Here is my verdict on yesterday...
Rafa and Liverpool got another draw yesterday but should have won the game. I officially despise Mr. Ngog after his dive yesterday. Should not be allowed what so ever…. Hopefully Carra, Kuyt and Rafa tells him off. Gerrard cant really cause he has done it himself in the past. anyways, he scored a nice goal and then won us a penalty but how the hell can he be happy with himself after that dive.
We will come back stronger but although Gerrard was back for the first game in a while yesterday we will be missing Torres who is out for about a month. We need David Silva and David Villa in January. If we could come up with the money for even one of them I think we could be in with a chance for the title and secure a 4th place finish this year. Chelsea will be buying this January as well though since their transfer ban was just lifted.
We have to look at the positives however. Ngog actually showed a lot of potential yesterday. It is sad that a dive can ruin a very positive impression up until that point. Even the way he carries the ball into the box was great and it looks like he has picked some of that up from Torres. He just needs to know that he should have drawn the contact from Lee Carson on that challenge. Then no one would have been outraged.
Personally, I thought his finish was exquisite as well on the first goal.
I missed long range finishes from Kuyt, Gerrard and Lucas yesterday. I think that would have won the game from us. We controlled the ball so much at the edge of the penalty area that if we had a good finisher from range we would have won that game... either with a direct goal or a rebound of the keeper.
In that respect I think we miss Alsonso. Lucas just does not have the passing range or the finishing of Alonso. Mascherano actually impressed me with his passing yesterday but rarely he was able to slip it into Gerrard that was playing in between Ngog and the midfield. Kuyt again played well but with regards to getting a quick snap shot off in the box... he just is not able to provide it.
In the past I have ciritized him for not being able to go past people but he did that to good effect yesterday. Gerrards header that hit the post resulting from a perfect cross from Glen Johnson should have been a goal...
We also had several shots cleared off the line...
Defence is a whole different issue. I thought we looked solid and played our best defensive line yesterday but zonal marking did us again of a set piece. Rafa sort it out.
Carmeron Jarome's finish for Birminghams second goal was a "screamer" and althought Reina could have maybe gotten a hand to it, it is too much to ask. Reina has had a great season and need to get more hlep from the defence on set plays especially...
Question: does anyone else think that height (beyond 6feet is a prerequisite for being a top class goal keeper)? Personally, I think guys like Julio Cesar, Buffon, Van Der Saar, Mark Swartczer, Peter Cech and Jussi Jaskelainen would have gotten a hand to that shot.
I think it is just a matter of time before we start winning again... yesterday should have been a win.
YNWA,
Stian
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