Set piece situation

Another twitter-esque match report

Aneet — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 14:42:51 +0000

Liverpool were all at sea im Deutschland versus new promotees [citation needed], Borrussia Monchengladbach as the English heavy weights were made to look like English welterweights in a 1-0 loss. Although Liverpool gave Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole an hour long run, it was their defense with a mixture of unsure and creaky legs that gave away the only goal of the game.

Roy Hodgson has a lot of work to do if he has to put together a team that will take on Arsenal in about 2 weeks time, what with Torres still having his menstrual periods and not being able to decide whether or not to stick around and Mascherano with his hand on the door knob.

Rabotnicki vs Liverpool FC – Preview

Aneet — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:42:27 +0000

I am completely clueless as to who will start in Liverpool’s premature season opener on Thursday and so heres my team:

All I can hope for is Aquilani and Lucas start with maybe Shelvey and most probably Jovanovich getting a chance. In case the club doesn’t sell all it’s promising youngsters (along the lines of Emiliano Insua ), we might see El Zhar, Pacheco, Ayala and Kelly starting. Or if Hodgson ‘confers with his sports scientists‘ and feels that the Europa league opener is well worth the risk of playing Gerrard et al. (et al. hoping that Torres stays), we might see a senior team.

As for the game itself, anything including and upwards of a 0-0 draw would be considered a bonus, I would think.

Liverpool-esque-ness-ity

Aneet — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 12:09:40 +0000

I am back after a two month hiatus during which several things academically important were completed. However, I will soon be off for a month long break. So this post is meant to whet your appetite particularly if you have sufficiently medicated yourself.

Positive things have been occurring at LFC. After the signing of Milan Jovanovich and Joe Cole to bolster the club’s attacking capabilities, all I need is for Fernando Torres to stay like Steven Gerrard has for they are destined for great things at Liverpool and it is only a matter of time (read probably this year) that Liverpool are up among the best again.

“Predictions so early in pre-season?” you ask? Sure, why not?! Move over citeh, get out of our way spurs and Arsenal and Chelsea and United (BARF)! The Liverpool juggernaut is here!!!! Ok, a little too corny but you can’t blame my enthusiasm as LFC has a new found attacking aura (on paper at least) and a new manager in Roy Hodgson. So what if Mascherano want’s out? So what if we don’t have a left-back (YIKES!)? So what if Gerrard is pushing 30? So what if Gillet and Hicks (DOUBLE BARF) are still in power? At the end of the tunnel, there is a light. Although I must admit that last year, this aforementioned light was actually a mean locomotive comprised of Spurs, Citeh, Villa et al. steaming down and crushing Liverpool. But that was last year. This is a new year and a new season!

Here’s looking forward to the English Premier League 2010-2011 and not so much the Europa League 2010-2011. Now, I must go and run my 8-10kilometers for the week. Hopefully, I’ll be able to find a stream for Liverpool’s preseason match against Swiss outfit, Grasshoppers today.

The special one does it again!

Aneet — Sat, 22 May 2010 20:38:39 +0000

Two teams with tremendous histories met in this years Champions League final. A final sans english presence but for the referees. Internazionale under the aegis of the special one, Jose Mourinho locked horns with Louis Van Gaal’s FC Bayern Munchen.

An energetic first 30 minutes had all the trappings of a close game in the making with both sides having an equal number of opportunities to broach the opposing defense. Sneijder had two good corners for Inter while Bayern Munchen had Robben marauding ahead with dangerous intent.

It was Inter who would break the deadlock five minutes shy of the 40 minute mark through an important strike by Milito, who has found himself among the goals with threatening regularity – his 5th champions league goal in 11 games. It didn’t help the German team that they were missing Ribery who was suspended for this game.

Scuzi! (Milito Scores)

Sneijder and Milito linked up late in the first half to construct yet another goal but the Bayern goalie, Butt, was up to the task and earned his paycheck by disallowing an incipient rout from taking place. The one minute of stoppage time saw Bayern try incessantly to puncture the steadfast Inter defense but fail. However, this beautifully set up what could be a mouth watering second half.

Bayern Munchen were relentless in attack in the second half as they should have been. Inter weathered the early storm well and even produced an attack of their own that elicited a spectacular save from Bayern goalkeeper, Butt. The 35 year old goalie was none too happy about his frequent involvement in the game.

Bayern continued to toil hard while Inter were not too shy in their attacking forays either. Munchen made the first substitution on the hour with Miroslav Klose coming on for Hamit Altintop, the latter clearly being an ineffective replacement for Ribery.

Robben got Inter goalkeeper to keep his shot out soon. It was becoming obvious that Bayern Munchen would need to rely on some Arjen Robben magic to get them back in the game. Dejan Stankovic, meanwhile was being readied on the sidelines to make an appearance for Inter. He came on for Christian Chivu, the left back, who was on a yellow card after all.

