*Official* English Football Season 2011-12

[Uppercut]

I thought Carroll was back to his usual lol-bringing self tonight.

Liverpool are such a good team until they reach the final third, at which point they run out of ideas and throw a few aimless, loopy crosses that never work into the box.

 

[Tom Halsey]

Yeah I'm glad it wasn't just me who thought Carroll was dire, Sky were talking up his effort for some reason.

Unsurprised to hear some stat tonight that Liverpool have the worst chance conversion ratio in the league.

EDIT: As an aside Suarez should have been off also IMO.

 

[Scaly piscine]

I thought Carroll was back to his usual lol-bringing self tonight.

Liverpool are such a good team until they reach the final third, at which point they run out of ideas and throw a few aimless, loopy crosses that never work into the box.

Good up until the final third? Is that because they generally bypass the middle third with a hoof forward?

 

[Nate]

I never said Carroll was good. Don't ever quote me as saying Carroll was good. Just that he's improving. Like actually winning balls in the air.

We're obviously an outside shot of the four now though. Still got four or five difficult fixtures in the fourteen matches to come.

It's all about Cup football anyway, right?

 

[sledger]

Good up until the final third? Is that because they generally bypass the middle third with a hoof forward?

Yeah, basically means they have a decent defence and a good goalkeeper. Their midfield has nothing by way of attacking talent apart from Gerrard, and not a lot by way of defensive talent when Lucas isn't there. Downing, Adam, Henderson, Spearing etc... all pap/rubbish.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Anyway I've always found the way forwards are judged absolutely bizarre. If a player the commentators like has a lot of involvement in the game, gets lots of chances and allows the keeper to make the save it is often said the forward has had a great game even though surely his job is to put the ball in the net. Meanwhile a guy who gets no service is said to have had a quiet game with the implication that it was his fault and he played badly - indeed even if they get a chance and put away it'll still be said the guy didn't do anything except score a goal.

I haven't seen the game, but to me if the forwards aren't getting that many chances (unless it's down to poor movement) I'd be looking at the midfield and as said above they're mediocre. Suarez is ****e at converting chances and he was again tonight but really the forwards at Liverpool get little to work with, there is little creativity and they don't seem to know what they're aiming for in attack - they have Carroll but then they play with no width/crosses. They play Suarez but they don't really play on the floor for long or well enough to stretch an organised defence.

 

[Uppercut]

Yeah, basically means they have a decent defence and a good goalkeeper. Their midfield has nothing by way of attacking talent apart from Gerrard, and not a lot by way of defensive talent when Lucas isn't there. Downing, Adam, Henderson, Spearing etc... all pap/rubbish.

Individually I don't rate any of them either but they do press very well as a team. And they tend to win contests for the ball (e.g. after a long goal kick) a lot more often than almost anyone else. The fact that they work themselves into a lot of decent positions as a result only really makes their lack of creativity even more glaring, though.

 

[sledger]

Yeah that's the thing. They do all the things you mention well, but this doesn't really win you matches. Just have to look at the amount of times they've dropped points at home this season to see that.

 

[Nate]

Yeah, basically means they have a decent defence and a good goalkeeper. Their midfield has nothing by way of attacking talent apart from Gerrard, and not a lot by way of defensive talent when Lucas isn't there. Downing, Adam, Henderson, Spearing etc... all pap/rubbish.

How do you explain that we're a point off you and are in the business end of the Cups then? Either our defence must be incredible, or our midfield really isn't as bad as you're making out. Bellamy and to a lesser extent Adam have done a lot of work for us this season, particularly in Gerrard's prolonged absence.

EDIT: We're far from perfect, but I feel the vast majority of flak Liverpool cop is unwarranted.

EDIT (2): I agree that our finishing and creating of clear-cut chances is not a strong point. But our work rate and ethic is understated.

 

[Scaly piscine]

How do you explain that we're a point off you and are in the business end of the Cups then? Either our defence must be incredible, or our midfield really isn't as bad as you're making out. Bellamy and to a lesser extent Adam have done a lot of work for us this season, particularly in Gerrard's prolonged absence.

EDIT: We're far from perfect, but I feel the vast majority of flak Liverpool cop is unwarranted.

