Football 2011-2012

[strummer77]

Saw motd2 this morning, great to see a piece of blatant cheating by larsson punished and possibly costing sunderland the game.

Edited December 5, 2011 by strummer77

[The Nal]

Apparently Phil Jones did a terrible dive at the weekend. The youtube video had been pulled for rights reasons by the PL though when I went to see it. Not that SAF will be moaning about like he did Suarez...

Edited December 5, 2011 by The Nal

[strummer77]

Yeah? Watched the game and didn't see that. And not in the Arsene Wenger "I didn't see it" way either.

[The Nal]

Seem a lot of mentions about it, just haven't seen it.

[strummer77]

Certainly worth a mention. Every time he gets the ball he does, or at least tries, to do something creative and dangerous with it. Would like to see Gerrard back and maybe Suarez playing a little further forward with Gerrard playing balls in behind the defence for Suarez to run onto.

[thetime]

What is Suarez best position?

Striker or just behind?

You watch him get a hat-trick tonight, as I've gave him the hook out of my sky footie league!

[kaosmark2]

What is Suarez best position?

Striker or just behind?

You watch him get a hat-trick tonight, as I've gave him the hook out of my sky footie league!

[eFestivals]

Hernandez's injury seems a little strange, given that he wasn't doing much at the time.

I remember a while back that his old club said they'd let him go to Utd (and on the cheap, I think they'd said?) because he had some sort of problem with his legs or his knees or his ankle (I forget which).

I know that story got dismissed by Utd as tosh, but I'm wondering if it might link to the injury he picked up at the weekend.

Does anyone know?

[eFestivals]

ahhh ... ignore me.

After a bit of googling I've discovered that they said he had "neurological issues" and not anything with his legs at all.

[thetime]

Was linked with his concussion.

The boy just needs a good rest, to much football and no real break for him.

[pink_triangle]

A generally predictable weekend in the premiership. Tomorrow massive game for liverpool with all their rivals winning. I think liverpool will rise to the occasion and win by a couple of goals. 2 questions from this weekend.

[kaosmark2]

Well that was a poor prediction. I just dont get liverpool this season, apart from spurs from what I have seen they could have won every single game. However they too often seem to be one goal short. Not sure why, combination of bad luck, poor refereeing and some wasteful finishing. Whatever the reason they are already at risk of letting 3 teams opening up a significant gap and when you consider the other 2 rivals for top 4 both have a record of consistent top 4 finishes and are both in good form against average/poor premiership teams, liverpool really need to get a run together or by the time their luck turns it may be too late.

[ralph250]

Well that was a poor prediction. I just dont get liverpool this season, apart from spurs from what I have seen they could have won every single game. However they too often seem to be one goal short. Not sure why, combination of bad luck, poor refereeing and some wasteful finishing. Whatever the reason they are already at risk of letting 3 teams opening up a significant gap and when you consider the other 2 rivals for top 4 both have a record of consistent top 4 finishes and are both in good form against average/poor premiership teams, liverpool really need to get a run together or by the time their luck turns it may be too late.

Edited December 5, 2011 by ralph250

[ralph250]

And regards predictions. Mine's not looking so bad now.

Prediction that might blow up in my face....United to concede the least in the league this season.

[pink_triangle]

Didn't see the game tonight, but isn't it pretty typical Liverpool of the last few years. Perform really well in the big games and then struggle in the ones they should be winning. (Not to say Fulham away is easy, but point in general). Whether the reasons you've said, or even failure to motivate themselves to the same level, or conversely a matter of dominance/space. Against the big teams, Liverpool aren't always favourites but are effective at making themselves hard to beat to which they can snatch one, and if the games open, have the ability to give a good account of themselves &, capitalise on the space given.

[ralph250]

I think this liverpool team is different though, they have flaws but are in a leagie full of sides with flaws. From what I have seen of them they are not struggling against the mid/lower teams. They are doing everything other than putting the ball in the net. Look at the league table and the difference between man u and liverpool this season is 10 points yet I would say the difference in performance level between the 2 sides is marginal. The difference is man utd have been finding that extra goal that liverpool havent but it could easily have gone the other way. The margins between the ball landing the right side of the posts, getting that lucky bounce or decision are so small. I really do think for all the analysis you can make of a team you cant discount the influence of luck which from what I have seen liverpool havent had a huge amount of. You can make an argument that if you convert your chances then it doesnt matter if the lucks on your side or not, thats why I think its madness not making more use of maxi because goals are so important.

Edited December 5, 2011 by ralph250

[jammy2211]

Liverpool looked good tonight and we rode our luck to the win tbh, it was a tough one though. We weren't without our chances and could have easily scored a few too, just when your best chances fall to dembele you arn't really going to have much luck. The thing for me is that they get men back in so many numbers but always break with tons going forward - at times it was ripping us apart but they never had that finishing touch.

It's a tough one though, I think Liverpool just have a style of play that we can't cope with., They obliterated us in the same fixture last season despite it being in the middle of us winning games either side, they just have players we can't cope with.

It's just hard to tell if its bad luck now or something else, afterall this isn't the first game Liverpool have wasted points despite having the majority possession and chances. Norwich, Swansea, Stoke all spring to mind...

[strummer77]

That isn't a red card. I think it's as much of a red card as Rodwell's.

When he makes the tackle is other leg is actually grounded. He then slips and catches Dempsey but never ever a red. Ah well. Some positives from tonight, the main one being Jordan Henderson. He's going to be good.

[thetime]

the main one being Jordan Henderson. He's going to be good.

[ralph250]

That isn't a red card. I think it's as much of a red card as Rodwell's.

When he makes the tackle is other leg is actually grounded. He then slips and catches Dempsey but never ever a red. Ah well. Some positives from tonight, the main one being Jordan Henderson. He's going to be good.

[eFestivals]

Not seen the tackle.

This doesn't look that great for his chances of getting it rescinded like Rodwell's though.

Ouch!

That's defo a red.

[The Nal]

Ouch!

That's defo a red.

[thetime]

Im sure Suarez finger means something entirely different in Uruguay, peace and love probably.

[eFestivals]

What you cant see is the ball already 50 yards up the park because Spearing has already kicked it. But he left the ground after he made contact with the ball and followed through. Cant do that these days. Would've been a great tackle 15 years ago.

It still would have been called a leg-breaker, cos that's what it is.

Spearing is quite good at those from the little I've seen of him. He's a good player, but seems a little over-eager at times.

Im sure Suarez finger means something entirely different in Uruguay, peace and love probably.

[The Nal]

It still would have been called a leg-breaker, cos that's what it is.

Spearing is quite good at those from the little I've seen of him. He's a good player, but seems a little over-eager at times.

Edited December 6, 2011 by The Nal