sakho. Sakho himself has not done too badly while still trying to find his feet. Agger may just have to wait his time, as the others are playing well and he lost his place due to injury. So he must wait his turn. But he is the best center-back we have, but not by a big enough margin to make benching him a huge issue.
Anyway, i find it odd that we focus the attention on our centre-backs time and time again in spite of having four very good center backs. We could have Baresi and Maldini, and we would still leak silly goals, if we continued to play the likes of Cissokho at the back and let our opponents win too much in midfield. In this game even the midfield put in a better performance than in other games so far this season, and it's no surprise we won the game comfortably.
I think Toure's performance levels have dropped from where it was earlier in the season. I'm hoping he has a better game against his former club.
If Agger is coming in place of anyone, it has to Sakho. Sakho himself has not done too badly while still trying to find his feet. Agger may just have to wait his time, as the others are playing well and he lost his place due to injury. So he must wait his turn. But he is the best center-back we have, but not by a big enough margin to make benching him a huge issue.
Anyway, i find it odd that we focus the attention on our centre-backs time and time again in spite of having four very good center backs. We could have Baresi and Maldini, and we would still leak silly goals, if we continued to play the likes of Cissokho at the back and let our opponents win too much in midfield. In this game even the midfield put in a better performance than in other games so far this season, and it's no surprise we won the game comfortably.
Would that matter much? Had he moved to Arsenal I'd have had no confidence in our defenders, who will have trained with him and faced him everyday for over 2 years, being able to stop him.
Has Owen scored against us?
Has Torres scored against us? (actually has he scored against anyone lately)
But I get your point, Suarez is top class, but it's like when Rafa decided to throw Arbeloa in at the deep end to man mark Messi and did a very fine job.
I thought that was more to do with using a right back at left back against a then left winger who cut inside a lot.
Very likely, but it could also be that Arbeloa had La Liga experience. Cause he had the option to play Finnan there as well.
Suarez should have a good think about that.
The Gods have not liked world class strikers leaving us in the last 15 years or so.
Indeed! *Smiles smugly*
Missed the match but absolutely loved the highlights. The first goal was the pick of the bunch for me and not least because Luis nutmegged Olsson who I've always thought to be a class 1 cunt.
The first header was quite extraordinary too but not even nearly as good as Garcia's vs. Anderlecht.
The first header was quite extraordinary too but not even nearly as good as Garcia's vs. Anderlecht.
I dare say a good contributory factor of that is Stevie not supplying them when they leave.
That lad makes strikers look good by giving perfect slide rule balls, crossfield/deep played balls to feet & tonnes of extra space.
Yup. Whenever a striker is marginally off form, you will often find Stevie trying to provide the perfect easy chance for the striker to get his form back.
I remember Torres coming back from an injury, both Stevie and Torres were on the goal with just the goal keeper to beat. Stevie could have tapped it in but he played a side pass to Torres so that he can score and get his goalscoring kickstarted.
And still there are people out there who have doubts about his captaincy.
Just City
And he needed a major fuck up to do it.
Whatever may be said of Torres, he is getting better of late and today he was the best player on the park by far.
Scored 1, created the other and hit the bar.
yeah he had a good game
Haven't been able to come on here as much recently as I'd like...
I was at this game, best performance I've ever been to. Normally I'm a jinx for us, but this was worth the wait.
I thought Skrtel was ok, looked dodgy on a couple of occasions, but on the whole had a good game. Sakho really impressed me in defence, though.
I'm not Lucas' biggest fan, but he was imperious today. Great performance.
Cissokho is poo, but I've been telling y'all that for months.
What can you say about the goals that haven't already been said? I had a great view of the ones in the first half. Suarez was celebrating right in front of me. I didn't quite make it onto MOTD, though, unfortunately. Best performance of the season.
I was at this game, best performance I've ever been to. Normally I'm a jinx for us, but this was worth the wait.
I thought Skrtel was ok, looked dodgy on a couple of occasions, but on the whole had a good game. Sakho really impressed me in defence, though.
I'm not Lucas' biggest fan, but he was imperious today. Great performance.
