Match thread: STOKE vs LIVERPOOL

[Shadey]

[quote author=Sunny link=topic=46817.msg1397254#msg1397254 date=1315674570]
Didn't see the game but from listening to accounts and the match stats it seems we just didn't have the rub of the green today. I'm not getting hysterical about the result but we do need to improve in front of goal somewhat
[/quote] This

 

[Farkmaster]

Definitely Sunny. Dominated the game, made a lone defensive error, dominated again.


Not a lot of natural finishers in the side. Suarez is easily the most threatening on the team, but not clinical in front of goal.

 

[Baadier]

highlights from the game

 

[Portly]

Was anybody else listening to the commentary on Radio City?

There was a hilarious incident towards the end when John Aldridge reckoned we had been cheated out of a penalty. Aldo went ballistic. So much so, that he started a fight in the stand. You could hear the verbals from the crowd and jostling noises. The commentator was begging Aldo to sit down and shut up.

Later on Aldo had calmed down, but the commentator said there was still fighting going on in that row of the stand which had been started by the incident. ;D

 

[Gary25]

We lost, That's the bottom line lads. You can dress it up whatever way you want but it doesn't matter a fuck who's the Manager, we have this wonderful ability to lose matches we should win.

Stoke away is tough, very tough. But when you have 73% possession in a game and still lose, then one has a right to be frustrated.

 

[Shadey]

[quote author=Portly link=topic=46817.msg1397262#msg1397262 date=1315675215]
Was anybody else listening to the commentary on Radio City?

There was a hilarious incident towards the end when John Aldridge reckoned we had been cheated out of a penalty. Aldo went ballistic. So much so, that he started a fight in the stand. You could hear the verbals from the crowd and jostling noises. The commentator was begging Aldo to sit down and shut up.

Later on Aldo had calmed down, but the commentator said there was still fighting going on in that row of the stand which had been started by the incident. ;D
[/quote]Go Team Aldo

 

[Skullflower]

[quote author=Gary25 link=topic=46817.msg1397264#msg1397264 date=1315675326]
We lost, That's the bottom line lads. You can dress it up whatever way you want but it doesn't matter a fuck who's the Manager, we have this wonderful ability to lose matches we should win.

Stoke away is tough, very tough. But when you have 73% possession in a game and still lose, then one has a right to be frustrated.
[/quote]

i agree. we're fucking tragic.

 

[Portly]

[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=46817.msg1397268#msg1397268 date=1315675681]
i agree. we're fucking tragic.
[/quote]

1. It was our first defeat of the season
2. The Britannia Stadium is a place where all clubs struggle to get points
3. We totally dominated the play but it was one of those days when the ball wouldn't go in the net. It happens. 🙂

 

[Skullflower]

[quote author=Portly link=topic=46817.msg1397272#msg1397272 date=1315675936]
[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=46817.msg1397268#msg1397268 date=1315675681]
i agree. we're fucking tragic.
[/quote]

1. It was our first defeat of the season
2. The Britannia Stadium is a place where all clubs struggle to get points
3. We totally dominated the play but it was one of those days when the ball wouldn't go in the net. It happens. 🙂
[/quote]

we never looked like scoring to me. we lose this type of game 50% of the time i reckon.

 

[Oncy]

I know Adam and Henderson are going to be flavour of the month and all but i really think we've made a mistake dropping Maxi.
His goalscoring form and his canniness last season were a huge part of our good run. I just think we have too many passers and not enough finishers at the minute. I know we scored 3 against Bolton but we have to understand that teams are going to set out like that against us, and playing Suarez up front on his own-ish isnt going to do it.

Carroll should have played the game in hindsight just to fuck them about a bit.
Id like to see Maxi in the team sooner rather than later.
We played well and dominated one of the toughest teams away from home we will face.
But the connundrum of getting a blend right from Downing, Maxi, Bellamy, Carroll and Suarez is key to us challenging this year.
I know Ryan (and other chalkboard analysts) will say 'You dont have a best 11' yadda yadda but (and correct me if im wrong) United have played (forget the defence because of injuries) Anderson and Cleverley in midfield with Young, Nani and Rooney up top Welbeck started the season then got injured and Hernandez came in. So they found the right blend quickly and are sticking with it.
They make mix it up in Europe but that front 6 will play until one loses form.

