Isn’t it ironic. Don’t you think?

Posted by

WBA V Liverpool

It was bound to happen really. It was written in the stars that this game would not go according to plan once Roy Hodgson was installed as the new West Brom manager, and it certainly didn’t, well not for us anyway.

The first half was one of those games that seemed to have 0-0 written all over it with both teams having spells where they were on top of the game, but neither of them managing to capitalise on that and taking the lead. We also suffered two injuries with both Daniel Agger and Glen Johnson being taken off the pitch in the first half, being replaced by Sotiris Kyrgiakos and Danny Wilson respectively.

In the second half it started as though nothing had happened, but then in the 50th minute Andy Carroll had a great chance which Scott Carson tipped over the bar. From the resulting corner Martin Skrtel put a bullet header write into the top corner of the net. Kyrgiakos also leapt for the corner but it was Skrtel who connected with it and the ball was going nowhere else but in the goal after that.

We had the lead in the game but it was by no means certain that the game was won after that. It wasn’t long before West Brom had equalised when Odemwingie was brought down by Kygriakos and the penalty was awarded. On first viewing I wasn’t sure if it was just outside the box rather than over the line, but on second and third viewing it looked like it was one of those decisions that could have gone either way.

From one angle it looked like it was just outside the box, from another angle it looked like it was either on the line or just inside the box. It certainly looked to me like Kygriakos got the ball and not the leg of Odenwingie, but it was a rather clumsy challenge in a very dangerous place on the pitch, which more often than that would result in a penalty being given. All players know this but they still make rash challenges in places they know they shouldn’t. Up stepped Chris Brunt who clinically dispatched the penalty to make it 1-1.

From that moment the game once again had a draw written all over it, but there was one more twist in the tale when Reina bought down a wba player in the box and a second penalty was given to Hodgson’s team. Again this could have gone either way, some are given, and some are not, but unfortunately for us this one was given and Chris Brunt hit home a second penalty giving West Brom the lead in the match, and ultimately the victory, which must have been very sweet for Mr Hodgson.

In the end we didn’t try hard enough to go out and put the game to bed after we had taken the lead, and that is the main reason why we didn’t win the game. The two penalties awarded to West Brom didn’t help out cause, but we had enough decent players out there to give West Brom more of a game than we did.

Let’s hope we try and nip these silly challenges in the bud as these are things that can turn games in the opposition’s favour, which is exactly what happened here I am afraid.

More Stories EPL WBA

19 Comments

  1. There are a core of spineless serial letdown merchant chokers that need to be rooted out of the club in the summer, no room for sentiment, Carragher the Hoofer has also got to go.

  2. Time is running out to qualify for Europe! That may ultimately be a good thing for next season, the club can have more focus on the League…

    When did Robert Green sign for West Brom?

    1. I agree about europe. We don’t need it, we need to concentrate on the league.

      As for Green. Oops. I will have to change it.

  3. Okay. We don’t need Europe, fine! Ask the players due to come in about that first! Second, without Europe, where do we plan to rotate a 22 strong squad.
    What Ian Ayre said was only not to send people into panic. We can do without Europe financially but then another Stg 20/25 a season from gate sales, merchandising, winner and qualification prizes would not do any harm would they!
    People get the impression that without Europe we have a better chance in the PL. Seriously?

  4. Man City (H) draw
    Arsenal (A) loss
    Birmingham (H) win
    Newcastle (H) win
    Fulham (A) draw
    Tottenham (H) draw
    Villa (A) draw

    10/21 points.

    This is my pessimistic outlook for LFC, taking us to 55 points, where even the wins I have chosen are not home bankers when looking at our squad situation. I think we’ll realistically need more than 60 points and also for one of the other teams to have a mini crisis for LFC to stand any chance of 5th spot.

    It’s reasonable for fans to expect to see the real KD LFC team next season after the next summer transfer window, but I fear [now] that the current squad of players are going through the same motions as the fans are with this, and so they are understandably preoccupied with looking to further than the next [important] game as well. There is a danger of feeling like there is no longer anything to play for, which isn’t going to help us to 5th spot. Neither is losing Kelly and Gerrard for the rest of the season.

