A supporter’s view

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Amazing how a defeat can change supporters’ views on our teams chances of success. There has been so much criticism over the last day or so. Even King Kenny has been taking some stick, so what chance do the players have. From what I’ve been hearing and reading is extremely harsh. Jamie Carragher is suddenly over the hill and should be dropped because he is the blame for us losing so many goals, never mind about the amount of goals he prevents. Jordan Henderson should be dropped is another favourite topic from Saturday. Andy Carroll is a waste of money, I could go on, but these are the topics that I have noticed more than others.

Like every supporter I can be critical after a defeat, but I can also see the positives, from which they were many to take out of the game. I was happy with Kenny’s team selection other than Skrtel playing at right-back, although I thought his height would come in handy with Stoke’s long ball tactics, but if Skrtel was playing I would play him in the middle and shift Carragher to the right. I thought Carroll might start with Suarez up front because of his height and strength too, but I could see Kenny’s idea with Kuyt and Suarez being paired due to their superb work rate, very good to see us play with two strikers away from home.

I felt Kenny’s tactics and team played really well at Stoke, as we limited Stoke to two corner kicks and only two shots on target the whole game. Stoke usually bombard the away side but Liverpool never let them threaten as we controlled possession. I haven’t seen a Liverpool side go to Stoke and dominate in the way we did since that 8-0 game many years ago. Credit must go to Kenny and his players for their performance. I can see why Carragher has been blamed for the penalty, he was caught wrong side of Walters but he was very harshly penalised, Walters seemed to foul Carragher initially before going down like a Saturday coupon. Referee Clattenburg was so wrong to give the penalty and I felt he could have shown a few yellow cards to some Stoke players in protection to the Liverpool players as some of their challenges were a bit over the top at times. On another day we may have won a couple of penalties but I thought they would have been a bit harsh to be honest. My criticism of the players are I thought Henderson was a bit quiet and Adam’s passing was a bit inconsistent, losing possession quite a lot. I felt Skrtel should have been subbed earlier for Johnson as we had to chase the game, but Bellamy and Carroll caused problems when they came on. Stoke defended brilliantly on the day, flinging themselves at the ball and making vital blocks, and Liverpool’s luck deserted them. On another day we would have won easily so is frustrating for everybody to come away with a defeat.

But for some supporters to target Kenny, Henderson, Carroll and Carragher is out of order. Firstly Dalglish is the best man for the job and he has us playing a much more exciting brand of football and has brought in a stronger squad with his transfer activity and also he has got rid of a lot of dead wood at the club. Carragher is still a very important player for us, yes he is getting on a bit but he still has tremendous defensive qualities, most importantly is his leadership abilities as he is such a great organiser of his defence, the only defender we have that can do this. So for supporters to want him dropped is a nonsense. Andy Carroll will come good he has not had a run of games due to having that long spell out injured and Dalglish seems to be bringing him back gradually, so we have to be patient with the big man. I believe Henderson will do well for us too, but like Carroll his price tag is an added burden for him at the moment as fans expect players with big price tags to hit the ground running.

Although I am disappointed that we lost against Stoke I am very heartened by the performance and I do think we could get a good result at Spurs next week , so let get behind the team like the greatest supporters we know we are and I’m sure we will have good times ahead this season.

written by Jamie McLaughlin website at www.anfieldnews.com

YNWA

25 Comments

  1. We have already dropped too far behind to get into the top four. We still can’t beat mid table and lower sides who just roll over for the Manchester and London sides.

  2. Bill we have played 4 games, if you think the team cannot get into the top 4 at this stage then you may as well give up on life and go and live somewhere with no tv’, radios or Internet…. Like a Deserted Island for instance :)

  3. How can anyone say were too far behind? How can anyone blame individuals for the result? You so called supporters are quick to jump on the backs of players who others are slating but scared to say anything about anyone else? Ive heard not one person complain about Suarez, missing the goal from a matter of 8 yards out(Not a negative comment, these things happen in football). Get a grip So called LFC fans and get behind the team. The process of challenging at the top is going to be a long one, and if your not patient enough to wait then LFC does not need ‘Fans’ like you! #YNWA Bring on the spuds !