We havnt yet a clue what our best blend is going to be yet and dont look all that close to unlocking the door. I will say this (and its not knee jerk because i thought it and mentioned it last year) Suarez isnt a good enough finisher to play up top TOP. He misses way more than he scores. Did it all last season and has started this season horrifically. I know he has MANY strings to his bow but ultimately we have paid 55m for him and Carroll and to date have about 6 goals for that investment. NOT good enough.

The answer? I dunno.
I suppose we have to play Carroll with Suarez off him. Then i'd really seriously think about putting Maxi back in that wide left role he excelled in. Downing on the right where he plays very well?
Lucas and a.n.other in the middle. Personally id STILL go with Spearing as im not yet convinced by Henderson or Adam. Brilliant vs Bolton but hit and miss in almost every other game.

Gerrard. God i miss you.

 

[SaintGeorge67]

Agree about Maxi. He's not my favourite player, but whilst people are in form, play them.

 

[Fabio]

Agree oncey, but not over spearing. I think hes just too shit. Adam needs to cut out the hollywood stuff though

 

[Skullflower]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=46817.msg1397277#msg1397277 date=1315676103]
I just think we have too many passers and not enough finishers at the minute. [/quote]

agree with that

 

[Gary25]

Kenny:

"Every game this season there has been a contentious decison and every one has gone against us. I'm doing my best to be respectful to refs body-but I'm going to talk to owners to see what course of action I should take in future"

 

[Oncy]

[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=46817.msg1397278#msg1397278 date=1315676198]
Agree about Maxi. He's not my favourite player, but whilst people are in form, play them.
[/quote]As ive said since the first day of the season buddy, the team that we had that played amazing football and ripped the two Manchester teams apart contained
Lucas
Spearing
Meireles
Maxi
Kuyt
Suarez

Now we have lost the two of those who scored the most goals last year and replaced them with two creative midfielders. Great! But wheres the goals?
Wheres the last minute bursts into the box?
Wheres the dynamic link up?
Weve totally stripped that out havent we?
So we need to add goal threat. Suarez doesnt look like goal threat to me. Maybe im being harsh but hes had a bunch of easy chances that hes messed up.
Aguero has scored 6, Rooney 7, Dzeko 6... Suarez 1 and a missed pen. So if he isnt that kind of player (and maybe he is and just isnt firing yet) then dont expect him to do that job.
Fuck i dunno. Just doesnt seem right to me to leave Maxi out.

 

[Modo]

Good post but a small correction.
Suarez 2.

 

[Stulikesdrums]

Good post Oncy, agree with most of that

Tough break today, we really did enough to win the game but it wasn't to be. I fucking that Tony Pulis fella, the fucking mingebag.

 

[Oncy]

Yeah, its not a massive big red warning flag or anything because weve played some good football, and on the positive side we have only conceeded 1 goal from the other teams good play, and just a couple of individual mistakes. So thats progress. And we have played some good football in the middle of the pitch. We just havnt quite got the balance right yet and thats clear as day.
It will come with a tweak here or there im sure of it. The concern of course is how astonishing United and City look. If we dont hit our straps soon, they will be out of sight.
Onwards to next weekend.

 

[Skullflower]

they're already out of sight. i don't understand why people keep saying we did enough to win/we were unlucky/just wasn't our day etc

we never looked like scoring. maybe in the last ten we did but fuck that.

 

[Hansern]

Good post Andy. Agree with most of that. The first half was rather shit imho, and we gave the ball away nearly with every pass. The second half was good and I feel reall frustrated about not getting anything out of this game. Should have had 2 penos and Henderson/Suarez should have scored.

 

[Skullflower]

why should we ahve had 2 pens? the one suarez flipped about was never a pen. didn't see the other one.