Cissokho is poo, but I've been telling y'all that for months.
What can you say about the goals that haven't already been said? I had a great view of the ones in the first half. Suarez was celebrating right in front of me. I didn't quite make it onto MOTD, though, unfortunately. Best performance of the season.
I had a great view of the pen as well. My immediate reaction was penalty, but thought we'd gotten away with it when the ref didn't blow. Linesman made the right decision.
Agree with this, my first instinct was penalty, I was right on line with the way he was running and both players seemed to cut across him.
I thought Skrtel together with Cissokho was our weakest player yesterday. I have no idea why some people put him in their top 3. I counted at least 5 major mistakes within first 50 minutes of the game:
10th minute - could have given away a penalty. Martin was quite blatantly pulling the shirt of Anichebe for 2-3 seconds - fortunately the ref missed it.
27th minute - comical miss from a Gerrard cut back after a Suarez free-kick.
39th minute - a weak defensive header right into the feet of a West Brom player on the edge of the penalty area. Lucas sweeps up.
45th minute - misjudges the flight of the long pass to Anelka and lets him receive the ball 1 on 1 with the keeper. Anelka fails to capitalize with his first touch and then Skrtel recovers in time to clear the ball
Around 50th minute - again almost gives away a penalty. He tackled McAuley strongly from behind after a corner but managed to touch the ball as well. Another ref (especially in Europe) could have given it.
Overall, I think after a scintillating start to the season, Skrtel is gradually cooling off and returning to his usual level - a decent defender, but too rash to be a consistent starter for a top team. Rodgers will definitely stick with 3 at the back for the Arsenal game, but I would like to see how Agger would do with Toure and Sakho on either side of him.
The lack of consistent build-up from the back is still our major weakness. It was not noticeable against West Brom because Clarke's team wanted to stay compact and didn't pressure us high up the pitch - Rory's preview has been spot on once again. But most teams in the league like to pressure high up the pitch and whenever they do, it causes us problems. I think we miss Agger, Allen, Coutinho and, in the attacking phase, Reina.
10th minute - could have given away a penalty. Martin was quite blatantly pulling the shirt of Anichebe for 2-3 seconds - fortunately the ref missed it.
27th minute - comical miss from a Gerrard cut back after a Suarez free-kick.
39th minute - a weak defensive header right into the feet of a West Brom player on the edge of the penalty area. Lucas sweeps up.
45th minute - misjudges the flight of the long pass to Anelka and lets him receive the ball 1 on 1 with the keeper. Anelka fails to capitalize with his first touch and then Skrtel recovers in time to clear the ball
Around 50th minute - again almost gives away a penalty. He tackled McAuley strongly from behind after a corner but managed to touch the ball as well. Another ref (especially in Europe) could have given it.
Overall, I think after a scintillating start to the season, Skrtel is gradually cooling off and returning to his usual level - a decent defender, but too rash to be a consistent starter for a top team. Rodgers will definitely stick with 3 at the back for the Arsenal game, but I would like to see how Agger would do with Toure and Sakho on either side of him.
The lack of consistent build-up from the back is still our major weakness. It was not noticeable against West Brom because Clarke's team wanted to stay compact and didn't pressure us high up the pitch - Rory's preview has been spot on once again. But most teams in the league like to pressure high up the pitch and whenever they do, it causes us problems. I think we miss Agger, Allen, Coutinho and, in the attacking phase, Reina.
Not often I disagree with Rurik but I genuinely don't know what he was watching for this.
The penalty points are non entities. Sakho has given away about a dozen penalties in the last few matches and Toure gives away about a dozen pens per game. That they don't get called hasn't counted against them thus far so not sure why Martin should be critcized for not giving away a pen. I understand the risk factor but he gives away fewer times than either of his CB partners.
The cut-back to Gerrard?? I've seen Sturridge miss those. I've seen Suarez miss those so I can pretty much forgive Skrtel for missing it.
Defensive header. He could barely get his head to it but did try to get it out of the danger zone. All things considered I'm glad he did what he did rather than let it bounce around in the 6 yard box.