Milito Again

Abruptly, Diego Milito got his second goal of the game from a mundane counter attack. With only 20 minutes to go, Bayern were condemned to being 2 goals down with little hope of a return.

Inter made their final change as Suli Muntari came on for Goran Pandev. Little happened between then and the end of the game. The three minutes of stoppage time were probably the longest for both sides, for opposite reasons. Milito came off to rapturous applause as Materazzi replaced the hero of the hour.

As the final whistle blew, Inter were virtually hypoxic as a result of their jubilation! The special one had done it again!

Internazionale! Champions of Europe!

Is it over yet?

Aneet — Sun, 09 May 2010 16:33:45 +0000

By the time I could access an online stream that worked, it was close to half time. However, it didn’t take me too long to realize that Liverpool have been quite pathetic this season and they seemed to continue to ebb away even in this game against Hull City!

This was further bolstered by the fact that 4th placed Tottenham had 2 goals in by 42 minutes in their match while Liverpool had probably their first chance, that too a dispirited effort by Agger that was hit into row Z from about 5 yards out. How the once mighty (Liverpool) have fallen.

Disgusting is one word that comes to min. I also am beginning to comprehend the reason for Torres’s petulance this season. I suddenly can empathize with him.

…And then my stream went down again.

Whence I got my live stream back I was treated to some more of Liverpool’s unimaginative game play with Hull posing more of a threat that they did in the first half. The only energy emanating from the Liverpool side was the gaffer, Rafael Benitez, traipsing about in the ‘strategic area’, that too with a somnambulant pace.

You know what, I don’t even want to write about Liverpool’s last game.

Officially no more fourth place

Aneet — Sun, 02 May 2010 14:35:34 +0000

Only in an alternate universe. www.liverpool.theoffside.com

Liverpool wrapped up their final game at Anfield for this season through yet another listless performance for which the Europa league exit is sure to be blamed for.

Despite an emotional Europa league semifinal exit, I expected the Reds to show some tooth here. But it was not to be as Drogba capitalized on a bad pass by Gerrard, in the first half and Lampard put one into the net in the second half to keep Chelsea in pole position and firm favorites to take the title next week.

As for Liverpool, it was a disgusting performance and they were largely disinterested in the proceedings. There were some surprise inclusions in the team for the reds as Aquilani started again but was not half as effective as he was in midweek.

Ho-hum, one more week to go but I just don’t care anymore. I think the fat lady has left the building after her ear drum piercing aria.

For a transcript from a live blog hosted on the wonderful www.liverpool.theoffside.com, click here.

Liverpool v Chelsea – Preview

Aneet — Sat, 01 May 2010 13:57:43 +0000

I’ve not been getting any blog posts churned out off late because there exists on the horizon, a distinct possibility, that I’d be taking a major step towards graduation through a dissertation proposal defense which I should get done with soon (~ 2-4 weeks time).

This preview comes amidst the innumerable reports that Rafael Benitez might be on his way out, possibly to Juventus and that Dirk Kuyt might follow him out through the door. I don’t know how much truth exists in that but I would only assume that it isn’t entirely untrue.

Liverpool’s match against Chelsea, in the early kick-off on Sunday, would be the cynosure of several eyes which would include Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham, Aston Villa and the board of directors of Juventus. The reds would be quite tired, physically and emotionally, after their loss to Atletico Madrid which resulted in their ousting from the Europa league, the only minuscule chance of redemption that existed this year. Chelsea on the other hand would want to fortify their pole position and would like to beat Liverpool blue (pun intended) to help them in the said fortification which would keep their noses an inch or so ahead of Manchester United.

But the question to ask is, are Liverpool going to throw in the towel on the back of the trials and tribulations that they’ve faced this season or would they go in for the kill and go for the throat akin to a wounded animal. It’s six of one and half a dozen of the other. Of lesser probability is the hope of matching my team sheet with that of Rafael Benitez’s. But I’ll try:

Possible starting line up against Chelsea. www.liverpoolfc.tv

I am unsure of whether Ngog would be fit for the game and even if he is, if he would start in Kuyt’s place. The latter didn’t have the brightest games or the best latter half of the season, for that matter.

Pyrrhic victory(???) for Liverpool

Aneet — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 20:56:09 +0000

HELL I JUST CANT SEEM TO GET MY RETURN KEY TO WORK FOR THIS POST!

Rafael Benitez continued to frustrate me with his team selection (although it would prove to vindicate him later). Ngog started as the lone striker with Gerrard playing an unusual (unusual for Gerrard i.e.) withdrawn deep midfield position. No Mascherano, No Aquilani (What’s that all about….?). Lucas started.

