I hear this a lot, people talk about the team and the tactics etc and say its no different tp last year, Really? Huge squad turnaround, blooding of youth in the big games and goals being scored from all over, anyone think the addition of Sturridge and Coutinho is no improvement on Carroll and Adam?
Has the pace, movement and cutting edge improved? Yes I know we have had setbacks, but nowhere near what happened last season after Christmas by a long way. Well tomorrow is another indication of how far we have or have not come, 2 goals to peg back and a clean sheet to boot....im banking on a LFC win; zenit are poor travelers and if we score 1...which is likely then I can see 2 or 3 following, shame Sturridge and borini are out but its a chance for others, the crowd will play its part and I reckon Stevie and Suarez will be the difference.
Have we Improved? Im hoping tomorrows result will provide evidence that we have.
Have we improved?
posted on 20/2/13
zenit are poor travelers
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Hmm, are they?
There last 6 away results in the CL:
Shaktar 2-2 Zenit
Porto 0-0 Zenit
Benfica 2-0 Zenit
Malaga 3-0 Zenit
Anderlecht 1-0 Zenit
Milan 0-1 Zenit
Three very good results there at Shaktar, Porto and Milan.
Only two defeats by the sort of scoreline we need, at Malaga and Benfica. Are we as good as Malaga and Benfica, without Sturridge and Coutinho? Probably not.
We have a mountain to climb tomorrow. It is possible to climb it, but its not likely.
Our one hope is that Suarez has the game of his life. He is our truly world class player who can turn any game, and he might feel responsible for us being behind in the tie given his misses in St Petersburg.
If Suarez is anything less than 90%, I think we basically have no chance.
posted on 20/2/13
I hear this a lot, people talk about the team and the tactics etc and say its no different tp last year
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Are people really saying this? Not seen it myself... I think people tend to say more that results haven't improved. A very shortsighted opinion IMO.
posted on 20/2/13
R u serious righteous? 6 away games they scored 3 goals and won 1 game! 4 of those games they have failed to score.....I fancy our chances mate!!
posted on 20/2/13
Mmm, I don't see 5 points in six matches as anything other than poor form, regardless of whether its the CL. I do agree that we have an extremely difficult task to win the tie. The key is an early goal. If it gets to half time without us scoring, I think we've had it...
posted on 20/2/13
Yes but they are all hard away games, and we have to win by 2 goals, (or 3 if they score).
They rarely lose by 2 or more goals, even against Champions League opposition, is my point.
They are far stronger away from home than the likes of Olympiakos were, for example.
Do you think our results in those 6 games would be much better?
With Sturridge and Coutinho I think we could be better than Zenit. Without them? I think we are heavily relying on Suarez.
posted on 20/2/13
Righteous.......European night game at Anfield with the likes of Reina, Gerrard, Suarez, Agger and Lucas....plus the crowd driving the team on.
We can do it.
posted on 20/2/13
"Over the top, boys, and get tore right intae them" as us Jocks say, nothing less will do. JimmyTheRed
posted on 20/2/13
Jimmy. I thought it was Blackadder that said it?
posted on 21/2/13
we actually have a plan and it looks as though the owners will actually see this through. Gone are the days when we were signing players just because they are available. We are buying players to fit into our system and ones that will flourish in the future. Whilst our current league position is no better, it would be foolish to say that we haven't improved.
remember the saying: "its better to be at the bottom of the ladder you want to be on, than half way up the one you don't want to be on." well we are now on the right ladder and i'd say we are at least halfway up it!!
posted on 21/2/13
Terminator. Stop that right now! Blackadder was and still is, to many people, many different things. But he was never a Jock. Good post Philo, fully agree. JimmyTheRed