striker

No we didn't play well at all. However we are 1) a home win or tie away from advancing in Europe, and 2) entering a 5 game stretch in the PL where we can win every game. We've had a tough stretch of opponents and scheduling. I think we'll now start to look a lit better moving forward.

The midfield needs to attack a lot more. Where are really missing a #10. We are sitting back, this stops the push and always dries up opportunities for the strikers.

Well. winner takes all at home vs. Happoel

Just like Inter, we will score 2 in the 2nd half.

Big point. Now we have most of the big games for the 1st half out of the way and its time to make a run. Our next games are Everton, Palace, MID, STK, and BOU, all winnable games. Big to get a point against ManC and Liverpool.

I don't think it mattered at all who played striker today, there were basically no chances. Austin had one decent chance on a contested header, thats it.

0-0

Just get out of here 0-0

Wow Liverpool has missed a few good chances. It happens to every team not just us. Long on, maybe 2 upfront now?

So close. Good cross and nice header attempt.

This game doesn't bother me, the Hull game still does.

Seems like we are very content to pack the box and then play long passes to Austin and pray

I don't think the issue is the Pelle for Austin swap. They are close and both good players. Some may think Austin is better some think Pelle, but in reality they will both produce about the same and both play roughly the same style. This isn't the issue. The production from our other forwards is. We need to get another striker scoring. I'm not sure Redmond will ever be that player, but if Long gets fit perhaps he can fill the void. JRod is a wild card at this point. I view Boufal a lot like Redmond, a very good all around player but not necessarily a scoring striker. In my opinion, the other issue we have is that only Austin seems to be able to score in the air. Our other forwards seem too small to go up against the opposing backs. Austin is always around the crosses, but everyone else gets muscled away. In fact on corners our two best options are Austin and VVD. This plays into the "great in the open field" concept of the team (Redmond/Tadic/Boufal), but weak when it really comes to scoring in the box.

Austin is our only Premier League level scorer, that is the issue (if there really is one since we are #10 in the PL). He is scoring and will likely get his 15 goals. The issue is that Long/Tadic/Redmond aren't really scoring. Also I don't think we can rely on Jrod, in fact I'm not sure if he will ever fully come back. Its pretty obvious that the players know this, and just keep trying to feed Austin.

So you want to drop our leading scorer and the guy who is tied for 9th in PL scoring?

We definitely looked tired, too many games in a row on 3 days rest. Bad breaks on some shots. One cleared off the line, a few diving saves made on Austin, and other chances just missed. They have 2 goals on 3 SOG's (something like that). Matches like this happen.

I can't think of one player who did well. We looked tired.

This is aggravating. Lets come out in the 2nd half and get a quick goal or two to end this.

Liverpool 1-0.

We are controlling the game but not really attacking. Back to our pass it around game. Lets push forward.

Austin is pretty good at those penalties. He makes it look easy

Arsenal has been holding on by a thread here. Spurs with lots of chances.

Yoshida aside, it seems that Puel has decided that is his top team.

Burnley has done that a couple of times this season

Horrible loss for the Cherries. At home to a 10 man Sunderland team. However a huge win for Sunderland.