Liverpool are very good defensively, as mentioned previously they do press well. Liverpool have been for as long as I can remember a high-tempo team that are tough to beat. This lot don't commit many men forward and they all track back. They don't give teams time on the ball. To some extent they're a bit spoiling team, they're a leveller as far as the opposition are concerned - it's a bit like playing derby games each week. Liverpool can play really hard and it'll improve their game as they're a high tempo, pressing side so the energy they put in is crucial. Against the likes of Manure they'll be really up for it. But they're not really set up to play if they're not 100% and they're not really going to open teams up that proficiently and that often. That's why they drop so many points, particularly all their draws at home. They've always given Manure and others a tough game, but you don't want tight hectic contests against Wigan or whoever.

 

[Nate]

Liverpool are very good defensively, as mentioned previously they do press well. Liverpool have been for as long as I can remember a high-tempo team that are tough to beat. This lot don't commit many men forward and they all track back. They don't give teams time on the ball. To some extent they're a bit spoiling team, they're a leveller as far as the opposition are concerned - it's a bit like playing derby games each week. Liverpool can play really hard and it'll improve their game as they're a high tempo, pressing side so the energy they put in is crucial. Against the likes of Manure they'll be really up for it. But they're not really set up to play if they're not 100% and they're not really going to open teams up that proficiently and that often. That's why they drop so many points, particularly all their draws at home. They've always given Manure and others a tough game, but you don't want tight hectic contests against Wigan or whoever.

Yeah, I'm agreed with most of that. However, the post I was replying to said that Liverpool's defence was 'decent'.

Scaly WAG

 

[vic_orthdox]

RE: Terry, if there's a heap of players who don't want him as skipper, then it's a pretty easy choice. Forget the ramifications of the case, it's primarily a team chemistry issue.

 

[sledger]

How do you explain that we're a point off you and are in the business end of the Cups then?

Because Arsenal are apparently only marginally less crap than Liverpool.

 

[Eds]

Fairly annoyed at Henderson continually being lumped in with the rubbish (ie. Downing, Adam, Spearing etc.), when in reality he has been really quite good in a fair few games. At £13m initial fee, he was actually a reasonable signing.

 

[Furball]

RE: Terry, if there's a heap of players who don't want him as skipper, then it's a pretty easy choice. Forget the ramifications of the case, it's primarily a team chemistry issue.

IIRC his moaning at the Worl Cup wasn't universally popular.

 

[Nate]

Can't get enough Blackpool! Another beautiful win. Would love for them to take Everton down, but promotion (automatic?!) definitely the goal.

My Blackpool and QPR jerseys arrived last night too.

 

[Furball]

Is there any team you don't support?

 

[Nate]

Since you asked -

Man City (soft spot)
Man Utd
Tottenham
Chelsea
Newcastle
Arsenal
Sunderland
Norwich
Swansea (soft spot)
Everton (sometimes soft spot)
Stoke
Aston Villa
Fulham (soft spot)
West Brom
Wolves
Bolton
Blackburn
Wigan
West Ham (soft spot)
Southampton (soft spot)
Birmingham
Cardiff
Middlesbrough
Hull
Reading
Leeds
Brighton
Burnley (RIP)
Derby
Leicester
Palace
Watford
Portsmouth
Peterborough
Ipswich
Bristol
Millwall
Doncaster
Nottingham (lol)
Coventry

In case it wasn't already obvious (it was), I think that the English football competitions are fantastic. Even teams I absolutely can't stand (Arsenal, Cardiff, Chelsea, to name a few) I still respect and enjoy watching.

I started following QPR in the Championship last season and somehow fell in love, probably just from getting to know the squad, history, Derry, etc. Blackpool's ridiculous playoff campaign had me hooked, and ever since watching those games at 4-5am in the morning, I started supporting them. Liverpool's European charge/Gerrard's face got me interested in 2005. Those are the only English sides I'd say I "support" though, and indeed the only English sides I own a jersey of. However, I have quite a few soft spots for (generally) lesser sides who (generally) mates support.

There is my serious answer to your roll-eyes question, sir.

 

[sledger]

So then, not guilty...

 

[Uppercut]

The prosecution's case appeared to be flimsy at times. In particular, the prosecution never had an answer to a question that Redknapp and Mandaric asked over and over again. Why would two men who had paid so many millions of pounds in taxes over the years try to concoct such an elaborate fiddle in order to save such a relatively small sum of money?

Makes sense.