tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post6027819057156258888..comments2023-12-22T01:47:49.178-05:00Comments on oh you beauty: Liverpool 0-1 Chelseanatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-72550671549899191652007-04-26T14:02:00.000-04:002007-04-26T14:02:00.000-04:00The passing was indeed shockingly below-par. Besid...The passing was indeed shockingly below-par. Besides the majority of them simply not finding their mark, I've never seen so many hospital balls (outside of my own play) in one half.<BR/><BR/>And, yes, as much fun as the reckless transfer speculation is, it is just that, reckless speculation.<BR/><BR/>Not that Rafa wouldn't be afraid to pull the plug on Bellamy if he feels he hasn't panned out. Not to look past Tuesday (or even Saturday's match vs. Pompey), but this summer's moves should prove interesting. Like, what happens to Cisse is Marseille doesn't pick up the option, which it doesn't look like they will. Rafa certainly is not going to bring him back into the fold long-term. But, that's an essay for another time (but soon enough).<BR/><BR/>Anyhow, if we can have such a stinker, there's no reason Chelsea can't do the same Tuesday. Plus, one can only imagine a lot of players get rested Saturday and should be chomping at the bit to rectify mistakes made in the first leg.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-58052820913207763452007-04-26T12:51:00.000-04:002007-04-26T12:51:00.000-04:00Maybe I'm just giving the central defenders too mu...Maybe I'm just giving the central defenders too much credit then, because I expect Drogba to do that much damage if not more, I expected Agger to make that rash tackle Sven mentioned, and other players (Masch and Riise stick out) put them under pressure with lazy back passes too often.<BR/><BR/>Offside trap didn't work like it usually does, either.<BR/><BR/>I'm still most upset about Arbeloa though. He had to have a bad game one of these days, we'd gotten too confident over him, but this one hurts and he simply wasn't good.<BR/><BR/>Also, I don't want to wreck your hopes, Ace, but I don't know how much faith I'd put in the Bellamy <--> MGP story. Should be noted I don't believe any transfer stories this early before the window, though. The longer the season goes on, however, the more I'm coming around to the belief that Bellers will be gone. Too bad, because I thought he'd make a good pairing with either Kuyt or Crouch, but it hasn't worked out at all.natehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-13904750187762539902007-04-26T09:37:00.000-04:002007-04-26T09:37:00.000-04:00Agreed on almost everything Being Sven...well said...Agreed on almost everything Being Sven...well said on the backline, seems we're in lockstep on that one. Carra just needed to point his toe out, but alas, was not to be. Momentum is a dangerous thing. <BR/><BR/>The left side of this club has been fucked up all season. That's why Finnan is so important -- he allows Arbeloa to live on the left, which frees up Riise to not play defense, where personally, I think he's a bit suspect. <BR/><BR/>As for Bellamy, rumor yesterday puts Gamst in Red and Bellamy back to his Welsh manager at Blackburn. I'll take that any day of the week and twice on Saturdays. Gives us a left wing presence and a guy that can lead set pieces. <BR/><BR/>Meanwhile, Cech's save on Gerrard was silly. WOW.<BR/><BR/>Two-nil at Anfield, gents, two-nil at Anfield.Ace Cowboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12262169314152491754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-80117256404924880962007-04-25T23:37:00.000-04:002007-04-25T23:37:00.000-04:00Frustrating stuff indeed. But, we're fortunate it ...Frustrating stuff indeed. But, we're fortunate it was only 1-0. Credit to Reina for some great saves, but the rest of the defense looked pedestrian in the first half. <BR/><BR/>No, I take that back. They were absolute TOLIET. Shocking. The whole back line is to blame for the goal. Riise is standing there, watching the ball go by in the middle of the park. Agger runs with Drogba, does well not to make a rash tackle, but cancels that out by letting him cut the ball back in and across the box. Carra's momentum is taking him towards goal so he can't even stick a leg out as the ball passes two feet from his foot. Then, Arbeloa inexplicably lets Cole get inside him, leaving Reina D.O.A. <BR/><BR/>Completely shocking that such a usually solid backline should have such a poor half all at the same time. <BR/><BR/>I will say I wasn't pleased to see Zenden in the starting line-up, but he did as well as he could. Granted, none of the crosses he got in found an eventual home in the net, but that's not (mostly) on his head. I will ALSO say, though, that some real speed on that flank could have made a difference, especially as much possesion as Bolo had over there. I understand taking the experience of Bolo over the youth of Gonzo, but his limitations are obvious.<BR/><BR/>I think putting Gerrard out on the wing, despite his liscense to roam in, is dangerous. He needs to be in the middle so he can go touchline to touchline and have a complete impact. Putting him on the right decreases his potential touches by at least 40%.<BR/><BR/>As for Bellamy? I like speed. Pace is important. But his arguing with everybody instead of scoring goals routine has worn thin with me. I'd be alright if Rafa flushed him this summer.<BR/><BR/>Gerrard's volley was restaurant quality and well as Lampard's. Both were victimized by great saves.<BR/><BR/>The second half was remarkedly better but I still never got the feeling we were actually going to produce anything.<BR/><BR/>I really thought we were going to steal a result before this game kicked off. The return leg at Anfield is going to be hard work. Not that we're not capable, but Rafa needs to bring out the knives.being svenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05006192793116388753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-52226558457459654302007-04-25T19:25:00.000-04:002007-04-25T19:25:00.000-04:00Drogba's been doing that to defenders all year. He...Drogba's been doing that to defenders all year. He is nearly unmarkable. Agger could have done better, I'll give you that, but even with a goal resulting from that play, Dan didn't do much wrong, and I'll tell you, when he was in that position against Martins at Newcastle in February, he looked a lot worse.<BR/><BR/>Carra and Agger did admirable dealing with Drogba, who looked up for it today and has been one of the most on-form strikers in the world.natehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10043601945557998732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33779660.post-90104648389740665832007-04-25T19:07:00.000-04:002007-04-25T19:07:00.000-04:00Well, I'm kinda drunk, and I watched the match in ...Well, I'm kinda drunk, and I watched the match in a bar after playing hookey from work, with mostly Chelsea supporters. So I wasn't exactly happy with the result. BUT, it's only halftime right now, and even though Chelsea is a much more confident club, Liverpool did hand it to them 2-0 at Anfield just three months ago. Just do that again, no? Let's.<BR/><BR/>I'll tell you, Arbeloa is getting a ton of shit for Joe Cole's goal, but Agger is just as much to blame. You wanna talk about the physicality of the English game, there it is right there. Drogba just owned him down the pitch, and cut back like he wasn't even there. Sure, Arbeloa was out of position, and probably out-muscled himself down the pitch, but Agger could have stopped that counterattack from becoming a goal if he made a better play on Drogba. I like these kids very much, but they got taught a lesson today. Hopefully they learn. <BR/><BR/>By the same token, Finnan changes that whole match. Riise needs to be out on the left wing for this side to be sucessful. The Emperor Fabio Aurelio was improving, but with him out, the options are scarce. Where are you now Harry Kewell? <BR/><BR/>I can't question the Zenden decision any more. I can't stand his presence. Can't stand it. I do not understand what he offers besides grief. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, two nil at Anfield. I'm out of gas.Ace Cowboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12262169314152491754noreply@blogger.com