Southampton 2-0 Liverpool - fan match report

I am actually pretty tired of Phil Thompson's reluctance to admit that the team is really not up to par with the rest of the top premiership teams. The current team lack ideas (pumping the high balls into penalty areas and hoping that one of the striker will nod on......) and pass poorly (e.g. against West Ham, Blackburn, and now Southampton, they all hold and pass the ball better). And they can't even hold up the ball properly. Which result in the opponents knowing perfectly how to play against us. The attack is too predictable and there is a lack of movement in front of goal. Our playing style is too direct and slow......e.g. when one player is going to receive the ball, another player should have made the run and the player receiving the ball must recognise that run.....i.e. before you receive the ball, u must know what to do. Where is our wall passing, the triangles and the one-twos......even the lesser teams are playing better. I remember Bill Shankly's training method of passing........setting four walls on the field and tasking three players to keep on passing and moving or something like that. The triangle passing that Liverpool mesmerised opponents and attracted so many fans in the 80's, can only be seen in Manchester United's playing style (on a consistent basis) and some of the lesser teams on their better days. The team must improve or else, it will be another season where all the talk about the championship is nothing but "hot air". Although we won five trophies last season, but somehow, there is this feeling of vulnerability about the team........ It is not about losing the match, but how you lose the match. The best team in England is still Manchester United. Even when they lose, they had their chances in front of goal. At least, they threaten to score! Football is still about scoring goals. Liverpool does not look like coming back when they are down, the best they can do is salvage a draw.......because the team doesn't look like scoring......it is a far cry from the days where even we are down three, we still have a chance of coming back.....but now, only the commentors would say, "Never write off Man United or the Champions!" Whereas for Liverpool, we only had a couple of chances.......... I am not supporting Manchester United, but the best way to improve is to admit who is the best team presently, and play like them, but play better than them.... Alex Ferguson built his team like Liverpool of the 80's. (I think he did openly admit that) They were the best team then. If you look closely at the way the present Manchester United team plays, it is no different from the past great Liverpool teams. It is important to know one's inadequacy and learn and improve from the best in order to improve............... Gerard Houllier and the rest of the staff had done a great job......at least, now there is greater commitment and more determination....not like those days......where effort is lacking........presently, I feel the effort is there, but we still lack that little bit of the edge to reclaim the tag of "best team in England" and championship. I still think Heskey is a great player.....he works his heart out for every game and had great attitude..........football is still a team game....when it comes to losing and winning......everybody plays a part and is responsible. Forget about the press for saying all those negative things........

A Liverpool fan since the 80's.......... From Singapore.....Keng Leng