I think Wolves deserve credit for the way they refused Liverpool time on the ball and stopped them from getting a stride. Richard Stearman and Christophe Berra did a job on Ngog and Torres - although Torres has looked off key for ages now.. it was the same in the world cup.
It may have been a mistake for you to play Gerrard for the whole 90 minutes as he'd only just come back and was short of match fitness. But I guess you daren't take Gerrard off as even when he's half fit, he's by far the player with the most drive.
The defensive work that Wolves did off the ball was outstanding, although even I, a die hard Wolves fan, in all honesty would have expected Liverpool to find a way through somehow. World class players usually do.
But last night too many of your big names, Ngog, Torres, Kuyt etc went missing and got frustrated too easily.
I hadn't seen much from Kyriagos (I think thats how you spell his name) before, but last night I thought he had a nightmare. He was definately at fault for Ward's goal and could have conceded two penalties. Really poor play from him and Konchesky.
Wolves were outstanding last night mate.Every player did their job brilliantly.Desreved the 3 points.
Completely agree with Mitchell with regards to what he said about Ngog and the team in general. Ngog is only 21. He's been thrown in at the deep end and at least he usually gives 100%. He's improved hugely in the last 12 months compared to when he arrived. The same can be said of Lucas who's establishing himself in the Brazil setup. They're not a title winning side (We were a replacement striker away 2 years ago but proceeded to sell a key player) but we're better than 3 points above relegation.
The players aren't performing but it seems to me that they have no confidence in the manager. How could they when they are playing hoof football to 2 front men who arent as strong as the CBs they come up agaisnt (not a insult to Torres or Ngog, just dont see them as targetmen). I think we have to go back to 4-2-3-1 like under Benitez. I'd like to see Lucas and Mereiles in the centre with Stevie behind Torres and Cole on the left. People can argue that Gerrard's best position is CM but I'm not sure he still has the same engine, I think he's lost a little of that trademark burst of the last few years. I say keep him up the pitch and train Lucas into a ball winning midfielder.
For me Hodgson has to go. I wanted rid of him in October but seeing as that's not the culture of the club I decided to reserve final judgement for another while, but the situation we find ourselves in is ridiculous. I'm dont know whether he'll get the sack before the summer though. NESV are taking tentative steps into football so they obviously dont want to make any rash decisions. I really think we cant go forward under Hodgson though.
The next problem this brings is who to replace him with. Dalglish is an Anfield legend, but he has been out of management for quite a long time. I'd hate for his status amongst Liverpool fans to be tarnished by a poor stint as manager. I dont rate Rijkaard that highly. Although he won trophies at Barcelona...it's Barca! He had Ronaldihno at the top of his game, Eto'o, Xavi, Iniesta plus an up and cumming Messi. His time with Galatasaray was unsuccessful and he got Sparta Rotterdam relegated. With regards to O'Neill, he would not be my personal favourite. He has plenty of experience but how much of it is top level (a real shortcoming of Hodgson's). SPL titles and A Uefa Cup Final loss dont really cut it I think. My ideal replacement would be Hiddink but he's with Turkey and he usually stays fairly faithful to his international contracts.
Also thought it was interesting that Hodgson said before that he could not be blames completely as it was not his team nor his players. Quick look at the table shows his previous team are in the relegation zone! Sorry bout the length of the post, it's just a subject that I've a lot of opinions on.
I get where people are coming from saying the players don't look intrested, when a team is playing this bad no matter if it's a big club or not the players are always the same, it's easy for everyone to slate the players but it's just as difficult for them as well, when your playing bad it's not easy to get out of the rhythm especially when you have mix of new players & players playing out of position or in Raul Meireles case both.
The players have to stick to the managers tactics which is what they did last night, as to what those tactics were i doubt even the players know themselves.
Wolves are/were which ever bottom of the league with no away win since something like March, thats near the end of
last season, Hodgson's tactics should've been to pressure the Wolves back line for the first 15/20min & try for the early goal but more importantly to not let them settle into a defensive shape where they could gain possession & start to pass the ball which in doing so would frustrate both the Liverpool team & crowd.
We had
1 decent chance all night which fell to Meireles, yes maybe he could've done better & yes we should've had a penalty but that is no excuse as to the lack of tactics from Roy Hodgson, tactics which the players had to stick to, as you said groundnpound Kuyt (A right footed stricker) on the left wing Meireles a central midfielder on the right wing & Gerrard, back after six weeks out left to do all the midfield work on his own, all this after no game for 18 days & not to mention the fact we were already not playing great.
Roy Hodgson should've set the team out for an all out attack to get a moral boosting win & performance but instead... Well like i said i doubt even the players knew what his tactics were. I can't believe he's still gonna be in charge for the Bolton game, even if like Chelsea we find a result & beat them Hodgson will still send the team out playing the wrong formation with players playing out of position & no attacking tactics for a though away game at Blackburn & then it's the derby
n01scruff a man after my own heart, great post kid nice one!!! I was starting to feel like i was walking alone on this one
Agree on Ngog mate.He's twice the player that div Macheda will ever be.Didn't see your post till just now.
(30-12-2010 21:37 )groundnpound Wrote: [ -> ]Agree on Ngog mate.He's twice the player that div Macheda will ever be.Didn't see your post till just now.
k i cant leave this alone, il defend anything united so brace yourself lol, could you be anymore bitter about how poor your team his that you have to av a pop at our 5th striker ? he's just turn 19 who has 4 strikers ahead of him, he's a kid learning the game, your lad as had two season as back up striker to torres and you can blame hodgson's tactic's all you want but il give you the real reason your so poor this season, its because your 2nd striker is NGOG who makes david bellion look good and whats even more hilarious is that he's your top scorer, priceless. macheda will never get the chance to play regulary for utd until he gets regualr action and when your challenging for honours as utd are we cant take a chance on a kid so he'll have to go out on loan hopefully in january, plus there's not many strikers in the league thats gonna budge rooney and berba at the moment.
much love lol
xxxxx xxxxx
is it just me or is roy doin what benitez done by using players in the wrong position, i mean im 19 years old followed liverpool since i can remember and i know what player plays where so surley a manager of roys experience should know where to play people!!! the wolves match was terrible, how can u tear apart chelsea (CHAMPIONS) one day and loose to wolves and blackpool at home the next, well done to wolves and blackpool but if we are to be taken seriously as a top 4 contender we need to sort ourselves out.
Ok hitmeuptop, lets compare 2nd strikers so!
Goals scored for club this season:
David Ngog: 8 (1 pen)
Wayne Rooney: 2 (2 pens)
I'm obviously not saying Ngog is better than Rooney (But then again, "the stats dont lie") but you left yourelf open to this!
berbatov - 14 goals - 3 of them bad boys against your lot ; )
torres - 5 goals
nogog - 8 goals
total - 13 goals
now im not sayin berbatov is better than both your players put together but like you said stats dont lie LOL
id be happy for wayne not to score again this season aslong as he performs as been doing for the few weeks all be it not scoring but that will come (hopefully)