2006 Community Shield Player Ratings [R]

[Twenty26Six]

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/images/Charity_Shield01_120x80.jpg
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/versus/5a.gif

Starters

Reina - 6.5 Didn't have too much to do.

Finnan - 7 Mr. Consistent. Charged up the right wing all day and took players on. Alves, who?

Carragher - 6.5 Seen better days but showed well. Sheva goal was partially his fault

Agger - 6 Really impressed by the confident ball skills of this youngster. I thought he could/should have came back to help Carra cover both forwards before the goal. Ventured forward a bit too much with lack of holding midfielder in first half.

Riise - 7 Made up for all the preseason blunders with a quality performance. Defensive positioning still a slight weakness.

Pennant - 6 Didn't look out of place.

Sissoko - 7.5 Absolute Monster. Replace the one/two errant touches with quality passes and he is a consistent 8. Not as technically sharp as Vieira is/was, but eats up the pitch like Pac-Man.

Zenden - 6.5 Put in the type of performance we'd hope to see from him as a deputy midfielder. Passes looked crisp and probing. Covers so well for the LM and LB. Good squad player.

Gonzales - 6 In and out. Showed pace but not 1v1 skill. He will a perfect alternative to Kewell, if he can get more shots off and on target.

Garcia - 6 Dangerous early but faded. I still love him in the support striker role.

Crouch - 7 Matchwinner. Usual performance. Still heads weak and still at the goalie, but wins so many balls up front.


Subs

Aurelio - 6 [for Gonzo] Ball skill looks good. Can cross well.

Gerrard - 6 [for Pennant] Didn't have to do much.

Alonso - 6.5 [for Zenden] Has there been a better signing in 10 years? Debatable.

Bellamy - 7 [for Garcia] Sparkplug off the bench. I could write a lot here but I won't.

Pongolle - ? [for Crouch] Too few minutes. I hope he can find a niche in this team.


http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/images4/130806_riise_379_01.jpg
Final Score
Liverpool 2 : 1 Chelsea

[quentinc]

Reina - 7 - Had no shot at the goal, but made a good save on the Schevchenko header and is holding the ball better, which was his one major weakness.

Finnan - 6.5 - Probably should have picked up Schevechenko on the goal, but was excellent (as usual) at holding up the left side of the opposition's play.

Carragher - 6.5 - Average

Agger - 6.5 - Really didn't see much of him, but looks like a good backup for Hyppia.

Riise - 7 - The goal was nice (although somewhat lucky), but he did a good job of shutting down the wing and played a large role in the attack.

Gonzalez - 5.5 - I was really displeased with his decision-making the entire match. Ran straight at defenders and took some poor shots.

Sissoko - 8 - Unbelievable tackling, especially in the first half.

Zenden - 7 - He's no Xabi Alonso, but he's nice to have.

Pennant - 6 - Really could have used better service, but looked dynamic when he had the ball.

Garcia - 7.5 - Creative as hell, but needs to make sure everyone else is on the same page. Looked dangerous at times, ridiculous at others, but he'll definitely be useful throughout the season.

Crouch - 7 - Other than the goal (which featured absolutely pathetic defending from Bridge) his touch looked bad, and didn't seem too comfortable. Looked better with Bellamy as a partner.

Aurelio - 6.5 - Looked awful to start, but certainly has the talent. Did well to get a shot on goal with little time to prepare.

Gerrard - 6 - Didn't do alot.

Alonso - 7 - Passes looked a little off, but the difference was clear when he came on.

Bellamy - 7 - Definitely adds something to the attack. He's good for at least 15 goals this season.

FSP ------- Five minutes of defending wasn't enough to show anything.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Alonso - 6.5 [for Zenden] Has there been a better signing in 10 years? Debatable.

http://i8.tinypic.com/24kw8pf.jpg
hehe

[usscouse]

Agree with most of your guys comments and ratings except Zenden. He was slow at times and indecisive. Missed out on a goal because he didn't know whether to pass or shoot on that nice ball from luis.
He's coming back after a lousey injury, I know he'll get better.

