Liverpool v Wolves Player Ratings
by Bromantic on Feb 1, 2012 6:24 PM GMT
in 4. Player Ratings/MoM Polls
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Finally! It feels like forever since Liverpool have had a comfortable win in the Premiership. This was a much needed thumping and it was done without Gerrard. This is exactly the performance Liverpool needed to show that they are gaining confidence and form. In addition, it was nice not to see a huge let down after the two huge wins last week.
This is a great game to move forward from and continue this fantastic run of form.
The ratings as I saw them:
STARTERS
Reina - 6 - Nothing to do all game, except watch one unreal shot bounce off his post.
Johnson - 5 - Very very shaky game from him. He looked tired and just out of it. He owes Spearing a beer for covering his ass a number of times.
Enrique - 8 - He was fantastic. His defending was superb and he set up Kuyt's goal with a beautiful cross field pass after winning the ball in Liverpool's half. I am always amazed at how well he uses his body to defend. He was unbelievable today.
Agger - 6 - Not a ton to do, especially in the second. A few shaky moments in the first half where they were cut open.
Skrtel - 6 - Same as Agger
Kuyt - 7 - Scored after a beautiful one-two with Adam and worked hard all game long. Congrats Dirk on your 50th goal in the EPL.
Spearing - 7 - He was outstanding. He provided good cover for the defense and helped to keep them bored. In addition, he was very good at covering for Johnson, who had a very off game. This was another solid game, and while he may not be Lucas, he is solid cover.
Adam - 8 - He had a great game. In fact, so great that I don't remember any ridiculous fouls that he gave away (feel free to correct that). He should have had a penalty on a great run down the middle and his passing was Xabi-esque. Great cross for Carroll's goal and worked the one-two for Kuyt's.
Henderson - 7 - A seven might be a bit generous, but he was very industrious all game long. He produced a couple of superb passes. Through balls seem to be one of his strengths. As I've said a number of times, the thing I like is I am seeing constant improvement with every performance and he is still very young.
Bellamy - 8 - He would get my vote for MoM. He just ran his ass off and was pulling most of the strings from midfield. His goal was a fortunate, but he created that goal with movement and skill to open up space. He is beginning to rival Enrique for "buy of the season" title.
Carroll - 8 - The moment you guys have been waiting for. I'm sure there are some people doing the double take right now. So for the people wondering what I expect of Carroll, may I present Exhibit A - yesterday's game. He did everything that could be asked of him. He hustled instead of his usual lumbering lollop, he won the aerial battles, he set up teammates and even held up the ball a couple of times. Oh, and he scored too. It was a great run and a well taken goal. He still has some stuff to work on as I think he is still to stagnant in the box a a number of his touches always seem to bounce up instead of staying on the ground, but this might be his turning point. At least I hope it is. Well done.
SUBS:
Jonjo - NA - Not really enough time. Showed some hustle, made one bad decision where he should have played Bellamy it, but not enough time to grade him.
Carragher - NA - Really had nothing to do. I remember one clearance from inside the box, that's about it.
Aurelio - 10 - He gets a ten for being fit. Holy crap, Aurelio sightings are more rare than Bigfoot sightings.
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I figured someone would do it...ahem...NCNole
I looked, it was you (you were the first person I checked). Can’t take it back now, maybe I’ll change that poll entry to “vote for this one if you like hairy dudes in thongs”.
"The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they don't know the game" -Bill Shankly
Haha
Ok, you win this round. There have been one or two people who always check “Other” and then never say who. I figured you were being a smartass.
"The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they don't know the game" -Bill Shankly
I wasn't actually angry
I should have used that damn sarcastic font.
"The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they don't know the game" -Bill Shankly
He did it
He actually did it
Andy Carroll scored…….
by Sweet science on Feb 1, 2012 10:41 PM GMT up reply actions
Most people thought I was typing with mittens on when I posted it in the gamethread
"The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they don't know the game" -Bill Shankly
Were they kitten mittens?
http://sportsandgrits.com/
by Mr. Sanchez on Feb 2, 2012 12:31 AM GMT up reply actions 1 recs
Perhaps they were
"The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they don't know the game" -Bill Shankly
He's got 5 total (3 Premier, 1 FA Cup, 1 Carling Cup)
something we hope goes up as his form improves, and he gets more experience in our system and overall (not just this year, but long term as well).
The Spanish Turncoat has a grand total of 4 (2 Premier, 2 in Champions), and the chances he improves or refinds his form seem awfully slim as time goes by, that is, until Chel$ea sell him for somewhere around 15m to Atletico Madrid.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
I think I recall that Nando’s last goal was in October perhaps that was an EPL goal but that is a long stretch
In the EPL, it's been since September..
he scored in a 3-1 loss to Man U on September 18, then again on the 24th in their 4-1 win over Swansea. The October goals were both against Genk in their 5-0 win on the 19th.
