Soccer

That explains a lot. It was at the Anfield Road end and I'm old :-) Also
explains why he reacted so angrily in that challenge.

If I was Robinson and saw Enrique walk in and take me place, I would be
pretty peeved. He has done enough to keep Fabio out (injured or.

not).

_____

From: lfc@yahoogroups.com [mailto:lfc@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Malcolm
Bliss
Sent: 08 August 2011 16:04
To: lfc@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [lfc] EW

Great write up and I always enjoy these types of emails.

Two points.. regarding Carroll being annoyed (and hacking down their
defender),
it was not because he was annoyed with himself but rather the defender who
went
in two footed on him (that was his "hesitation"). Not sure that could be
seen
live.. even the TV commentators couldn't put 2 and 2 together on that one.

Robinson is very good (looks a better prospect at this point that Flanagan).

Malcolm

________________________________
From: Chris O'Dea <chrisodea@hixvil.co.uk <mailto:chrisodea%40hixvil.co.uk>
>
To: lfc@yahoogroups.com <mailto:lfc%40yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Mon, August 8, 2011 9:54:48 AM
Subject: [lfc] EW

The promised EW.

First off, thanks to Janet, Colin, and Bob for the parking advice.

A four hour drive starting on the still partially closed M25 meant we left
at 10am and arrived at Fountains Road at 2:30.

We stopped briefly at the Sandbach services and saw a whole variety of LFC
shirts so it looked like we weren't the only out of towners taking advantage
of the available seats at Anfield.

Fountains Road was completely empty and just a 10 min walk to the ground.
Walked up Anfield Rd and showed my lad where I used to live and then onto
the Shankly Gates. We saw Roy Evans who was happily signing autographs and
have his picture taken and have a few words with everyone who came up to
him. Kieran was the last to have his photo taken with him and he headed to
the ground. A really nice guy and true red.

We hung around, got a programme and a couple of scarves and waited on the
road to see the coaches come in. Both had blacked out windows so you
couldn't see the players but Kieran said he say Kenny sat at the front. I
know that they are entitled to privacy but you could see the disappointment
in lots of kids faces (and adults) as all they saw was their reflection in
the window rather than some of their heroes.

But that is the modern game for you.

The area around the ground seemed like a United Nations convention, there
were that many different languages. There was even a Valencia fan looking
bemused at a couple of lads with strong Scouser accents and I'm sure he must
have been wondering what country they were from.

We met Gurmit for a few minutes at about 4:45 but with the kids and the
warm-up about to start, we had to skip the beer we had promised ourselves.

We were in the Kop, row 23 in block 103 (which is on the left of the Kop as
you look out from it). This was first time back there in 22 years. The
last time I was there, the only seats were them iron bars you perched on
when it wasn't busy. The atmosphere started quite well with some songs and
passing the banner is good. YNWA wasn't too bad either, but there just
can't have been enough regulars to get even the well know songs like Fields
of Anfield Rd going. As the game wore on, less people joined in and
eventually only when the Justice Chants started did the Kop find its real
voice… and that was only because you had to stand and clap!

I won't harp on about the good old days, but as we were stood in the line
for the loos, plenty of chuckles went round as one impatient Koppite
wondered "what happened to just doing it where you stood". And was closely
followed by the customary spliff comment. Strange how it didn't seem funny
at the time, though.

The ground was pretty full with only the away section and top of the
Centenary stand poorly populated.

There were plenty of locals and one wag behind us who had plenty of
variations for some songs which were pretty amusing … and when some guy with
his hair stood up like a pineapple and flag draped round his shoulders
walked down the stairs and then back up again, his cry of "Maurice" in a
brilliant King Julian (Madagascar) voice was priceless.

So we settled to watch the warm up. Pepe was put through his paces and
looked agile and strong. Doni and Jones looked like real spare parts but
not really their fault.

Only 11 outfield players came out along with the three keepers. As we
identified each of the players (my ageing eyes struggling with some of the
new boys like Downing, Adam and Henderson) I kept mixing up Henderson and
Agger as they were the only two with bibs on and looked very similar… it was
only Danny's tattoos which gave him away.

The 11 out there were the starting line up along with Kelly… which did seem
odd as I would have thought that only 10 would have come out. I wonder if
the bench knew about Johnson's groin and were taking precautions.

Carroll and a few others had some pot shots on goal and he was looking very
up for it. He does look like he is keen to build a relationship with the
Kop and seemed to really enjoy being in front of us showing what he can do…
albeit some of his shots were more likely to have been using our heads as
targets.

I haven't seen the game on TV so the below is what my feeble mind remembers.

The game started with us moving the ball around quickly and moving forward.
I then saw Kelly jogging along the line and thought it was very odd and was
sure Fabio was about to depart with his customary injury.

On the pitch, Carroll ran onto a ball (a bad back pass I think) on the left
and bore down on the keeper confidently. His shot hit the post but he
followed up and put the rebound away. As they made their way back to the
centre, Johnson was on the ground at the half way line and soon after Kelly
came on.

We pretty much dominated the rest of the half, having a few half chances and
one very good chance which fell to Carroll. It was very similar to his
first as he ran onto another through ball on the left. However, this time
he hesitated… it seemed as if he was expecting be called back and he
eventually hit a fairly tame shot straight at the keeper. He was certainly
annoyed with himself and a couple of minutes later he went in with leg up in
a stupid challenge. The Valencia players were (rightly) incensed. This was
a friendly and the last thing you want is players being injured by rash
challenges. Things settled and we got on with the game only for a few
minutes later a Valencia player to get some retribution on Carroll. Not
sure if it was the same Valencia player, but someone nearby thought it was.
I was now worried if he would stay on if he lost his temper, but he really
reacted well as he stayed calm but still used his powerful frame to keep the
pressure on. One thing which I did notice is that his reputation in the air
is very well deserved. He is strong and I cannot remember him losing a
single challenge in the air and he always seemed to find a red shirt.