Love all the options that Rafa has with this squad. When we went 1 up early I thought "shit" were going to end up digging trenches and bunkers for the last 30 minutes........different era, different team, diferent mindset!!!

[liverbird]

Reina - 7 - Had no shot at the goal, but made a good save on the Schevchenko header and is holding the ball better, which was his one major weakness.

Finnan - 6.5 - Probably should have picked up Schevechenko on the goal, but was excellent (as usual) at holding up the left side of the opposition's play.

Carragher - 6.5 - Average

Agger - 6.5 - Really didn't see much of him, but looks like a good backup for Hyppia.

Riise - 7 - The goal was nice (although somewhat lucky), but he did a good job of shutting down the wing and played a large role in the attack.

Gonzalez - 5.5 - I was really displeased with his decision-making the entire match. Ran straight at defenders and took some poor shots.

Sissoko - 8 - Unbelievable tackling, especially in the first half.

Zenden - 7 - He's no Xabi Alonso, but he's nice to have.

Pennant - 6 - Really could have used better service, but looked dynamic when he had the ball.

Garcia - 7.5 - Creative as hell, but needs to make sure everyone else is on the same page. Looked dangerous at times, ridiculous at others, but he'll definitely be useful throughout the season.

Crouch - 7 - Other than the goal (which featured absolutely pathetic defending from Bridge) his touch looked bad, and didn't seem too comfortable. Looked better with Bellamy as a partner.

Aurelio - 6.5 - Looked awful to start, but certainly has the talent. Did well to get a shot on goal with little time to prepare.

Gerrard - 6 - Didn't do alot.

Alonso - 7 - Passes looked a little off, but the difference was clear when he came on.

Bellamy - 7 - Definitely adds something to the attack. He's good for at least 15 goals this season.

FSP ------- Five minutes of defending wasn't enough to show anything.

Almost 100% in agreement -- except I concur with usscouse Zenden was more of a 4 or 5 for me. I also thought Aurelio ahowed well - I think it was his very good ball which played Bellamy into position to gift Crouch with the goal.

[Twenty26Six]

http://i8.tinypic.com/24kw8pf.jpg
hehe

Well... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbynXdFGirw&mode=related&search=) I said debatable. You could probably make a case for Hyypia as well. I wanted to say "better signing from the continent". I probably should have!

Edit: Scary likeness on the kits, btw.

[Twenty26Six]

Almost 100% in agreement -- except I concur with usscouse Zenden was more of a 4 or 5 for me. I also thought Aurelio ahowed well - I think it was his very good ball which played Bellamy into position to gift Crouch with the goal.

Agree on Aurelio. Although I think much like Zenden he sits too far deep as a LM. I prefer the wingers to get up and out instead of having the strikers make runs away from goal all the time.

Aurelio did get down the wing some though, just not as much as Gonzo.

[655321]

I'm also in on the Zenden/Aurelio vote.

[Twenty26Six]

I'm also in on the Zenden/Aurelio vote.

Am I the only one [barring d-run] that thought Zenden had a solid game and showed more promise as a CM option than a LM?

I mean clearly he isn't Gerrard, Alonso, Sissoko, or Hamann but I thought he commanded enough of the ball and showed well.

I think he would absolutely flourish in a 3 man CM set with Alonso deep and Sissoko to his side.

I think Bolo plays a good, crisp short pass to a checking forward. Gerrard and Sissoko don't have this element to their game and Alonso is usually a longer passer who plays from deep.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

He's played in the centre for Holland and wasn't that his role at Middlesborough after Downing secured the left-wing spot?

[Twenty26Six]

He's played in the centre for Holland and wasn't that his role at Middlesborough after Downing secured the left-wing spot?

He played there for Boro and was their player of the season that year, I believe.

