I think I was the only LFC fan who felt gutted and really disappointed after the Man City game. And not with the result or performance, but with the reaction of fans, manager and some of the players. Oh, and definitely with the media! But let’s analyse the match first.
“How Allen outpassed City” – was the name of the article on liverpoolfc.com that followed the game. Really? Man City had more possession (51.3 – 48.7), they played more passes (484 – 462) and had better accuracy of passes (84.1 – 80.5).
Oh, and Nigel de Jong had the same passing accuracy as Joe Allen and I don’t think that on the Man City web-page there was an article called “de Jong passing brilliance sees off Liverpool”. But generally, LFC’s performance was fine – but this is Anfield!
Going in and getting a draw is the least Liverpool should expect! The attack still worries me a lot with just one clear goalscoring opportunity created (the one which Borini flopped from point-blank range) and both goals came from individual brilliance of Suarez’s free-kick and Stevie G’s ball in from a corner. And I liked the work-rate showed by big Andy which led to the goal-line clearance in the final five minutes. Reina flopped in goal again making a mess in his own box from a simple ball, which led to City’s first, and the second was a shot in the foot to say the least. But mostly it was good. Heart, passion, determination were there and Brendan Rodgers had nothing more to ask from the lads.
I was really disappointed with some of Brendan Rodgers’ decisions though. Why put a half-fit player on the pitch only for him to get injured in the opening five minutes? Praising “courage” of a player who created the Tevez goal? I know that playing long is simple but “courage” that leads to conceded goals is much worse for me. Praising the performance after 3-0 loss is just nonsensical, whilst leaving Carra, Carroll and Adam out makes it absolutely scandalous for me. With all due respect to the lads, Coates’ passes and positioning was simply awful, Borini is a major flop for me and I’m more than sure that Adam or Henderson would have done much better job than Jonjo, who simply lacks class at this level.
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I’ve read some things on the fans forums that left me very disappointed. “We have a manager who knows his tactics now”, “We played against City much better than the whole of last season”, “We outplayed the champions”, “You can see that team are much better this season”. I think it’s disrespectful, lacking football knowledge and disgusting. Last season Liverpool outplayed ALL the teams at Anfield and most away. The team created at least five clear goal-scoring opportunities every home game. We had five games so far, two absolutely awful ones (Gomel and Hearts away), one scandalous and disrespectful (West Brom), and two OK ones (City and Gomel at Anfield). And the only stamp Brendan Rodgers had so far on the team is playing from the back, which led to conceded goals in both Premier League matches.
I was absolutely raging with a few headlines. After WBA game: “Now Brendan Rodgers knows what a mess he has to sort out”. After Man City game: “Liverpool show signs of life”. The media who were awful to LFC through the whole of last season, have made matters even worse. I mean, who writes that stuff? Do they know anything about football?
But to finish the article, I’d like to praise Luis Suarez who has been by far the best LFC player in August, creating everything positive we had in attack. The only thing he sometimes lacks can be solved with simple advice from the genius of the game:
“If you are in the penalty area and don’t know what to do with the ball, put it in the net and we’ll discuss the options later” – Bob Paisley.
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Borini is no flop. Give the talented young lad a break.
How many games did Carroll play before he got his first goal last season?
Liverpool are improving in so many areas. If you can’t see that then something is wrong with you.
Goal scoring problems will disappear soon.
If you’re really a Liverpool supporter, then just continue watching, be patient and back the manager.
Shankly, Paisley, Dalglish and Benitez didn’t always get it right but true fans always backed them. This helped gain success. The same can be true for Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool.
my word – the author of this article has lost all credibility as far as I am conderned – what on earth are you on about?
I think he has just written an article that will attract more hits than anything else – typical shoddy journalism to try and keep his job
C U Next Tuesday!!
“Agree”, Borini deserved last 30mins, Andy must come into picture.
his understanding wt suarez is amazing.
which understanding are you talking about here after a year and a half of the two playing together?
There’s something u all shuld really understand, liverpool is moving forward irrespective of what u say or do. Isn’t it magnificent for a downgraded liverpool side so to say at one time had a 63%-37% possession against d defending champions of england, d first team suarez will score a free kick against at liverpool? For God’s sake, who said lfc cant lift d epl trophy? Pls, dnt condemn any player again because if u were better, u would have made top ten foe liverpool. Lots of love, we’ll never walk alone.
I think the guy who wrote this article is himself a FLOP. All those young players and we still control man.city. It’s not about possession , it’s about the football LFC played and I think we still need an striker like Rushie or God. We are still two matches old and he start destroying his team.Think positive man and BELIEVE in your team and support LFC. If you cannot do it so look for another one.
Ups and downs, Iam an LFC fan since 1974 and up to my last breath. YNWA
if you can back Carroll and not Borini, then I don’t know what to call you? and does last season’s perfomance include Fulham?
Wow do you wan’t to have a go about the players haircuts and/ or taste in woman as well ? You sound like a moany bitter fella…. There’s a club down the road you can start supporting you’d fit right in!
I don’t often comment on articles, only usually moved to do so if they’re very good and well written or if they’re very poor and badly written. This one falls into the latter camp, on these grounds:
1) The idea that the author was “the only LFC fan that was disappointed” by only drawing a game that the team could clearly have won is ridiculous
2) I think the point comparing Joe Allen’s passing to de Jong deliberately ignores the fact that Allen’s passing was far more penetrative, in better areas and showed much more promise than the crab-like de Jong
3) “Going in and getting a draw is the least LFC should expect”? Really? Against the champions of England with a £200m transfer budget? Who says we have a God-given right to win every home game? You have to earn it, especially against teams with those kind of resources
4) Borini is a flop? Seriously?! A 21 year old that’s spent less than three hours on the pitch in league games for LFC is a flop already? A ludicrous statement in every conceivable way
5) Attacking Rodgers for his praise of Skrtel also completely misses the point – he was crediting Skrtel for his mentality, wanting to get on the ball and play. That is how Rodgers wants the whole club to be. Do you think Barcelona’s coaches went ballistic at Pique and Puyol for wanting to pass the ball out of defence instead of lumping it forward? No
As LFC fans we have to be mature, sensible and grown up about our expectations and the journey our club is on. Knee jerk reactions just won’t cut it – we have to show why we as fans are different from the rest
Ross, you should write my china! I can only imagine that this was written as part of a committee attempt to get Liverpool fans’ goats with uninformed swipes at a system that still has a flagellum attached to it and players that have yet to really establish themselves. It’s a pity that no one writes measured articles anymore.
2nd game against Mcity well played but the facts of losing and a draw come from ” individual mistakes or of misunderstanding ” BR have to take great care
I don’t think this Guy is an lfc fan
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