Football 2010-2011

[pink_triangle]

I think kenny has been very luky with the run of fixtures he has had to start off at liverpool. Sometimes in football its about being in the right place at the right time. I assume liverpools fixtures must start getting toucher eventually but by then confidence should be a lot higher.

[ampersand]

I think kenny has been very luky with the run of fixtures he has had to start off at liverpool. Sometimes in football its about being in the right place at the right time. I assume liverpools fixtures must start getting toucher eventually but by then confidence should be a lot higher.

[ralph250]

PS: I'm guessing that the Glazers recent buying back of the PIK's is a scam to take debts off the club and onto the owners, to Utd's benefit towards these rules.

[eFestivals]

I think kenny has been very luky with the run of fixtures he has had to start off at liverpool. Sometimes in football its about being in the right place at the right time. I assume liverpools fixtures must start getting toucher eventually but by then confidence should be a lot higher.

He might have been lucky with the fixtures, but he's hugely changed how they're playing, both with formations, the positions certain players are being played in, and what they're doing in those positions. The improvement can been seen very clearly.

Quite how great that improvement turns out to be in terms of the league position they'll achieve remains to be seen, but it's certainly an improvement. I'll be quite surprised if they finish any lower than 7th now, and i reckon 6th is going to be theirs. 5th is going to be a step too far tho unless Spurs start bombing (which I don't think is too likely, but I don't see it as impossible either).

I think there's a strong likelihood that their frailties in defence will be exposed against Chelsea on Sunday, particularly with stuff like Johnson being played at left back going on, but even there things might turn out to be a surprise. It's obvious that Dalglish has strong ideas of how he can get the best out of the players he has and so far it's worked very well, so that patched up defence might turn out to be alright when put to a proper test by Chelsea.

[eFestivals]

yeah it's crazy that when blackpool beat liverpool, people were saying '9th place beat [whatever place liverpool were in], wheres the suprise?'

now blackpool are being dragged into the relegation battle, whilst liverpool are pushing for 5th!

You were saying after that first week of 3 games that Dalglish hadn't made a difference. I pointed out to you that he'd had almost no time to work with the players until after that run of games.

Surely now you can see that he's made a huge improvement to how they're playing? Of course there's going to be games where they don't play so well as they did last night (such as against Fulham last week), in the way that any club has good games and bad games, but if you're still thinking he's doing almost nothing for them you're mad, or blind, or something.

They're going go lose games, of course they are - some of the players just aren't that good - but the way things have gone so far is hugely encouraging, and I can't see them reverting to the disaster they were under Woy.

[ampersand]

You were saying after that first week of 3 games that Dalglish hadn't made a difference. I pointed out to you that he'd had almost no time to work with the players until after that run of games.

Surely now you can see that he's made a huge improvement to how they're playing? Of course there's going to be games where they don't play so well as they did last night (such as against Fulham last week), in the way that any club has good games and bad games, but if you're still thinking he's doing almost nothing for them you're mad, or blind, or something.

They're going go lose games, of course they are - some of the players just aren't that good - but the way things have gone so far is hugely encouraging, and I can't see them reverting to the disaster they were under Woy.

[ralph250]

Liverpool will have gained confidence with the recent results, but will be interesting how the react when they get beat again.

Wolves away, Fulham home and Stoke home aren't the best measure of whether they've fully turned the corner yet.

Wolves are bottom and struggling, and both Stoke and Fulham's success is built on the homeform where they're both strong. Neither (with respect Spwan) are great travellers, Stoke have 9 away wins in 50 prem games, and Fulham 10 in their last 107, 2 in their last 31.

Edited February 3, 2011 by ralph250

[Benj]

I think kenny has been very luky with the run of fixtures he has had to start off at liverpool. Sometimes in football its about being in the right place at the right time. I assume liverpools fixtures must start getting toucher eventually but by then confidence should be a lot higher.

[eFestivals]

Liverpool will have gained confidence with the recent results, but will be interesting how the react when they get beat again.

Wolves away, Fulham home and Stoke home aren't the best barometer of whether they've fully turned the corner yet.

Wolves are bottom and struggling, and both Stoke and Fulham's success is built on the homeform where their both strong. Neither (with respect Spwan) are great travellers, Stoke have 9 away wins in 50 prem games, and Fulham 10 in their last 107, 2 in their last 31.

Oh, I know they weren't the toughest of tests, and I've said quite a few times that I expect them to get beat on Sunday, and I wouldn't be surprised if they lost 4-0.

But that aside, Dalglish has DEFINITELY improved them, and it's very obvious that he has strong ideas of how to get the best out of the players he has available to him, and what he's doing is working. For example, he obviously thinks a lot of Kelly & JonJo, and doesn't rate Joe Cole at all - he didn't even make the bench last night.

The players confidence might dip after they next get beat, but I can't see it falling too much - the changes he's made/making have re-ignited the light at the end of the tunnel.

[ralph250]

Oh, I know they weren't the toughest of tests, and I've said quite a few times that I expect them to get beat on Sunday, and I wouldn't be surprised if they lost 4-0.

But that aside, Dalglish has DEFINITELY improved them, and it's very obvious that he has strong ideas of how to get the best out of the players he has available to him, and what he's doing is working. For example, he obviously thinks a lot of Kelly & JonJo, and doesn't rate Joe Cole at all - he didn't even make the bench last night.

The players confidence might dip after they next get beat, but I can't see it falling too much - the changes he's made/making have re-ignited the light at the end of the tunnel.

Edited February 3, 2011 by ralph250

[TheGayTent]

Some thoughts - For a team in our position Keane's weaknesses are more than made up for by his strengths. He's clearly not match fit, his legs have possibly gone. However, last night he brought us intelligence, link up play, and experience.