I haven't seen him in CM for the Dutch, but I have seen him play LB, LM and LW for the DNT and he obviously has good technique and abilities. Plus I don't think he ever wanted to be an exclusively left-sided player. I think he was more or less pidgeon-holed by his early experiences at clubs.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

If I was in charge I'd leave him on the left-wing. When Liverpool has possession, Riise (and Finnan) will push forward into midfield anyway, with Gerrard roaming forward. That would allow Zenden to drift into the centre, leaving space for Riise to move up the wing. He would also cover for Riise when possession is lost, since he has experience in Riise's position.

[royalstilton]

Reina - 6.5 Didn't have too much to do.


i'd give Reina better marks than that. his save on the Drogba chip was crucial, though he was caught a bit flat footed, and he made another save, in the first half, where he spilled the ball to his right but recovered.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

His save from Sheva's low header from the corner was also key.

[Twenty26Six]

i'd give Reina better marks than that. his save on the Drogba chip was crucial, though he was caught a bit flat footed, and he made another save, in the first half, where he spilled the ball to his right but recovered.

The highest I gave anyone was a 7.5 to Momo.

He had a couple unorthodox saves. The kick save. The tip over on Drogba's attempted cross "turned" shot.

He wasn't at his best and a 7 is a good mark in my book. I gave him the average rating.

The only mark I would take back is Crouch, for a 6.5, but he did score the matchwinner.

[Twenty26Six]

His save from Sheva's low header from the corner was also key.

To me, it looked to be going wide.

He had the run out header which was risky [Lehman-esque]. He had his moments both ways. I split the difference between a 6 and a 7.

I think they only had 4 shots on goal.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

As did I, until I saw a reply from behind the goal. It looked like it was going to creap in and I'd usually give Sheva the benefit of the doubt. Regardless, Reina couldn't take the risk.

[Twenty26Six]

If I was in charge I'd leave him on the left-wing. When Liverpool has possession, Riise (and Finnan) will push forward into midfield anyway, with Gerrard roaming forward. That would allow Zenden to drift into the centre, leaving space for Riise to move up the wing. He would also cover for Riise when possession is lost, since he has experience in Riise's position.

He will probably play a lot of left wing. I just don't like that he sits so deep when playing there. We really need attacking pressure to come from our wings. Especially in the 4-4-2

If we don't get it, then our CMs have to push up and leave us vulnerable to counterattacks.

I thought he did a fair job of covering for Riise and Gonzo when they were out of position. It really allowed both to play higher up the pitch and take chances. Riise even taking the chance to switch sides and dribble far up the pitch for the 1st goal.

[liverbird]

He will probably play a lot of left wing. I just don't like that he sits so deep when playing there. We really need attacking pressure to come from our wings. Especially in the 4-4-2

If we don't get it, then our CMs have to push up and leave us vulnerable to counterattacks.

I thought he did a fair job of covering for Riise and Gonzo when they were out of position. It really allowed both to play higher up the pitch and take chances. Riise even taking the chance to switch sides and dribble far up the pitch for the 1st goal.

It was a corner and Riise is supposed to switch sides on a corner.

[hubbabubba]

Agree on Aurelio. Although I think much like Zenden he sits too far deep as a LM. I prefer the wingers to get up and out instead of having the strikers make runs away from goal all the time.

Aurelio did get down the wing some though, just not as much as Gonzo.

Oh I don't know... I'd like to see more of Auerelio before making a judgement, but my guess is that he's there to fill the gap between LM and LB, especially if Riise is playing...

I like the pace and quality that we have recruited for the attacking flanks, but I'm a bit worried about the defensive line so far.

If I had to guess, I'd say our biggest questions this year are going to be striker (just like last year) and, most importantly, left defensive midfielder. Gerrard is naturally right sided, and both Alonso and Sissoko make most sense in central midfield. I hope Agger/Riise can fill the gap on LB but I'm still a bit worried. Not at Agger's skill, or at Riise's utility.

Riise is really still most effective at LM, or as a winger, but definitely less effective as a strictly defensive player, Agger, on the other hand, has wonderful instincts, but those instincts are un-honed, and he will make mistakes that will lead to goals.

Anyway, let's hope for the best.