The more you say it, the more depressing it sounds: Liverpool were WELL-BEATEN by a team in the relegation zone, with the poorest defence, and worst home record in the league. The defeat will almost certainly condemn Kenny Dalglish's side to another season without Champions League football, and may even contribute to the King's own eventual demise. Despite all the doom and gloom though, Liverpool can (arguably) take a few positive from the game.
Craig Bellamy
Bellamy has been absolutely superb for Liverpool this season, and he was excellent again yesterday until he was (inexplicably) moved to the left wing.
Let's look at the facts:
* Starts: 10
* Sub: 11
* Overall Minutes on Pitch: 1002
* League Minutes on Pitch: 642
* Goals: 7
* Assists: 5
* Total SMCC: 12
* Minutes per goal - Overall: 143
* Minutes per goal - League: 128
* Minutes per goal/Assist - Overall: 83.5
Bellamy is supposed to be a squad player but he is doing the job of a first-team regular. In other words, he is doing the job Downing and Henderson should be doing.
The ultimate irony is that Bellamy - who cost nothing - has more goals and assists than the £75m trio of Downing, Henderson, Carroll combined.
Gerrard Match Fitness
Steven Gerrard didn't have the greatest game: positional indiscipline and failure to track midfield runners caused problems for Liverpool at times (and indirectly led to Bolton's second goal), but he's still fighting his way back to full match fitness, and another 90 minutes under his belt can only be a good thing.
Unfortunately, despite all the money spent on the team over the last year, we're in that ridiculous situation *again* where everyone is looking to Gerrard to inspire the team.
It's a burden he doesn't need and simply cannot fulfill at the moment, but with every 90 minutes played, his match fitness increases, which means there's more chance of greater influence in the crucial games to come.
Andy Carroll Confidence Boost?
Carroll put in a typically unspectacular performance overall, but there were a few encouraging signs during the game. He looked more alert and 'up for it' than usual, and there were two moments in the game that will hopefully have a positive impact on his confidence:
* The first was an excellent defence-splitting pass for Bellamy midway through the first half; it was inch-perfect, and I'm sure Carroll would've taken confidence from the fact that he attempted a difficult pass and it came off.
* The second was, obviously, his assist for Bellamy's goal. If a striker isn't scoring, the next best thing he can is create a goal, and Carroll did that. Hopefully, having that positive individual impact will give him a little bit of confidence going into the next couple of games.
Jaimie Kanwar
Craig Bellamy
Bellamy has been absolutely superb for Liverpool this season, and he was excellent again yesterday until he was (inexplicably) moved to the left wing.
Let's look at the facts:
* Starts: 10
* Sub: 11
* Overall Minutes on Pitch: 1002
* League Minutes on Pitch: 642
* Goals: 7
* Assists: 5
* Total SMCC: 12
* Minutes per goal - Overall: 143
* Minutes per goal - League: 128
* Minutes per goal/Assist - Overall: 83.5
Bellamy is supposed to be a squad player but he is doing the job of a first-team regular. In other words, he is doing the job Downing and Henderson should be doing.
The ultimate irony is that Bellamy - who cost nothing - has more goals and assists than the £75m trio of Downing, Henderson, Carroll combined.
Gerrard Match Fitness
Steven Gerrard didn't have the greatest game: positional indiscipline and failure to track midfield runners caused problems for Liverpool at times (and indirectly led to Bolton's second goal), but he's still fighting his way back to full match fitness, and another 90 minutes under his belt can only be a good thing.
Unfortunately, despite all the money spent on the team over the last year, we're in that ridiculous situation *again* where everyone is looking to Gerrard to inspire the team.
It's a burden he doesn't need and simply cannot fulfill at the moment, but with every 90 minutes played, his match fitness increases, which means there's more chance of greater influence in the crucial games to come.
Andy Carroll Confidence Boost?
Carroll put in a typically unspectacular performance overall, but there were a few encouraging signs during the game. He looked more alert and 'up for it' than usual, and there were two moments in the game that will hopefully have a positive impact on his confidence:
* The first was an excellent defence-splitting pass for Bellamy midway through the first half; it was inch-perfect, and I'm sure Carroll would've taken confidence from the fact that he attempted a difficult pass and it came off.
