I don't know why after more than 6 months already of the transfer issue, still want to dig out the old story again, and again.

Can't just say thank you, it is the past already.
Both parties move on.

Why need to criticise?

The goal is a result of mistake of RB.

There were plenty of mistake made apart from the goal.
Losing ball at dangerous area at least twice, can easily result another goal if Sunderland players are clinical enough.

It is not bashing, mistake done is done.
Kelly is more solid and better in defending, more like no frill defender.

Start with those 3 CM, means potential leaking goals

They are not good in protecting the back 4 nor tackle or closing down opponent well.

No matter how, the goal was resulted of mistake of RB.
I am not blaming the RB entirely, just it is clearly that RB was not marking his man and now aware there was opponent behind him.

Henderson has no fault on this (positioning), it is RB duty to guard the area, since there is only 1 Sunderland player on the attacking or inside the penalty box.
If there is 2 opponent attacking player at right side, lurking on goal, then, yes, it means Henderson was not helping out in defending, then may be there is a case.

To be able to challenge the top, team must have ability to seal the game with at least 2 goals lead, when you are on top time, especially on first half time.
You cannot possibly have 90min full throttle and full pace/high tempo, so must able to seal the game during that period. The rest of time, more like seeing out the game only.
So ability to see the game out also quite crucial.

Leading 1 goal is always vulnerable to sucker punch or some special, lucky moment, or single mistake that can cost dearly.
There was lack of leadership on second half, somebody need to influence the team and bring out the team morale after conceding the goal time, and play with more urgency.

This post has been edited by cherroy: Aug 17 2011, 09:55 PM

Barca can afford to do this, because they have excellent youth product.
Last time, Owen and Gerrard also start to shine around that age, whereby Liv also give them chance to shine.

But you cannot afford to do this if the youth players are not capable yet.
There are a lot of scene behind that happened that ordinary fans like us may not aware.
Manager see players day in day out in training and more and less can spot whether they are capable to up a stage into starting line-up.
Yes, some managers can be more stubborn or more afraid to use younger players with no experience, but generally good managers with vision are not afraid to use young players if they see ability in them.

It is not the like play young players in starting XI or throw them into the scene straight away can yield good development for them.
Throwing them into the scene too early can destroy their confidence eventually affecting their development.
Look at Flano, how many stick and criticism being thrown at him with mistakes did on the first game.

Basically, you need to have good youth players before you can do this.

Just got another PL match for next week only, then got international break already.

While Liv is not involving any Europe match, may be that's why KD fielding some first team player.

My view, it may just a backup striker only.
If Ngog left, Liv has only 3 recognised striker/CF only, aka Suarez, Carroll and Kuyt.
Either one injured or suspended, no striker for backup. While Kuyt a lot of time is being employed at right.