Tranmere Rovers lined up against a Liverpool team with some big names being featured. Both teams hit the woodwork during this encounter, in which Tranmere played with their backs to the wall for the majority.
Despite shots from Plessis and Pennant, Tranmere registered the first shot on target through Chris Greenacre.
Liverpool were clearly the Premiership outfit of the two teams however, despite the gulf in talent Danny COyne kept on top and was wise to any areal threat and communicated well.
Eventually the expected happened and Liverpool took the lead. Tranmere gave the ball away and Benayoun was able to pick out the corner of Coyne’s goal from 20 yards out leaving the Welshman with no chance.
A few minutes later and on the stroke of half time Tranmere nearly made it 1-1. Andy Taylor lined up a freekick which narrowly missed the goal and struck the post from 20 yards out.
At half time there were a whole host of changes made by Liverpool and Tranmere joined in shortly after half time by bringing on Craig Curran and two debutants, Bas Savage and Edrissa Sonko.
As a rather lethargic second half progressed, Tranmere looked to carve a goal out of something. Curran crossed for Sonko but the forward could only manage to head wide.
Then came some wonderful skill from Taylor down the left. He ran onto a ball, touched it round the defender only for his wonderfule cross to be headed over by Curran who was bearing down on the Liverpool keeper.
As the match was drawing to a close, Voronin came into the penalty area with the ball but wasted a good opportunity to double his side’s lead by opting to pass as opposed to taking a shot with the latter looking to be the best option.
Coyne, Curtis, Kay, Chorley (Goodison), Taylor, Edds (Ahmed), Jennings, O’ Callaghan (Henry), Shuker (Sonko), I. Moore (Curran), Greenacre (Savage) (4-3-3).
Player Ratings
Coyne
Curtis
Chorley
Kay
Taylor
Edds
Jennings
O’Callaghan
Shuker
Greenacre
Moore
Ronnie on O’Callaghan:
Ronnie said on Sonko:
“Sonko is quick and direct. I just want him to be more direct in the final third.”
Ronnie on Curtis:
“John has good experience. He did well, was comfortable on the ball. There’s plenty to work with there.”
Ronnie on O’Callaghan:
“I thought George looked off the pace a little, it’s different playing in Cork to playing here against Liverpool. But he’ll get fitter, he’s going to be a good player for us.”
So, what kind of season are you heading for super, good bad or indifferent?
Really hard to tell at the moment as it is very early but I would say if we get in the few Liverpool players which we are meant to be getting on loan and find a solid left winger then we can do o.k. Hopefully a little more consistent. I don’t think many fans will be expecting anything this season so it might be our season to slip in under the radar or event to surprise everyone. I think we will answer that question in an article at the beginning of August.
Let’s wait to see what sort of squad Ronnie has assembled. I think it’s a bit thin at the moment so it’ll be important to get a solid start. Given the opening 4 or 5 fixtures that might be a tall order. I think we need to stiffen up the midfield – and I’m still to be convinced that Big Bas is a good idea!
IF you’d have watched yesterday’s match it would have gone someway to changing your opinion of him. He looked energetic, tricky, confident and added bulk to the side. There were times were he dragged Hyppia wide and Curran came in between the CBs which I thought was working really well and would have trou led most defences in our league.
Alright. You’ve persuaded me at least to give him a chance. The Zola analogy seems to be more and more accurate. Bas won’t start many games but will probably come on to beat defences up in the last half hour.
I just think we have all bases covered with attack now. Moore has pace and a great footballing brain, Greenacre is a deadly goal scorer, Curran is nippy, fresh, game changing and Savage is strong and will beat up defences. If any team has a slightly weak defence or an inexperienced defence then he will take them apart.
Let us not forget Gornell either. He will be known by no one in our league but by all account has more talent than Curran and can score from anywhere on the park, is quick and tall too.
I think the key to our attack will be getting the midfield sorted (as PoD says). if we can get a LM who will supply and sign up Jennings then we will be fine I think.