Brighton albion played really well, they worked us all over the park.

some good dribbling moments by Kuyt. and some convincing play, but again with a few choppy, sloppy passes. but all in all a decent performance.

in another day Brighton might have beaten us.

nice! thank you so much

I saw the highlights for the Brighton game. I have to say after watching BPL for quite some time, maybe the defenders should learn something from Lucas in tackling. Instead of doing a risky sliding tackle, they should learn to do a standing tackle like Lucas normally does. Sliding to tackle a player in the penalty box is a big no no.

cant helpedbut notice the commentator said that's kuyt's 16th goal out of 26 games. quite impressive for someone who people said dont have any speed, dribble skill and flair, innit?

This ^ I think Spearing's mistake warrants a SAF hairdryer treatment.

It was Spearing's fault though.

The mojo was transferred to Casillas last world cup.
Seriously though, out of the ones he let in recently, how many are actually 'savable'.

But now whenever we concede a penalty you know they are going to score.

It used to be different. We used to think our keeper had the better chance.

Well maybe lone striker isn't the most accurate term to use. I think a lot of teams these days deploy a 4-4-1-1 formation with an auxiliary striker supporting the lone front man ala Torres - Gerrard. Rafa often plays with a lone striker from his time at Valencia when Mista lead the line at the Mestalla. He preferred his goals to come from midfield. Some examples of secondary/support/second strikers are Jari Litmanen, Teddy Sheringham, Dennis Bergkamp, Peter Beardsley and Ruud Gullit. The idea is that the second striker can drop back into midfield and become more involved the game and you'll note that most of them are creative and can play passes, unlike more direct strikers.

Your example of Toshack-Keegan is akin to the big man - small man combinations of Heskey-Owen and Quinn-Philips. These used to work on the past when English sides in particular played route 1 football often. The idea was for the big man to knock the ball into space for the small man to run into. Few teams use this tactic now. Strikers are now by and large, no longer huge lumbering giants who can only head the ball. The likes of Carroll and Crouch can play with their feet unlike say, Duncan Ferguson.

You're right. Playing a lone front man with no support is a bad idea. It's how Hodgson played Torres and even when he inserted N'Gog to keep him company, they were so isolated, their partnership was ineffective. Unless you have attacking players in midfield, it's futile to have 2 blokes stranded alone up front, hence one should play in front of the other i.e. 4-4-1-1 like when Beardsley played behind Rush.

The idea of having Suarez lead the line therefore was not to have him isolated but to have someone like Gerrard supporting him as a second striker, a role our captain filled really well when he played behind Torres.

Aye, came with quite a reputation saving about 60% of penalties taken against him or something. Maybe he needs a routine like Grobbelar or Dudek to screw with the mind of the penalty taker.

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Added on September 22, 2011, 3:38 pmAnyone know if there is a replay of the game. Came home late last night but failed to stay up long due to alcohol overdose.

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Sep 22 2011, 03:38 PM

here full 10 minutes highlights included the few tries that hit the bar and both manager interview.

http://www.lfc.vn/matchs/videos/c3-highlig...of-the-day.html

I missed the match and after finished the highlights I think Maxi , Kuyt and Bellamy are brilliant in looking for best position.For 2nd goals , there are only Kuyt and Maxi that made the run from our counter attacks. I hope Maxi can feature more in league games.

last match was a blast

i regret for waking up late

Thanks for that.

We should really have wrapped the match up in the first half. We hit the post 3 times and had Suarez been more clinical, we could have opened up a comfortable lead but instead we let Brighton back in during the 2nd half. What a rocket from Bellamy by the way. Smacked the post proper it did. I'm rather surprised we didn't start Doni. He is surely one of the better backup keepers in the league and if he doesn't get to play in the first round of the League Cup, one wonders if he'll ever get a game if Reina stays fit.

Glaring mistake from Coates which almost cost us a goal. If you ask me it was defending 101. Playing the ball across your own penalty box is a no-no if you have opposition strikers waiting to pounce. You get away with it sometimes but it really isn't worth the risk. Hoping he'll settle in soon.

Mistake from Spearing, I think everyone agrees. If I'm to scrutinise, I'd say Carra was a little rash in sliding in as it was a tight angle and it was probably wiser if he had stayed on his feet.

On a last note, I was surprised to see Vicente on the Brighton bench!

I watched the whole match, the second half brighton dominated us. And the last minute mistake by spearing was horrible.. Absolutely horrible.. And it wasn't carra's fault either, he had no choice but to lunge in. Suarez was unlucky tho, but I like bellamy's pace. If downing starts with maxi, bellamy and suarez, not forgetting capt fantastic. We might just put on a good show against wolves. Maxi went into the game with a different approach, instead of playing as a winger, he was placed into the center right behind bellamy and suarez as a feeder. He was class tho that game, so was kuyt. They played an entertaining game of football. But mind I say.. Our defense is looking rather shaky, Brighton was a rather pacey side and we were struggling to keep up defensive wise. Anyway all these are just my 2 cents.

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Added on September 22, 2011, 5:06 pmI just noticed how tall kelly is, what in the world is his height? o.o

This post has been edited by ForsakenFaith: Sep 22 2011, 05:06 PM

Just got a question for you guys.Who do you think will be first choice RB when both kelly and johnson are fit at the same time?

Hypothetical as this scenario never happened once we got enrique.

Maxi > Henderson

Overall the team are playing well in first half and struggle with opposition pace on 2nd half.We should start Bellamy and Suarez and either Kuyt or Maxi on right hand side on this weekend match against wolves.


I am suprised to see Vicente was there too.Back in old days , Valencia have 2 of the world best winger in Joaquin and Vicente.

Coates should learn scouse asap , I think he is still figuring out what Carra talked to him

btw, we should put Skrtel and Coates together , it is quite stressful playing alongside a great CB like Carra that like to yell and organise the defense lines.

Johnson for me , we need his experience and pace to counter pacy winger. Overall Kelly done really well with an important clearance last nite but at his age I prefer King to rotate him with Johnson , young player getting too much games is not a good idea,somemore in right back position he has to do more running and tracking back.. just looks at michael owen and bale.

@LeaF yeahh hahaha he should!! I think KD should test johnson playing on the left wing with kelly playing as the left back. Try giving it a shot, might work out yo!

if KD start henderson n carrol for next match ahead of kuyt, i just don't know what to said..speechless

All Hail Stevie G! Its great to see him back again and a great combo Bellamy + Maxi + Kuyt! Keep going and swallow WOlves!

I think at the very least, both Suarez and Bellamy should start against Wolves. This is a better combination than Suarez + Caroll. Let's hope the competition in the front will bring out more hunger in Caroll's game.

I actually prefer Kelly over Johnson. Whilst Johnson is arguably better going forward, I think Kelly is a better defender and at 6'3", he's better at cutting out crosses to our far post. It says something that Johnson was played on the left last season to accommodate Martin Kelly whom I rate really highly. I think he's been really consistent since breaking into the first team, offensively and defensively. Johnson is a little more erratic and prone to the odd mistake.