Friday, September 03, 2004

Match Report 040829 at Bolton Wanderers: I wish we have hit the bottom and the only way is up.

0-1. A very poor performance. 1H Rafa was playing a 4-5-1 and the players seem to be not sure how to adapt. Credits to Bolton they keep on pressing us and so there was a lot of miss passes. 2H the situation was not improved despite Cisse was playing. The Luis Garcia goal should stand but somehow I think it's better to lose this game - hope the players will react to the lost and play well starting with West Brom. If we don't win I will be very worried.

Player Rating:
Dudek: 6.5 To be fair he played very well. But we still need Kirkland to be back ASAP. And please Rafa don't loan him somewhere out.
Josemi: 6 Played quite well, unfortunately it was his mistake of not keeping pace with Pedersen that let to him crossing the winning ball to Davies...
Carragher: 7 Another solid performance at Center Back. But the other defensive players let the team time.
Hyypia: Unfortunately he was injuried early on... One of the excuses for the lost.
Riise: 6.5 A fair performance for Riise.
Gerrard: 6.5 So when Gerrard plays well we win, otherwise we fail. Simple as that. And he should be playing at the centre instead of the wings.
Hamann: 6 Hamann as usual. However I would think it was wrong to play him given Alonso is there.
Alonso: 6.5 I think we will definitely like him. But still need to be gel with the team ASAP. And perhaps to adapt to the England pace too.
Garcia: 6.5 Like Alonso I think Rafa bought 2 very good players. Same comment as Alonso, and also not to use hands to stop the ball. He was unlucky not to score on his debut.
Warnock 7: I think he is much better than Kewell at this moment, to be frank. Rafa should play him more. Also, I think Hamann instead of Warnock should be substituted at half time...
Baros 5.5: Just don't understand why he always play well for the national team but not for Liverpool.
Substitutions:
Traore: 5 So why do every manager love him? A mystery. He could end up be player of the match for Bolton. Just scary...
Cisse: 5.5 Only have a half chance for the 2H. Poor.

Rafa: 5 The 4-5-1 proved to be unsuccessful, hopefully it is just the player not get used to it yet. Why he played some of the players are mystery to us, eg, Traore, Hamann, and no Henchoz/Cisse?

Bolton: 7.5 Credits to Bolton and big Sam. They really played a good game. I think they probably can challenge for UEFA cup, and should have no problem to finish top 10. Next game was an easy one for them playing MU.

Man of the Match: Carragher. On a day Hyypia was injuried, Carra was the heart of the defense. However even his attempt of last man save can't prevent that goal.

No comments: