2 Comments

1. 

   robin crimes on 25 November 2013 at 8:52 pm

   Good podcast! Can’t disagree with any of the points made (not that I want to). Also, I’ve always wondered what kind of people watch channels like the Food Network. Flanagan has to get a run of games. How can he possibly put Cissokho before him for Hull? Can’t do it on merit and can’t do it for the message it sends to the rest of the squad. Surely, Sakho has to be playing before both Agger and Skrtel. Talk about wingin it. I’m amazed more isn’t being said about them pair. They’re ok but….

   Allen missed a sitter. I’ve seen the best players in the world do it (albeit not in a Merseyside derby). He’s an asset to Liverpool. Whether that’s in the squad or the first team is debatable but we certainly need players of his calibre outside the first 11. I’m worried the Twitter idiots have knocked his confidence beyond repair at LFC. I pray he can get over this.

   Anyway, the point I want to make is regarding Mignolet. Absolute respect to him overall. All the praise on the podcast was justified. I find it disappointing though that Everton’s opener was a result of a terrible error by him and one that, in fairness, shouldn’t be happening at that level.

   Just to remind you – I think it was Allen had possession on the left and squared it to Skrtel. He miscontrolled it and hurriedly played it 30 yards back to Mignolet who under minimal pressure spannered it into touch not much further than his box. They then got possession and 10 seconds later won the free kick. They shouldn’t have had possession but for poor play. We have to eradicate these daft errors. It’s not the first time I’ve seen him kick the ball out of play. That’s more of an observation than a criticism. I suppose it’s similar to golf where you never have a day when your putting, driving, irons and chipping are all going well.

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2. 

   Tom C on 28 November 2013 at 1:11 am

   Gutted by the Allen miss, not only because it would have won us the game but also because I was enjoying watching his effect on our midfield and he could really use a break in fortune. Although Everton won the midfield overall, I think after the intensity of their initial press faded, up until Allen misses that shot, and particularly after Barry switched to left back (thought that was a very poor decision by Martinez to move him actually) we had the most control of a game we’ve had against a decent side in years.

   I’m sorry but many fans are idiots, sure missing that shot really hurts but it says very little about what he brings to the team. I also think that unless you are top-class manager the only way you can really judge what a player brings to the midfield is by observing the difference when they aren’t playing because it is all about the performance of the unit as a whole. I think the classic case in point, is how everyone ridiculed Benitez for wanting to replace Alonso with Barry who no one rated. I didn’t understand it at the time either but after looking back at Barry’s career at City and now at Everton I am only just realising how good a player he actually is (sure Alonso is still a better player but at the time he was struggling to get to terms with the premier league and what’s the bet Barry wouldn’t have agitated for a move to Real and leave us in the shit). I reckon Allen has the potential to be as good or better than Barry, which will be good enough for us even if no one except the manager appreciates it. But unfortunately, until Gerrard retires he is not going to get much of a game because as you say Gerrard is taking up that third place in the midfield despite not doing a whole lot with it when we play against decent opposition.

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