Well what to say?
I think after today, I cud still hold hope of top four if it wasn't for our poor discipline. We might still have a chanc if can and skrtel were available for the next few games, but alas.
To be fair we've done well to get in with a chance following the first half of the season with so many new players settling in and the loss of two key goal scorers, so credit for that.
However to get this close and then witness performances of the standard of theses last 2 is such a body blow. Our squad is good, not amazing yet but good. To see performances that we had vs city and Chelsea in the cup shows we are capable on our day wen our first team is available.
Today for me was a stark warning about our secondary players not being good enough for us to progress to the next level after the wonderful season last year. Last summer was about bulking out the squad with some good potential young player and a couple of first teamers. For the most part the youngsters will be fine but people like Balo and lovren being a let down is disappointing form lovren and unsurprising from Balo.
I also think that Bren has been naive thinking that Balo with lambert and borini wud be anywhere near sufficient standard to back up sick note (studge). One of them in the squad(lambert) as a plan b is understandable but 3?
Credit to Bren for his tactical changes at Xmas to get our season going and in some games he has changed the match and got us points. But some big games I think we go in too negative and not getting at them with pace and pressing. Almost too much respect or sometging?
Going forward Bren needs to stop shoehorning players on to the team. Play people in their best positions. Recent examples wud be sterling/Lallana at wb or hendo at wb. Hendo with Lucas May have worked better today, Allen just isn't consistent(gym time ?). Yes manquillo isn't a good attacker but at least he wud be relied upon to get back and defined and get his positions correct. There's plenty of other attackers available to score and create(at least u til ibe returns) do this and focus on getting to the cup final and we can then at least have something to cheer and then focus on the next season and hopefully start better.
In the summer we need to strengthen our spine
1. Better back up keeper
2. Top drawer cb so lovren is back up and can can move in to cm
3. We need a playmaker someone to get te ball and start us off going forward(xabi alonso anyone? Even for a couple of years??)
4. One top notch striker and divock origi added to studge and lambert.
I reckon these added to what we have and the removal of the obvious sun standard performers shud see us teaching the higher standards required to get us challenging consistently
We will have to be better for te remaining games and u never know but I think our season is done cus I reckon we will get done by rovers too
Nail in the coffin of this season
posted on 4/4/15
And Rodgers is a good manager but needs to be more proactive and less stubborn. It's been apparent for a while now that this system is being exploited, and he should've changed it.
Today was pretty poor tactically. People will point to the fact they scored a couple of screamers and the Markovic chance, but we were second best throughout. Sturridge was fit enough ffor at least 45, so he should've started and come off later. The only reason to start Sterling upfront is that he presses better, but we didn't play a pressing game at all. Our CM offered nothing attacking wise, with our best midfielder stuck at RWB and as a result we were far too deep, invited pressure and got picked off. The only period we were in the game was when they stopped pressing us and had a breather - They scored 3 when they turned it on again.
posted on 4/4/15
Three words: Mind The Gap
8 points
posted on 4/4/15
"Sturridge was fit enough ffor at least 45, so he should've started and come off later."
no one starts a half fit player looking to take them off at halftime. no one. ever.
The only tactical mistake I could see was overestimating Lucas' fitness and putting Hendo wide to protect the fullback. Lucas was obviously not fit and he should have put Hendo there.
hindsight.
posted on 4/4/15
comment by comic book guy (U17816)
posted 52 minutes ago
Three words: Mind The Gap
8 points
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Thats 4 words and a number
posted on 4/4/15
Good article by the OP.
posted on 4/4/15
comment by Sir Digby - ALL HAIL PRINCE WELBECK - GDL (U6039)
posted 1 hour, 33 minutes ago
comment by comic book guy (U17816)
posted 52 minutes ago
Three words: Mind The Gap
8 points
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thats 4 words and a number
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Stay in school
posted on 4/4/15
Lately lack of discipline seems to have become part of the "on-field" Liverpool culture. Wouldn't blame Rodgers if he hit Can with a fine for his behavior today. A more mature "team player" would also not have tried the tackle that earned him his second yellow (and Red) card. His sending-off killed any hope of a comeback!
posted on 4/4/15
I've never understood the notion of signing squad players. Unless your first 11 can't be improved on then you should buy first team players even if you're already strong in that position. Either your new signing proves to be better than his team mate and starts or the first teamer raises his game and keeps his place.
posted on 5/4/15
"I've never understood the notion of signing squad players. "
23 players who expect and deserve to start every week would cost quite a bit of coin.
Not to mention a significant number of them would be putting in transfer requests when they didn't start regularly. Or even make the bench.
posted on 5/4/15
comment by The Kaiser's Trainers (U5676)
posted 16 minutes ago
"I've never understood the notion of signing squad players. "
23 players who expect and deserve to start every week would cost quite a bit of coin.
Not to mention a significant number of them would be putting in transfer requests when they didn't start regularly. Or even make the bench.
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Your youth should be those squad players. Any one actually paid for (at the time of buying them) should come in to challenge for the first 11 or be a young player with the potential to.