I have done my best to praise the team for the new season – until the Swansea draw when I saw some major deficits in the side. I had hoped that luck had shifted to the Redmen after a half dozen years of dented woodwork, inspired opposition goalkeepers and beach ball setbacks.
Perhaps it has but, unfortunately, luck has to be accompanied by some degree of tactical awareness and team cooperation – neither of which were overly apparent at Anfield on Saturday. The game left me frustrated and disappointed and had me grumbling to my laptop when the final whistle blew.
I apologize in advance for being harsher than the team deserves but I have to get it off my chest so I can sleep tonight:
Iago Aspas still is too tentative and has not caught on to the English game. Either he is a slow learner or he just lacks the talent to play first team football. At the same time, we do not know what is happening behind the scene: whether he is playing according to instructions, has had his ego eroded by playing in the shadow of Coutinho, or whether he is such a pure striker that he can’t play the number 10 role or any other supporting position.
Sturridge may have been a goal a game man but he is not a team player. In his interviews he has said that he is not satisfied with his performances, since Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi would not be. Talk about delusions of grandeur.
There is no doubt that he is a good striker and a natural goal scorer, but his unwillingness to pass the ball when he has teammates in infinitely superior position to score has cost as many goals as he has scored.
To Southampton’s credit, they did a wonderful job of not allowing Mignolet to distribute the ball to his defenders. They knew that Liverpool is chronically overmatched at centre field as far as height and jumping ability are concerned. A clearance into the centre of the pitch invariably led to a loss of possession for Liverpool and another retreat to the defensive zone.
Rodgers’ substitutions had no impact on the game either. Luis Alberto, Jose Enrique and Raheem Sterling added nothing to the imagination in attack. All three gave away crucial balls with Raheem’s poor control on a potential break on goal being the most damaging.
Why four centre backs? Was this a strategy from the beginning, looking cautious and defensive like an overmatched side against an on form top team? One thing that has stood Liverpool FC in good stead in their previous games has been a lively start. Has the loss of Coutinho so unsettled the manager that he is circling the wagons before the game has even begun?
On a day where we could have shown that we were a serious threat to move into the top four, we have shown instead that we may be a mid-table side after all. I don’t believe it and still think the lads have it in them to be a contender, but not on the basis of what I have seen since Coutinho’s injury.
I tried imagining how the other top sides might have bounced back on this day and it was sobering to come to the conclusion that all would have shifted into a higher gear in order to earn all three points. It was sad to think that Liverpool did not have any higher gears without their clutch player.
But, in the words of Star Wars’ Yoda, “There is another.”
What impact will Luis Suarez’ return have on our play? The most important contribution I see him making is the infusion of invention and imagination into a side that seems at sea over the loss of one player. The insertion of one of the top players in the world has to provide a boost for the team.
Perhaps Brendan Rodgers will gain a little confidence and put a more mobile and conventional back four on the pitch. Perhaps he will understand that style is relevant only when accompanied by purpose and direction. Perhaps Suarez’ pace and desire will infect the players around him to come to life. Perhaps we can even score our first goal in the second half of a game this season. Perhaps we will even get a competent referee…
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Saints were the last team to beat you in this division too, last season. Then you played Suarez, Coutinho, Sturridge and Johnson, (who is another player that some of your fans said you missed). You lost that match 3-1, although it was away, but what was your excuse then?
After 15 months …EVERYONE can see how poor a manager Rodgers is both tactically and motivation wise.
An appalling choice as manager , things won’t improve while he remains
“we never got going” – was his response to the loss
“WE NEVER GOT GOING ”
Well get them going brendan. Change something. Do something. Vary your tactics
Does he do anything ? No . Rodgers is useless and his ridiculous team selection of 4 center backs , plus his persistence in playing the pathetic Aspas cost us a match we should have won easy
Niall, you are wrong mate. We have a section of fans who belive he is some sort of messiah, the echo and ex players shy away from criticising him , pointing his shortcomings… Untill they wake up and smell the coffee , nothing will change, we are stuck. Like I said, enjoy the odd good game, we are going nowhere with this guy.
Wait for those who argue ‘based on the last 15 games etc” to reply as evidence. As if the season starts in February .
I have said it before and I’ll say it again. Brendan is not the manager to take us anywhere. 4 centre backs when Jose , Kelly were available. Who give him that idea? Pascoe? Never mind transfer commission , we need a tactics commission and a top coach to nurse him… Coach BR in his trade. We hired a novice manager and we are clutching the straws, thinking he will be the next shankly but he will never be.
Every time he opens his mouth about consistency, form etc, he makes himself look stupid.
Hands up who saw this coming? I commented on the last post before the saints game saying they are a tidy team and could surprise us! Little did I know BR had a plan of his own to surprise us. Take nothing away from his performance.
We were lucky against Swansea, lucky against villa, got what we deserved against stoke even though they missed the penalty and played well again ta one team. Man U!
You can not rely on luck to carry the team.
The good news is, we won’t get relegated. BR Mid table credentials are confirmed. This time last year, I was tearing myself apart with anger. Now, I am relaxed. I know what to expect from BR. A false promise , lies , isolating players after one error, blunders in selection , praise instead of stick, and off course. Blaming the criminal defending after messing up the selection in the first place.
Those of you who think we will finish above spurs, arsenal, Chelsea, city, or united are deluded. Not with this man in charge. So, relax and enjoy the odd game when we play well but don’t get carried away. The next southampton could be around the corner
Too many passengers. Gerrard,Hendo,Aspas,sterling, Wisdom, hides,gives the ball away to often,doesn’t defend and offers minimal in terms of contribution.(How can you say this about Gerrard – can hear the protest already) Truth is Lucas is overworked as Gerrard is hiding ,and Hendo is a just as guilty. Every pro club has video analysis. Why is it then that Rogers has to have an inquiry to find out why we struggle in the 2nd half. Analyse the contribution of Gerrard Hendo Sterling Wisdom Aspas – analyse the influence they have on a game – minimal.Rogers inability to bring in adequate cover in centre mid combined with his lack of tactical awareness to change a game when things are not working for us and a persistence with players like Sterling,Wisdom,aspas,hendo is not doing us favours.Susu who has more technical ability loaned out.Ibe who is far more developed than Sterling overlooked. Rogers seems to prefer players smaller in stature. We being outmuscled by most opposition.Poor tactics and inabilty to effectively change things when its nt working for us is a worry. Consolation is our misguided sense of being title challengers and overrating our squad is over. Our squad lacks quality and depth.
Thankfully we have a quality player coming back if his up to it but the seniors like Gerard have to take the responsibilty and influence games.The younger players will take their cue from this. YNWA
Niall and Erin : you are both spot on . There will be no top 4 finish as long as a second rate manager like Rodgers is boss. Not this season and not ever !
Only the deludes who don’t understand football think Rodgers will bring success (bless them ).
Smell that coffee guys , it’s time to wake up . This squad will not challenge the top teams .
No top players signed this summer , Rodgers as inept as always. Just because we had an very very easy start to the fixtures some kids think the glory days are back . They are not .
what else is new?
some of us were saying that BR is a mid table manager since last year.
nothing has changed.
BR doesn’t change his tactics, he is stubborn and persists in his passing passing tactic.
there is more to a game than passing passing.
but BR will learn anything other than this tactic…no…!
br’s tactics cost us percious three points whc culd hv seen us remain top table xo i dnt tink he iz a top class manager if he iz?? Dn y on earth do he hv 2 buy aspas wen there are beta players in la liga who are more dan wiling 2 make the move then we dnt hav strength in dept in awa bench
Brenda is an idiot appointed by idiots.
At last . Some intelligent fans on here. I agree with you all . Rodgers is out of his depth .
Let’s see how we get on tomorrow and against sunderland on sunday. If we don’t beat sunderland the bubble has well and truly burst. Would have liked di canio to stay for another week. Their players might be up for it now he’s gone