Liverpool v Everton. 28th Jan at 20.00.

[Kiwi]

Interesting you think Barkley played well and Osman didn't. Purely from the viewpoint of what a midfielder should be all about i saw the opposite. Osman was excellent. His control, his first touch, the weighting of his passing, and the continuous involvement, took the game to the opposition. Barkley on the other hand did a few eye-catching things but for large chunks of the game you wouldn't have known he was on the field. He was much too far up the field and rarely involved. Why was he unable to find the space he exploits best, that between the opposition back four and midfield? How often did he see danger emerging and do what you want your midfielders to do and get back to cut it out? Never.

Likewise I though Ossie had a very good game when he came on. I think Barkley played alright, however the ref didnt pull them up for the niggling little fouls and so they could break up the runs he was making. Consider that to what happened with Barry...

 

[carolinablue232]

With our injuries, I sure don't want to face that lot again. Sometimes it is best to keep a low profile and after that hiding, that time is at the moment.

No way. We shouldn't fear anyone. If we have that kind of attitude, we'll never progress to the level we want to be. Injuries happen to all teams, not just us. We've been hit hard, but we're hardly the first side to have to deal with the injury bug. I hope we get the chance to test the lads' resolve, test Martinez's tactical acumen, and show that we deserve to be in the conversation as one of the better sides in the prem. Running and hiding is pathetic.

 

[TX Bill]

We were truly dreadful, no two ways about it. RS thoroughly deserved their win and defended superbly - it could have been 8-0. How many shots did we have on target? About three, and only one of those really troubled Mignolet. We fart about too much in front of goal for my liking - too many passes out wide when a shot might be on the cards, especially at 4-0 down ffs. Even speculatively into a packed defence might result in a richocet into the net/to another blue shirt/out for a corner. Only Mirallas shone imo, although McGeady looks promising. If we'd been at full strength things might have been different. We are having a nightmare re injuries to key players lately. I really feel for Lukaku and Oviedo, and send my best wishes to both if they happen to be reading this from their sick beds. We will be back though. That's a lesson learned. Martinez is a great manager and one day his moment of revenge against RS will come. Fourth spot might be difficult now, but maybe 5th is still within reach.

I actually thought we took more attempts than we normally do outside of the box or not far from it rather than trying to tiki-taka our way in. That said, that was probably more due to Liverpool's defending than anything. They always had numbers back.

 

[obc]

seemed a lot of sit back and fast break out.

we had our shots. we whiffed.

oh well. it sucks. get up. spit the dirt out of your mouth, dust off, and take it out on AV.

 

[TX Bill]

jesus, the osman fan club don't ever miss a window of opportunity do they, he was okay when he came on, still go muscled off the ball, abd still hit his powderpuff shots, he hardly turned the game around

True but the original comment was based on comparison to Barkley.

In that respect, the poster got it dead on. Osman was superior to anything Barkley did tonight which was very little of anything.

 

[deipnosophist]

No way. We shouldn't fear anyone. If we have that kind of attitude, we'll never progress to the level we want to be. Injuries happen to all teams, not just us. We've been hit hard, but we're hardly the first side to have to deal with the injury bug. I hope we get the chance to test the lads' resolve, test Martinez's tactical acumen, and show that we deserve to be in the conversation as one of the better sides in the prem. Running and hiding is pathetic.

Discretion is the better part of valour sometimes mate. When you have just had your ass handed to you in a battle, it is best to strategically withdraw, let the battle wounds (injuries) heal and keep your forces intact for another day. It's not running and hiding, it's being astute.

 

[carolinablue232]

Discretion is the better part of valour sometimes mate. When you have just had your ass handed to you in a battle, it is best to strategically withdraw, let the battle wounds (injuries) heal and keep your forces intact for another day. It's not running and hiding, it's being astute.

I see your point, but we'd hardly be playing them tomorrow...The next time we play them, I'd want wound to be semi-fresh and I want the lads to remember how it felt to get smashed, and do everything in their power to get a positive result so as not to feel that way again. A dog is most dangerous after it's been provoked. Why not take the chance to prove our worth and prove today was an aberration.

 

[deipnosophist]

True but the original comment was based on comparison to Barkley.

In that respect, the poster got it dead on. Osman was superior to anything Barkley did tonight which was very little of anything.

Apart from the opening shot, I didn't see Barkley do anything tonight. Hindsight is a fine thing, but Pienaar and Barkley were just WAY below par today (due to being rushed back in). The team looked pretty good on paper...pity they were useless on grass.

 

[deipnosophist]

I see your point, but we'd hardly be playing them tomorrow...The next time we play them, I'd want wound to be semi-fresh and I want the lads to remember how it felt to get smashed, and do everything in their power to get a positive result so as not to feel that way again. A dog is most dangerous after it's been provoked.

And I know where you are coming from mate. If (and when) we can get a true Everton first XI out on the pitch (unencumbered by injury), I relish the opportunity to recommence battle.

 

[TX Bill]

Very frustrating and I can't help but think that if every player out there was as close to completely fit, the game may have been different. That said, had they been fit, I just didn't see enough from the players out there anyway to make me think it would have been THAT much different.

Perhaps 2-0 or 3-1. But I don't see how we were ever winning that match.

 

[deipnosophist]

This result will fade lads. Recall Spurs 6-0 loss to City and 5-0 drubbing by Liverpool? Those results have no currency any more. Spurs are a real contender for fourth now. No-one is talking about those hidings. We need to beat Villa at home. That is our only priority now. I must confess to thinking that the battle for fourth will be a massive one between Utd and Liverpool. Their match at Old Trafford should be a WWIII proportioned encounter.

 

[TX Bill]

Dead on there.

 

[DanEFC92]

Depressing.

 

[AussieToffee]

depressing beyond the threshold of pain. Now I'm feeling nothing...

We can't have the Aston Villa game soon enough.... too many lingering thoughts questioning everything atm...

A win aginst Villa and it's back to the drawing board as we build again.

 

[Mogwai]

I still find it remarkable that we are even in contention for 4th place ( based on points anyway) considering the massive changes we have had this season....at the beginning I was seriously going to be happy with a top ten finish seeing that it was a rebuilding phase.....a little consolation I suppose in the face of humiliation.....