20 Dec 2016 13:08:15
This is the way I see last night's game and where we are at the moment.

The goal scorer Mane sums it up. He was lucky. He said it himself. A moment of luck at the end changed everyones perspective on the players performance, the teams performance and even Koeman's performance.

Had that moment of luck (all 10 seconds of it) not happened we would all be praising everyone.

I'm a results type of supporter. That explains why I like Pulis, Moyes and Big Sam managers. They get results. Don't care if it's ugly just make it hard for the opponent to score and try and get one in. I hate losing, especially to last night's opponents.

Here's the BUT, it was the performance last night that was more important for me. Reason being our spirit and fight was at an all time low before the Arsenal game.

I was so glad to see it was not a one off and the players not only done it to again but done it forms the start. They showed they cared and tried there heart out.

That's all we can ask. If that effort is maintained we are onto a winning formula. Yes we lost technically. That's one game. It was the fight and determination showed in that game and against Arsenal that will get a momentum going.

Good times are ahead. Definitely going in the right direction when we beat Arsenal and deserved at least a draw against you know who.

When Koeman gets enough time and enough of his own players we will be challenging at the very top. Just look at our performance in the last 2 games. Both teams challenging for the title.


1.) 20 Dec 2016
20 Dec 2016 13:33:00
Great post NBTB.

It was only last that people were saying if we got one point from the next three games it would be enough, well we got 3 so far.

I don't care what anyone says we deserved a point last night against ( and I hate saying this ) top class opposition. For the first time in a long time the whole team showed up to play and it frightened our opposition.

What I really enjoyed was watching Lukaku getting stuck in for a team mate when the handbags started flying. That was the first time I have seen him even acknowledge other team members. I loved the way the RS kept backing away from him when he shook off his team mates heheheh.

I mentioned on chat last night we were the Puppies of war, a few more weeks like the way we played last night and the dogs of war will be back.


2.) 20 Dec 2016
20 Dec 2016 14:03:06
I can't see how u think we deserved a point this is were we are going wrong we had 30 mins of us stoping liverpool from playing an pressing them but created nothing after that we caved in nothing up top nothing going forward we look poor the lack of quailty in r team is dragging us down how ya can say we deseverd a point from a game were we had 32% possesion an 6 attemps at goal 1 on target in 90 mins at HOME in a derby is beyond me.


3.) 20 Dec 2016
20 Dec 2016 14:48:46
NBTB - if you take the 1st half in isolation, I would completely agree. At half time I was chuffed and thought it was our best 45 minutes of the season so far.

I expected us to kick on in the 2nd half and put them under pressure, but the opposite happened. We showed no quality on the ball and didn't look like we could score if the game went on all night.

Agree that the fight was encouraging, particularly after the last few games, but you can't win games with tackles alone.


4.) 20 Dec 2016
20 Dec 2016 14:59:16
Just look at the stat that other teams who faced the RS this season have. With 68% possession they usually score 3 - 4 goals, with us they had one lucky rebound to win the game.

Losing one nil against a team in the top four is hardly caving in. I'm not saying we deserved to score, but I am saying they also did not deserve to score.

If we lack so much quality how did we manage to hold out for so long? because they did not play badly, we held out due to our defense and we were very unlucky to concede that is how I can say we deserved a draw.

We played to our strengths and held the leagues top scorers to one goal.


5.) 20 Dec 2016
20 Dec 2016 16:21:39
That sums it up for me Grumpy. Well said.

We have no quality? That's very much debatable. We totally deserved a draw. Stats can be misleading and they certainly were last night imo. We were by far the better team in the first half yet Liverpool had something like 56% possession. Just because the stats are in your favour doesn't mean you were the best team.

I say look at Grumpy's post to see that.

On quality? Arsenal definitely have quality and we beat them. We have quality. Might not be what we want in certain areas but we definitely have quality.


6.) 20 Dec 2016
20 Dec 2016 17:14:09
NBTB - I think we defended very well, and it can be argued either way whether we deserved a draw but if you were saying who deserved to win, you would have to say they did.

And if you read the post, I said "We showed no quality on the ball", and I don't think you can argue with that. We didn't create anything with the ball.

Off the ball we were very good and that was very encouraging. It's definitely an encouraging base to work on, and I agree we have quality off the ball. But that alone doesn't win you games - only goals can win you games and we didn't look like scoring in a month of sundays against one of the most inconsistent defences in the league and that was a big disappointment for me.

{Ed025's Note - good post that mate, and very fair..


7.) 20 Dec 2016
20 Dec 2016 19:38:56
southern_toffee I agree to a certain extent. I think we have quality in areas. Last night we did not have killer instinct. When Barkley and Rom are our best players we win games. Unfortunately last night they were ok and not our best players. In the final third we were not good enough I agree. I never said we were.

I'm more pointing out the team as a whole have obviously changed their attitude and are trying very hard. The first half they ran their socks off. What more can you ask players to do?

Before the Arsenal game there was talk the players weren't playing for Koeman. During the Arsenal game and last night no one can say that. That is what I'm simply saying and am very happy with.

It kills me to see players not bothering. Almost everyone was posting on here how it annoyed them that the players didn't seem bothered. I think the players should get some credit for the change in attitude.

Yes the finishing was nonexistent. I don't know why they don't shoot more. Twice in the first 20mins Barkley had half chances and although it might not be expected he would score, he certainly should of done better. I even said so in the live chat room. Anyone can check it if they really want to.

Totally agree our chances and finishing needs to improve. The area for me that improved immensely was the fight and desire to play for the jersey and one another on the pitch. Someone posted and I noticed this myself. Lukaku got involved with the handbag's at one stage. I know it doesn't matter in the whole scheme of things but it certainly is important for me that players care and stand up for one another.

Players are well payed and are looked after. They get their fair share of criticism as well. I think its only fair to give them praise when they deserve it also. Regardless of quality.

Quality alone doesn't make a winner. Quality and determination does.

{Ed025's Note - great post NBTB..


8.) 20 Dec 2016
20 Dec 2016 19:42:55
One thing we have learnt from the last 2 games is we will be a much different animal with 2 or 3 key signings. The games Before it looked like we needed 7 or 8.


9.) 20 Dec 2016
20 Dec 2016 21:05:15
Southern Toffee, we did play well and the last two games against the Arsenal and RS have shown we can play and we can stop others playing. The only thing we do forget to do is play up to and beyond 90 minutes. Others do it, I do wonder if RK believes in Sports Psychologists (not exactly in the Hoddle mold, but he was an innovator, that got things going until, shall we say he had others questioning his mental stability) .


10.) 20 Dec 2016
20 Dec 2016 21:11:04
Thats a good and valid point you make Smit666.


11.) 21 Dec 2016
20 Dec 2016 22:27:42
Jeers Ed025. Totally agree Smit666. 2 or 3 key signings would be fantastic for us and make us so much stronger.