Liverpool VS Bayer Leverkusen
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It was like watching Barcelona on Valium and without the passing accuracy. Totally the opposite of the midweek performance. I didn't think anyone was exceptionally bad, it just wasn't clicking. The starting formation had me baffled as it looked like we were playing 3 at the back with Lucas as the centre half. Sterling took his goal really well but I'm not convinced his ready to start regularly. That said we started with an almost completely changed back line, no Borini, we won and it was a friendly.
OK first half, shite second. Was expected considering the players who came on.
Carra is done IMO, he just doesn't look stable enough to play at top level any more.
He was also at fault for their goal, despite some here trying to lay that on Coates, who did well except two fuck ups.
Sterling needs time, he did good, but he's nowhere near ready to start yet. That frail little body needs muscles as well.
Suarez shouldn't play in the middle. He belongs on the left wing. Does more damage there. Not his best performance today.
I could judge Downing on his feints, footwork and step overs or I could look at his end product which was blocked shot, blocked cross, blocked cross again, blocked shot, blocked cross, blocked pass etc. He's average at best.
The 2nd half was like watching a game from last season. Boring predictable play, no inventiveness at all and just long punts at Carroll. That's what you get when you have Adam, Henderson, Spearing and Carroll on the pitch at the same time. The only good that came out of that half was the goal.
MOM for me is between Lucas and Gerrard. They really impressed.
Carra is done IMO, he just doesn't look stable enough to play at top level any more.
He was also at fault for their goal, despite some here trying to lay that on Coates, who did well except two fuck ups.
Sterling needs time, he did good, but he's nowhere near ready to start yet. That frail little body needs muscles as well.
Suarez shouldn't play in the middle. He belongs on the left wing. Does more damage there. Not his best performance today.
I could judge Downing on his feints, footwork and step overs or I could look at his end product which was blocked shot, blocked cross, blocked cross again, blocked shot, blocked cross, blocked pass etc. He's average at best.
The 2nd half was like watching a game from last season. Boring predictable play, no inventiveness at all and just long punts at Carroll. That's what you get when you have Adam, Henderson, Spearing and Carroll on the pitch at the same time. The only good that came out of that half was the goal.
MOM for me is between Lucas and Gerrard. They really impressed.
It's the way Rodgers plays Sheik, his centre halves play wider and the DM drops into the middle to cover so the fullbacks can play further up the pitch. It was a bit disjointed today, the centre halves were 'ok'. Shelvey did well, as did Downing, Suarez looked jaded. We won though without getting out of first gear against a good side.
The second half was a bit of an botch job as we had no real wide right player so we essentially had four centre midfielders, I thought Spearing broke up the play well, Carroll gave his all (though the flaws are still all too apparent).
Carragher made the initial fuck up, but Coates hesitated a few times in the second half and only just got away with it, for the most part Carragher was comfortable and unflustered. It's a bit rich you laying it on thick about Carragher, a player you've constantly criticised, while giving Coates a bit of a reprieve, you know, Coates, the guy you said we could rely on along with our second right back as sufficient enough to get away with losing Skrtel. He's still young, error prone, rash and sluggish on the turn. He's a good prospect but far off the standard of Skrtel and Agger.
Coates hesitated because he had a player behind him and his fuck ups didn't lead to a goal.
The first one he passed the ball out to a corner the second one he sorted himself. No biggie.
Carra however, who I've slagged off for two years, just doesn't look anything like the Carra of 05,06 and 07. He still has the same tenacity and he reads the game well, but his legs are gone.
Yep, I think he hesitated to commit because of the player to his right.
Exactly. Tbf I think it was Suarez fault, he gave Carra a strange look from the bench.
Regarding players hesistating, why does it take Carra about three hours to release the ball?
Every fucking time he has the ball he does the same stupid maneuver.
Receives the ball, stands on one leg, feints pass. Looks up. Holds on to it a while longer. (Bear in mind he hasnt moved an inch). Then he either hoofs it or passes it sideways. Annoys the fuck out of me.
Every fucking time he has the ball he does the same stupid maneuver.
Receives the ball, stands on one leg, feints pass. Looks up. Holds on to it a while longer. (Bear in mind he hasnt moved an inch). Then he either hoofs it or passes it sideways. Annoys the fuck out of me.
Has anyone noticed the the red nets are back? Class.
T
the_khl
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FYI Reckon neither of Agger or Skrtel played today as they face each other come Wednesday in Parken in Copenhagen.
I like the fact we are winning games even in Pre Season.
Onwards and upwards.
I like the fact we are winning games even in Pre Season.
Onwards and upwards.
Dont like them but meh.
What's the point?
Brings me back to my youth and the glory, glory days.......so who knows? Wonder who made the decision?
Quite, they're nets. Who gives a fuck.
BR: Carroll adapting to style
Brendan Rodgers believes he is seeing evidence of Andy Carroll's ability but Liverpool's manager remains determined to sign more players.
The new Anfield boss on Sunday oversaw a 3-1 victory against Bayer Leverkusen on Merseyside as the Reds concluded their pre-season with a win.
Teenager Raheem Sterling opened the scoring in style before Lucas Leiva took another step on his return from injury with a goal and substitute Carroll then added a third.
England international Carroll is not thought to figure in Rodgers' plans and the £35million striker is a target of West Ham United, while a return to Newcastle United is also possible.
