LAST week, when we decided to do player ratings, John said: “Do you want to do Besiktas at home as the first one?” And I said “Well, as you’ll do most of them, you do the first one and set the tone. So hang on for Southampton.”
The tone he set was dead funny. It’s easy to be dead funny when you win. It’s harder to be dead funny going out on pens on a terrible pitch when you should have put the tie to bed first half.
The other thing we said is that we’d be like L’Equipe. We’d use all the numbers. Five would be average, alright. A solid enough performance. A nought would be achievable. You should be able to have a lad getting a three and still win and that three could still mean he did OK in patches. All the numbers are in play. We’ll take into account circumstances etc., but in a climate where five seems like a baseline and anything beneath it is abhorrent, our numbers might seem harsh.
Let’s also remember, we said, we’re idiots and there is nothing objective about this. We’ll always be wrong.
So we can use this game, with its very good first half where Liverpool should have put the tie to bed, its pretty poor second half and then the tired extra time and penalties to demonstrate what we mean. So three figures for this game — 1. first half 2. second half and 3. extra time/pens.
SIMON MIGNOLET: 5/6/5
Did alright, little wrong, commanded his box, saved everything he could. No chance with the goal. What a strike that was. Sensible Soccer goal, bending away outrageously into the net. Unlucky with the pens.
KOLO TOURE: 5/4/4
Little to do first half, seemed a little lacking in practice second. It’s a tough position for him. He, Skrtel and Lovren would all most like to be the centre of the three in this shape.
MARTIN SKRTEL: 6/6/5
Dealt with Ba well enough. Good blocks, tackles and headers.
DEJAN LOVREN: 5/4/4
Should do a bit more for the goal — contrast and compare with Skrtel’s blocks in recent weeks. Playing a big ball a bit too often first half, did OK in extra time. Feel for him over the penalty. Can happen to anyone. If You’ll Never Walk Alone means anything, it means you don’t rant and rave over a lad missing a penalty in a shootout, you don’t discuss how much he’s on a week, you don’t use it as a metaphor for his whole season. He missed a penalty. He will have been trying to score.
JORDON IBE: 5/4/-
Second half was the first time he was exposed. First half he did OK. Probably should have been hooked earlier, but it’s not my job. Noticeable that he was targeted relentlessly.
EMRE CAN: 5/3/4
Intriguingly I’d say that it was Emre’s poorest game in this run he has had and it was in his preferred position. Lovely pen. We missed him at the back and Henderson in midfield.
JOE ALLEN: 8/2/4
First half proved my point. Second half proved Dave Segar’s. Ended up nowhere. Extra time he looked very leggy. Great pen.
ALBERTO MORENO: 7/6/6
All round Liverpool’s best performer on the night. Great energy and purpose. He’s currently coming on game after game. Seems a good lad.
RAHEEM STERLING: 5/4/4
Suffered most from the state of the pitch and from Besiktas’s lads being brilliant at nearly fouling but not quite. I love that sort of thing. Raheem obviously doesn’t. He did OK, but could never quite get himself going.
DANIEL STURRIDGE: 5/4/4
Hardest to rate. First half I suppose you have to be in a position to miss them and his movement was excellent. Regardless, the ball should have hit the back of the net and ended the tie. Second he wasn’t in it and that isn’t his fault. Extra time, he looked goosed. Rustier than the Gormley’s on Crosby Beach
MARIO BALOTELLI: 6/4/-
Good first half. Held it up very well, was involved, closed well, some lovely touches. Second he just couldn’t help the side out as much. Acted as a lightning rod for all sorts of nonsense. Looks a lovely lad when he smiles. I love in-game montages. An editor, telling a little story.
SUBS
JAVIER MANQUILLO: -/5/5
Looked a little short of games but did OK when he came on.
RICKIE LAMBERT: -/-/5
Caused a ruckus, took a good penalty as you’d expect.
ADAM LALLANA: -/4/5
Just couldn’t impact upon the game, came on to something that was a little too chaotic and disjointed. Good pen.
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Pics: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda
SIMON MIGNOLET: 8
KOLO TOURE: 7
MARTIN SKRTEL: 7
DEJAN LOVREN: 4
JORDON IBE: 4
EMRE CAN: 3
JOE ALLEN: 6
ALBERTO MORENO: 7
RAHEEM STERLING: 1
DANIEL STURRIDGE: 2
MARIO BALOTELLI: 6
Onward and upward. They all played hard. Cheers.
Didn’t see the first half as I was driving back from work and feckin’ 5Live didn’t have it on the radio, either.
From what I saw, Moreno and Skrtel were the pick. I don’t know whether I’d feel differently if I saw the first half, but based on what I did see of the whole tie Besiktas deserved it. I think given we were second-best for most of this tie, limiting the opposition to one goal in 210mins speaks volumes for the defence, all of whom would have at least a 6 from me (Skrtel possibly an 8).
We didn’t lose this tie because of anything the defence did/didn’t do (Lovren(*) included). We failed to score from open play in 210mins. Normally when that happens the opposition’s best players will be their defence and goalkeeper. Not this time. ‘Nuff said I reckon.
(* I like Neil’s comment about Lovren’s penalty miss. Spot on. I really hope we don’t get any of that shite on here).
I also was driving back from work for the first half. My car radio doesn’t get medium wave so I carry a shower radio in the car to listen to matches. I lowered myself to listening to the coverage on TalkSport. Grim stuff. Then got into the house and watched the coverage on ITV4. Grimmer stuff.
My heart sank when I saw poor Dejan try to psyche himself into believing that he’d score. He did a good impression of looking confident. The outcome was despressingly predictable.