* The second was, obviously, his assist for Bellamy's goal. If a striker isn't scoring, the next best thing he can is create a goal, and Carroll did that. Hopefully, having that positive individual impact will give him a little bit of confidence going into the next couple of games.
Jaimie Kanwar
Yes I was sceptical of Craig's return I felt he might be a time bomb waiting to go off but he has been a revelation. You don't have to be a world beater but if you play like you care for the club that will endear you to the support. Too many play like they don't feel the pain of defeat
ReplyDeleteI agree with all that, however i think that the two good things Carroll (finally) does in that game couldn't lift his confidence to the point where it needs to be right now for the striker which our team is crying out for. We need a Positive, Energetic and Fully Confident striker to score for us now!!! i feel sorry for him really tho because he has been put in a situation that he cant really control most of the time.
ReplyDeleteBellamy has been brilliant! No doubt about it! It makes me so happy everytime i see him walking out the tunnell with the lads before a game cos you know that we have some serious SPEED in our side, which is what we lack majority of the time, Speed and creativity. But it does say a lot when we are talking about Bellars being one of our best players for the season and definetely our biggest impact player.
Gerrard will get better and better with everygame we just have to hope he stays fit and can be more creative and not have to worry about holding our team together like many previous occassions over the last few seasons.
I really think that the more Bellamy, Suarez and Gerrard play together the better we will be and we will get more out of Carroll for it! Be posotive people the season isnt done yet!
YNWA
A 32 years player Liverpool signed for free is the best player in the squad. That sums it up.
ReplyDeletethe only good thing to come from that game is the mind set the players will have going int othe next two. Thsi game has been a wake up call for everyone, sometimes to feel a massive upsetting defeat can inspire you to go the extra yard and try your hardest for 90 min. I can only hope this is the affter effect from a horrible performace and result.
ReplyDeletePositives!?! on this website?? Very refreshing Jamie ;)
ReplyDeleteWas a shocking display on saturday night, but if this is the game that shows Kenny and co exactly whats wrong with our team then I'd rather get humbled by Bolton than hammered in either of our manchester clashes coming up.
While I'm struggling to support any of our summer signings, with the exception of Enrique, we must rememeber we've lost Lucas (last years best player), Suarez (who's got every single player of the month award he could get for us) and as you mentioned Gerrard still getting back to full fitness.
Let not make more knee-jerk reactions "Kenny out!" "Bring Back Benitez!" "Sign Someone, ANYONE!", we're not Arsenal fans, let's see how Kenny and, more importantly, the players react in the next game, we're one DRAW away from our first cup final in years! and the season is only half way through.
(note I haven't finished by naming MY starting XI, why do ppl do that?!)
YNWA
Jk I cant work out if they are positives or not, but really that game and performance has been just around the corner for a few weeks, we are not playing well, with 1or 2 exceptions. Bellamy has been brilliant when playing .No need to press panic buttons yet and I was impressed with Dalglish response (no hiding) but the management team need to sort it out. I expect a real improvement on wednesday night.
ReplyDeleteIi know what ya saying. its not like Kenny is sitting on here reading all the teams and says "yeah that'll do". Although some of the teams Kenny has picked this season look like they have been plucked off some dudes comments from a blog on this site.
ReplyDeleteWell u can spend what u like on players but that wont make them love the club they play for.
ReplyDeleteI think one definite minus is most of the crap the club bought were mercenaries and just not good enough thank god for Bellamy and enrique.
It's Better Article . We Have a Few Positive Things Even In Our Lose . It's Symbol ...
ReplyDeleteJaimie, In every ton of faeces there is a fleck of gold.
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed that you found it and had the ability to go looking for it.
Me?..I'm just waiting for the inevitable no Top 4 no Europa League ..Kenny Blaming players...Kenny Whispering to the media that it's Comollis fault (which has failed)...Newcastle continue to out perform us.
Newcastle continue to make better astute signings than us.
We struggle to the end of the season the media want to give KD more time...the usual phone ins the BLIND LOYALTY TO MANAGER INSTEAD OF THE CLUB.
