Reading v Liverpool-December 8 [R]

[prvev]

Reading Liverpool
1 Marcus Hahnemann (G) (G) Jose Reina 25
16 Ivar Ingimarsson (D) (D) Alvaro Arbeloa 17
2 Graeme Murty (D) (D) Jamie Carragher 23
3 Nicky Shorey (D) (D) Jack Hobbs 46
5 Ibrahima Sonko (D) (M) Steven Gerrard 8
17 Bobby Convey (M) (M) Javier Mascherano 20
6 Brynjar Gunnarsson (M) (M) John Arne Riise 6
15 James Harper (M) (M) Mohamed Sissoko 22
10 Stephen Hunt (M) (S) Peter Crouch 15
9 Kevin Doyle (S) (S) Fernando Torres 9
12 Dave Kitson (S) (S) Andriy Voronin 10
Substitutes
32 Adam Federici (G) (G) Charles Itandje 30
22 Andre Bikey (D) (D) Sami Hyypia 4
4 Kalifa Cisse (M) (M) Harry Kewell 7
8 Leroy Lita (S) (S) Ryan Babel 19
24 Shane Long (S) (S) Dirk Kuyt 18

[lestat2x]

Well same lineup as last week. Although we have 2 forwards now on the bench.

[lestat2x]

Shorey picks out Convey on right who knocks it to Gunnarson. Penalty thanks to Carragher's foul. Hunt slots it beautifully.

1-0 to the Royals!

[lestat2x]

We're switching right to left. Good hold up play by Kitson right on top of the box. Convey narrowly missed the far top corner when coming in from the left.

Liverpool not playing well at all or are we just playing better?

[T_Rock]

Damn. Reading were looking pretty good, too. Hopefully, things don't fall apart.

[lestat2x]

Torres lays it off to Gerrard who gets around Hunt with no effort and puts it lower right.

1-1 but hopefully they keep attacking pressure up and defend a little better.

[mschofield]

That was a crap equalizer. torres is simply better than anyone he did, and his trap on the edge of the 18 was pure class, but far too simple square to gerrard, and he was far too easy. and after that, Marcus has to make that save. gerrard only put it a couple inches away, it shouldn't be 1-1. Hunt atempted tackle on gerrard was pathetic.:mad:

[mschofield]

Hunt is better on the right at this moment than convey is on the left. Convey is spending too much time as a spectator. Doyle is spending too much time waving about for fouls on pushes that are never going to be called (at least not against pool).

[lestat2x]

Commentators mention how the ref has been "inconsistent" specifically after Torres lost control of the ball and then fell on Sonko's toe.

[mschofield]

The tv announcers are convinced the ref blew a call, torres was taken down and it was in the box and could have been a penalty, and they're saying should have been a penalty. Pool are in control right now. Our clearances are out of bounds, our attacks lack thought. Our possession lacks patience (though that is our style).
Marcus called for more fight, I'd like to see it.

Okay, nice little combo, shorey with a great run to get off a very nicecross. No one on it, but that's life.

[mschofield]

Vronin creates a nice shot, marcus with a standard save.

You know, convey's last four touches have been first touch back passes. He needs to run at people, that is when his game works.

[lestat2x]

We've let them ease their way back into the match. Voronin twice already has found space to shoot although with no angle whatsoever.

[mschofield]

We're right on 45, and a ball from murts sums us up: he's got space, and the ball. instead of finding someone in a good position, he hits a way too hopeful ball that runs out of bounds. Now, if someone had been on the same page, it could have been brilliant. But it was a wasted ball, because no one was.

Finally, convey running at folks, earns a free kicks, 20 out.

[lestat2x]

Sissoko with a blatant dive inside the box. Commentators convinced that pool have lost 5430 calls that should have been penalties.

[mschofield]

We've let them ease their way back into the match. Voronin twice already has found space to shoot although with no angle whatsoever.
Let them is the exact word, the exact mot juste, as bertie w would say.
When we show some spine, we're giving them problems. When we lob hopeful balls forward, we look like a ccc club hoping to hang on, and overwhelmed to be playing such a big club.

[mschofield]

Sissoko with a blatant dive inside the box. Commentators convinced that pool have lost 5430 calls that should have been penalties.
Was screaming at them over that one. I thoght the first could have been a call, but that one was crap. It was our ball all the way. If he wants to call over, that's his deal, but it's got f-all to do with us.

[Right Foot Planted]

Disgustingly biased commentating. Apparently, while retired greats from Arsenal, United, etc. seem to have little hindrance in getting top coaching gigs afterwards, all that one can hope for as a scouser is a job at Sky or the Beeb.

[Right Foot Planted]

Sissoko with a blatant dive inside the box. Commentators convinced that pool have lost 5430 calls that should have been penalties.

You might even manage a more cogent and neutral account from Steven Gerrard's mother and Steve Finnan himself sitting in the booth. :eek:

[mschofield]

Disgustingly biased commentating. Apparently, while retired greats from Arsenal, United, etc. seem to have little hindrance in getting top coaching gigs afterwards, all that one can hope for as a scouser is a job at Sky or the Beeb.

And, the networks want pool to remain in touching distance, so april is thrill packed at the top. Frankly, they also like teams like reading to be struggling for survival in april. mid-table safety is not a good story line.

[mschofield]

Replays are making me angry. We should be tied.

BTW: is Hunt now our most valuable player?