Can’t help but feel a bit relieved that we at least have a few less games now for the run. Makes you wonder what all the focus about qualifying for Europe is all about when your left with that feeling. We’ve been conditioned to subject ourselves to this shitbox of a cycle of league games – gruelling schedule – exit from Europe – heightened focus on making the top 4 – qualification for Champions League/Europa League (repeat). Might seem a bit churlish to bemoan that when many teams would love to qualify regularly for Europe. I blame sky but then again I blame them for a lot of things
We were good in the first half, very professional. Mario was the best of our forward players and created a great chance for Sturridge. Put that away (and he really should have) and we’re through. Moreno, Skrtl and Kolo had good games. Second half was poor, by any standards.
I know you’re keen to defend Lovren, and I don’t blame him for missing the pen, but he was piss poor again. He’s always drawn to the ball too high up the pitch and doesn’t sense danger. Kolo was much, much better.
Having watched the whole game I don’t think you’ve got much wrong here. I must admit to having a scream at the tv when Dejan hit his pen like he hit nearly every pass over 20 yards, but I don’t blame him for the defeat, and agree he did some good things. While I think Chris Mc’s 1 is a bit harsh, Raheem’s non-penalty was worse than Lovren’s actual penalty.
The problem was definitely the top of the pitch, a problem most had assumed we’d solved but has started to rear up again in the past few matches. Studge deserves a bit of slack because of 5 long months out (and his record to date), but my god I’ve never shouted “Just fucking hit it!” as much at anyone in nearly 30 years watching the reds. I was hoping he would have spent some time working on his right foot in that time. It’s not even like it needs to improve that much, he just needs to TRUST it.
I thought Mario did really well, not only to hold the ball up on that bouncy castle, but to resist the provocation that had definitely been a dressing room instruction from Bilic. It’s the added engagement I find the most encouraging – hopefully the finishing isn’t too far behind. Both he and Kolo did enough to convince me they should start against their old team on Sunday.
On what planet does anyone rate Mignolet on a par with the poor performance from the forwards during that first half ?
Mind boggling.
I think if its accepted your a good player under no circumstances can it be pointed out you had a vile performance. Had it for years with Gerrard. Even when he was world class he had the odd poor game but no one would say so.
Sterling/Sturridge the worst two performers on the pitch tonight, Can not far behind. We tried to carry those three, while Besiktas carried no one.
Forgot to add:
BRENDAN RODGERS: 3
Yes, 3. As in 3 European competitions he’s managed us in that have resulted in 3 abysmal, pathetic showings from a proud football club with traditions steeped in European football. Not even reached the last 16 once in two Europa Leagues and one Champions League. Fucking hell. Of course this won’t be relevant until the exact same things occur to us this time next year in the Europa League (if we reach European football post xmas).
*yawn*
what are you on! Sterling and Sturridge were dreadful, 2s at best. They have gone back to being kids on the yard who dribble until they lose the ball, in fact change that to 1s. And Rodgers a resounding 0!!! Balotelli had a go and must have been dumbfounded when taken off.
If any consensus emerged from the Joe Allen pieces it was that if one forgets his price tag or Brendan’s ludicrous soubriquet, Joe Allen’s a good squad player. Maybe not first team material but able to step in and do a job. Kolo’s a good squad player too, Mario might even turn out to be, Lovren is not. I’ve no problem with his missing the pen, at least he stood up, but he’s a woeful defender: never there to snuff out danger (not the number of blocks and interceptions Kolo and Skrtl made tonight) and too often caught ahead of the play. Just clueless.
Took me ages to get back.82 to Speke stopped at every bloody stop!
Unfortunately Lovren looks as though he couldn’t find his own man in a telephone box.Never mind the penalty.Didn’t your heart sink when you saw him walking up? His probably did too.
It’s a shame really.Maybe a lack of confidence?I’m sure he doesn’t’t play like that deliberately.
But for all the money spent there doesn’t appear to be much strength in depth at the moment.
Then again the “big” European squads cost about £500/£600 million.
That’s the reality and we’re punching above our weight even now.
There are some on other websites who shall remain nameless who sincerely believe that Lovern is a better Defender than Sakho and if you say otherwise you’ll be banned from said site.
I kid you not
Henderson 10, Coutinho 10,
Lucas 10, Sakho 10.
Gerrard 11.
This is Spinal Tap and you’d lick his love pump!
Sterling wan, Sturridge wan too.
not arsed about these player ratings.
Gutted we lost. We could’ve won this trophy.
The manager made some mistakes
The players did too
The pitch looked poor.
My 6 yr old burst into tears (dressed in full goalie kit) when we went out.
Didn’t think we were very good against Southampton either
Not arsed you’re not arsed.
0?
Your second sentence onward looked like it might have been a poem, or even better a series of haikus. Disappointing.
What’s he complaining about? I was wearing a Joe Allen shirt and still managed to smile!
Mind you I did swap it for my Lovren shirt at half-time.
Ahh it’s your fault then Brian! Actually could be mine, I checked when the draw for the next round would be made just before their goal. When will we learn what power we have?! I was looking forward to another trip to Anfield this season, but sadly that’s not to be. I like that no-one’s arsed by Europa league, makes getting a ticket a little easier! Roll on City, we’lI be playing on fumes but you never know, YNWA.
‘Besiktas’s lads being brilliant at nearly fouling but not quite.’ Great observation. When we looked the part first half, they were experienced experts at half fouls not getting given to disrupt us being better than them then we’d be all young and naïve in throwing in a 2/3s foul in response which the ref would give. Was doing my head in (though I had huge respect for it secretly).
‘Seems a good lad’ of Moreno is just too perfect. You’re so right; he really, really seems a lovely lad. The naughty footballer tattoos aside but that’s just accepted practice nowadays.