According to wiki, he’s scored more EPL goals since January 1, 2011, for Liverpool (4) than he has for Chelsea (3).
http://sportsandgrits.com/
It was more a comment for Bro
To say he is not a fan of Carroll is an understatement. However even he realised credit was due….
by Sweet science on Feb 2, 2012 6:24 PM GMT up reply actions
He’s starting to look useful. Before he used to be a big pylon that he would try deflect crosses of him. Now he seems to be a big moving pylon that occasionally sticks out a foot. Progress!
"The bell that tolls for all in boxing belongs to a cash register."
-Bob Verdi
I don't hate Carroll (and I realize you are being sarcastic)
Contrary to what people probably think, I don’t want him to fail. That would be a huge drain on the team if he ended up a 35m failure. I just call it like I see it, and I didn’t like what I was seeing from Carroll.
Just unbelievably frustrated with him, until the Wolves game. I think this is the first time he has lived up to his billing as a strong center forward for an entire game.
I think that’s key, the entire game thing instead of a random 10 good minutes every few games that some people feel means he is worthy of more praise than I give him.
"The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they don't know the game" -Bill Shankly
Not saying he's played well
but I think you are discounting valid differences of opinions on his performance. Again, not saying they’ve been great, because several have been terrible, but there are games where I feel he was better, if only a wee bit, than you’ve given him credit for. The Man U FA Cup game for example.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
I recognize that and expect it
And just like you guys defend your position, I defend mine. I hope I don’t come off like I don’t respect what you guys are saying because that is definitely not true (and I think that might be happening). That said, if I disagree with your assessment that you share, I’m still going to defend mine position to you just as you do with yours.
Even though we may not see eye to eye on it, I do enjoy hearing other people’s views. As for the Man U game, I think I was fair to him by grading him with 2 separate grades because it was as if switch turned on at the 80’ mark and he realized he actually was a footballer. It would have been hard to lump that all into one rating.
"The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they don't know the game" -Bill Shankly
Understood, I hope I didn't come off in a similar regard
because that’s not how I intend either. Just respectfully different views of the same thing.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
You didn't and don't
I think, in general, everyone on this blog always has pretty good, calm dialogue, even when we don’t agree.
I was just throwing it out there.
"The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they don't know the game" -Bill Shankly
I kept meaning to post this for you
In honor of Carroll scoring, here is a wonderful fanshot from NC Nole where Carroll scores twice with one shot. Click Here
"The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they don't know the game" -Bill Shankly
Other
I chose to go an unconventional route. Adam likely deserved it or even AC. But I really re-thought my vote after reading your comment about Fabio.
Fabio, congrats on perhaps what is likely to be your only MoM.
I put "Other"...
… and I’d give it jointly to Agger and Skrtel. Pretty much the whole team was good, but in a match that was that wide open, where Johnson and Enrique spent seemingly the whole game in the offensive half, where the central midfield seemed intent on waving traffic through, it’s amazing that Wolves had very few decent chances and the team kept a clean sheet. That’s because Agger and Skrtel shut down anything before it could really develop.
Not convinced that that’s the right answer, but the level of team play was very high and I don’t think any one player deserves it more than another.
Interesting
I thought they looked a little off in the first half, but they got it together for the second. Your logic is sound, but I still go with Bellamy.
I think you are right though, it is hard to give it to one player. That is a good problem to have.
"The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they don't know the game" -Bill Shankly
Other is...
Gerrard for being able to get rest without the team regressing terribly. A little unconventional but a huge relief for the team IMO
Great point as well
"The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they don't know the game" -Bill Shankly
by Bromantic on Feb 2, 2012 2:47 AM GMT via mobile up reply actions
I thought I saw reports of a hamstring issue
are we sure he’s 100%? Or at least close enough to it to play this weekend.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
My thoughts exactly kindred
with him, tweaked can be serious. And let’s hope it’s not followed by some long term debilitating infection that he’s gotten too often of late.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
My Spearing vote looks awfully lonely.
He absolutely worked his ass off, though, and his aid in helping keep the back line sound in the second half served to allow the other midfielders to throw themselves forward. He was all over the place and, as you pointed out, gave a lot of help to a tired-looking Johnson. He also did a fair job of covering for Enrique on his bombing runs up.
Nearly voted for Enrique as he was a freaking monster out there. Carroll certainly deserves a nod as well, as that was possibly the best I’ve seen him play this season.
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It was tough for me too
I thought he was fantastic as well.
"The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they don't know the game" -Bill Shankly
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