Liverpool FC Forum

A few observations on yesterday and the season so far IMHO: 

1) Henderson should have started yesterday.  It might not have changed the final score but he was in form and Allen isn't.  Almost every Liverpool fan said as much before kick off.  Baffling to me why he chose Allen.  Although i agreed with not starting Sturridge. 

2) Sterling needs to be dropped.  He's offered very very little lately and needs a big rest.  Hopefully Borini's return will get him that rest.

3) The tika taka from the back isn't working.  Teams just have to press us and we make mistakes often resulting in goals.  I'm not quite sure we have the players to achieve this.  But we either need to spend more time working on it in training or we need to decide alternative approaches. 

4) We need to sort out our midfield.  Several players have played in several different positions of the midfield so far.
He needs to try and decide who he wants in each role and stick with it.

5) Im not yet convinced by Rodgers signings.  Assaidi doesn't seem to be getting a chance at all.  Sahin is gone already and the jury is still out on Allen, Borini and Sturridge.

Overall, Im quite happy with Rodgers so far.  But I do think the passing game isn't always working and our midfield is a mess at times.  Despite some good footie at times, we've not managed to get a result at any of the big teams.

Got to say this is a depressing read:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... efeat.html

john craig wrote:I'm happy overall with the progress under Rodgers.

We have reduced the wage bill, reduced the squad age and are playing good football in general.

We are currently 8th, where we finished last season, and I expect us to improve that with a good 2nd half to the season. All of a sudden we also have better attacking options with sturridge signing and borini coming back.

There is plenty to be optimistic about. I think Rodgers will be here for a long time so those calling for his head will be disappointed.

Kenny Kan » Mon Jan 14, 2013 5:26 am wrote:Rodgers is fine. He's gonna be here for a while.

Every time we fecking lose we have bellends come on talking about a new manager. 

jaysus lads there is no one calling for his head.
we all want to see him and this club succeed and while people have every right to be critical it doesnt mean they want him gone.

Reg » Mon Jan 14, 2013 12:11 pm wrote:Got to say this is a depressing read:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... efeat.html

Just one thing on the season that we haven't beaten any of the present top 10 this season but the day we won at West Ham in December we were 11th and they were 8th going into that game. The fact that West Ham are now in the bottom half doesn't change that fact.

The table is relative with regard to any set of results at any particular time. Stoke's 3-3 draw with Southampton three days after beating us 3-1 at home confirms that. If people want to discuss which top teams we haven't beaten this season perhaps they should look at last season when we won at the Emirates and Stamford Bridge before Christmas and still finished 8th under Kenny with 52 points.

All that matters is how we finish the season and how we progress as a team over the season. Individual results based on league positions at any particular time just doesn't come into it, particularly given the unpredictable nature of results in the premiership nowadays.

friendlyguy33 wrote:

Reg » Mon Jan 14, 2013 12:11 pm wrote:Got to say this is a depressing read:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... efeat.html

Just one thing on the season that we haven't beaten any of the present top 10 this season but the day we won at West Ham in December we were 11th and they were 8th going into that game. The fact that West Ham are now in the bottom half doesn't change that fact.

The table is relative with regard to any set of results at any particular time. Stoke's 3-3 draw with Southampton three days after beating us 3-1 at home confirms that. If people want to discuss which top teams we haven't beaten this season perhaps they should look at last season when we won at the Emirates and Stamford Bridge before Christmas and still finished 8th under Kenny with 52 points.

All that matters is how we finish the season and how we progress as a team over the season. Individual results based on league positions at any particular time just doesn't come into it, particularly given the unpredictable nature of results in the premiership nowadays.

Its just another way to stick the boot in to the mouthy scousers who have toppled from their perch
Its like the media cant wait for Sir Cu'nt face to finally overtake us in trophies.
Jealousy is one powerful motherfu'cker!

Just a passing thought, Pep Guardiola has issued a 'Come and Get Me' message to the top PL sides. Now the question is, can we afford to get him? And would he want to come? To date, BR has shown me that he only knows how to talk well and make us feel good, but struggles to win games esp. against the ones above us. It would be a dream come true if we can appoint him in the summer. But because of his salary demands and our stingy owners it will never happen. I am curious though which top PL manager he will displace.

Reg » Mon Jan 14, 2013 6:11 am wrote:Got to say this is a depressing read:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... efeat.html

Keep in mind it will be much harder for Man City, United, and Chelsea to improve their team significantly as they already have good players all over the pitch. It will be much easier for us since we have essentially have 6 really good players (Glen, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique, Suarez, and Gerrard) and other players that are very inconsistent and other players playing that are plain not good enough. If we find someone who can really make our midfield tick (maybe a xabi alonso type) it will make a MASSIVE difference and it will go along way to closing the gap with United.

Overall, I am pleased with the progress shown this year. Obviously in year one of a total transformation, it is always going to be difficult. Based on our squad this is about where we ought to be (from 5-8th) which is probably where we will finish. I like the way we are playing and I think once we get a few more players that fit the system we will start rocketing up the table.

