Liverpool v. West Brom pre and post-match[R]

[RedKnight]

Random impressions and observations:

For the first half-hour we looked very solid, creative, and dominant. It’s as if the Valencia game never happened (yes, I know WBA aren’t Valencia—but the point is that we showed no ill effects of the complete meltdown last Tuesday in Spain).

The pressure we applied yielded several great opportunities, and that pressure paid off when Owen drew the penalty (and the sending-off of Hoult, who had kept West Brom in the match until then). Although we didn’t convert the PK, that was the turning point in the match—after that, it was a matter of time.

I thought the PK issue had been settled by “We few, we merry band of bigsoccer.com Reds” a few weeks ago on another thread: DANNY MURPHY TAKES THE PENALITES. Moreover, I had thought someone had forwarded our considered opinion to GH—but I guess not. If I’m not mistaken, Owen is now less than 50% lifetime from the spot.

Defensively, Henchoz is back, and the backline seemed absolutely solid—they had perhaps their best performance of the season. A justly-deserved clean sheet for Dudek, finally. And Riise added another goal; I increasingly favor him playing in the back.

In the midfield, Murphy and Gerrard (LFC.tv’s MotM) played very well, and provided terrific service to the front-runners. Hamann seemed relatively quiet today—but I can’t point to anything seriously wrong with his play, either. Cheyrou started off exceptionally, I think, but then seemed to disappear for long stretches of the match. BTW: Does anyone remember all those pre-season worries that were voiced about our midfield?

Baros was stellar—a goal and a bucketful of dangerous threats. Owen, despite the PK miss, and another goalless outing, created all kinds of headaches for the WBA defenders. Whether or not he’s finishing right now, I say we keep Owen in the lineup—he is so consistently dangerous, match-in and match-out, that he is creating great opportunities for his teammates. He’ll start scoring again, eventually—and until then, we’re getting great production from elsewhere in the lineup.

A straightforward three points against a team we should beat. Unlike earlier matches this season, I never thought we were in danger of dropping points here—and for me that’s a welcome relief from some of the more recent nail-biters.




.

[LiverpoolFanatic]

Originally posted by Richard Cranium
Owen is becoming Baros's Bitch;)


Very funny. You've already been booted once. You happened to call someone Richard Cranium in a previous post as MUFC Sucks. I hope you've learned your lesson and can be a normal contributor, and not an annoying troller .

[655321]

Originally posted by Richard Cranium
...before you get band

Jesus, it's so difficult to keep my mouth shut right now. But I will.

[Lanky134]

I'm ignoring it.

Dave

[usscouse]

Thanks for the game rundown you guys.
Owen is stuck with 111, isn't that THE unlucky number...???

[kopiteinkc]

Originally posted by usscouse
Thanks for the game rundown you guys.
Owen is stuck with 111, isn't that THE unlucky number...???

Well it is in cricket, Nelson it's called isn't it?

[Dr. Wankler]

Originally posted by kopiteinkc


Well it is in cricket, Nelson it's called isn't it?

I read about that recently. The (English) sporting equivalent of the #13, if not 666, apparently. He'll come off it.

Boy, it sure didn't take the aptly named "Richard Cranium" too long to be booted, did it?

[kopiteinkc]

Originally posted by Dr. Wankler

Boy, it sure didn't take the aptly named "Richard Cranium" too long to be booted, did it?

Ha ha, well done to LiverpoolFanatic for spotting him first, your prize will be mailed to you in Hawaii!! :D

I wonder what his next name will be? Richard Cranium was a little transparent wasn't it!

Something to do with Owen methinks.

[Dr. Wankler]

Originally posted by kopiteinkc
I wonder what his next name will be? Richard Cranium was a little transparent wasn't it!

Something to do with Owen methinks.

I'm betting he'll have the so-called word, "rulz" in it somewhere. So if it's OwenRulz or some such, Kopiteinkc and I will split the prizemoney. Or if he's lurking and reading this, we at least performed a service and sent him back to the drawing board, which should keep him out of our hair for another week at least.

Speaking of Owen, I'll predict that, by Oct. 26th, he'll have 4 more premiership goals than he has now. When he busts out, I'm not guessing yet, but I think he will, soon.

[Hal]

How about you long time Liverpool fans helping out a novice with insights on Houllier's roster selections.

With Owen, Heskey, Diouf, and Baros available for rotation, who are the first two and who get the rest games?

It seems to me that both Diouf and Baros have made cases for starting along with Owen and having Heskey off the bench. But is Houllier going to have to choose between Baros and Diouf for who partners Owen?

I read where Xavier was sick. With what? How serious? Should he be available next week?

Further, with Henchoz back, does Xavier even make the starting 11? Has Traore taken the starting right side defender slot? Or, when Xavier returns, does Traore move to the bench?

Any shared wisdom will be appreciated.

