Steven Murray
paolomachiniA Black Sunday against Blackpool
October 5th 2010 16:57
Before writing my views about the Blackpool game, I would like to get a few things off my chest……apologies for being a little more serious than normal, but we have enough jokes on and off the field!
When Roy Hodgson was appointed in July, all Liverpool fans knew that standards were dropping, but due to the financial issues Red’s fans decided to do what they do best, and support the team along with the new manager. A lot of people were still unsure but thought lets give him a chance.
The signing of Joe Cole stupidly started to raise all Red fans hope, as most (including me) had resigned themselves to a top ten finish if we were lucky. Suddenly after acquiring Cole the ‘Top 4’ was being spoke about. Hodgson then managed to retain the services of Gerrard & Torres, things were really looking up. We then looked at the fixture list, Arsenal and Man City first, not the easiest start.
The Arsenal game was a false dawn; all the players all seemed to want to play for the red shirt and even with ten men they deserved a win rather than a draw. Then things started to go wrong. Mascherano, one of the best performers in this game finally threw his dummy out of the pram and refused to play – this obviously changed the team shape at such short notice and Man City easily pushed us to one side, and beat us 3-0.
Forgetting the Europa League results we finally got a win against West Brom. But the warnings were there to be seen, only a Torres goal split the sides. A 1-0 win at home against West Brom isn’t a great result, but for some reason Hodgson seemed smug and satisfied. Birmingham away followed with a 0-0 draw, again for some reason Hodgson seemed to come away from this claiming it was a point gained. It was in a way, if it wasn’t for Pepe Reina we would have lost.
This is when I started to lose faith in the new manager. Tactically, he seems unable to play players in there best position and his man to man management skills seem to be missing. Since the Arsenal game no one seems to want to play for him. Yes, we have major problems behind the scenes, but as Alan Hansen has pointed out its not like Hicks and Gillett are playing central defence, the players also need to stand up and be counted on the pitch. At the same time the manager needs to pick these problems up and sort them, although we’ve had better squads on paper, we can still put a decent team out. At the moment Hodgson seems to be as good as a rookie 12 year old playing Championship Manager!
The defeat at United was embarrassing. United are looking a shade of the team they’ve had over the last few years, but still even after luckily pulling back to 2-2 Hodgson stupidly tried to sit on the point. Why? Only two years ago Rafa’s Liverpool managed a 4-1 win, it’s not as if we couldn’t have given it a go. Instead we lose....again.
Then came 3 draws, although one ended up with losing on penalties to Northampton Town at home!? Yes, it was a shadow team, but surely these fringe players should have been playing to impress the new manager, especially with the poor start the main XI had made.
Two ‘easy’ home games were to follow with an away trip to Utrecht in-between. Somehow Sunderland became a lucky point, as the Reds were tactically beaten by Steve Bruce (yes, Steve Bruce!). But still it wasn’t too bad; Blackpool at home was to follow after an unconvincing 0-0 draw in Holland. Blackpool was going to be an easy 3 points and not only that, it would help sort out our minus goal difference – at last our season could actually start properly. How wrong was I and thousands of others!!
Yet again ‘Woy’ decided to make a few strange tactical changes. Firstly he chooses Carragher to play left back. Why?! Martin Kelly had filled in well on the Thursday, why not let him continue and keep Carragher in his preferred and best position? Again he picks Poulsen, why? All he seems to contribute to the team is the skill of conceding free kicks and losing the ball. Surely Lucas would be a better selection? And I’m not even going into wasting players in the wrong position (again!!).
Ten minutes into the game the nightmare continued and Torres left the field through injury. Not only weakening an already struggling team, but motivating Blackpool, a team with nothing to lose – and it showed!
From then the game was end to end, but nothing to write home about with DJ Campbell shooting just wide and Varney managed to force a save from Pepe Reina. Gerrard and Kuyt had attempts for the reds, but neither were particularly close. Then a moment of madness, Glen Johnson fouled Varney with a very poorly timed tackle. Johnson’s had his critics about his defending and this only enhances the fact he must improve this part of his game. Charlie Adam stepped up and just managed to squeeze the ball passed Pepe Reina, who like a week earlier was close to saving it. Surely, this was just a blip, Liverpool couldn’t lose this?
