Ratings

[SaintGeorge67]

Reina - 6
Johnson - 7
Insua - 8
Carragher - 5
Agger - 6
Masher - 7
Lucas - 8
Gerrard - 7
Kuyt - 6
Babel - 4
Torres - 8

Rafa - 8

 

[Skullflower]

true - insua was good tonight. very good.

 

[Peatcheo]

Agger - 6.

Watchu talkin about Willis!?

 

[Rafanomenon]

[quote author=SaintGeorge67 link=topic=39389.msg1072549#msg1072549 date=1268950842]
Reina - 6
Johnson - 7
Insua - 8
Carragher - 5
Agger - 6
Masher - 7
Lucas - 8
Gerrard - 7
Kuyt - 6
Babel - 4
Torres - 8

Rafa - 8
[/quote]

Who was MOM then? Does anyone dare say Lucas? I personally think it was Torres but Lucas was definately the best player in the first half.

What will the hater(s) say?!

 

[SummerOnions]

[quote author=Peatcheo link=topic=39389.msg1072556#msg1072556 date=1268951295]
Agger - 6.

Watchu talkin about Willis!?
[/quote]

He made a couple of sloppy decisions, as did Carra.

Reina - 7
Johnson - 7
Insua - 8
Carragher - 5
Agger - 6
Masher - 7
Lucas - 8
Gerrard - 7
Kuyt - 7
Babel - 6
Torres - 8

 

[Sunny]

[quote author=Fraser link=topic=39389.msg1072559#msg1072559 date=1268951436]

Who was MOM then? Does anyone dare say Lucas? I personally think it was Torres but Lucas was definately the best player in the first half.

What will the hater(s) say?!
[/quote]

I find the Man of The Match threads quite useful for that type of information personally.

 

[Oncy]

Reina - 6
Insua - 8.5
Agger - 7
Carra - 7
Johnson - 7
Lucas - 8.5
Mascherano - 8
Gerrard - 7
Babel - 4
Kuyt - 6
Torres - 8

 

[Rafanomenon]

[quote author=Sunny link=topic=39389.msg1072565#msg1072565 date=1268951887]
[quote author=Fraser link=topic=39389.msg1072559#msg1072559 date=1268951436]

Who was MOM then? Does anyone dare say Lucas? I personally think it was Torres but Lucas was definately the best player in the first half.

What will the hater(s) say?!
[/quote]

I find the Man of The Match threads quite useful for that type of information personally.
[/quote]

Doh! Completely missed that and credit where credit is due, Lucas has been given a fair assessment!*

*Surprised!

 

[ILD]

Insua upped his game tonight, perhaps to impress Maradona in the stands. He seemed confident and assured. Nice to see.

Lucas made some lovely forward run and was very positive. Combine that with his ability to retain possession and be neat and tidy and you have a very accomplished performace. Perhaps Aqualani's performance Monday gave him something to think about.

 

[Modo]

I think you guys are bit harsh on Babel.
He was involved in lead up to the penalty and also got an "assist" when Torres scored his first.
He didn't see much of the ball in the 2nd half. But I thought he looked a threat and he worked hard.
I'd personally give him a 6.

However, Carra needs to stop hoofing the ball every time he gets it. He's just gifting the ball to the opposition.

Lucas did well in the first half but he was back to his mediocre self in the 2nd.
Aquaman need to start against Man U if fit.

I was really impressed by Insua. What a performance!!!

 

[Wilko7]

[quote author=ILD link=topic=39389.msg1072570#msg1072570 date=1268952136]
Insua upped his game tonight, perhaps to impress Maradona in the stands. He seemed confident and assured. Nice to see.

[/quote]

I'd rather he upped his game to impress the Liverpool fans in the stands and his club manager in the dug out.

 

[gareth_thomas]

Lucas started well but completely vanished in the last 30 minutes.