  5. We have no chance of UCL football and participation in the EL will influence no player of quality to come here. We dont need it in a time of transition .A serious clear out is needed not only of those who aren’t technically up to it but also those who dont have the heart for a scrap

  6. Getting a bit fed up with this now. We should be able to put sides like this away without little fuss. Strength of the squad is poor. Midfield were dreadful. Had no-one to put a foot on the ball and dictate play. To many average players sadly. However good the player if injury prone should be sold. Agger and Aurelio out. Buy players who guarantee you a season. No room for sentiment. Constantly having to change the back four is a problem. Look at yourselves in the mirror reds. Do you deserve to be at this club?

  7. It’s like rain on your wedding day.

    …yeah, like I’d resist the Alanis refference. ;)

  8. season cant end quick enough for me,need at least 6 new players,jury still out on raul can tackle or dominate midfield,saurez obviously looks quality,Carroll will be ok but he’s a get out clause for the poor players in our team who just hoof it to him at every opportunity,Lucas gives to many free kicks away,Kuyt us a poor player runs round all day but hasn’t got a first touch and apart from hat trick against utd has been awful all season,need to sweep the decks and start again:be very surprised if pepe is here at start of season,Agger and fabio are made of glass,Kenny has done his best with what’s at his disposal but to be fair he inherited a bad team,50/60 million needed to fetus back challenging for to 5

  9. we have to go at these type of teams away from home otherwise they get the initiative , the crowd get behind them etc, we have not only not won playing nrgative football euro games etc we have looked awful doing it – come on kenny remember your own playing days. on the other hand our best results have been when we go for it from minute one. kenny is making the big mistake of playing to the limitations of the players he has avialable, if he feels he is limited then play kids. young raheen stirling is a special player with unique talent, age is of no consequence, he does things nobody else can do and he does it so well nobody notices, well almost nobody ! his build and short stride help him, so all that can stop him is growing too much, there is no stopping the lad. repeat there is no stopping the lad going inside, outside, playing left , right, middle,

  10. we have to go at these type of teams away from home otherwise they get the initiative , the crowd get behind them etc, we have not only not won playing nrgative football euro games etc we have looked awful doing it – come on kenny remember your own playing days. on the other hand our best results have been when we go for it from minute one. kenny is making the big mistake of playing to the limitations of the players he has avialable, if he feels he is limited then play kids. young raheen stirling is a special player with unique talent, age is of no consequence, he does things nobody else can do and he does it so well nobody notices, well almost nobody ! his build and short stride help him, so all that can stop him is growing too much, there is no stopping the lad. repeat there is no stopping the lad going inside, going outside, playing left , right, middle, it does not matter. also susu is continually played out of position in the reserves and academy and toni silva is wasted as a sub, get wise lfc these three will make it if not messed about. PLAY RAHEEM STIRLING BEFORE THE END OF THE SEASON AND WE WILL ALL BE WILLING NEXT SEASON TO START.

  11. All the top, young players that fsg would want to buy, will want to play champions league football. It will be hard to attract them to our club, even if we have the tradition that we have. I’m not sure if that’s enough for these top foreign stars. Think we will be signing the players like wendt, who newcastle want! And marveaux – who?! Could be good, but prob won’t be that great ‘cos the other big teams aren’t after him, are they?! Players we need like moussa sissoko, m’vila, alexis sanchez, coentrao, sakho, lukaku and the like will be very hard to get without a lot of persuasion, if we don’t get into 4th spot. I can’t wait for this season to just end. It’s been really dire for about 18 months now. Ever since Alonso left. Then mascherano. Torres. Kenny is doing his best with what he has got. It will be an interesting summer…….

  12. kenny messed up our chances at WHU, WBA n braga. when a game is hard he relies on the players not on his tactical knowhw like benitez. he needs to get the tactics right when the players are below par. moreso why did he not play jovanovic and maxi, while resting kuyt n mereles

  13. Re Stan Howard, you can’t prove that Sterling, it’s Kenny’s choice and if he’s good enough he’ll get a shout, I trust his judgement far ore than yours. You are starting to sound like a manc raving about Russell Beardsmore, I get it we are desperate for a glut of youngsters to come through but it’s unlikely within the next 12 months. I hope I’m wrong but I can’t see it.

