To my fellow REDS,
Match Report:
http://www.lscm.com.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=253&catid=47&Itemid=41
Pics with thanks to Getty Images:
http://www.lscm.com.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=252&catid=43&Itemid=83
Warmest regards from Boo, webmaster LSCM
It wasn’t pretty at times.. frustrating even.. but we will gladly take the away win and the 3 points that come with it !!
Roy started with the same first eleven that played brilliantly in our previous win against Blackburn last Sunday. Mood was upbeat but the home side was not going to take things lying down. In fact, the Bolton players were extremely hardworking in chasing down our Reds. Nevertheless, our back four of Carragher, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos and Konchesky held firm. Reina also showed steady hands to snuff out the goal attempts and clear any impending danger.
Our midfield of Lucas and Meireles also stood their ground in the face of the continued pressure. Active running and advancing into space help create our attacking moves with Cole and Maxi in support and with Torres and Gerrard in the thick of the action too.
But sadly, the final application was lacking or else it would have been a comfortable ride into the game.
Torres had a flashing header that went just over within the first 5 minutes. Then on the 7th minute, Gerrard capitalized on a defensive error to send Torres in the clear. Our star striker would have dispatched this if it was maybe 12 months ago.. but he took too many steps and the ball was safely cleared away.
After that, we had to dig deep to withstand the Bolton forays. Long balls in the direction of Kevin Davies were the order of the day but Kyrgiakos was able to neutralize most of the deliveries. As the newly capped England striker realized he was not beating Soto to the ball, he decided to throw himself to the ground at the slightest contact to earn cheap freekicks or even penalties. Regretfully, ref Atkinson agreed with Davies more times than he should. But at least the ref did the most sensible thing by denying Bolton a penalty when the ball struck Carra’s hand unintentionally in the box.
The second half was also a reflection of both satisfaction & frustration. Satisfaction to see our Reds clear their lines confidently.. but frustration to see our attacks come to nothing in the final third. Then came the sight of Cole clutching his hamstring on the hour mark. The introduction of Ngog in place of a relatively average Cole added a new dimension in our attacks.
Our young French striker has improved tremendously since that away game in the City of Manchester where he was totally outclassed. Against Gary Cahill, a prospective regular England centre-half, he was able to hold his ground and with a neat first touch to bring down the ball, Ngog was able to initiate threatening attacks with the marauding Reds around him.
We had an escape when a freekick flashed in, allowing Davies to guide the ball just wide off the post.
But soon as the minutes ticked away, we were taking charge at the upper end of the pitch as the Bolton players inexplicably retreated more and more. Then from a sustained period of attack, Torres collected a pass at the edge of the box and cleverly back-heeled the ball into Maxi’s path, nutmegging Cahill at the same time. Maxi toe-poked towards goal but thankfully Jaaskelainen could only parry and the ball bounced into goal off the crossbar. OH WHAT JOY for the away fans behind the goal !!!
Still 4 minutes left plus added time, it was time for a rearguard action to stem the Bolton search for an equalizer. Poulsen came on for Meireles to provide fresh legs. Into the 4 minutes of added time.. but the tension was less as we expertly saw out the game for a precious win and 3 valuable points to allow us to climb up to mid-table.
Thus our winning run is sustained, though only 2 at the moment. But if we claim a victory at Anfield next Sunday against the league leaders, who knows what we can achieve !! For now, we shall enjoy this vital morale-boosting win and plan to negotiate past Napoli at Anfield in the Europa League..
I think when (hopefully not if) Torres gets his scoring boots on things will look a lot brighter … the early chance when put through by Gerrard was a prime example of had it been Torres two years we’d have been 1 up in the first ten … now while relying on him for our goals is whole other argument, he is up top to score and when given those opps you’d hope he’d gobble them up not fluff and add increasing pressure to every other half chance thereafter
I enjoyed seeing us up for the fight even if it got a bit desperate at times
I still can’t remember when we’ve been able to win ugly … only Chelsea and Man U seem capable of that … we just play good or bad in the eyes of the world
YNWA
Still a long way to go for Roy to convince me hes the right man, however i give the team and the manager credit for the last 2 games welldone……YNWA
The last 2 games have been like putting makeup on a pig, it might look good but it’s still a pig.
The tactics yesterday were suicidal, deep defensive line against a team with no pace up front but players great in the air, long ball tactics by ourselves when Torres was up against a 6’6″ CB and our 2 wide men are knee high to a chicken. The guy i bad news for Liverpool and even if he takes us on a run of 8 games without defeat i’ll still want him gone for basically telling fergie to come and buy Torres if Rooney leaves. Rafa had an excuse for finishing 6th in his first season, he was from a foreign country, Roy is supposed to know the league and the english style yet we’re lounging in a fulham position, jesus he has even said that the europa league is impacting on our league form, but we’re a club used to CL football, which has the BEST sides in the world in there and Roy hasn’t even been playing our top players in europe so how is it impacting? Pacheco is one of the brightest prospects in football yet he’ll leave in Jan cause Roy don’t play him, even tho Roy has played youth in europe. That makes me angry cause he clearly has the talent to go on and be a top player yet he’s being stiffled by a second rate manager ROY OUT!!!
Delighted to get the 3pts yesterday, but I reckon it was the worst LFC performance I have seen in many yrs. I am really worried about FT – he looked awful yesterday, not just the chances he missed, but his touch and general play was more like the standard you would see in the lower leagues. That said he still showed his class with that lovely flick to set up Maxi for the winning goal.
He clearly needs support up front – why not give Ngog or Pacheco (I would personally give Daniel the nod) a run of 6 games along side FT and see what happens – we can’t play any worse than we have shown in the last 10 games. Get SG back in midfield and let him control the game – he does not like playing with his back to goal.
Anyway, 2 wins on the bounce isn’t to be sniffed at and maybe, just maybe this might be the start of something more like the LFC team we know!!