Liverpool FC Forum

[Thommo's perm]

Red Ant in fairness I think BR bought Danny Sturridge back in January to replace Andy Carroll or have I got that wrong. As for everything else it is becoming increasingly difficult to remain positive. BR has made some schoolboy errors in the last two game and as a result we lose five points out of six against two very average teams. Some of the players certainly have to stand up and take responsibility for some pathetic performances. BR needs to get this sorted and very quickly.

I am also concerned about the fact that we are always outnumbered by the oppositions defence when we have a quick attack.
We need bodies in their box. Whether our players are hesitant because they havent got the confidence they they are fast enough to get back when the attack breaks down, I dont know. But we are not putting teams under pressure and we see the same result time after time. Our midfield is weak at the moment and playing four centre back was a gamble that didnt pay off. I also agree that other managers have sussed us out and we seem one directional.
Hopefully when were at full strength this will change, but we have an air of vulnerability that is worrying...

[Stu the Red]

That performance the other day was shocking. Make no mistake, that was extremely weak and the only man that can be blamed is Rodgers. However, that doesn't make us any worse a side than had already been pointed out a few weeks ago. I got abused to death the other day talking about how we'd fair without Gerrard, Coutinho and Suarez, what I saw without Suarez and Coutinho scared me a little, take Gerrard out too and I'm starting to think 15/16 would be kind.

The lack of movement and tacitcal variation in the game was astonishing to be honest. Poor play started from the keeper and continued right through the side.

Tactically, there is more than one way to play the ball out from the back. But players like Skrtel and Mignolet are not suited to this at all and its causing us huge problems. This idea that everytime to play out the centre halfs have to split onto the touch lines and the midfielder comes deep to collect is just not working. The "split and receive" requires a midfielder who can take a ball under pressure and make a different decision if needed, and two centre halfs who can play. It also requires players ahead of the centre halfs who can find space and offer something (unlike Sturridge, Henderson, Aspas and Lucas). We either need to work on something else, IE releasing a full back (Enrique) which I think would work better or completely change the style to a counter attacking, two banks of four team which allows opponents possession until they cross the half way line. As we know from past experience though, this can cause alot of goal less performances at home.

[devaney]

Some work on corners wouldn't go amiss either. We had a lot yesterday, but not one had any threat. I'd say a top 4 side should be getting 10 or more goals a season from corners alone.

You're right mate. For years now we have been pathetic at getting anything out of corners. And nearly as bad at conceding from corners.

[Stu the Red]

Some work on corners wouldn't go amiss either. We had a lot yesterday, but not one had any threat. I'd say a top 4 side should be getting 10 or more goals a season from corners alone.

You're right mate. For years now we have been pathetic at getting anything out of corners. And nearly as bad at conceding from corners.

Since we lost big Sam

[Owzat]

Still not utterly convinced by buck, but 60 games in might be a good opportunity to share some stats I'm sure people have missed! (not)

60 games

Rodgers : P60 W29 D16 L15 (Won 48.33%)
Dalglish : P60 W29 D16 L16 (Won 48.33%)
Benitez : P60 W29 D12 L19 (Won 48.33%)

Oooooh, snap. I did not expect that!  Still, after 20 league games under Hodgson we had 25 points, under buck we had 28 points after 20 games so such comparisons exist. Of course Rafa had a full season in 60 games of which 15 (1/4) were on the way to success in Istanbul, and also lost League Cup final. buck has played 12 games in Europe, four fairly soft qualifiers and therefore a couple more league wins than Rafa.

[Benny The Noon]

Let's face facts, we rode our luck and now we're found out. We all knew it. A few sang and danced about it, seeing what we all see but hammering their point home so they can now bask in the filthy glory of their excellent football knowledge.

There's many things wrong, but over the last few weeks, I've been worried about BR's arrogance. He is far too young and far to inexperienced to turn this team into an all attacking unit that will plow through all before us. There are teams, much more firmly established and settled who adopt a variety of tactics in order to meet the challenges ahead.

Brendan though seems intent on this technical attacking game which seems to lack any form of direction towards any specific, clear goal.

During yesterday's match the commentator pointed out the Saints gameplan on about 20 minutes:

'To force our GK and back line to play it long, down the throats of the towering defenders.'

I saw it. Most of us would have seen it. This begs the question, did our dugout see it? If so, we didnt respond to it.

Teams press us. We hate it. We have no physical presence on pitch or bench. We crumble under it, every single time. Every match so far!!

So why don't we address it? Simple. BR chucked all his eggs into this fancy cr*p we're being served and until January, we have no options.

My fear is that come January, BR will think its all going swell, as will the owners, we'll plod on.

Is BR a coach, or a manger? For me the jury is very much still out.

That's the crucial point for me.

