This was a SIGNIFICANT improvement on the Arsenal performance.
In horrendous conditions, there was no shortage of skill, passion and desire to win. MON got the tactics spot on and made, I believe, the correct substitutions. He went to win the match and for the last 20 mins we had Liverpool petrified.
Agree. As sickening as it is to lose a game in that way, there were a lot of positives:
Albrighton didn't have a lot to do, but what he did, he did well. I think he has as much to offer as Ashley Young at the moment, especially with Young out of form and being triple marked all the time.
We were at least as good as Liverpool for 92 minutes.
Reo-Coker played very well.
James Milner seems to be getting low ratings from everyone, but I thought he was just as good as ever. He is truly brilliant, astonishingly good at picking a pass.
On the down side, I remember thinking after 5 minutes of the second half "We aren't going to score in this game." As many have said, we lack a class striker. Carew tried reasonably hard, but nearly all of his flick-ons were badly directed. Gabby was quite good, but miles off top class on this display. He never looked like scoring at all.
Like at Arsenal, we were as threatening as kittens in the final 3rd. Worrying, that.
Agree with all youve said, bar the Milner comment.
He is just not as good as being described at the moment. His passing today was at times ok, at others totally woeful, bearing in mind when he went into the middle he was supposed to be our most creative outlet as an attacking midfielder.
If we were to buy one player in Jan, I hope its an attacking midfielder with craft, imagination and vision.