 

[Oncy]

[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=46817.msg1397303#msg1397303 date=1315678535]
they're already out of sight. i don't understand why people keep saying we did enough to win/we were unlucky/just wasn't our day etc

we never looked like scoring. maybe in the last ten we did but fuck that.
[/quote]I disagree mate. United have Europe on Wednesday, Chelsea on Sunday, Leeds the following wednesday then Away against Stoke the following weekend.
If they take max points from those two games (Chelsea H and Stoke A) then yeah we might as well conceed. But lets just see if Europe is a stumbling block before we reach for the noose mate?
One of the big reasons i believed we would do great things this year is no Europe so we have to wait and see.
Im loathe to say how utterly gutted i am that we have changed so much since last year but we DO have a better squad.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=46817.msg1397298#msg1397298 date=1315678239]
Yeah, its not a massive big red warning flag or anything because weve played some good football, and on the positive side we have only conceeded 1 goal from the other teams good play, and just a couple of individual mistakes. So thats progress. And we have played some good football in the middle of the pitch. We just havnt quite got the balance right yet and thats clear as day.
It will come with a tweak here or there im sure of it. The concern of course is how astonishing United and City look. If we dont hit our straps soon, they will be out of sight.
Onwards to next weekend.

[/quote]

All due respect to the DA, this season was always about a top 4 finish rather than a title challenge

 

[Modo]

[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=46817.msg1397303#msg1397303 date=1315678535]
they're already out of sight. i don't understand why people keep saying we did enough to win/we were unlucky/just wasn't our day etc

we never looked like scoring. maybe in the last ten we did but fuck that.
[/quote]
Kinda agree with Skully here.
We might capitalize on United and City dropping points because of the Champions League. But can't go around loosing points to the likes of Stoke and Sunderland and still consider ourselves challengers.

 

[Oncy]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=46817.msg1397309#msg1397309 date=1315678975]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=46817.msg1397298#msg1397298 date=1315678239]
Yeah, its not a massive big red warning flag or anything because weve played some good football, and on the positive side we have only conceeded 1 goal from the other teams good play, and just a couple of individual mistakes. So thats progress. And we have played some good football in the middle of the pitch. We just havnt quite got the balance right yet and thats clear as day.
It will come with a tweak here or there im sure of it. The concern of course is how astonishing United and City look. If we dont hit our straps soon, they will be out of sight.
Onwards to next weekend.

[/quote]

All due respect to the DA, this season was always about a top 4 finish rather than a title challenge
[/quote]Thats loser talk right there.
If Chelsea win against the Mancs next weekend and we win its 2 points ffs.
We have more points now than after 7 games last year
WEVE PLAYED 4 games!!
Won 2
Drawn 1
Lost 1
Thats ok. We are bedding in new players and changing our style at the same time and we are still playing well and picking up points. This time last year Chelsea won their first six games and lost the league.
We are ok.
We ARE ok.
Relax and wait and see.

 

[Oncy]

[quote author=Modo link=topic=46817.msg1397311#msg1397311 date=1315679026]
[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=46817.msg1397303#msg1397303 date=1315678535]
they're already out of sight. i don't understand why people keep saying we did enough to win/we were unlucky/just wasn't our day etc

we never looked like scoring. maybe in the last ten we did but fuck that.
[/quote]
Kinda agree with Skully here.
We might capitalize on United and City dropping points because of the Champions League. But can't go around loosing points to the likes of Stoke and Sunderland and still consider ourselves challengers.
[/quote]They took points off Chelsea, Arsenal, City and us at home last year. We lost 2-0 and were fucking shit on. Today we totally outplayed them. Yes we lost but the positive signs are there.

 

[King Binny]

Dalglish attacks costly referee blunders after Stoke defeat

 

[robinhood]

God bless you Kenny. Stay with us. Take it on the chin.

 

[Gary25]

Could listen to the man all day. His interviews are tops.

 

[Judge Jules]

Absolutely. "We're no' a team, we're a squad." If you were a player you'd bust your balls to do well for a manager like that.