Potential for FSG not to act decisively ....We wait unto the beginning of next season to change manager ..or we struggle on until Xmas in desperation.
We lose out on transfers due to this...and are even further away from the Top 4 come Xmas 2012.
I stated on this board long before anyone else...I would not give Kenny Dalglish any money in this transfer window if I were John Henry.
Or I would take away his veto on Player signings which he has enjoyed thus far.
I'll say it again you cannot take 12 years out of ANY CAREER and expect to come back at the same level of understanding.
The game has moved on Kenny has been extremely selfish in recommending himself for the job even before the Roy Hodgson shambles.
What concerns me most is that we are all assuming that Rafa would want the job again .....I'm not one of them.
As much 'improvement' as Carroll might be showing, the sooner Liverpool stop playing him the sooner we might come right. Last seasons attacking axis of Kuyt, Maxi, Suarez offered intelligence and movement. Add in Suarez and Gerrard, and we should be better off than last season when KK raised our performance levels. Carroll does not offer intelligence and movement, and team tactics and performance have deterioration. Nothing against Carroll, time to start giving Kuyt more playing time, and he will deliver like he did last season.
ReplyDeleteTypo - I mean "add in Bellars and Gerrard"
ReplyDeleteSeptimus, your appraisal of the situation does not bear any real scrutiny. Had KD done what Hodgson did and ignored or made excuses for that performance, then perhaps there would have been a stronger case for you. Such prophets of doom and gloom do not serve the Club well even though we all shared the same massive disappointment that again we failed to make up ground when we had the chance. Cast your mind back. this was something that also happened often under RB, though too often by design during those times due to his inherent caution...
ReplyDeleteJamie has turned a corner un my humbleopinion, seeking to aknowledge the negatives, but consider the overall picture, and I for one will be paying more attention to his articles, pro or otherwise, because of this. At least we were in the position, and are by no means completely out of the running.
Oh, and by the way, KD is only PART of the management team responsible for signings. If at any time it becomes clear that the best way forward for Liverpool Football Club is to step aside, believe me , Kenny won't need anybody else to ask, even you cannot dispute his motives towards the club. To say he is selfish is reprehensible in my view. It's one thing KD has never been in my view
Jamie - and I say this as someone who decided never to bother with your site in the past- Good work Fella!
For such a big guy, who isn't technically good with the ball at his feet a la Crouchie, he isn't aggressive enough. He has got to bully opposition defenders more and make life difficult for them, a la Shearer. I think we can forget seeing good CONSISTENT level of movement and intelligence from him, in terms of holding the ball up but at least, use your strength man to hold it up and to bully opposition. Simply, bully and lay the ball off, get yourself in the box.
ReplyDeleteThe problem simply is a square peg in a round hole, the peg which goes by the name Carrol. Not to sound too harsh, but the simple fact is he disrupts the whole rythm of the team. Why not call back Dani Pacheco from loan and put him up front?? I dont think he can do a worse job than Carrol is doing now. (From what I read, Kenny's beaf with Pacheco was that he does'nt put much effort in training sessions. From recent comments by Reina, Carrol is not exactly setting fire the grass on that training ground either. Again the British premium working in Georgie's favour, I guess) I still think Kenny is the best manager for taking this club forward. But he should get rid of his "wee" bit of soft-spot for British players. Last big money transfers are proving to be a disaster in footballing and business sense, lets just hope King has learned his mistakes and do better next window.(I think the players were right to concentrate on the Cup matches ahead. Lets cut right through the crap, we ain't gonna get into that 4th spot, unless through some divine intervention. Hope the lads can put an end to our trophy drought this season)YNWA
ReplyDeleteThe problem simply is about a square peg in a round
ReplyDeletehole, the peg which goes by the name Carrol. Not to sound too harsh,
but the plain fact is he is disrupting the entire rhythm of the team whenever he's on that pitch.
I say, call back Dani Pacheco from loan and put him up front. I dont
think he can do the job any worse than what Carrol is doing right now. (From what I read,
Kenny's beaf with Pacheco was that he does'nt put much effort in
training sessions. From recent comments by Reina, Carrol is not exactly
setting the grass on fire over the training ground either. Again the British premium working in Georgie's favour, I guess)
I still think Kenny is the best manager for taking this club forward.
