Player Ratings v WBA

[SoulDog]

Also I always remember jenas getting forward quite well ,he just never had that end product,

 

[StartingPrice]

Livermore - Think hes jenas mk 2! works hard with heart to make up for what he lacks in talent overall i would give him 5.5

See, AGR, this is what I just don't get...

Livermore 6.5 I can't make up my mind. Sometimes he plods around not doing much of note in either direction, but today I thought in spurts he showed that bit more that I've occasionally seen wanting to come out, but never quite had the confidence in himself to do. That was a fine ball he played for Defoe in the second half, and released Lennon with a beautiful pass in the first and a couple of times he drove forward with a bit of purpose that he needs to do more often.

...this is pretty much exactly what I saw...

Livermore 6.5 - Had a decent enough first half but went into his shell second half and contributed very little. And when they got on top he struggled to cope.

...I know BC has deep reservations about his quality, but at least graded him on what he saw...

Livermore was decent enough, tidy and had a couple of dynamic moments that led to quick counters (one where he intercepted and rolled a fast pass into Defoe who pulled his shot wide).

...and again, this. The through ball for Lennon, that SS18 mentions was pretty damned good, as was some of his spreadng of play. I don't recall, anywhere, seeing a note by AVB saying today Sandro will be playing the holding midfielder role and Jake Livermore shall be deputizing for Luka Modric so please judge him as such. And yet you are judging him as though he should have fulfilled the Modric role, and not on who he is and what he did. And you appear to be doing that having already made your mind up that he is the new Jenas. That is how a young player, who the coaching staff seem to rate very highly, and I, personally, have seen some decent signs from, has his career ruined - by fans deciding, for a young player like this, that they know better than the coaching staff who work with him every day. How long before the boo-boys start jeering (not saying you do this, just pointing to the way things start) because he's no Modric, and he loses confidence?
And the funny thing is, Sandro gave the ball away incredibly lamely a few times, and no-one even commented on it.


p.s. Have to agree with BC and Shiz - FFS get off Jenas's case. Booing one of our players on entering the pitch is going to do nothing but be counterproductive. Every time I see a player in a Spurs shirt entering the pitch I want that player to have a good game, no matter what my preconceptions, because that increases the chance of Spurs having a good game, and, y'know, I, like, kinda...support...Spurs...FFS!

 

[StartingPrice]

Defoe just popped up on Twitter with this:

Jermain Defoe ‏@IAmJermainDefoe
Morning people, tough game yesterday I thought we deserved the win but that's football sometimes.


I had to bite my lip to stop myself replying to say "How about passing the ball sometimes Jermain?" - I'm not really one to "Tweet" celebrities with criticism so I left it.

I don't like slagging him too much - it's not his fault we are looking at a more elevated system and he doesn't suit it. He would be fine in a traditional 4-4-2 with a target man - but FFS it might have been less tough if he hadn't insisted on hitting weak shots straight at the keeper several times, and tried, instead, to see if anyone else was in a better position.

 

[StartingPrice]

Sandro and Livermore cannot pass the ball to the standard required. Defoe cannot be blamed for today. VDV was fair but played most of the time on the half way line.....Sigmundson and Ade both looked less than fit when they came on

Livermore, in particular, made some pretty good passes - his through ball for lennon, in particular, was excellent. It was neither players fault that they are not the replacement for Modric.

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

I don't like slagging him too much - it's not his fault we are looking at a more elevated system and he doesn't suit it. he would be fine in a traditional 4-4-2 with a target man - but FFS it might have been less tough if he hadn't insisted on hitting weak shots straight at the keeper seeveral times, and tried, instead, to see if anyone else was in a better position.

The one time where he shot at a defender when Bale was busting a gut free in space on the left hand side.... that's when I started sobbing uncontrollably.

I still wouldn't slate him on Twitter though. That's not my game.

 

[steve]

He has drive, he creates chances and he scores goals - precisely what we've been missing from midfield. Should've been on from the start yesterday..

Instead of?

 

[steve]

It would by me. Stop tarring anyone who criticises Jenas as an ignorant fuckwit as neither applies to me I also have very little rage. I cannot find any evidence of ignorance, rage or fuckwittery in my post.

not doing 'anything wrong' just doesn't cut the mustard for a top 4 team. I could probably sit in the midfield and complete seven simple passes, the team would still be a lot shitter with me in it. What about the back pass? almost cost a goal when there was absolutely no need to pass it back there from the half way line. Jenas in his current form is a passive player who does very little to affect a game. Yesterday we needed a player to take control of the ball and add a certain level of composure which Jenas clearly is incapable of.

I never called you a fuck wit unless you we're at the game and were grumbling about him.

You're totally overplaying it Stov in my opinion. He came on when we had just scored. His job was to sit next to Livermore and protect the back 4. The momentum was always gonna be with West Brom because they were now chasing the game. He kept the ball, he didn't give it away. He certainly didn't curtail our momentum as you put it earlier. Unless you're prepared to analyse his passes individually and point out positive alternatives to them then I don't really see what the criticism is.

You seem to think that players should just come on and take control of the ball (whatever that means). I presume it means he should come on and take control of the game. I think you're being unrealistic. He was composed, he never gave the ball away once. Very rarely do midfielders come on and affect games in the way you mention. It takes time to adjust to the pace and feel of the game and he had 15 minutes. He did ok.

As for his current form you're doing well to assess it as seen as he isn't playing. Maybe if he got some game time we'd see for sure what his form is like.

His ship has sailed and it would be best for all if he went. But his influence yesterday can't be seen in a negative light, not realistically.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Watch Suarez play and then try and tell me Defoe isn't a lazy ****.

