Match thread Liverpool - Aston Villa

[D.Winchester]

[quote author=Frogfish link=topic=35437.msg931859#msg931859 date=1251148089]
[quote author=Anita link=topic=35437.msg931845#msg931845 date=1251147974]
I thought Babel was one of the few bright sparks today. He managed to complete a few passes and put in a couple of decent balls. Putting him on on a game where he's got nothing to lose (as the game's already lost) was a good move.
[/quote]

Didn't see that at all Anita - I did see him blast 2 or 3 shots horribly wide when they quite obviously the wrong option. He lacks a 'footballing brain' - I hope we get rid ASAP.
[/quote]

Correct

 

[ankreds]

Can't believe anyone praised babel today he was poor when he came on, put in 2 weak crosses and shot twice when the shorter pass was the better option.

 

[gkmacca]

The last thing a tired defence wants at that late stage is a sub coming on who'll use his pace and trickery to get into the box. The first thing they want is someone who'll play like Babel played.

 

[ankreds]

[quote author=gkmacca link=topic=35437.msg931969#msg931969 date=1251150707]
The last thing a tired defence wants at that late stage is a sub coming on who'll use his pace and trickery to get into the box. The first thing they want is someone who'll play like Babel played.
[/quote]

Haha brilliant!

 

[Squiggles]

[quote author=D.Winchester link=topic=35437.msg931955#msg931955 date=1251150116]
[quote author=Frogfish link=topic=35437.msg931859#msg931859 date=1251148089]
[quote author=Anita link=topic=35437.msg931845#msg931845 date=1251147974]
I thought Babel was one of the few bright sparks today. He managed to complete a few passes and put in a couple of decent balls. Putting him on on a game where he's got nothing to lose (as the game's already lost) was a good move.
[/quote]

Didn't see that at all Anita - I did see him blast 2 or 3 shots horribly wide when they quite obviously the wrong option. He lacks a 'footballing brain'  - I hope we get rid ASAP.
[/quote]

Correct
[/quote]

No it isn't.

In this particular game he would have been told by Rafa to shoot on sight. I'm not a huge Babel supporter but to criticise him for shooting when we're 2 goals down with 10 minutes left on the clock is fucking ridiculous.

 

[gkmacca]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=35437.msg932181#msg932181 date=1251196423]
In this particular game he would have been told by Rafa to shoot on sight.
[/quote]

WHAT?? And from where, pray, did you get THAT information?

 

[Squiggles]

'Cos it's just obvious

Our final pass had been shit all game - even the 'assist' for Torres was incredibly fortunate.

We needed something special to get back into the match, our senior players didn't look like delivering it, and so the onus fell on Babel to grab a winner.

He may completely lack of a footballing brain but like I said, you can't criticise a player for having a go when the team's playing shite and we're two goals down.

 

[gkmacca]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=35437.msg932188#msg932188 date=1251196800]
'Cos it's just obvious

[/quote]

You REALLY think it's obvious that Benitez said, 'Go on and shoot on sight'? Cuckoo.

 

[D.Winchester]

[quote author=gkmacca link=topic=35437.msg932195#msg932195 date=1251197167]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=35437.msg932188#msg932188 date=1251196800]
'Cos it's just obvious

[/quote]

You REALLY think it's obvious that Benitez said, 'Go on and shoot on sight'? Cuckoo.
[/quote]

It was right after Benitez told Lucas to take pot shots at the goal from the half-way line

 

[ILD]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=35437.msg932188#msg932188 date=1251196800]
'Cos it's just obvious

Our final pass had been shit all game - even the 'assist' for Torres was incredibly fortunate.

We needed something special to get back into the match, our senior players didn't look like delivering it, and so the onus fell on Babel to grab a winner.

He may completely lack of a footballing brain but like I said, you can't criticise a player for having a go when the team's playing shite and we're two goals down.
[/quote]

I don't know Squiggs. There is two ways to look at it. Some could say Babel took the easy way out, instead of trying to keep the ball and force a goal from somewhere he wasted a few opportunites by taking punts at goal that went harmlessly wide. Maybe the ball would have been better used with a pass elsewhere. Was it a poor decision to shoot on site? His shoot on site policy annoyed me as it just seemed a cop out. Other's will award him with praise for being a risk taker and for at least trying shots. Each to their own I suppose. If one flew in we'd be singing his praises.

The whole game was frustrating. Lucas should not take sole blame for the defeat like some are crediting him with and Babel cannot be expected to perform miracles when brought on late with ten men parked in the box.

Roll on Bolton Saturday and lets try rid ourselves of the memory of this game.

 

[Squiggles]

[quote author=ILD link=topic=35437.msg932197#msg932197 date=1251197365]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=35437.msg932188#msg932188 date=1251196800]
'Cos it's just obvious

Our final pass had been shit all game - even the 'assist' for Torres was incredibly fortunate.

We needed something special to get back into the match, our senior players didn't look like delivering it, and so the onus fell on Babel to grab a winner.

He may completely lack of a footballing brain but like I said, you can't criticise a player for having a go when the team's playing shite and we're two goals down.
[/quote]

I don't know Squiggs. There is two ways to look at it. Some could say Babel took the easy way out, instead of trying to keep the ball and force a goal from somewhere he wasted a few opportunites by taking punts at goal that went harmlessly wide. Maybe the ball would have been better used with a pass elsewhere. Was it a poor decision to shoot on site? His shoot on site policy annoyed me as it just seemed a cop out. Other's will award him with praise for being a risk taker and for at least trying shots. Each to their own I suppose. If one flew in we'd be singing his praises.

The whole game was frustrating. Lucas should not take sole blame for the defeat like some are crediting him with and Babel cannot be expected to perform miracles when brought on late with ten men parked in the box.

Roll on Bolton Saturday and lets try rid ourselves of the memory of this game.
[/quote]

Did we really look like scoring? It's not like we were having repeated cutting attacks. We were passing the ball around with next to no movement with plenty of Villa players behind the ball. We may have upped the tempo, sure, but Villa were rarely stretched by us last night, even when we were desperately searching for goals.

We would have needed something special last night, and Babel tried to produce it. Labelling shooting on sight when we need 2 goals as yet another example of Babel being "brainless" is plain idiotic.