Misjudges the ball to Anelka. Hmmm, so he gets beaten by a superb through ball to one of the paciest strikers in the league but manages to get back and clear off the line. Let's hang him.
Skrtel isn't our best defender IMO but he's carrying the menace and decisiveness that made him very special two seasons ago. He's also displaying a level of organisational skill that I would never have expected from him. Don't think he's our best CB but he's the backlines main man at the moment and that makes him undroppable.
The penalty points are non entities. Sakho has given away about a dozen penalties in the last few matches and Toure gives away about a dozen pens per game. That they don't get called hasn't counted against them thus far so not sure why Martin should be critcized for not giving away a pen. I understand the risk factor but he gives away fewer times than either of his CB partners.
The cut-back to Gerrard?? I've seen Sturridge miss those. I've seen Suarez miss those so I can pretty much forgive Skrtel for missing it.
Defensive header. He could barely get his head to it but did try to get it out of the danger zone. All things considered I'm glad he did what he did rather than let it bounce around in the 6 yard box.
Misjudges the ball to Anelka. Hmmm, so he gets beaten by a superb through ball to one of the paciest strikers in the league but manages to get back and clear off the line. Let's hang him.
Skrtel isn't our best defender IMO but he's carrying the menace and decisiveness that made him very special two seasons ago. He's also displaying a level of organisational skill that I would never have expected from him. Don't think he's our best CB but he's the backlines main man at the moment and that makes him undroppable.
Sorry Wiz, I don't think yesterday Sakho or Toure "gave away" anything like the 2 moments with Skrtel. Even Lucas's tackle that was given was cleaner than any of those 2 incidents there were not given. That's the thing with Skrtel - he can be needlessly overaggressive and take all-or-nothing approach when there is a less risky option available.
And I am not saying we should "hang him" for any of the mistakes - of course every defender makes mistakes. But among our defenders (excluding the LB) yesterday Skrtel made by far the most clear, dangerous mistakes and I don't see how you can argue otherwise.
And one more thing, if and when we get back into Champions League we will not be playing against West Brom and these kinds of mistakes are usually punished in Europe. The continental refs will not tolerate blatant shirt-pulling or overaggressive tackling inside the penalty area and other strikers might have scored with their first touch where Anelka failed to control the ball. That's why while I acknowledge Skrtel has been great in most games this season so far (and I put him into my top 3 a few times, so it's not like I have an agenda) I just don't think in the long term he is the starting CB for us.
And I am not saying we should "hang him" for any of the mistakes - of course every defender makes mistakes. But among our defenders (excluding the LB) yesterday Skrtel made by far the most clear, dangerous mistakes and I don't see how you can argue otherwise.
And one more thing, if and when we get back into Champions League we will not be playing against West Brom and these kinds of mistakes are usually punished in Europe. The continental refs will not tolerate blatant shirt-pulling or overaggressive tackling inside the penalty area and other strikers might have scored with their first touch where Anelka failed to control the ball. That's why while I acknowledge Skrtel has been great in most games this season so far (and I put him into my top 3 a few times, so it's not like I have an agenda) I just don't think in the long term he is the starting CB for us.
I was at the match on Saturday (first game of the season!) and haven't watched MOTD as yet but I thought Skrtel was great!
Alongside Toure and Sahko I can see why he is keeping Agger out of the team at the moment.
Cissohko was a bit gash, always in acres of space but never managed to do anything of note which tended to result in a poor cross or 9/10 a pass back to Lucas/Gerrard.
Good to see Kelly/Allen get some minutes and an encouraging performance. I don't see why the system will be torn apart by Arsenal? Coutinho will be back and Flamini out, feeling confident!
Alongside Toure and Sahko I can see why he is keeping Agger out of the team at the moment.
Cissohko was a bit gash, always in acres of space but never managed to do anything of note which tended to result in a poor cross or 9/10 a pass back to Lucas/Gerrard.
Good to see Kelly/Allen get some minutes and an encouraging performance. I don't see why the system will be torn apart by Arsenal? Coutinho will be back and Flamini out, feeling confident!
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