We had control of the game and it was clear to see that the old habit of
'pass and move' is very much at the centre of how we are now trying to play.
Adam very much fits that role and was happy zipping the ball along the
grass, along with most others. Even when it didn't come off, it was good to
see them try. At £6.5M, Adam looks like a real bargain… albeit a little
chunkier than he probably should be.

Aqualani wasn't as bad as some say, as he started with some nice touches but
was then quiet.

Spearing was outclassed though. He battled and fought but gave the ball
away and I can't remember him making a forward pass of any note but did
notice a sizeable number of backward and sideways ones. When Lucas came on,
it was an improvement… how things have changed.

Henderson and Downing kept swapping wings every 5 minutes which I don't
think helped. Downing easily looked the better of the two and seemed a lot
more dangerous on the left than on the right. What I did like about
Henderson is that he kept going out to the byline to stretch play but he
wasn't used so he just ended being out of the game so he had to come back in
again. As I said, I don't think swapping wings helped though.

As others have mentioned, the second half was much more fragmented due to
all the subs being made but we pretty much stayed on top. When Benaga come
on, he did make a difference for them, but nothing that Pepe couldn't
handle.

Mata was very quiet but got a very good ovation from the crowd as he left.
I guess it was the Kop's way of telling him he would be welcome back in a
red shirt (it was the reason I clapped him off anyway).

Their no 14 also showed an occasional good touch or run but nothing
brilliant.

Dirk and Soto got very good receptions when they came on. Downing, Carrol,
Agger and Adam got good ones when they left… they were probably our best
players.

Two things to note are the well documented issues at the back and up front.

At the back, each of the individual defenders look good as individual
players but they are not working as a unit yet. In particular, when Kelly
came on he kept losing their number 14 and if a cross had found him then we
would have been punished. Also, on the 2 or 3 times they whipped a cross
in, it seemed more of a scramble to get it away than a solid unit working
together and covering for each other.

I know it is a lot better than in previous games, but Valencia are 2 weeks
behind in their prep and I worry that during the season we will get caught
out like this.

That all said, I think this is something we can work on in training, and
there has been an improvement.

Up front Carroll looks good and we know about Suarez. But I'm afraid that
N'Gog and Kuyt just won't get us the goals we need in the Premiership,
especially if the defence is still sorting out its issues. I like Dirk and
think we should keep him. I actually like N'Gog and he tried hard, but I am
sorry to say that if we really want to be a Champions League side, let alone
a Title Challenger, than he needs to be replaced.

However, overall it was a good performance with lots of positives including

A clean sheet

Pepe makes a difference at the back

The midfield looks very good

We can whip in crosses and corners which actually put the opposition under
some real pressure.

Carroll looks good overall and exceptionally good in the air.

Ratings:

Reina – 7 – his usual self. Little to do but was there when needed.

Johnson – not on long enough. Apparently it was just a tight hamstring and
he should be back for next week.

Agger – 8 – all the usual stuff about being very good and hoping he doesn't
get injured

Carragher – 6 – solid but quieter than expected. May explain the defence
not being a unit. He may be concentrating on his game. Two trademark up
and unders to please the crowd :-)

Henderson – 6 – A quiet game. Based on this performance I don't understand
why we paid £16M for him.

Spearing – 5 – all heart, but little skill. Time to go.

Adam – 8.5 – Just shades Carroll, Agger and Downing as my MOTM. Not the next
Alonso but has a very good touch and eye for a pass.

Downing – 8 – A good game. I wish he stayed on the left more though. Stop
all this swapping around.

Aquilani – 6 – Disappointing that he was not more involved but when he was
it got the crowd excited (at least the section of the Kop I was in)

Aurelio – 6 – Another one who had a quiet game.

Carroll – 8 – Excellent in the air and did well for the rebound. Poor
effort for the attempt just before the yellow card and the rash tackle for
the yellow card. But did react in the best way possible.

Bench:

Kuyt – 7 – He worked hard and really tried to make things happen and seemed
to be a second captain… Better than Henderson but I remain unconvinced that
he is the right winger we need. If we had the money I would go for Ibrahim
Afellay, but I think we will see Dirk there.

Leiva – 7 – Made a difference when he came on at half time for Spearing.

N'Gog – 6 – Tried hard but not good enough. Time to go.

Kelly – 7 – A slightly slow start when he replaced Johnson so early on but
then settled and gave us some options going forward.

Cole – 5 – entertainment value for his antics with the keeper but little
else. Time to go.

Robinson – 7 – Like a duck to water replacing Fabio at half time. He makes
Enrique not so essential and we should negotiate hard for any new LB we
bring in.

Kyrgiakos – 6 – Replaced Agger and had lots of effort and heart. I would
rather have Scott Dann or Gary Cahill though.

Maxi – 6 – Some nice touches and is an option from the bench… but as step
down in replacing Downing.

Flanagan – 7 - Bit unfair to ask him to replace Adam but he did it no
problem. As for that dummy. Pure class… I'm sure he meant it :-)

Read today that both Ayala and Tom Ince have moved on (Hull and Blackpool
respectively) and to be honest I don't agree with either move, particularly
Ince and I think that may come back to haunt us in future years.

But for now, that was a good run-out and a nice way for me to return to
Anfield.

Chris

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