He has proven himself as a coach but as a manager he hasn't proven anything and I actually don't think he will achieve what we need.

Working as a coach under a manager or someone who does all the transfers etc I think he could do well but not as a manager

[7_Kewell]

so let me get this right, we were lucky to win and the defeat and draw are all BR's fault...sorry, but that's *****.

Yesterday's defeat was down to the fact we were forced to play without fullbacks, which resulted in no support for our wide men. That's why we had no flow or consistency, because attacking fullbacks is an integral part of our game plan. For me, that's why we lost.

[RedAnt]

so let me get this right, we were lucky to win and the defeat and draw are all BR's fault...sorry, but that's *****.

Yesterday's defeat was down to the fact we were forced to play without fullbacks, which resulted in no support for our wide men. That's why we had no flow or consistency, because attacking fullbacks is an integral part of our game plan. For me, that's why we lost.

The reason we don't have adequate cover and played four CB's is down to Rodgers, of course. If he loans out our other fullbacks, then that's his choice. Injuries can take some blame, as can the players, but you make your bed and you lie in it.

Had our performances to date been better, we'd be thinking yesterday was a blip, rather than we saw it coming.

[damjan193]

Still not utterly convinced by buck, but 60 games in might be a good opportunity to share some stats I'm sure people have missed! (not)

60 games

Rodgers : P60 W29 D16 L15 (Won 48.33%)
Dalglish : P60 W29 D16 L16 (Won 48.33%)
Benitez : P60 W29 D12 L19 (Won 48.33%)

Oooooh, snap. I did not expect that!  Still, after 20 league games under Hodgson we had 25 points, under buck we had 28 points after 20 games so such comparisons exist. Of course Rafa had a full season in 60 games of which 15 (1/4) were on the way to success in Istanbul, and also lost League Cup final. buck has played 12 games in Europe, four fairly soft qualifiers and therefore a couple more league wins than Rafa.

Ah, I remember you, you're the guy with the stats that accused the mods of being nazis .

Anyway, interesting stats but Dalglish 29 wins, 16 draws and 16 lost make 61 games

[ycsatbjywtbiastkamb]

so let me get this right, we were lucky to win and the defeat and draw are all BR's fault...sorry, but that's *****.

Yesterday's defeat was down to the fact we were forced to play without fullbacks, which resulted in no support for our wide men. That's why we had no flow or consistency, because attacking fullbacks is an integral part of our game plan. For me, that's why we lost.

well to be fair it was the managers choice to play 4 CB`s, he`s the one to blame for that f##k up.
rodgers is doing well, we are going through a rocky patch but we are without coutinho, suarez and johnson (not to mention sturridge is only half fit and never had a pre season) and we just havent got the depth of squad to absorb injuries and suspensions to some of our best players.

[RedAnt]

I'm worried that we put so much stock in Suarez. He may or may not improve our recent performances, but if the play behind him is of a recent standard, it won't be long before he's moping around the pitch, huffing at his team mates.

He's very impulsive. When things go well he plays well. But when he's frustrated, he's just as likely to do something stupid as he is to do something brilliant. For that reason, I'd not use his return as the point of our performances improving.

We should be looking at our all too apparent shortcomings, and fixing them, rather than putting our hope in Luis.

The problems are still there, and still need addressing with or without him.

[ycsatbjywtbiastkamb]

I'm worried that we put so much stock in Suarez. He may or may not improve our recent performances, but if the play behind him is of a recent standard, it won't be long before he's moping around the pitch, huffing at his team mates.

He's very impulsive. When things go well he plays well. But when he's frustrated, he's just as likely to do something stupid as he is to do something brilliant. For that reason, I'd not use his return as the point of our performances improving.

We should be looking at our all too apparent shortcomings, and fixing them, rather than putting our hope in Luis.

The problems are still there, and still need addressing with or without him.

i wouldnt disagree with that mate, but i dont think it will be luis`s return that changes our fortunes, it will be when we get everyone back.
our best XI can give any team in this division a run for their money

                                                                                        mingolet

                                            johnson                    sahko                  agger                    enrique

                                                                           hendo                   lucas

                                                                                     coutinho

                                                       moses                    sturridge              suarez

[RedAnt]

It's a good side mate, no question. But there's a lot of work to do. Recently though there's been talk about players attributes, and those vital to each position. It applies to managers too, and BR is yet something of an unknown. We've seen some of his qualities. But we're seeing some of the other too. The depth of squad and apparent lack a plan B and C are lining up in the negative column right now.

I'm just talking though. There's plenty of time to put things right.

[Benny The Noon]

So Yakka the player you want to replace Gerrard with us Henderson ?

[supersub]

So Yakka the player you want to replace Gerrard with us Henderson ?

why not...