Obinna has always been a combination of the sublime followed by the ridiculous. He finally seems to be more often sublime than ridiculous.

O'Neill and Bridge have given the team balance, particularly with Jacobsen back fit.

Biggest downside to last night was both Gabbidon and Tomkins picking up injuries. If they're serious we're f**ked. Particularly with Upson out and Da Costa soon to be in the clink if the ITKs are to be believed.

That said I'm more confident now than at any time in the last 3 months. We're just starting to hit our stride, the Baggies and Blackpool are going the other way. If it weren't for the fact that they already have 31 points, the Geordies would be fcuked. Carroll gone, Ameobi out with a broken cheekbone, they're going to have to rely the inexperienced Best and the shit Lovenkrands.

7 sets of roadworks on the way home last night, got home at 03.48, happy as anything

[worm]

Liverpool will have gained confidence with the recent results, but will be interesting how the react when they get beat again.

Wolves away, Fulham home and Stoke home aren't the best measure of whether they've fully turned the corner yet.

Wolves are bottom and struggling, and both Stoke and Fulham's success is built on the homeform where they're both strong. Neither (with respect Spwan) are great travellers, Stoke have 9 away wins in 50 prem games, and Fulham 10 in their last 107, 2 in their last 31.

Edited February 3, 2011 by worm

[The Nal]

There was some goofy lad from Brazil who did "alright" after he left the Dutch league-probably the greatest goalscorer ever.. Your argument is therefore nonsense.

[worm]

Some thoughts - For a team in our position Keane's weaknesses are more than made up for by his strengths. He's clearly not match fit, his legs have possibly gone. However, last night he brought us intelligence, link up play, and experience.

Obinna has always been a combination of the sublime followed by the ridiculous. He finally seems to be more often sublime than ridiculous.

O'Neill and Bridge have given the team balance, particularly with Jacobsen back fit.

Biggest downside to last night was both Gabbidon and Tomkins picking up injuries. If they're serious we're f**ked. Particularly with Upson out and Da Costa soon to be in the clink if the ITKs are to be believed.

That said I'm more confident now than at any time in the last 3 months. We're just starting to hit our stride, the Baggies and Blackpool are going the other way. If it weren't for the fact that they already have 31 points, the Geordies would be fcuked. Carroll gone, Ameobi out with a broken cheekbone, they're going to have to rely the inexperienced Best and the shit Lovenkrands.

7 sets of roadworks on the way home last night, got home at 03.48, happy as anything

[eFestivals]

Kenny's arrival has given the whole club a lift, and to be frank a lot of the players look glad to not be playing under Hodgson anymore.

I'm sure that a big part of things, but I also think that Kenny's very different ideas of how they should play and are playing is having a big effect too. He's a man with a plan, and it's a plan that's working.

How well it'll work I see as being limited by the ability of the players rather than a tactical failing by Dalglish.

And off the back of what he's done so far I'm starting to alter my opinion on how big a part resources play in a team's success.

Just be interesting whether that fragility that surfaced in the Blackpool and Everton games resurfaces when they concede. The heads drop etc and they concede another, or whether they have the self belief now to reassert themselves.

While I get where you're coming from with that, I don't think it's of much relevance (or at least, not as relevant as some think it).

Dalglish had just one training session with the team before the Blackpool match, and only one or perhaps two before the Everton match (and it needs to be remembered that form counts for much less in derby games like that).

He's got them much more sorted for going forwards, but the new-style defence hasn't really been much tested yet. Chelsea will probably expose that as their weak point on Sunday.

Kelly looks a good prospect.

he looks great! I can't think of anything he's done so far where he's made a major fault. He's slotted in like he's an old pro, not just starting out. It's in the centre and on the left where they're weakest.

[ampersand]

Great player for the club and probably the best right back of the last 20 years. Since Irwin.

[The Nal]

hansen said he's the best right back the premierships ever seen. really???

Edited February 3, 2011 by The Nal

[eFestivals]

The test for Liverpool (Dalglish) will come at the Stadium of Light.

Chelsea and Man Utd have re-addressed the balance between us, but both had to play at their very best to do so. The same will probably be said of Liverpool, though I'm not convinced that their very best will beat ours at home.

There are factors that have swung in their favour recently with Bent leaving, Cattermole, Turner and Wellbeck being injured and Suarez joining to replace an underperforming Torres. I'm looking forward to it, though am much less confident now than I was before the transfer window, which as a Sunderland fan says something in itself.

I don't see that game as any sort of decider for where each team will end up. On many levels they're quite evenly matched, but you're at home so it should be to your advantage.

(Just don't fluke the win like you did last season, eh? )

But I reckon you're right in thinking that Liverpool are on an up at the mo while S'land are a little the other way, so while you have home advantage it could still go Liverpool's way.

But I reckon it'll be the average of both teams over the coming months which decides which ends up on top. Without looking at the fixtures for each (which might change my mind), I'd say that Liverpool are going to do more than enough to go past you.

[ampersand]

Who else is there? I cant think of any. His overlapping runs forward into space (when he could run) helped assist loads of goals.

Lee Dixon? I think the Neviller was better.

[eFestivals]

Who else is there? I cant think of any. His overlapping runs forward into space (when he could run) helped assist loads of goals.

Lee Dixon? I think the Neviller was better.

as much as I hate to say it - cos Neville is a c**t - I have to agree.

[TheGayTent]

The Mags have got 30 points I think.

Edited February 3, 2011 by TheGayTent

[TheGayTent]

Since when did football begin in 1992?

[The Nal]

as much as I hate to say it - cos Neville is a c**t - I have to agree.

Edited February 3, 2011 by The Nal

[worm]

I don't see that game as any sort of decider for where each team will end up.

Edited February 3, 2011 by worm

[ampersand]

Since when did football begin in 1992?