observations after watching last weeks MOTD.

Just watched bbc's match of the day from last weekend and have a few observations....so I thought I would share

 

1. What a goal by Van Persie vs. Everton who in fairness put in a stellar performance second half. They just need a goal scorer. All strikers can learn from Van persie's movement.

 

2. Downing was excellent. Because he has had 3 shots in the bar this season and been unlucky not to score we forget to value his contribution to a great season. He has been instrumental in our success and I as a fan tend to blog with (and play) with my heart on the sleeve. I wonder if this was his best game in a Liverpool shirt so far. The man has an excellent delivery and has set up several sitters if we had an out and out goal scorer/finisher in the team. That in turn begs the question should we have the best finisher in the team every game? I would argue that man is Carroll. Mobility is his main issue but would that come with more playing time. The man with the best instinct and clever movement I would argue is maxi. Suarez  rivals him but continues to frustrate us fans with his antics. For a man with so much talent he shouldn't need to complain- and fall over so much.  

 

3. Demba Ba continues to impress. Finishes, movement, continued effort throughout the game but not much effort defensively and potentially injury prone.

 

4. Steven Fletcher - brilliant striker with bags of talent. I would argue he would this Liverpool team stronger and would not be expensive so if we can't get Torres which would by far be my first choice, why not go for Fletcher as a make-shift solution to the end of the season. Bet ya he would be yavailable for 7M quid.

 

5. Dempsey is a terrific midfielder despire his unlucky game this weekend. Watch him come back with a goal to make up for it today.

 

6. Steve morrison/Grant holt/Steven Fletcher/Steven Taylor - who is the better header of a football?

 

7. Former liverpool trainee Zac Witbread, now with Norwich, finally got a start for Norwich again (after getting lots of games last season in the championship) and managed to make a howler. Darren bent rivalled him for worst mistake(s) of the weekend.

 

8. Suarez scored a nice goal after missing a huge chance early. Did he redeem himself after coming close on many occasions this season.

 

9. Charlie Adam's delivery and passing and the money spent on him in the summer £7,5M is worth its weight in gold. (Poor language I know but you catch my drift). His set pieces and crosses into the box is (as put very well by Ferguson last season), worth £10M alone. Never mind the passing ane the leadership he provides in midfield. Since the Man united game he has just continued to get better and better.

 

10. Although I dont like to I have to talk up Rooney. The man looks back on top form and just in time for the busy xmas period. Good for United and with city's loss to chelsea they are right back in the hunt. While united grinded out 1-0 wins and managed to nick a draw at Liverpool despite not deserving it, Liverpool lost point after point at home. I think it is a bit down to luck and a lot down to having more goal scorers in the team. To be fair to Dagleish, he has tried to address that with downing, adam and henderson and Adam is the only one who has come up trumps. Downing has come close, been unlucky and hit the post several times and as a result has lost a bit of confidence. Henderson has had 1 goal and been on the bench a lot but will hopefully now get an extended run in the team with spearing being unlucky and perhaps slightly rash in his decisionmaking when making that challenge. Both downing and henderson scored goals and set up  lot of goals in the last season for villa and sunderland respectively. Hopefully from here on in they can continue to do that for us as well.

 

11. Having Valencia back for united is big boost but having Vidic out for the rest of the season is a bigger blow.

 

12. Thus eeeks bold peediction: How long before Phil Jones gets moved back to centre back due to many games and rii ferdinand either getting injured (most likely) or rested.

 

13. Tottenham got robbed of a goal against stoke but played such a poor first half that it was maybe ok. After an amazing run and some great play Tottenham loses at last. Good for LFC but I figure they are back to winning ways this weekend.

 

14. May be worth checking out de jong's goal for twente this week. Amazing overhead kick.

YNWA,

Stian

(written on the plane on the way to Europe 16. Dec)