 

[StartingPrice]

Watch Suarez play and then try and tell me Defoe isn't a lazy ****.

Yeah...but at least he's not a ...

 

[haslemereyid]

Friedel, Gallas and Bale I would give 5, was disappointed by all 3 yesterday. Gallas and Friedel looked a little too shakey at times and Bale didn't look sharp at all, maybe he just needs a few more games.

Walker, Livermore, Sandro, Defoe, Lennon all 6, none really did anything of note but did ok. Livermore went missing after Sandro went off though.

VdV, Vertonghen, Ekotto 7, thought Verts was shakey in first half although played the ball forward well and second half he made some key tackles. VdV for me was again linking up play fairly well and i felt he came off too soon, should've been VdV and Adebayor for the last 30 minutes.

You clearly were not at the game vdv was shattered after 50 minutes

 

[steve]

Watch Suarez play and then try and tell me Defoe isn't a lazy ****.

Despite Mancini doing his best to give them the 3 points they still can't manage it...I can just see all the Scouse mugs get misty eyed over another false dawn....

Shelvey will be the new McMahon (reality Spackman), Sterling the new Barnes (Walters), Coates the new Hansen (Ablett) and Lucas the new Lucas (Lucas)...

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Despite Mancini doing his best to give them the 3 points they still can't manage it...I can just see all the Scouse mugs get misty eyed over another false dawn....

Shelvey will be the new McMahon (reality Spackman), Sterling the new Barnes (Walters), Coates the new Hansen (Ablett) and Lucas the new Lucas (Lucas)...

Liverpool played well today. Liverpool will be a genuine threat to our position (whatever that may be) this season. No fucking slackers in that team, and some good footballers (with Sahin to go in too).

Allen was a very good signing.

 

[steve]

Liverpool played well today. Liverpool will be a genuine threat to our position (whatever that may be) this season. No fucking slackers in that team, and some good footballers (with Sahin to go in too).

Allen was a very good signing.

I think Mancini handed them the initiative. Without Aguero, dropping Silva was ridiculous. Liverpool started slowly and scored against the run of play and then came into it, lifted by the crowd, but before then I thought they looked ordinary. 6th at best for me.

Henderson, Downing, Carroll, Cole and Adam didn't start today - that's a lot of money and wages and shows what Rodgers is up against trying to improve the team. He's already told Cole and Adam they're not in his plans but they're sitting tight.

 

[NEVILLEB]

Livermore didn't track his player for their goal. Jenas wasn't aware of what was going on.

Neither are good enough for a top 4 side. We missed Modric...a lot!

 

[ItsBoris]

I think Mancini handed them the initiative. Without Aguero, dropping Silva was ridiculous. Liverpool started slowly and scored against the run of play and then came into it, lifted by the crowd, but before then I thought they looked ordinary. 6th at best for me.

Henderson, Downing, Carroll, Cole and Adam didn't start today - that's a lot of money and wages and shows what Rodgers is up against trying to improve the team. He's already told Cole and Adam they're not in his plans but they're sitting tight.

Sahin, Agger, and Enrique didn't start today either though. They are putting together a very good team any which way you look at it. Certainly look more impressive than Arsenal do to me at least.

 

[Toela65]

I want people to dismiss us or when we play well. It suits Liverpool.

As soon as people start saying "wow, didn't Liverpool play really well the last few games....", we'll feel the pressure, shit ourselves and turn back into the team we were the 2nd half of last season.

I've seen 5 competitive games now and I'm actually more optimistic than I was which, if you knew me like the LFC fans do, is quite a thing for me to feel like that.

 

[Toela65]

I think Mancini handed them the initiative. Without Aguero, dropping Silva was ridiculous. Liverpool started slowly and scored against the run of play and then came into it, lifted by the crowd, but before then I thought they looked ordinary. 6th at best for me.

Henderson, Downing, Carroll, Cole and Adam didn't start today - that's a lot of money and wages and shows what Rodgers is up against trying to improve the team. He's already told Cole and Adam they're not in his plans but they're sitting tight.

Carroll, Cole and Adam won't be still at Liverpool next Saturday.

 

[steve]

Sahin, Agger, and Enrique didn't start today either though. They are putting together a very good team any which way you look at it. Certainly look more impressive than Arsenal do to me at least.

They have similar problems to me in front of goal. Suarez for all his busyness, skill and hard work isn't composed enough to be a big goalscorer and they don't have many others who will contribute regularly. Borini will get a few but not loads, maybe Gerrard too if he stays fit.

Arsenal look the same without Van Pervert who we know carried them goal wise last season. Cazorla's class, Walnut will get some but people like Gervinho get to the edge of the box and then go to pieces. Podolski and Giroud have to step up big time unless they sign another striker - they need to move some on though for this to happen. I don't think they will and will struggle unless the strikers pull it out of the bag.

It's tantilising for us this season as we can finish above both with the right signings. A back up for Ade and a ball playing midfielder and we should be home and hosed.

 

[yanno]

Carroll, Cole and Adam won't be still at Liverpool next Saturday.

I really hope none of that trio end up at Spurs.....

 

[StartingPrice]

I want people to dismiss us or when we play well. It suits Liverpool.

As soon as people start saying "wow, didn't Liverpool play really well the last few games....", we'll feel the pressure, shit ourselves and turn back into the team we were the 2nd half of last season.

I've seen 5 competitive games now and I'm actually more optimistic than I was which, if you knew me like the LFC fans do, is quite a thing for me to feel like that.

Ha Ha...you've only got 1 point......