Once again Rafa's use of subs has me screaming at the TV. We had two subs left to use and it was obvious that our lads were FUCKED. It worked out because the combination of Kuyt, Gerrard and Torres ended up being involved in the last goal, HOWEVER.. We dominated that game until our players were obviously fucked. I would have much prefered for a couple of earlier subs as we looked way off the pace in the last 15.

however.. cant complain too much.. through to the next round.. scored 3 goals and kept a clean sheet.

Insua deserves a pat on the back and Torres looks like he is back.

 

[Farkmaster]

[quote author=gareth_thomas link=topic=39389.msg1072695#msg1072695 date=1268981005]
Lucas started well but completely vanished in the last 30 minutes.

Once again Rafa's use of subs has me screaming at the TV. We had two subs left to use and it was obvious that our lads were FUCKED. It worked out because the combination of Kuyt, Gerrard and Torres ended up being involved in the last goal, HOWEVER.. We dominated that game until our players were obviously fucked. I would have much prefered for a couple of earlier subs as we looked way off the pace in the last 15.

however.. cant complain too much.. through to the next round.. scored 3 goals and kept a clean sheet.

Insua deserves a pat on the back and Torres looks like he is back.
[/quote]

I can appreciate what you are saying, but he takes those players off and Lille score, and he'd be slaughtered. Away goals means we always could have needed a goal if they had scored at 2-0, and you'd be wishing he hadn't taken off all of our best chances to score goals at that point, I'd imagine.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

Pepe - 7.5
Johnson - 7
Insua - 7.5
Carra - 7
Agger - 7
Masher - 7.5
Lucas - 7.5
Gerrard - 7
Kuyt - 6
Babel - 5
Torres - 8

Rafa - 9

 

[Buddha]

I seem to be the only one on here that thinks Insua didn't have a good game last night.

He showed up well on the ball and was full of intent and energy, but I thought his positioning and decision making off the ball was awful at times. He continues to look seriously raw to me without progressing all that much.

He is young though.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

Apart from when he came into the middle (when Agger was already there), i can't recall him making any mistakes yesterday.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Babel puts in effort, hussles defenders and creates problems - poor rating
Babel doesn't care - poor rating

He didn't have a great game (despite the 'assist') but he really worked hard and did some good stuff there. I'll give him a 6

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=39389.msg1072907#msg1072907 date=1268999814]
Babel puts in effort, hussles defenders and creates problems - poor rating
Babel doesn't care - poor rating

He didn't have a great game (despite the 'assist') but he really worked hard and did some good stuff there. I'll give him a 6
[/quote]

I think that's pretty fair. I thought that watching the game, he was quiet but he worked hard and tried (as he did in the last game v Pompey) to maintain possession when nothing was on. Up until recently he'd have ran down blind alleys or into defenders trying to do stuff that was beyond him, he seems to be using his head more and being a bit more decisive.

John Scales was bang on about him last night, when he has a split second and uses instinct he's a big threat, when he has time to think he usually fucks up.

 

[mark1975]

Reina 6 - Didn't have alot to do, made a great block in the first half and one minor gaff in the second.

Johnson 7 - Sound defensively and a threat going forward
Carra 5 - Poor
Agger 6 - Slightly better than Carra and a threat going forward
Insua 7 - Good going forward, still iffy when ran at.

Lucas 8 - Best display since we played United at home, good runs through the middle, what he should be doing everyweek. Is it him or is it Rafa?
Masher - 7.5 Tireless as ever, good distribution.

Kuyt 7.5 - Great deliveries into the box, linked well and worked tirelessly.
Babel 6.5 - Worked hard, didn't get alot of joy down their left but looked a threat when given space.
Gerrard 7.5 - Linked well, still off his best but getting there. very good second half.

