Title race discussion thread

Very poor attacking performance from us. Probably the worst refereeing performance since we lost to Aston Villa on the first day, maybe worse.

Southampton 0-1 Liverpool at half time.

We are getting absolutely raped. Southampton should have scored at least 3. How is it that they make us look so easy to play against, every time? They look like Dortmund in their pomp out there.

Serious bogey team. A win would be miraculous.

Flanagan is probably the worst player I have ever seen play for us, even worse than Spearing.  He was lucky not to be sent off for a pointless elbow in the first five minutes, he fouled Lallana off the ball in the box, and he always over-commits and leaves Shaw with the freedom of the left side.

Moriarty wrote:Flanagan is probably the worst player I have ever seen play for us, even worse than Spearing.  He was lucky not to be sent off for a pointless elbow in the first five minutes, he fouled Lallana off the ball in the box, and he always over-commits and leaves Shaw with the freedom of the left side.

He's been better than Johnson, who can't seem to keep hold of the ball to save his life, Jesus Christ :fp:He's finished now, we need to get rid.

Anyway, what a win 3-0. Hahaha.

Looking at Arsenal's fixtures, I knew that we'd go above them, but I didn't expect it to be this soon

2nd in the League.  

Fuck off Arsenal

Bring on Man United. We'll smash them. I'm sure of it. They won't be anywhere near as dangerous as Southampton were today.

He is not better than Johnson by any means.  Southampton exposed our two weakest players by doing the same play over and over again-get Shaw forward (past Flanagan) and have him cross it back to the edge of the box, where one of the Southampton midfielders or forwards would have left Captain Fantastic in their dust.

Well and truly in the title race.

Moriarty wrote:He is not better than Johnson by any means.  Southampton exposed our two weakest players by doing the same play over and over again-get Shaw forward (past Flanagan) and have him cross it back to the edge of the box, where one of the Southampton midfielders or forwards would have left Captain Fantastic in their dust.

0-3, though. So can't have been that bad. I don't recall any near-goals for Southampton in the 2nd half. We did well. First half was atrocious.

Almost the entire first half was spent on that side of the field. Father had to do his utmost to ensure I didn't utter any profanities.

Hmm. I've been really impressed with Flanagan in recent months.

Scott_LFC wrote:Hmm. I've been really impressed with Flanagan in recent months.

He nearly cost us the game today, Scott.    He elbowed Shaw in the second minute (yeah, really necessary play there, local lad), shoved Lallana in the box when the ball was going out of bounds, and consistently ran into the back of his opponent while Shaw trotted by. He shouldn't be a short term option for a team allegedly looking for toptable superiority, let alone a long term option.

Moriarty wrote:

Scott_LFC wrote:Hmm. I've been really impressed with Flanagan in recent months.

He nearly cost us the game today, Scott.    He elbowed Shaw in the second minute (yeah, really necessary play there, local lad), shoved Lallana in the box when the ball was going out of bounds, and consistently ran into the back of his opponent while Shaw trotted by. He shouldn't be a short term option for a team allegedly looking for toptable superiority, let alone a long term option.

He didn't elbow Shaw deliberately. It was a 50-50 ball and both players went flying into each other in the air. A sending off there would have been utterly ridiculous.

He didn't shove Lallana, he shoulder barged him, which was completely legal. The referee had a good view of it and called it right, imo. They are rarely given as penalties, anyway.

He did get found out by Shaw a few times, that's right, but Shaw is a very bright prospect and has been doing that to a lot of right backs this season.

No, Flanagan shouldn't be a starter for a team looking to challenge for the title, but he's doing a better job than what Johnson was doing, before his injury. Johnson has been atrocious this season. Utter shite.

We need to sign a RB and a LB of top quality, if we are to continue to challenge for the title in the future.

He did, you can't leave your arm/elbow in during an aerial challenge like that.  It put Shaw's consciousness in peril. 

It wasn't a shoulder barge.   He put his entire arm into Lallana's back and shoved him.

That's your opinion. I saw both incidents differently and I'm sure nothing note-worthy will be said of those two incidents in the match reports, which will say it all.

Anyway.



Ozil > Suarez?

Saw the interviews after the Liverpool game.  Managers and players talking about using good tactics, changing their plans, unorthodox formations, taking advantage of having two good strikers.  Fuck me that's depressing.

ResurrectionRooney wrote:Saw the interviews after the Liverpool game.  Managers and players talking about using good tactics, changing their plans, unorthodox formations, taking advantage of having two good strikers.  Fuck me that's depressing.

Cheer up, you're in a safe pair of hands.  

Why is Scott posting more about Arsenal than Liverpool?

SBSP wrote:Why is Scott posting more about Arsenal than Liverpool?

He has a bit of history with their fans, I reckon. 

It's a shame, really.  We should really have the friendliest inter-club relationship out of the top 7, and on other forums there is nothing but admiration and respect between the two sets of fans.  

Is this the match discussion thread? Anyway...