But Rodgers thinks the tall and powerful 23-year-old, who has been accused of only being able to play in a direct system, showed good skill when turning and firing a comparatively straightforward shot which was fumbled by Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Rodgers said of Carroll on Liverpool's official website: "It was a terrific goal from him. It was a nice, clever piece of play by Charlie Adam as the ball came into him and he flicked it around the corner.
"Maybe eight or nine times out of 10 he would have expected that (the ball) back, but big Andy showed his skill and ability as well.
"He's got stick that he can't play this way, but it was a wonderful piece of skill letting the ball go through his legs, getting the shot on target and tucking the ball away very well. It was very pleasing all round.
"The players had a wonderful idea of the game tactically and I am seeing an improvement every single day in terms of our passing game."
Rodgers' £15million signing, Joe Allen, was in the stands at Anfield to watch the win over Leverkusen having followed his manager to Liverpool from Swansea after a transfer was confirmed on Friday.
And Rodgers, who had already signed another former Swansea player in Fabio Borini, remains determined for the Wales international to not be the final new face at Anfield before the end of August.
He said: "Joe will fit into the group very well. I like technically gifted players, and he is exceptionally technically gifted.
"But I also like good people and he is a very humble young guy. He knows he is 22 years of age and has an awful lot to learn but he will be with us every single day in the journey to make this club better.
"He is a very talented boy and he comes into an excellent group. Hopefully we can add one or two more before the end of the window."
Rodgers was also full of praise for Brazilian midfielder Lucas, who was ruled out from last November after suffering a serious knee ligament injury.
He joked: "He has been brilliant. He is a terrific guy and he is prolific from seven yards with no goalkeeper!
"You have seen the growth of him as a player and a person, and the journey he's been on at this club is incredible. He still feels he has a lot to offer. How I work in liking to play this high, intense pressing and passing game brings on his fitness.
"I think if you look at him now, he is in a real good moment. Hopefully he can stay fit and strong and keep pushing on for us."
Brendan Rodgers believes he is seeing evidence of Andy Carroll's ability but Liverpool's manager remains determined to sign more players.
The new Anfield boss on Sunday oversaw a 3-1 victory against Bayer Leverkusen on Merseyside as the Reds concluded their pre-season with a win.
Teenager Raheem Sterling opened the scoring in style before Lucas Leiva took another step on his return from injury with a goal and substitute Carroll then added a third.
England international Carroll is not thought to figure in Rodgers' plans and the £35million striker is a target of West Ham United, while a return to Newcastle United is also possible.
But Rodgers thinks the tall and powerful 23-year-old, who has been accused of only being able to play in a direct system, showed good skill when turning and firing a comparatively straightforward shot which was fumbled by Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Rodgers said of Carroll on Liverpool's official website: "It was a terrific goal from him. It was a nice, clever piece of play by Charlie Adam as the ball came into him and he flicked it around the corner.
"Maybe eight or nine times out of 10 he would have expected that (the ball) back, but big Andy showed his skill and ability as well.
"He's got stick that he can't play this way, but it was a wonderful piece of skill letting the ball go through his legs, getting the shot on target and tucking the ball away very well. It was very pleasing all round.
"The players had a wonderful idea of the game tactically and I am seeing an improvement every single day in terms of our passing game."
Rodgers' £15million signing, Joe Allen, was in the stands at Anfield to watch the win over Leverkusen having followed his manager to Liverpool from Swansea after a transfer was confirmed on Friday.
And Rodgers, who had already signed another former Swansea player in Fabio Borini, remains determined for the Wales international to not be the final new face at Anfield before the end of August.
He said: "Joe will fit into the group very well. I like technically gifted players, and he is exceptionally technically gifted.
"But I also like good people and he is a very humble young guy. He knows he is 22 years of age and has an awful lot to learn but he will be with us every single day in the journey to make this club better.
"He is a very talented boy and he comes into an excellent group. Hopefully we can add one or two more before the end of the window."
Rodgers was also full of praise for Brazilian midfielder Lucas, who was ruled out from last November after suffering a serious knee ligament injury.
He joked: "He has been brilliant. He is a terrific guy and he is prolific from seven yards with no goalkeeper!
"You have seen the growth of him as a player and a person, and the journey he's been on at this club is incredible. He still feels he has a lot to offer. How I work in liking to play this high, intense pressing and passing game brings on his fitness.
"I think if you look at him now, he is in a real good moment. Hopefully he can stay fit and strong and keep pushing on for us."
By Chris Bascombe, at Anfield
8:00PM BST 12 Aug 2012
Allen signed for his new club after a 5pm deadline on Friday. He needed to be registered with the Premier League before then so he could face Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield yesterday.Despite being signed outside Premier League office hours, Allen would still have been free to play had the selling club given Liverpool their permission.
Still upset by Allen’s departure, Swansea City refused a request by the Merseyside club and the Wales international was forced to watch from the stands.
Liverpool won, with Andy Carroll among the goalscorers, and Allen will now join the Wales squad to face Bosnia in midweek.
His debut for his new club is now likely to be the first Premier League game of the season against West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns next Saturday.
Got a feeling I'm going to look dumb for saying this but...
Isn't it a bit harder to score when you can't see the nets?
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