But he should get rid of his "wee" bit of soft-spot for British players.
Last big money transfers are proving to be a disaster in footballing
and business sense, lets just hope King has learned his mistakes and do
better next window.
(I think the players were right to concentrate on the Cup matches ahead.
Lets cut right through the crap, we ain't gonna get into that 4th spot,
unless through some divine intervention. Hope the lads can put an end
to our trophy drought this season)
YNWA
I'm absolutely staggered.....gobsmacked....speechless!!!! Something positive and actually in keeping with 'the liverpool way' on this site!!! Unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteMike, you clearly side step the issue of anyone being out of a career for 12 years as being relevant.
ReplyDeleteSecondly when he was asked whom they should recruit he offered himself, then Roy was recruited.
This doesn't strike me as a man that puts the clubs interest before his own.
Considering we have had to put with us simply turning on our best against the best sides and simply turning up with a half-arsed approach against lesser sides in the last several years, we needed to be humbled badly against a lesser side to get the most potent impact on our side, in terms of wake up call.
ReplyDeleteIts more probable for any side to battered/lose so badly against a big side than a small side. If we got battered/lost badly against City, it wouldn't have meant as much, in terms of realizing how bad our team is.
So i'd rather get humbled by the likes of Bolton too, but for what seems like different reasons.
Simply fed up of us turning on our best against big sides, like we're some small club that is excited by playing against a big side, and than going onto put in some lazy performances against small sides.
Feels so 'small-club' like.
Our standards as a club, seems to deteriorate more and more as the years go by.
When we win against big sides, I think almost immediately 'i wonder if we're going to bother turn up like this against the next smaller club game that comes up'
Personally I think you make a valid point. If I were an accountant and I left accountancy for 12yrs (even if I tried to keep up with new practices and legistation) when I came back in to the commercial environment, it would be difficult and would take time to get back to my previous competencey.
ReplyDeleteIn football mindsets of the individuals & philosophies change. The problem at present.... Against a team that want's to attack us we're fine, defend deep and play a counter attack game. Teams that still look at us as a hard game will do what we do to teams that want t attack against us. Unfortunately... We haven't the quality in quantity to break them down. We brought a player for £35M and proceeded to play a game that didn't help him make his name. Carroll's not a bad player if you play to his strengths. Lastly... Out of the current new signing Bellamy & Enrique have hit the ground running & Henderson will end up a decent squad player (it's a shame we had to pay £18m-£20M for one of those though). Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing & the unfortunate Andy Carroll have bombed
BTW.. If Rafa had the board that KD's working with & over £100M to spend on new players, in my opinion we wouldn't be 'still in the race', we'd be on the shoulder at the turn. KD is a great man with LFC deep in his heart, but I believe his time in management has come to an end. He's instilled a pride in the club that was missing, but tactical awareness and astute signings seem to be out of his make-up. Jelavic... we're supposedly battaling West ham n QPR WTF.
ReplyDeleteIts amazing Jamie K's comments about Kenny and Liverpool now not reaching the top four....This was the same guy that after every defeat last season under Hodgson kept saying its a marathon not a sprint and how he believed liverpool will scrape into top four and we were never as close to the top four as we are now.
ReplyDeleteMy point here is that this is a agenda driven website... where the objective is to earn money of liverpool fans. The more hits this guy gets the more money he gets through advertisement.
I have talked much about Downing and Hendersen.Let me concentrate on Adams.He thinks by playing fouls to opponents and vicirousl mouthing at them will make fans think he is dedicated and more anxious?NOoooo.He has also done nothing as what he use to do at Blackpool.Let him concentrate and play good footie the Liverpool way.
ReplyDeleteSeriously I am feeling upset to suggest at this moment that Hendersen and Carrol should naturally be injured so that KK wont have a chance to play them.Why is Hendersen always playing 90minutes I cant say.If he likes Liverpool and want us to get the 4th spot he should pretend he has fever let Kelly take his chance.Kelly and Flano are better of though they dont play same position as him.Spearing is there who is far more better of than Hendersen AND Adams.