RedHands » Wed Jan 16, 2013 3:52 am wrote:

Reg » Mon Jan 14, 2013 6:11 am wrote:Got to say this is a depressing read:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... efeat.html

Keep in mind it will be much harder for Man City, United, and Chelsea to improve their team significantly as they already have good players all over the pitch. It will be much easier for us since we have essentially have 6 really good players (Glen, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique, Suarez, and Gerrard) and other players that are very inconsistent and other players playing that are plain not good enough. If we find someone who can really make our midfield tick (maybe a xabi alonso type) it will make a MASSIVE difference and it will go along way to closing the gap with United.

Overall, I am pleased with the progress shown this year. Obviously in year one of a total transformation, it is always going to be difficult. Based on our squad this is about where we ought to be (from 5-8th) which is probably where we will finish. I like the way we are playing and I think once we get a few more players that fit the system we will start rocketing up the table.

I agree that we do have 6 quality players whom I believe can fit into any of the top 2 sides anytime. And if we do get a few more players esp. a creative midfielder, we should move up from current mid table position. But we must not forget that if we do finish 5th to 8th(hopefully), I don't think Suarez will want to remain here and likely he will want to leave and not waste his talent in a mid table side.

I don't think Suarez is going anywhere. Just signed a new contract after a season where he was suspended for a third of the season. Also, he is absolutely hated in England. There's no way any English team will touch him. Maybe PSG will try but I doubt he would want to go there. I think we will be OK for next season as i think BR can convince our best players that we are on the right track. IF and its a big if, FSG will open the purse strings a bit and we add 3-4 players in the 10-15m dollar bracket, we will be right among the battle for fourth.

It still absolutely blows my mind we spent 35m for Andy Carrol, 15m for Hendo, and 18m on Downing. How we could do with that money now!!!

john craig » Mon Jan 14, 2013 11:10 am wrote:I'm happy overall with the progress under Rodgers.

We have reduced the wage bill, reduced the squad age and are playing good football in general.

We are currently 8th, where we finished last season, and I expect us to improve that with a good 2nd half to the season. All of a sudden we also have better attacking options with sturridge signing and borini coming back.

There is plenty to be optimistic about. I think Rodgers will be here for a long time so those calling for his head will be disappointed.

I'm not

we've done poorly in the transfer market in the summer, we released Maxi, Kuyt and Bellamy without even replacing them. We shipped off our 35m striker and didn't get a replacement, signed a player on loan that didn't work, signed a 3m morrocan and now he is linked with a move away because Rodgers doesn't rate him, signed a 15m midfielder who blows hot and cold and Borini who doesn't look like a 10m player. Also, we had our worst start ever in our premier league history and all we have are bunch of kids playing in first team. I'm sorry, but I don't feel optimistic at all and I hope to be proven wrong

Reg » Sun Jan 13, 2013 10:00 pm wrote:Rafa's early signings worked out no better, it takes time.

Hi Reg, I disagree, Luis Garcia and Alonso hit the ground running and adapted fairly quickly, something that Borini, Aissadi and Sahin failed to do

Reg » Mon Jan 14, 2013 12:11 pm wrote:Got to say this is a depressing read:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... efeat.html

We won't close the gap with the philosophy the owners are setting, no way will we compete with City and Chelsea like this.

Back on topic folks...
I think Rodgers is too conservative and this is hampering our ability to get results. The game against the Filth was an opportunity to throw down the challenge to them by sticking Sturridge on from the start....but he didn't. So we ended up chasing the game in the 2nd half as a result. B0ll0x about him "not ready for 90 mins" - if I got paid what he did and does now, I'd crawl on my knees to stay on the pitch....
Taking Lucas off instead of Allen ? Was that because he didn't want to accept that his 15M signing is potentially a bad piece of business ?
WTF is the idea behind sending Assaidi out on loan ? He's 23 (I think), so not like Yesil who might need to hone his talents a bit more...

Rodgers is losing his shine, for me...

metalhead » Wed Jan 16, 2013 7:10 am wrote: We shipped off our 35m striker

It's not as if we'd shipped off Robbie Fowler in his hey day, it was Andy Carroll, a non scoring striker who didn't fit into our new system and we did try to replace him but our attempts to sign another striker failed until January when we signed Sturrige...   who indecently is a far better player. so what your moaning about here is bollox.

bunglemark2 » Wed Jan 16, 2013 10:05 am wrote:Back on topic folks...
I think Rodgers is too conservative and this is hampering our ability to get results. The game against the Filth was an opportunity to throw down the challenge to them by sticking Sturridge on from the start....but he didn't. So we ended up chasing the game in the 2nd half as a result. B0ll0x about him "not ready for 90 mins" - if I got paid what he did and does now, I'd crawl on my knees to stay on the pitch....
Taking Lucas off instead of Allen ? Was that because he didn't want to accept that his 15M signing is potentially a bad piece of business ?
WTF is the idea behind sending Assaidi out on loan ? He's 23 (I think), so not like Yesil who might need to hone his talents a bit more...

Rodgers is losing his shine, for me...

this is what happens when you get a freshman and appoint him as a senior executive.