Flanagan was the worst player player on the pitch first half. Overcommitted and spent the majority of it tracking back after being caught out of possession. First half was terrible as I realized they completely bypassed our midfield. Allen (barring mistakes) was invisible, Gerrard was invisible, Coutinho was invisible. Henderson was the only person doing anything noticeable, even if it was just closing down and slotting into defence. At least the second half was better.

Dagbon wrote:Is this the match discussion thread? Anyway...

Flanagan was the worst player player on the pitch first half. Overcommitted and spent the majority of it tracking back after being caught out of possession. First half was terrible as I realized they completely bypassed our midfield. Allen (barring mistakes) was invisible, Gerrard was invisible, Coutinho was invisible. Henderson was the only person doing anything noticeable, even if it was just closing down and slotting into defence. At least the second half was better.

I thought Allen performed well in the entire match.  Gerrard was getting dominated, so we can agree there.  Coutinho was also poor. I thought Henderson was pretty invisible, but at least he tracked back, though he did struggle to keep pace with Shaw.

Moriarty wrote:

SBSP wrote:Why is Scott posting more about Arsenal than Liverpool?

He has a bit of history with their fans, I reckon. 

It's a shame, really.  We should really have the friendliest inter-club relationship out of the top 7, and on other forums there is nothing but admiration and respect between the two sets of fans.  

I don't know what forums you read but the Arsenal fans I know have nothing but contempt for Liverpool.  Maybe it's the younger generation where the two clubs haven't been competing with each other for trophies that gives you this impression, but it's certainly not one I've experienced.  Alan Davies' Hillsborough comments didn't come out of nowhere.

ResurrectionRooney wrote:

Moriarty wrote:
He has a bit of history with their fans, I reckon. 

It's a shame, really.  We should really have the friendliest inter-club relationship out of the top 7, and on other forums there is nothing but admiration and respect between the two sets of fans.  

I don't know what forums you read but the Arsenal fans I know have nothing but contempt for Liverpool.  Maybe it's the younger generation where the two clubs haven't been competing with each other for trophies that gives you this impression, but it's certainly not one I've experienced.  Alan Davies' Hillsborough comments didn't come out of nowhere.

It probably is a younger generation thing. I mainly read on EA, but on all sorts of websites I look at the comments sections and see Liverpool fans saying "If we don't win, I hope Arsenal do," and Arsenal fans reciprocating that.

Well on this forum it's mainly because of members like Theo trolling Liverpool fans and people like Scott and Alan arguing back.

Scott_LFC wrote:Southampton should have scored at least 3. How is it that they make us look so easy to play against, every time? They look like Dortmund in their pomp out there.

                
A midtable team from the Donkey League looking like Dortmund? The same Dortmund that destroyed Real Madrid 4:1, the same Dortmund that destroyed Bayern 5:2?

Southampton look like Real Betis in 2012-13 LOL, don't even think of comparing them to Dortmund.
Imagine Liverpool against Dortmund                 They would get their asses handed to them.

Vela wrote:

Scott_LFC wrote:Southampton should have scored at least 3. How is it that they make us look so easy to play against, every time? They look like Dortmund in their pomp out there.

                
A midtable team from the Donkey League looking like Dortmund? The same Dortmund that destroyed Real Madrid 4:1, the same Dortmund that destroyed Bayern 5:2?

Southampton look like Real Betis in 2012-13 LOL, don't even think of comparing them to Dortmund.
Imagine Liverpool against Dortmund                 They would get their asses handed to them.

Look up hyperbole.

SBSP wrote:Well on this forum it's mainly because of members like Theo trolling Liverpool fans and people like Scott and Alan arguing back.

Why do you say that as if it's a fact or something? Surely you were around to see the real reason for the Liverpool/Arsenal rivalry?

It was because of comments Arsenal fans made in the match thread before the match had even started, for the game that ended 1-1 at the Emirates, with 2 penalties scored in injury time. Arsenal fans were running their mouth saying it was going to be an easy win, because of their world class midfield, etc, and as you'd expect, after the game, Liverpool fans didn't hesitate to quote these comments that were made and make fun of them.

The thread was an actual riot.

That's where it all started. That thread right there. It's probably still here somewhere. I'd expect you to know that, being a Playmaker veteran.

PS. Your digs at me are pathetic. Especially when you won't actually address me and say it directly to me, you coward.

http://www.the-playmaker.com/t4732-arsenal-vs-liverpool The rest of it is in limbo somewhere.

There was definitely some rivalry going on before that. That game may have increased it, but it definitely did not start it.

No, that is when the rivalry started properly. I remember it like it was yesterday.

William hills has Liverpool at 5/1 to win the title.

Arsenal are 16/1.



Also, they have us at 1/10 to stay in the top four, and Arsenal are 1/7.

Looks like a lot of people from RAWK have been lumping their benefits on Liverpool to win the league.

Theo Filippo wrote:Looks like a lot of people from RAWK have been lumping their benefits on Liverpool to win the league.