Kyrgiakos, Ngog, Kuyt and Cole all try and pull one back, but no joy. Then the nightmare continued. Varney was easily found by Taylor-Fletcher, yet again exposing the back four and the score standed at 2-0. Not long later the half-time whistle followed, along with a chorus of boos from shell-shocked fans.
Eventually in the 53rd minute Kyrgiakos brought it back to 2-1 after a clever quickly taken free-kick by Gerrard. This was surely time for the come back and Anfield waited and waited and waited (I could go on more). Despite the odd chance on goal, only Kyrgiakos came close.
Kyrgiakos had actually been put upfront by Hodgson near the end, a tactic used by Sam Allardyce with Christopher Samba at Blackburn – what are we turning into? Next we’ll be trying to resign El-Hadji Diouf or Emile Heskey!! Does Hodgson understand that we can score goals by not using a long ball?
Before anyone knew it, the final whistle had gone and Blackpool had managed to win at Anfield, giving the Reds their worst start in 57 years, along with keeping an unwanted place in the bottom 3. Hodgson (the useless fella on the bench) is treated to more boos and a cry of ‘Dalgish’ from the Kop. He’s asking for a few more games to show what he can do, but with Everton away up next, the clock may already be ticking.
One final comment, pre-game another protest march involving approximately 10,000 fans took place along with another sit in after the game. It can only be a matter of time until these are stepped up to the next level. Along with Mike Jefferies work appearing soon on You Tube, Hicks & Gillett better watch out!
And then i'll get Konchesky....
When Roy Hodgson was appointed in July, all Liverpool fans knew that standards were dropping, but due to the financial issues Red’s fans decided to do what they do best, and support the team along with the new manager. A lot of people were still unsure but thought lets give him a chance.
The signing of Joe Cole stupidly started to raise all Red fans hope, as most (including me) had resigned themselves to a top ten finish if we were lucky. Suddenly after acquiring Cole the ‘Top 4’ was being spoke about. Hodgson then managed to retain the services of Gerrard & Torres, things were really looking up. We then looked at the fixture list, Arsenal and Man City first, not the easiest start.
The Arsenal game was a false dawn; all the players all seemed to want to play for the red shirt and even with ten men they deserved a win rather than a draw. Then things started to go wrong. Mascherano, one of the best performers in this game finally threw his dummy out of the pram and refused to play – this obviously changed the team shape at such short notice and Man City easily pushed us to one side, and beat us 3-0.
Forgetting the Europa League results we finally got a win against West Brom. But the warnings were there to be seen, only a Torres goal split the sides. A 1-0 win at home against West Brom isn’t a great result, but for some reason Hodgson seemed smug and satisfied. Birmingham away followed with a 0-0 draw, again for some reason Hodgson seemed to come away from this claiming it was a point gained. It was in a way, if it wasn’t for Pepe Reina we would have lost.
This is when I started to lose faith in the new manager. Tactically, he seems unable to play players in there best position and his man to man management skills seem to be missing. Since the Arsenal game no one seems to want to play for him. Yes, we have major problems behind the scenes, but as Alan Hansen has pointed out its not like Hicks and Gillett are playing central defence, the players also need to stand up and be counted on the pitch. At the same time the manager needs to pick these problems up and sort them, although we’ve had better squads on paper, we can still put a decent team out. At the moment Hodgson seems to be as good as a rookie 12 year old playing Championship Manager!
The defeat at United was embarrassing. United are looking a shade of the team they’ve had over the last few years, but still even after luckily pulling back to 2-2 Hodgson stupidly tried to sit on the point. Why? Only two years ago Rafa’s Liverpool managed a 4-1 win, it’s not as if we couldn’t have given it a go. Instead we lose....again.