  4. Agree with the original poster best performance at Stoke in years as for your reply bill are you really a fan too far behind can’t beat teams it’s four games into the season and Stoke are one of the toughest away teams to play get a grip mate we are defo moving in the right direction just a little unlucky on Saturday top four this season is ours for the taking and guess what sometimes utd and Chelsea lose

  5. We are 3 points up on Arse, with their only win coming against Swansea at home. We are 4 points up on Spurs (with their game in hand). We are 3 points behind Chelski. These are the teams we are realistically competing with for 3rd and 4th. Little early to panic, wouldn’t you say Bill?

  6. its one of those days at the office to forget. Thats all. We went to a tough away fixture and completely owned them. Possession was very high and the chances created was the same. Stoke got lucky. Luck balances out over a season. Unluckily for us, the lads didnt have their shooting boots on and hendo will learn some composure in front of goal, im sure. Plenty of positives! Dont lose the faith fellow kopites!

  7. I hate the we must be happy brigade when the fact is we lost to a crap team!whats to be happy about?henderson is a waste of money a twevle yr old kid playing for the school team would
    bury the chance he had when clean through,the problem in that game is we did not match stoke with desire,i think the team
    should practice shooting because that lot did,nt look like
    they had ever kicked a ball in anger,time for the players
    in red(suarez excluded) to stand up and really fight for
    the red jersey and if they dont drop them.

  8. Its gameweek 4 mate, settle down. Plus in recent seasons we’ve done well against the top teams. Where has the faith gone amongst liverpool supporters? Here in Aus we aren’t subjevt to the brittish media’s influence, and view results more subjectively. Pool played well and have been doing so this season – we cant win every game!

  9. There are still 102 points to play for in the EPL this season. We’re four games in, some people need to get a grip.

  10. to be ralistic we control the game. bit unlucky with the result plus the ref inconsistency with dicisions.. especially in giving penalty to stoke which is not I think bcoz carra was elbowed first.. whereas ours denied twice by the ref which r very blatant handball in the box I think.. really unlucky.. YNWA REDS ARMY..from Malaysia.

  11. keep faith fellas… n hey Bill boyy – the league aent just abt 4-5 games, the no is 38 FYI !!! cant expect the team to win just coz we’v made huge signings… it takes time… wats heartening is the kinda game we played… continue to play the way v did, improve on the passes n finishes, and our efforts will surely bear fruit… aent impossible, considering hw v got out of the bloody ditch we were in, mid of last season… fans r bound to voice their concerns, but all the unhealthy criticism currently running against KK is rather insensible, especially when he’s the best man for the job… i’m sure the Stoke loss will work in our favour by giving KK n the team more insight to wat needs to be done… wait n watch… YNWA !!

  12. Said like a true fan. King Kenny has got it right on the field. Liverpool played well, fact. They deserved to win too.

    Playing like this will strike fear in opposition teams like how they feared Man Utd. Fear is a big part of the game which explains how Man Utd steamrolls weaker teams. Liverpool has no fear for them, which is why they win fixtures like this.

    Now, Kenny is covering another side of the beautiful game, the officials. His ‘outburst’ is legit and hopefully referees will strive to protech our players more.

  13. To have any realistic chance of a top 4 finish .We have to have the awareness to beat negative defensive grinders like Stoke.
    Anyone think Man Utd would have failed to break down the Stokies ? Nope me neither

  14. Forget the couple of mistakes from Carragher, it happens, in all reality, with a bit of luck, and the lack of poor ref decisions we would be sat here with 12 points now. I also am not hearing much criticism of Suarez for missing the penalty against Sunderland, and the open goal at stoke. Strange that?

  15. oh ffs its so frustrating reading about all this negative feedback from people.
    Henderson was criticised one week and then he’s a hero after he scored against Bolton … some fans are fickle its really disappointing to read.

    welcome back Stevie G this week! woo hoo!

  16. The team played well,,but we need to start taking our chances and bury the game when necessary…had it mean we ve scored our one-on-one chances,we wud ve won comfortably

  17. Can I just put things into perspective for all the negative Liverpool fans….
    Hardly anyone takes points away from Stoke at the Britannia Stadium! Chelsea have failed to beat them in their last two visits there. Arsenal have been turned over on numerous occasions at the Brit in recent seasons. And the mighty Manchester City are winless away at Stoke since Stoke’s arrival in the Premier League.
    Anyone who is writing Liverpool off for losing at Stoke obviously don’t follow their football too closely. It’s just ignorance.

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