August Month Report

2 wins and 2 defeats and we did not have a good start. The lose of Xabi affected the team and we have some problems in defending set pieces, with all 7 goals conceded from set pieces. Together with some players not performing, we find ourselves 6 points behind the leading teams. But this is still early in the season and we have enough games to catch up. But the margin of error is becoming smaller and we need to pick up as many points as we can.

Players of the Month (1) Johnson 7.25 (2) Gerrard 6.97 (3) Kuyt 6.89. Johnson had a flying start for us and have already scored two goal, created another and won us a penalty. His attacking instinct is really eye catching. Gerrard, despite not performing well, was still in the heart of the team and scored a late winner for us at Bolton. Kuyt is as usual a hard working and consistent player and had scored one and created another goal for us.

September prediction:
9/12 Burnley (h) Burnley can beat Manchester at home but their away form is not as good. We need to take our chances.
9/16 Debreceni VSC (h) It had been a long time since we play a Hungarian team, and we should have enough workforce to beat them.
9/19 West Ham United (a) West Ham had a indifference start but their home form was good. We need to be at our top to get 3 points.
9/23 Leeds United (a) A game for the youngsters to show what they can.
9/26 Hull City (h) Hull is strong at the start so we need to be alert of them especially the set pieces.
9/29 Fiorentina (a) A trip to Italy would not be easy, and we need to be patience.

Match Report 090829 at Bolton Wanderers: We have the character

3-2 and we need a late goal and a sent off to take the 3 points home. Once again there is some fault in the defense and we conceded two silly goals, but the team show character and fight back. The performance was not beautiful, but at the end it's the three points that matter.

Players Rating:
Reina: 6.5 Couldn't do much on the two goals conceded.
Johnson: 7.5 Another superb goal to bring us back in the game.
Carragher: 6 Getting slower and slower. Need to pick up condition soon.
Kyrgiakos: 6.5 Solid in head but need to improve the communications with teammates.
Insua: 6.5 A solid performance.
Lucas: 6.5 Still conceding needless fouls.
Mascherano: 6.5 Solid as usual.
Kuyt: 8 Worked extremely hard and created the equalizer.
Gerrard: 7.5 Poor in 1H but step up in 2H after Davis dismissal.
Riera: 6 Could not start attacks from the left.
Torres: 7.5 One goal one assist despite still poor in form.

Substitutions:
Benayoun: 7 Created many chances.
Voronin/Dossena: 6.5 Not enough time to impress.

Rafa: 6.5 Would be delighted about how the team responded, but still need to sort out the mess in defense.

Bolton Wanderers: 6 Did not do much to try to win the game although they were twice ahead.

Man of the Match: Kuyt. Really responded to Rafa's call.

Bounce back

After a very poor display early this week it is now time to rebound. Bolton is a tough place to visit and they will be bombering us, and our defense need to be ready to have a good fight.

My Team Prediction:

Reina
Johnson
Carragher
Kyrgiakos
Insua
Gerrard
Mascherano
Kuyt
Benayoun
Riera
Torres

Result 2:0

Match Report 090824 vs Aston Villa: Another poor result

1-3 and it was a very poor performance. We did OK in the first 30 minutes, but then conceded two goals from set pieces. The second was in particular hard to take as players lost concentration arguing with the referee for a corner right at the end of the first half. After Torres equalised Stevie G was quick to concede a needless penalty and game over.

Many players were not in good match condition and we seems to have a problem when the opponent pressed our team. Midfield is completely lost, and we need to sort it out quickly.

Players Rating:
Reina: 6 Should concentrate more instead of arguing with the referee.
Johnson: 6 Failed to showcase his attacking skills in this match.
Carragher: 7 Solid in defense and willing to help attack especially in the second half.
Skrtel: 6 Did OK after his injury.
Insua: 6.5 Good crosses that lead to the Torres goal.
Mascherano: 6.5 Solid as usual.
Lucas: 6 Unlucky to concede an own goal and at times lost his concentration.
Kuyt: 6 Have a few chances but failed to convert.
Gerrard: 6 Did not do well and conceded a penalty that basically ended the game.
Benayoun: 6.5 Have an early chance but after that not much contribution.
Torres: 6.5 Scored a goal but should do more.

Substitutions:
Voronin/Babel: 6 Failed to change the game.

Rafa: 6 Would need to sort out how to combact when teams pressing us.

