: Mon Aug 17, 2009 10:44 am  

Liverpool have started crap for the last couple of years now. Not having a CL qualifier to get us battle-hardened probably cost us. (Not that I'm a Liverpool player)

: Mon Aug 17, 2009 10:48 am  

Cubby wrote:

Liverpool didn't seem to have the same zip in attack yesterday, towards the end of last season you were wiping teams out as you didn't have much choice as were chasing the champions. It seems Benitez has returned to being a tad more cautious, with 5 minutes to go and game on the line. Gerrard was far too deep in play and wasn't imposing himself at all.

I thought everything about our game was wrong yesterday. We didn't battle for the 50/50's, we didn't chase the second ball, we let Spurs have far too much time on the ball all over the field and we were lazy with the ball. No movement, no support and no quality. It was just a horrid performance. Spurs were free to do almost anything they wanted, they were shooting at distance with almost no pressure on them, they were punting long balls up to Defoe who was able to bring it down, take a touch and give it off without anybody being within 10 yards of him. I remember a point Lennon picked up the ball on the edge of his box, ran straight to our box and the only challenge he got was on the edge of our box, it was just poor play.

I think it was just more than Xabi missing yesterday, our centre backs were lazy, Mascherano had little effect and the wide players offered us absolutely nothing as an outlet. I didn't even think Kuyt and Babel were playing they were so inneffective, Insua and Johnson were the only ones who actually shown up in the wide areas. Whenever we did get possession, we either whacked it aimlessly long, or got it up field only to pass it backwards to be whacked long.

I said to a mate a few weeks ago, a lot of our season will depend on when Benitez gets us to peak physically. Last year we peaked not long after the Everton games in the cup, we went on and played fantastically, but by then it was too late. I fear if he doesn't have us peaking earlier this year, then it'll be the same old same old, out by Christmas them hopelessly playing catch up. There's still lots of time so I'm not writing us off, just saying I hope he changes things a little this year.

: Mon Aug 17, 2009 10:49 am  

Mintball wrote:

It was pointed out elsewhere (The Guardian, IIRC) that he was, indeed, wrong. It should have been 'a massive club'.

He's being quoted as saying that the club has been trying to do business with Everton in a quiet manner, but it was Moyes who decided to 'go public'.

Which is fine and dandy, and would have been the best response IMO, so long as he'd stopped there. To add in the cheap shot just seems petulant and childish to me. It was the same kind of arrogance that made Chelsea so unpopular, and I think he's getting a bit ahead of himself to make noises like that already.

: Mon Aug 17, 2009 10:51 am  

carl_spackler wrote:

Anybody else think that Hughes' comment about Moyes being annoyed by a big club trying to buy Lescott is a bit cheaper than he needed to stoop to?

I don't think it was a cheap comment. He was simply giving his version of the events over their pursuit of Lescott.

: Mon Aug 17, 2009 10:53 am  

carl_spackler wrote:

Anybody else think that Hughes' comment about Moyes being annoyed by a big club trying to buy Lescott is a bit cheaper than he needed to stoop to?

You could try and put it into context. Or does that not suit your agenda?


I'd rather Hughes not make such comments but Moyes has spent the last two or three weeks criticising MCFC and Mark Hughes, as well as our owners. Hughes just brushed off Moyes' comments in the last few weeks. But he knows that his recent sly dig will have hurt Moyes and Everton fans / "The People".

Hughes has made Moyes and Ferguson look a bit silly these last few weeks. I still have doubts about Hughes' tactical ability but he is showing himself to be far more intelligent than Moyes and Ferguson.

: Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:03 am  

carl_spackler wrote: Which is fine and dandy, and would have been the best response IMO, so long as he'd stopped there. To add in the cheap shot just seems petulant and childish to me. It was the same kind of arrogance that made Chelsea so unpopular, and I think he's getting a bit ahead of himself to make noises like that already. Have you watched the interview with him? It's on the BBC website. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 203514.stm I don't think Hughes said a thing wrong. I don't even think he made the comment that Citeh were a bigger club trying to buy one of Everton's players - that was simply the BBC Journos summing up of his comments.

carl_spackler wrote: Which is fine and dandy, and would have been the best response IMO, so long as he'd stopped there. To add in the cheap shot just seems petulant and childish to me. It was the same kind of arrogance that made Chelsea so unpopular, and I think he's getting a bit ahead of himself to make noises like that already. Have you watched the interview with him? It's on the BBC website. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 203514.stm I don't think Hughes said a thing wrong. I don't even think he made the comment that Citeh were a bigger club trying to buy one of Everton's players - that was simply the BBC Journos summing up of his comments.

: Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:53 am  

Utd looked fairly ordinary yesterday, that said though it should have been at least 3-0 with the Owen and Fletcher chances, then the Berba penalty and a few Rooney efforts so it could still have been a hatful. However there are a number of quality players to come in, in Rio, Vidic, Neville, Hargreaves, Anderson, Carrick and Park.

Thought Spurs looked excellent yesterday and with the squad they have they really chould be challenging for honours.

: Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:55 am  

ash4hullfc wrote:

Another plus point, it looks as though we'll be improving our squad with the addition of Sol Campbell over the next couple of days.

Could be at the expense of Collocinni and Taylor though.

: Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:02 pm  

It would be preferable if all transfer dealings were dealt with by "buying" clubs making formal offers in writing to the players' existing club. Although when City did that in the case of John Terry, Chelsea for some strange reason immediately publicised the offer.

Isn't part of the problem that Moyes is annoyed that he hasnt had direct communication from Hughes? He feels put out believing that City are going over his head communicating directly with the Everton board. Whereas Hughes doesnt actually get involved in transfer negotiations, City preferring to deal at CEO/Board level.

The worrying thing from a City perspective is that the issue of a part exchange seems to being mentioned again. Fine if that's Tel Ben Haim or Dunne, not so good if its Onouha.

: Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:24 pm  

Cibaman wrote:

... The worrying thing from a City perspective is that the issue of a part exchange seems to being mentioned again. Fine if that's Tel Ben Haim or Dunne, not so good if its Onouha.

Onouha has only just pen to paper on a new five-year deal though, hasn't he?