    Re Tonio Bone
    While I understand the intial importance of players looking to play for a European team do you honestly think that players will choose Birmingham or the winner of the Bolton/Stoke game ahead of us? Do me a favour a blind man can see we are progressing and they’ll go for us. Sure maybe it will be tough to compete with CL sides for players but hey Suarez (brilliantly) and Cole (sadly) turned Spurs down, as did Carroll if you believe certain rummours flying around on deadline day. We’re not going to get CL football this year so will we miss Europe? Not in my view.
    Most clubs lose money from the UEFA Cup (Europa League) and if you think gate monies and merchandising would make a huge difference we’re back to th Parry era, the real money is from foriegn markets, most fans going to Anfield have what they want (shirt, scarf, coat, mug etc) so they won’t re buy these items the real deal is to get into the American and Asian markets and sell millions of LFC merchandise and excuse me whethe we are in the Mickey Mouse European competition or not won’t effect that. Furthermore as regards a 22 man squad you need 18 in the league anyway and you want everyone last one of your outfield subs to be able to change a game in some way shape or form, so we’re at 18 add injuries, bans and loss of form confidence it isn’t a stretch in the slightest. Finally I’d like to quote you Tonio “People get the impression that without Europe we have a better chance in the PL. Seriously?”
    Well yes seriously playing in that joke competition means you have to play on a Sunday normally a day after your competitors so you’re under pressure before a ball gets kicked, it’s why you go 1st in a penalty shoot out. Imagine that next season we are battling for Arsenal for 4th spot they’re in the CL quarters, we’re in the EL quarters they’re a point ahead and playing 1st the onus is with them win and Liverpool will crack. Now take the EL syndrome out of it , we didn’t make it now we’re going into bat around the same time as Arsenal, but they have CL pressures they have tired players, we have the luxury of knowing that we can refresh the squad. Which would you rather be in? Seriously! Finally as far as yesterday goes congrats Roy hope you’re as happy as I am cause I’m still celebrating your departure in January and I’d gladly accept you winning that game for you being our manager.

  14. Other than Dalglish, what has changed in terms of our performance on the playing field? Back to “pass and move”? We most definitely pass and move very well………………… without the ball!

  15. andy, dont doubt my judgement until the end of the season, ONE stirling will play in the first team this season or pre season and kenny will then be unable to leave him out, as for a class centre half ITS A MUST. i am starting to sound like ? when i said rafa was mad not to replace the strikers we sold (was i mad) when the idiot hodgson unforgivably did the same (was i mad)managers even kenny make obvious mistakes, being on the outside one can see more. i said kelly should have been in the team a full season before he was (was i mad)the list is very long – there is only one player in the world who can use his small stride, quick mind and quick feet like raheem stirling. he is lika a footballing muralideran. kenny knows how good he can be – i know how good he is.

  16. Stan I’m not saying you were wrong about strikers, but come on that was obvious we were all saying that although Torres almost insistence he be the number one striker and a lone striker might be one reason we didn’t. I’m genuinely glad he’s gone, we’ve got a crackerjack in Suarez and Carroll looks promising. However tell me who has Sterling played against? Boys, how can you possibly judge him to be the bees knees when he hasn’t played against big fully developed defenders yet? He’s a boy himself barely 16 and you want to throw him in against the clever defenders in the prem? I know what I’d do and what the majority of fullbacks marking him will do, kick him black and blue. Most kids can’t handle it the cream of the crop do Owen, Robbie Fowler and going further back Lee Sharpe all came through but realistically they were done by the time they were 25, yes even Robbie although his love off LFC kept him as a decent player while at the club. He wasn’t anything to write home about after he left us, and even when he came back it was a pale shadow of the great man. Those who make now tend to be built like a brick outhouses, Rooney, Stevie G and Carra were all big lads when they broke into their teams, althought Giggs was never in that mould how many Ryan Giggs are there? I haven’t seen young Sterling in the flesh but I very much doubt if he’s as big as a Rooney, a Stevie G or a Carra. My final example I’ll give you is a player called Terry Cooke about 1994/95 I used to go to the pub and talked football with the boys. One of the boys is now a scout for Bolton, the club he’s followed practially since birth, and he raved about Cooke a man u reserve player he had seen him playing against Bolton reserves 3 times and he offered the opinion he was in the same class as Giggs at that age (17). He spent most of his playing days in England being loaned round the lower leagues before heading to America, Australia and now Azerbaijan. It’s another great at 17 but never fulfilled itstories. Like the youth Cup final in 1996 the 2nd leg at Anfield had Carra, Owen, David Thompson, Lampard and Ferdinand all playing yet Stuart Quinn stole the show whatevr happened to him? I hope young Sterling is the real deal and he’ll be a dazzling star for us for many years but he’s 16, the way you’re talking about him is if he’s a £10 million superstar. The only one to judge if he’s near ready will be Kenny and the coaching staff until then we just have to be patient and hope he is as good as the press make him out to be.

Comments are closed