Quote Originally Posted by Suarez Is Boss View Post
I don't know, as Maccy says, everyone expected him to hit it across goal, it was only Van Persie's ridiculous technique that he didn't. I'd still say he isn't a fault for their winner either. He was low, and I wouldn't really call a second or two plenty of time to set himself. If it was a simple through ball, maybe, but Enrique should have cleared it

Put it one way, I think he was one/if not the best keeper for a few years, but not anymore. Other players have emerged, like Hart, Sneezy and Krul who are young and playing well. We did have a solid defence for a long time but to win 3 Golden Gloves in a row is still impressive He worked on his crosses and set pieces, and put that with his shot stopping, command of his area, communication and distribution he had a lot of very good attributes. He has probably regressed from that peak, though I'm sure the fact we have regressed as a club has something to do with that. He hasn't had any competition to speak of for 6 years, that's bound to have an effect too. I don't get the same confidence that I did a few years ago with him though, and he isn't immune from criticism (if you look beyond RAWK everyone has come in for some criticism, even Kenny).

Interestingly, I think Hart is over rated. Good no doubt, but nothing like the way some people fawn over him.

Maybe in mind, if not consciously admitting it, he has already gone. I for one wouldn't blame him if he did.
A couple of seconds is a lot of time. It's all relative and in football terms, it's a lot of time. In cricket, if a bowler bowls wide at 75 mph, the batsman has 'plenty of time' to rock back onto the back foot and smash it for four. In reality, he has 0.7 seconds to react. It's more than enough.

And I don't accept Van Persie's as anything other than poor 'keeping. The goalkeeper is taught to set himself at the near post particularly when it's from an angle like that. And there's good reason why that's a textbook rule. The reason being it's harder to Van Baasten it into the far post than it is to sidefoot it into the near post. The Everton volley was more difficult than the Liverpool volley. But regardless the goalkeeper is supposed to stop that. It was a sublime piece of technique but from that angle and height, I'd be very disappointed if Szczesny was beaten.

As for Liverpool's defensive record over recent years, I've expressed my views over that. Arsenal always score a shedload of goals but it doesn't mean they're necessarily they're a great attacking side - if you set out with very attacking tactics, you're going to score and concede a lot. If you set out with defensive tactics, you're going to have a good defensive record. How much is down to Kuyt hunting down the opposition, how much is down to Carragher taking players out and how much is down to Reina, I can't calculate the exact proportions. But if he was good in, I don't know, 2008/9 or whatever - fair enough. So was Almunia. What seems to be clear from my point of view is that he is not good enough right now. If he is getting criticism, it's long over-due - but the noises I've heard seem to hint at wanting continuity w.r.t to the managerial position. With that continuity, I would guess there would be continuity in the playing staff. I will be highly surprised if a new goalkeeper is bought but one is needed.