Ball possession

[Rudy65]

What delusional myth?

I watched the game live. Normally at Anfield when you're winning by one goal in the last 10 minutes, you think you might feel the squeeze, not at that game though. Nothing in the proceedig 80 minutes had given me any cause to think Liverpool would do anything to trouble Guzan, even With England's great hope comig on. They did nothing and looked entirely in effectual. We didn't ride luck at all, luck doesn't exist. They had one attempt at Guzan and spent the majority of the game passing from centre half to centre half. Lovren must have touched the ball more times than any other player.

Even Rodgers, who is actually not in the Sam Allardyce school of myopia, conceded we deserved it. Granted, the defence wasn't really stretched, but we were as solid as anything. You're re-writing history to suit a narrative.



Liverpool aren't in the class of Arsenal, Chelsea or Man City. They are the epitome of a one man band, highlighted further by Gerrard's slow walk to retirement. Much like Spurs proved, it doesn't matter if you spend £100 million, if you lose a world class player in Suraez or Bale and replace him with three or four good ones, you're still poorer for it.

Agree re the Liverpool match. But your using one game to try to expose a myth which it doesnt. Paulies facts are plain to see. There is no myth. We are very defensive, cant pass and keep possession and are generally total sh1t to watch. Another long hard season awaits

[Chris Smith]

I think we're just shit-scared of losing the ball and not being able to get back into our defensive shape quickly enough when playing these teams (which will include Everton next week) who have these top-quality players who will absolutely plaster you when breaking into space.

The first two games were pretty rubbish possession-wise as well but that first half against Hull, even though they made it kinda easy for us, those two goals were genuinely a product of a sensible passing game, and that was without Cleverley or Benteke, both of whom in theory are pretty tidy on the ball, so there's clearly potential there. Yesterday was dire, but I'm not quite ready to accept defeat on this thing just yet, at least until we see whether this nonsense continues against some of the more mediocre teams.

Everton is two weeks away. By which time Benteke should be fit to start and consequently we will have a forward who can hold it up to bring others into play around him and I would expect to see our share of possession begin to improve.

[Jimbo]

Please don't tell me where I do and don't give credit, especially when I said we defended "well", which you obviously failed to see through misty eyes.

[Risso]

I think we're just shit-scared of losing the ball and not being able to get back into our defensive shape quickly enough when playing these teams (which will include Everton next week) who have these top-quality players who will absolutely plaster you when breaking into space.

The first two games were pretty rubbish possession-wise as well but that first half against Hull, even though they made it kinda easy for us, those two goals were genuinely a product of a sensible passing game, and that was without Cleverley or Benteke, both of whom in theory are pretty tidy on the ball, so there's clearly potential there. Yesterday was dire, but I'm not quite ready to accept defeat on this thing just yet, at least until we see whether this nonsense continues against some of the more mediocre teams.

Everton is two weeks away. By which time Benteke should be fit to start and consequently we will have a forward who can hold it up to bring others into play around him and I would expect to see our share of possession begin to improve.

Well, we'll see.  Now the top 4 are out of the way, there's no excuse not to at least see an improvement.  I really don't like Lambert's style of play at all, but I'll live it with it if delivers results.

[saunders_heroes]

I haven't liked Lambert's style of football at Villa from day one. We play every game like we're a lower league side playing one of the big boys in the Cup, and it's absolutely horrible to watch. Frankly I'm surprised he's got away with it for so long and it seems to me that the fans have been battered into submission by Lerner. I'm sure Ellis is scratching his head in disbelief considering the grief he used to get over the years.
Please show a bit of ambition in January, Randy!

[Ads]

The facts of 10 from 12 are far more significant than how many times Bojan passed the ball back inside or to his full back at Stoke or how many times Huddlestone passed it sideways or back to no effect.

This site has been singularly obsessed with possession since Real Swansea breezed into town and had 70% of it to create one chance. That isn't to say that I want is to needlessly waste possession or lump it or any of the negatives such as that, just that before we played the rich boys, their inability to use the ball compares to ourselves counted for very little in what matters in football; chances, goals and points.

[Ads]

Please don't tell me where I do and don't give credit, especially when I said we defended "well", which you obviously failed to see through misty eyes.

You said it yourself; no strategy, down to luck, myths.

[saunders_heroes]

Please don't tell me where I do and don't give credit, especially when I said we defended "well", which you obviously failed to see through misty eyes.

You said it yourself; no strategy, down to luck, myths.

Ads, do you actually enjoy our style of football? Do you enjoy watching us surrender possesion to the opposition while we sit back and defend for most of the game?

[barrysleftfoot]

 I think the biggest problem is Westwood.He is a bugbear of mine.Because he has no pace he plays too deep, only plays safe passes, and doesn't move around the pitch with enough energy.His lack of movement, mobility, strength, means he protects himself by keeping away from trouble, consequently going forward he offers little support to Delph or Cleverley, let alone the front 3.

 Because he doesn't know how to play the defensive midfield role, you could argue as the deeper lying midfielder it was his job to confront Toure last night, Delph and Cleverley have to play too deep as well.All this means that we are continually p[laying on the counter attack.The problem with that is the ability of the attackers, on the ball, to make the right pass, or right decision, is not there, see Richardson and N'zog last night, and they are over as quickly as they started.

 Get a good defensive midfielder, i think Sanchez can do that, push Delph and Cleverley 5 yards further up, and get a better footballer(s) to play off CB, and we will be fine.Gabby and Weimann are not good enough i'm afraid.

[Chris Smith]

I think the Cleverley, Delph, Westwood trio looks very promising as the core of our midfield. I would hope that will see us retain the ball much better but it is pure fantasy to think that we can dominate against clubs with the quality and depth of squad as Man City and Chelsea.

[Ads]

The midfield sit deep against City because you have the best right back in the league playing a line effectively equivolent to a winger and a massive Serb on the other doing the same.

[saunders_heroes]

I think the Cleverley, Delph, Westwood trio looks very promising as the core of our midfield. I would hope that will see us retain the ball much better but it is pure fantasy to think that we can dominate against clubs with the quality and depth of squad as Man City and Chelsea.

We don't dominate anyone no matter who we play. That's the problem.

[Ads]

I really enjoyed winning at Anfield, it was as comfortable an away win as Stoke. I didn't enjoy Newcastle, as I was nervous in our need to avoid defeat. Fortunately the game was something of a non-entity.

[saunders_heroes]

I really enjoyed winning at Anfield, it was as comfortable an away win as Stoke. I didn't enjoy Newcastle, as I was nervous in our need to avoid defeat. Fortunately the game was something of a non-entity.

Neither of those games were comfortable. Great results but to say they were comfortable is stretching it a bit. We barely touched the ball second half at Anfield.

[Ads]

Guzan should have brought a good book with him for both games; Stoke and Liverpool created nothing, played in front of us and wouldn't have scored if they were still playing now. The only criticism I would have is for Gabby, Bacuna and Senderos missing sitters.