Torres - 8 What more can you say? Two goals, ran the channels well and is a constant menace.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=39389.msg1072933#msg1072933 date=1269000731]
[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=39389.msg1072907#msg1072907 date=1268999814]
Babel puts in effort, hussles defenders and creates problems - poor rating
Babel doesn't care - poor rating

He didn't have a great game (despite the 'assist') but he really worked hard and did some good stuff there. I'll give him a 6
[/quote]

I think that's pretty fair. I thought that watching the game, he was quiet but he worked hard and tried (as he did in the last game v Pompey) to maintain possession when nothing was on. Up until recently he'd have ran down blind alleys or into defenders trying to do stuff that was beyond him, he seems to be using his head more and being a bit more decisive.

John Scales was bang on about him last night, when he has a split second and uses instinct he's a big threat, when he has time to think he usually fucks up.
[/quote]

When you and I agree about Babel, I get very very scared.

Please forgive me Mark. I didn't do it intentionally (whatever I did).

Have a great weekend mate - I'm heading back to the Cape Townian sun (& beach).

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=39389.msg1073105#msg1073105 date=1269008288]
[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=39389.msg1072933#msg1072933 date=1269000731]
[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=39389.msg1072907#msg1072907 date=1268999814]
Babel puts in effort, hussles defenders and creates problems - poor rating
Babel doesn't care - poor rating

He didn't have a great game (despite the 'assist') but he really worked hard and did some good stuff there. I'll give him a 6
[/quote]

I think that's pretty fair. I thought that watching the game, he was quiet but he worked hard and tried (as he did in the last game v Pompey) to maintain possession when nothing was on. Up until recently he'd have ran down blind alleys or into defenders trying to do stuff that was beyond him, he seems to be using his head more and being a bit more decisive.

John Scales was bang on about him last night, when he has a split second and uses instinct he's a big threat, when he has time to think he usually fucks up.
[/quote]

When you and I agree about Babel, I get very very scared.

Please forgive me Mark. I didn't do it intentionally (whatever I did).

Have a great weekend mate - I'm heading back to the Cape Townian sun (& beach).
[/quote]

lol.. You div. Have a great one mate. And yeah, he is playing well, hopefully he'll keep it up, and maybe now without the prospect of Riera being thrown in, he'll take it.

 

[drizzt]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=39389.msg1072962#msg1072962 date=1269001363]
Reina 6 - Didn't have alot to do, made a great block in the first half and one minor gaff in the second.

Johnson 7 - Sound defensively and a threat going forward
Carra 5 - Poor
Agger 6 - Slightly better than Carra and a threat going forward
Insua 7 - Good going forward, still iffy when ran at.

Lucas 8 - Best display since we played United at home, good runs through the middle, what he should be doing everyweek. Is it him or is it Rafa?
Masher - 7.5 Tireless as ever, good distribution.

Kuyt 7.5 - Great deliveries into the box, linked well and worked tirelessly.
Babel 6.5 - Worked hard, didn't get alot of joy down their left but looked a threat when given space.
Gerrard 7.5 - Linked well, still off his best but getting there. very good second half.

Torres - 8 What more can you say? Two goals, ran the channels well and is a constant menace.

[/quote]

It's the game situation IMO. The more we keep possession, the more we press the opposition back, the less he needs to worry about getting back to help out and the more he gets forward.

 

[Delinquent]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=39389.msg1072933#msg1072933 date=1269000731]
Up until recently he'd have ran down blind alleys or into defenders trying to do stuff that was beyond him, he seems to be using his head more and being a bit more decisive.
[/quote]

I thought he did quite a lot of running into defenders with no real idea but I don't think it's that things are 'beyond him' as such, it's more that he doesn't really know what's 'within' himself.

So often he gathers a bit of speed, the crowd gets excited, and then he slows down when he gets to defender and tries to figure out a way around them. If he made up his mind before he got there and just maintained his speed, then several things could happen: the defender could make an excellent, well-timed tackle; the defender could concede a free kick; or Babel could breeze past them with raw pace. He's far too tentative for someone with so much athleticism.

He looked tired when he came off yesterday though, which in itself is encouraging. That's the first time he's put in a real shift for the team for some time.