Aston Villa: 7 Did well in counter attack and were deserved winner of the game.

Man of the Match: Carragher. One of the few players who did not let the fans down.

Keep winning

After a midweek victory we need to keep up the winning habit to close the gap with the front team, particular in a week when all the remaining big 4 are winning. We beat Villa 5-0 in our last meeting and they are still in a poor form, but we still need to work hard and be patience to win the game tonight.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Johnson
Carragher
Skrtel
Insua
Mascherano
Lucas
Benayoun
Gerrard
Kuyt
Torres

Result 2:0

Match Report 090819 vs Stoke City: Players respond

4:0 and the players really responded to Rafa's rally call. We started the game well and Torres scored an early goal that eased the nervousness of the team. We then rolled on and at half time Johnson secured the win with a acrobatic finish. We keep pressure in the second half and at the end the pressure pays off and we finally beat Stoke in the third attempt.

Players Rating:
Reina: 7.5 One superb save early in the second half to secure the clean sheet.
Johnson: 8.5 Superb all round performance on both ends.
Carragher: 7 Lead the defensive line well.
Ayala: 7 A good home start debut despite a bit nervous.
Insua: 7 Support the attack well.
Lucas: 7.5 Support the attack with confidence.
Mascherano: 7 Doing the dirty works well.
Kuyt: 7.5 Worked hard and was rewarded with an easy tap in goal.
Gerrard: 8 Two superb assists.
Benayoun: 7 Provided confidence to the team.
Torres: 7.5 Early goal to set the tone of the game.

Substitutions:
Voronin: 7 Have a shot on target but was saved.
Riera: 7 Not much contribution:
Ngog: 7.5 Scored the easiest goal in the right place.

Rafa: 7.5 Would be delighted in the way the team responded.

Stoke City: 6 Very defensive display and rely on set pieces only. Would need to improve their away form if they want to survice.

Man of the Match: Johnson. Provided another dimension to us.

Stand up and be counted

After a disappointing game on Sunday with many players AWOL, it is now for them to stand up and be counted. Stoke was an expect in blanking us in two games last season, and we need to improve from Sunday to beat them and claim the three points.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Johnson
Carragher
Skrtel
Insua
Mascherano
Lucas
Kuyt
Gerrard
Riera
Torres

Result 2:0

Match Report 090816 at Tottenham Hotspur: Disappointed Start

1-2 and this is a very disappointing performance. We have left a big gap in the middle after Xabi left and it is a real big problem.

We did not start the game well and Spurs have been pressing us hard from the first minute. Many players were still out of condition and did not play hard especially during the first half. It was not until the second half that the Spur players were tired that we started to control the game, but we failed to provide the supply to Torres to finish the game. We did not deserve a win, although a shout for penalty is valid and we could have get an undeserved draw.

Players Rating:
Reina: 7.5 Saved us from more shame.
Johnson: 7 An impressive debut and earned a penalty.
Carragher: 6 A sloppy performance.
Skrtel: 6 Did not play well after collision with Carra.
Insua: 6.5 Tried hard to support attack.
Lucas: 6 Sit too deep and unable to provide killer pass.
Mascherano: 6 Not yet to his best condition and faked an injury.
Kuyt: 6 Tried hard but not much contribution.
Gerrard: 6.5 Very quiet game overall.
Babel: 5.5 Very poor with few contribution.
Torres: 6 Quiet as he did not receive any service.

Substitutions:
Benayoun: 7 Tried very hard to win possession.
Ayala: 6.5 A good debut.
Voronin: 6.5 Should have won us a penalty.

Rafa: 6 Poor performance and need to gear up the team.

Tottenham Hotspur: 7 Played well and deserved to win.

Man of the Match: Reina. Made many saves or we will be losing 4 goals at least.

Season Starts

After 3 months finally the new season will start. We have some players changes but the hear of the team is basically here and one year wiser. With the weakening of other teams we are in a better position to win the league this season.

The Spur game is the 6th away start in a row for Rafa and it will be tough. Spur is very strong at home as can be seen last year, and we have a so-so pre-season form with a few injuries. But the team is picking up form and we will be targeting for an away win to start the season.

My Team Prediction:
Reina
Johnson
Carragher
Skrtel
Insua
Mascherano
Lucas
Kuyt
Gerrard
Riera
Torres

Result 2:0