Real Madrid Vs Liverpool

[rurikbird]

I disagree, wiz. Moreno has provided an attacking outlet that was desperately needed. He was showing he is not afraid to run at Real players which was psychologically very important for the rest of the team when we were under siege.

I don't think Real created as much from his flank as from Manquillo's flank as well.

 

[rurikbird]

Actually, he looked very good with the ball in the first 20 minutes - our only player really passing it forward while Can was the only one carrying it forward.

This is something I can't understand. Lucas always passes the ball forward. Medium or short distance angled forward passes, always with good success rate, but rarely any through-balls or "hollywood" passes. So in one game he gets slagged for it – "Lucas did nothing again," "useless," "worst Liverpool midfielder since the 90's" etc. Even though he just did his job in midfield and it was the strikers who failed to convert their chances. Then in another game he does exactly the same, we get outplayed and are lucky to lose by only one goal, but people are somehow in a good mood because we performed better than they expected, so Lucas gets praised.

The only consistent trend is that Gerrard gets a shitload of criticism, whether he is playing or not.

 

[tombrown]

I'm going to bed

 

[tombrown]

Anyone care to join me?

 

[tombrown]

Ah - Mrs Tom! Lucky you volunteered before this bunch of testosterone filled sex starvees called dibs.

 

[Wizardry]

This is something I can't understand. Lucas always passes the ball forward. Medium or short distance angled forward passes, always with good success rate, but rarely any through-balls or "hollywood" passes. So in one game he gets slagged for it – "Lucas did nothing again," "useless," "worst Liverpool midfielder since the 90's" etc. Even though he just did his job in midfield and it was the strikers who failed to convert their chances. Then in another game he does exactly the same, we get outplayed and are lucky to lose by only one goal, but people are somehow in a good mood because we performed better than they expected, so Lucas gets praised.

The only consistent trend is that Gerrard gets a shitload of criticism, whether he is playing or not.

That wasn't my point.

We didn't really have any outlet in the first 25 minutes - we were just camped up against our penalty area. Lucas got his foot on the ball multiple times and kept finding a way to get the ball forward with few options. Thus he was doing better, in that regard, than any of our other midfield players.

Can couldn't find an outlet and so tried to run the ball forward - with better success than I'd have expected prior to the game.

I think Lucas is an excellent passer; good, one touch player who can move the ball quickly or slow it down. His problem comes in that he's simply not quick enough to carry it forward and so he must have movement in front of him or he struggles. He's the type of player Gerrard needs beside him or behind him.

 

[Modo]

Lucas, 95% passing accuracy, best in the team today. Made the most passes as well.

To be fair, he should have the best passing stat considering the position he occupies.

 

[rurikbird]

Last thing before I sign off for the day, I thought the interplay of Benzema and Ronaldo was a thing of beauty (in both games against us). This is on a Iniesta-Messi level. I was never a fan of Benzema, but he is proving me wrong and showing Zidane was right to insist on keeping him and shipping his competition out. I had a huge sigh of relief when he was subbed.

 

[Oncy]

I'm going to bed

Arent you staying up to see this next substitution?

 

[Wizardry]

Actually I'm with Rurik. Have never had Benzema in the echelon of strikers/attackers but the end last season and three games this season have sold me.

 

[tombrown]

Arent you staying up to see this next substitution?

How did we do in the penalty shootout?