but still a few negatives which worry me somewhat, of which are the following.
Don't keep posession as much as i'd like especially at Anfield its asif we are happy to play on the counter as if its an advantage we really need against teams at Anfield due to lack of ability otherwise.
One touch passing, all is good and well playing it in simple triangles and such, its when we start playing difficult balls first time off balance resulting in loss of posession. It takes about a second to take a touch steady yourself and play the same ball but more accurately. Enrique Downing Adam all culprits today they had time and space. I can also add decision making into this, such as Downings attempt in 93rd minute when we had 3 vs 2 he tried to lob Krul from range could of slipped Hendo in who could of then squared for a tap in most likely, decision making is not great.
Going behind is what it takes for us to get players into the box, is this what we want? it was only when we went a goal down we got 4 players into the box it fell far post to downing who cut it to Adam who attacked near post and drilled it in which got cleared to Bellars we maintained 4 or more players in the box for around half a minute and we got our reward for it.
I would of also put hesitation to cross resulting in us going backwards once we work it our wide, but tbf today probably because no Suarez Downing and Bellars and both full backs attempted it a lot more which pleased me, but it still took for Gerrard to come on and basically in one swift move teeing up the ball and whipping in a beauty to say look lads this is the service AC is asking for its not exactly hard is it a hard drilled ball in and around the 6 yard to penalty spot? He gives so much belief to the rest of the team does our captain and he doesnt even have to say anything he just shows them actions speak and all that.
Anyway a few negatives that will keep me concerned until i see changes, but overall today i think there were a lot of good performances some of which may of suprised a few doubters such as Spearing and for me Downing who terrorised both fullbacks all game and Guttierez who is known for his work rate helping out the left back, Downing was so positive, his end product? not great but i think it will greatly improve when he bags a few assists or a goal. All our signings show promise i think its just a matter of when will they come into their own with us hopefully sooner rather then later but time is on their side atleast.
Don't get me wrong i was happy with how we played especially after conceding first, we deserved the win etc just a few things that are still irritating me, can't just be me can it?
A lot of positives today
posted on 30/12/11
with you on that, for me Henderson and Carroll need to do soo much more, i sometimes think we are playing with 9 or 10 men.
I guess we will have to wait and see if they come into there own, hopefully sooner rather than later.
posted on 30/12/11
another one for you that i noticed especially in the first half. playing a midfield 3 of spearing/adam/henderson not one was breaking past newcastles midfield line to provide an option for a pass and possibly pulling a defender out of position.
understandable from spearing as he was there to protect the defence but the other 2 need to provide much more options other than a simple square pass. henderson improved second half but we need more of a goal threat than just our strikers. most midfielders should be able to get 8 goals or so in a season and be able to grab a goal when or strikers aren't but they aren't getting forward anywhere near enough for that to happen.
posted on 30/12/11
I have been saying that for weeks Aarddave, its as if Hendo and Adam hold hands in a line like the 2 CB's do. If one of them would do what Agger does and venture past the other with or without the ball, even in a 4-4-2 it should happen, they should be near the D circle when the cross comes in also, rarely ever are.
posted on 30/12/11
It took us to go a goal down for Adam to do so and he got in the box and pretty much created our equaliser thats what im saying.
posted on 30/12/11
I have been saying that for weeks Aarddave, its as if Hendo and Adam hold hands in a line like the 2 CB's do.
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It's part of the pressing defensive game that Clarke has adopted.
Henderson and Adam both press the opposition quickly when we don't have the ball and then move back into ranks again to close down the spaces.
This is working wonders for our defence as we effectively have too lines of it and teams find it hard to get through us (bar an odd mistake every now and then that leads to an unnecessary goal). Include Spearing/Lucas in that, and Skrtel and Agger are very well protected!
Both Henderson and Adam deserve a lot of credit for their part in defending, but I agree when we are in possession we don't get enough forward and are a bit cautious at home for some reason. One of these too should push on further and support, I agree.
posted on 30/12/11
two*
posted on 30/12/11
Charlie if so, it should give us more incentive to get it wide and whip it in
Apart from today we really never did that even with AC on the pitch and today it was different with spearing behind them both. Either spearing and one of them should be doing what you said and the other infront supporting.
posted on 30/12/11
Excellent post, I watched the same game as you. Losing possession so easily was our biggest problem. Best bit? The skippers come home, fantastic goal. YNWA JimmyTheRed
posted on 30/12/11
We don’t keep position because of Henderson and Adam. Henderson runs away from the ball. He lacks confidence unlike Spearing who always asks for the ball. The second goal was because of the great pass from Spearing to Henderson who then laid it off to Gerrrad.
We need to dominate matches at Anfield. Since Hendo has been in the side after Lucas injury we have been very poor in midfield.
posted on 31/12/11
Towards then end Hendo was making runs when Adam got took off, he set up Gerrard and should of been slipped in by downing.
He was also interchanging with kuyt on the left, everything changed the the skipper came on, he gave everyone belief and confidence to be more ambitious.