Hal

[Lanky134]

Diouf hasn't really made a case for starting. His last few games have been terrible. He seems to play best in a 4-3-3, when he can use his pace and unpredictability in a spread defense to our advantage, but when we play a standard English 4-4-2, he's not particularly effective.

Traore is a left-sided defender, not on the right. After a few good performances on the wing, he moved into the center when Henchoz went down against Birmingham and wasn't nearly as effective. GH seems to prefer Riise in the back and Heskey as left-mid.

Once Babbel returns, look for Abel to look for a new club.

Dave

[RedKnight]

Originally posted by Hal
How about you long time Liverpool fans helping out a novice with insights on Houllier's roster selections.

Hal:

Welcome. . .


Originally posted by Hal
With Owen, Heskey, Diouf, and Baros available for rotation, who are the first two and who get the rest games? [/B]

The answer lies in a word you used in your question: “Rotation.” Last week, it was Baros and Owen; but virtually every other combination has been tried as well. It changes nearly weekly—and I don’t expect that to be any different going forward. A lot depends on the opponent, players' fitness, their form in training, and other things we on this board can only guess at. It tends to be great grist for discussion, though.

Originally posted by Hal
It seems to me that both Diouf and Baros have made cases for starting along with Owen and having Heskey off the bench. But is Houllier going to have to choose between Baros and Diouf for who partners Owen? [/B]

I am probably in a minority here thinking that we keep Owen in the starting 11—even if his finishing isn’t in-form just yet. I don’t think anyone will disagree that MO’s “breakout” is not a question of “if?,” but of “when?” and “how many?” My view is that the opposing defenders don’t know that either—and given every other aspect of Owen’s play right now, he is a constant threat to score—which improves chances for his teammates. Even without Owen finishing well, we are getting goals.

As for Diouf, I’m going to guess again that mine is not a widely held view. In ranking the four strikers you have mentioned, I’d place him fourth—behind Baros, Owen, and Heskey. He has a great brace against So’ton—but has not really impressed me greatly since then.

Originally posted by Hal
I read where Xavier was sick. With what? How serious? Should he be available next week? [/B]

I’m going from memory here, but it’s a stomach virus (flu) or something like that. Doesn’t matter though, as you’ll see in my answer to your next question. . .

Originally posted by Hal
Further, with Henchoz back, does Xavier even make the starting 11? Has Traore taken the starting right side defender slot? Or, when Xavier returns, does Traore move to the bench? [/B]

No and no. Traore plays on the left, and he and John Arne Riise typically battle for that spot. Riise can also play left-sided mid—which gave Traore an opportunity at left back (and I think that in general, he has acquitted himself pretty well).

The key to the back line has been the return of Jamie Carragher, from injury, to the right-back position. That has pushed Xavier out of the lineup (as did XA’s recent form.) And Markus Babbel is returning to fitness as well—playing a full ninety in last week’s reserve match with MUFC. When Babbel gets back, he and Carragher will take the wing-back positions. Henchoz and Hyypia are entrenched in the center. Traore is the next-best defender, followed by Riise, and only then Xavier.

Again, welcome.

.

[LiverpoolFanatic]

Originally posted by kopiteinkc


Ha ha, well done to LiverpoolFanatic for spotting him first, your prize will be mailed to you in Hawaii!! :D



All part of the service. I'd be glad to accept any monetary donations though, it's a bit expensive over here. :D

[kopiteinkc]

Originally posted by Hal
How about you long time Liverpool fans helping out a novice with insights on Houllier's roster selections.

With Owen, Heskey, Diouf, and Baros available for rotation, who are the first two and who get the rest games?

It seems to me that both Diouf and Baros have made cases for starting along with Owen and having Heskey off the bench. But is Houllier going to have to choose between Baros and Diouf for who partners Owen?

I read where Xavier was sick. With what? How serious? Should he be available next week?

Further, with Henchoz back, does Xavier even make the starting 11? Has Traore taken the starting right side defender slot? Or, when Xavier returns, does Traore move to the bench?

Any shared wisdom will be appreciated.

Hal

Hal

If you think I am going to give your fantasy team some help by giving you insight into GH's selections you must be mad :D

Seriously, I don't see we will see Xavier back, even when he is fit. Traore seems to have lost the spot on the left to Riise for now too. But if Riise is pushed back to left midfield then Traore may come back in.

Riise, Cheyrou and Heskey have all played the left midfield position and Cheyrou has also been used behind the forwards.

My selection for the forwards would also be Baros and Owen. I would have Cheyrou at left midfield with Gerrard and Hamann in the middle and Murphy on the right.

But with Champs League games coming thick and fast, Heskey, Diouf, Traore and maybe even Berger may rotate in from time to time in their respective positions.

[Samarkand]

Originally posted by Dr. Wankler
Boy, it sure didn't take the aptly named "Richard Cranium" too long to be booted, did it?
I missed the fun; what did the little retard get up to this time?

[Lanky134]

What can sadly be described as "the usual crap."

Dave

[Hal]

Thanks for the insights, RedKnight and you too, Mark.

Hal