9 Jan 2012

LFC LEGEND pleads: "STOP the sloppy errors & show some BOTTLE..."

With the Carling Cup semi-final first-leg fast approaching, Anfield legend Tommy Smith has urged Liverpool to learn from the mistakes that condemned the club to defeat against Man City last week.

Smith pulled no punches as he outlined his 'frustration' over Liverpool's 'poor' performance in the 3-0 defeat, and gave his view on what the club needs to do to beat City on Wednesday. He told the Liverpool Echo:

"Firstly, we've got to cut out the sloppy errors which gifted City their goals.

"We gave possession away stupidly and defended badly at corners, paying a high price, as you do against the better sides.

"We were also too weak right across the midfield and have to show much more bottle and cohesion this time.

"There was no creativity, while out wide we never got at their full-backs and managed to turn them or get crosses in from the by-line".

"It’s up to us to do the business and ensure this tie is alive after the first leg, through sheer hard work and a lot more belief".

"Wembley awaits – but we’ve got to earn the right to be there with a much more confident and committed performance than we watched the other night"


With Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing back on the goal trail, and defensive stalwart Vincent Kompany suspended, things are hopefully looking pretty good for Liverpool ahead of the game.

It all depends on the team selection and formation though; in my view, leaving Bellamy, Gerrard and Maxi on the bench in last week's game was a major mistake, and hopefully Kenny will start the right team this time. My preferred team:

------------------------- Reina

Johnson ------- Skrtel ------- Agger ----------- Enrique

---------------- Spearing -- Gerrard

Downing ------------------------------------- Maxi

---------------- Bellamy --- Carroll

Ordinarily, I wouldn't have either Carroll or Downing in the starting line-up, but they both scored in the last game, so they deserve to start in this game. For me, dropping players who score goals is never a good idea.

Jaimie Kanwar


8 comments:

  1. I would put Jonjo Shelvey instead of Maxi. He can exploit any space available in the midfield.

    Lets see if Kompany's red card is reverted or not. If he is banned, that can be a bonus for Liverpool.

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  2. --------------Reina

    Johnson - Skrtel - Agger - Enrique

    ------------Spearing

    ----Henderson------Adam

    Gerrard-------------------Bellamy

    ------------Carroll

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  3. How come your dropping jonjo shelvey so? He scored in the last match!

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  4. Why would they rescind his red if Jay's was not!!!!

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  5. We never appealed Jay's

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  6. What a legend Smithy was. Have a look at the way the man walks and understand what the man gave to this club. The cotton wool blubber from Oldham who is probably on a wage the nth times that of this man should grow up and understand what it is to be a professional footballer

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  7. Well said Tommy Smith, you were and are still the hard man of Liverpool. I remembered the awesome midfield trio of you, Ron Yeats and Wlilie Stevenson of the 60's and you, Emelyn Hughes and Larry Llyods of early 70's.

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  8. hopefully carroll is slowly turning the corner, shelvey has to play for me.
    tommy smith is implying a player like shelvey who has the bottle to do the things gerrard tries. and he would be there on merrit.
    i know its not been tested but id like to see johnson at right wing with kelly at right back, makes perfect sense to me. we have good balance on the left. i think with yaya toure out we have a good chance to win the midfield battle, hes been our biggest problem for me in recent meetings. and kompany out a right bonus for carroll if hes up there alone.
    said before id like kuyt and carroll in a 4-4-2 on the end of good crosses (not all in air)

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