Then came 3 draws, although one ended up with losing on penalties to Northampton Town at home!? Yes, it was a shadow team, but surely these fringe players should have been playing to impress the new manager, especially with the poor start the main XI had made.
Two ‘easy’ home games were to follow with an away trip to Utrecht in-between. Somehow Sunderland became a lucky point, as the Reds were tactically beaten by Steve Bruce (yes, Steve Bruce!). But still it wasn’t too bad; Blackpool at home was to follow after an unconvincing 0-0 draw in Holland. Blackpool was going to be an easy 3 points and not only that, it would help sort out our minus goal difference – at last our season could actually start properly. How wrong was I and thousands of others!!
Yet again ‘Woy’ decided to make a few strange tactical changes. Firstly he chooses Carragher to play left back. Why?! Martin Kelly had filled in well on the Thursday, why not let him continue and keep Carragher in his preferred and best position? Again he picks Poulsen, why? All he seems to contribute to the team is the skill of conceding free kicks and losing the ball. Surely Lucas would be a better selection? And I’m not even going into wasting players in the wrong position (again!!).
Ten minutes into the game the nightmare continued and Torres left the field through injury. Not only weakening an already struggling team, but motivating Blackpool, a team with nothing to lose – and it showed!
Cheers Davey, you better get used to this, i'm off in January!
From then the game was end to end, but nothing to write home about with DJ Campbell shooting just wide and Varney managed to force a save from Pepe Reina. Gerrard and Kuyt had attempts for the reds, but neither were particularly close. Then a moment of madness, Glen Johnson fouled Varney with a very poorly timed tackle. Johnson’s had his critics about his defending and this only enhances the fact he must improve this part of his game. Charlie Adam stepped up and just managed to squeeze the ball passed Pepe Reina, who like a week earlier was close to saving it. Surely, this was just a blip, Liverpool couldn’t lose this?
Kyrgiakos, Ngog, Kuyt and Cole all try and pull one back, but no joy. Then the nightmare continued. Varney was easily found by Taylor-Fletcher, yet again exposing the back four and the score standed at 2-0. Not long later the half-time whistle followed, along with a chorus of boos from shell-shocked fans.
Eventually in the 53rd minute Kyrgiakos brought it back to 2-1 after a clever quickly taken free-kick by Gerrard. This was surely time for the come back and Anfield waited and waited and waited (I could go on more). Despite the odd chance on goal, only Kyrgiakos came close.
Kyrgiakos had actually been put upfront by Hodgson near the end, a tactic used by Sam Allardyce with Christopher Samba at Blackburn – what are we turning into? Next we’ll be trying to resign El-Hadji Diouf or Emile Heskey!! Does Hodgson understand that we can score goals by not using a long ball?
Before anyone knew it, the final whistle had gone and Blackpool had managed to win at Anfield, giving the Reds their worst start in 57 years, along with keeping an unwanted place in the bottom 3. Hodgson (the useless fella on the bench) is treated to more boos and a cry of ‘Dalgish’ from the Kop. He’s asking for a few more games to show what he can do, but with Everton away up next, the clock may already be ticking.
One final comment, pre-game another protest march involving approximately 10,000 fans took place along with another sit in after the game. It can only be a matter of time until these are stepped up to the next level. Along with Mike Jefferies work appearing soon on You Tube, Hicks & Gillett better watch out!
If its not broke, don't Hicks it!
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Comment by Steven Murray
Football Head
My Angry Blog
My Liverpool Story
This then brings me on to Roy's comments about Raul and Joe Coles not being wide players but central players who cover the wider midfield spots - if you watch the Blackpool game its clear to see how central they are at times in the first half and how exposed the full backs were. What made this strange was the full backs were almost wing backs at times meaning the 2 CBs and Poulsen at times were the defence which obviously struggled when Blackpool counter attacked on the wings as no cover existed.
I think Roy must of assumed Blackpool wouldn't attack and Ian Holloways statement saying they would was a bluff.