LFC FAN'S VIEW: B team’s capital tactical success

Apr 7 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

NOT bad at all. In fact, one could argue that this was a triumph for rotation.

Our B team – eight changes – more than holds their own against an Arsenal side much closer to full strength. It may have been National Day, but the Gooners were not at the races. If only this sort of thing happened more often, it would make more sense of the whole strategy.

Anyway, after the way we got mullered twice at home by this lot last season, and outplayed at home earlier this season, this performance represents progress.

If it hadn’t been for a needless free kick conceded by Pennant, compounded by a worrying lack of judgement from Reina, we’d have left with all three points. I was amazed how well this team flowed at times – not what I expected when I saw the team sheet.

Of course, with Crouch playing there’s always an out ball, and a simplistic but often effective assault on goal. Not so much route one as one route we should always keep up our sleeve (assuming one can keep routes up one’s sleeve).

Not that Crouch’s skill is simplistic, as the superbly-taken goal proved. Rafa can’t win in some ways. When Crouch comes on and plays like this, we all wonder why we don’t see more of him. But does he play like this in the A team? Do the tactics allow him to? Not always.

Not that Crouch was the only unfamiliar face at the Emirates. Plessis had an encouraging debut. Voronin put in an appearance – how on earth have we managed without him? And Tom Hicks showed up. But will he do so on Tuesday?