Both teams started in subdued manner. West Ham were mellow as a result of their low morale in all likelihood while Liverpool’s muffled approach was probably as a result of the feeling of missing out on 4th place sinking in along with the news of Torres not being able to complete the season and who might have very well played his last game for the reds.

Notably, a number of seats lay derelict and empty at Anfield — an anachronism of sorts.

Liverpool did take the lead however on the 20th minute through Yossi Benayoun’s chested deflection from a superb free kick by Steven Gerrard. Soon Liverpool took what might be considered an unassailable lead for West Ham to overtake through… wait a minute… David Ngog. (I pictured Rafael Benitez waving a milatory finger at me saying “I told you so”)

However, there was a lull in Anfield at half time as this might just be a pyrrhic victory for Liverpool. Too little too late.

The second half started in similar drab fashion as neither team tried too hard to wake the crowd from it’s deep slumber. Despite the somnolent nature of the game, West Ham allowed Kyrgiakos to score only his second goal for Liverpool from a Steven Gerrard free kick (it is debate at this juncture whether it was an own goal by West Ham goalie, Rob Greene), with nearly 40 minutes to go!

It was Liverpool 3 West Ham 0 and it looked bad for the hammers while not looking very uppity for the Reds themselves given their current league position and that of Tottenham, Man City, Aston Villa and even Everton.

The only person proving to be quite a handful was Yossi Benayoun who was flashing past defenders like they were daisies in a field.

It was the 66th minute before West Ham elicited Reina’s first save of the game from an innocuous attempt on goal by Carlton Cole. That told the story of the match.

Liverpool made their first substitution of the evening in the form of Javier Masceranho coming on for Steven Gerrard as a precautionary measure for their midweek Europa league fixture. Momentarily, Ryan Babel, Liverpool’s super-sub came on for David Ngog.

Although Liverpool won the game in clinical fashion, the match lacked the usual fervor that is characteristic of Liverpool and their supporters. They desperately need to play more attractive football.

Possible starting eleven – Liverpool v West Ham Utd

Aneet — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 19:17:09 +0000

Let’s just keep aside, for the moment, West Ham’s inability to get a win on the road and focus on Liverpool’s inability to challenge for fourth spot. I hate to say this but LFC need to wake up, smell the coffee (or tea if thats was gets you a kick…) and consolidate.

They must consolidate their current position (which is 7th thanks to Aston Villa beating lowly Portsmouth) or lose out on any chance of playing in Europe next season. Their fourth place chances (if any at all), have taken a cruel hit with the announcement of Fernando Torres’s unavailability for the remained of the season due to injury. Considering that Torres was the only player in the side who looked to heap misery on oppositions, it’s quite scary that we might just see a goal drought for the next couple of games. I hope I am wrong.

I would like to see the following team tomorrow against West Ham and pray to the millions of gods in Hinduism that Benitez leaves Ngog and Leiva out of this, for once.

Possible starting eleven. www.liverpoolfc.tv

I also hope that Gerrard and Kuyt get on the score sheet tomorrow or all might be lost.

Kissing fourth place goodbye

Aneet — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 23:22:30 +0000

Optimists (read ‘people who see the bright side of a plague’) might say otherwise but I think I am bracing myself for Liverpool’s absence from the Champions League next season and possibly the Europa league as well.

I might sound fatalistic but I think we need to face the facts now. If the two consecutive draws against Birmingham City and Fulham were not bad enough, Manchester City continue to make a case for themselves as far by netting 3-4 goals every game.

This brings me to think what was amiss in Liverpool’s season and this is what I conclude:

Lack of world class strikers other than Fernando Torres. Ngog is no where close to Torres and LFC effectively play with one striker in their whole squad. Shameful.
Lack of a play-making midfielder. Ever since Xabi Alonso left Liverpool, Alberto ‘I am injured’ Aquilani has done little to fill the rather gaping hole in midfield. Lucas doesn’t belong to the same mold as Alonso and it is safe to assume that Lucas may be on his way out although I might be wrong about that (sitting on the fence in an ambiguous manner there!)
Steven Gerrard’s less than fruitful season. Captain Fantastic hasn’t clicked this season and has lost his touch. Some say that he might be on his way out. I sincerely hope not.
Have the wingers ‘provided’? Barring a some good performances by Glen Johnson who isn’t really a right side midfield player, LFC clearly lacks wingers who can provide devastating crosses. The one hope that they have, Ryan Babel, has featured less than he would have ideally liked (and made that quite clear on his Twitter page!)
Bench strength. Lets face it. Liverpool have a weak bench. Reinforcements are sorely needed.

Anything you might want to add to this, please leave a comment! I guess we just need to bring in the changes now.