BR being exposed

[Sir X]

real fool.

[Sir X]

Scoolbway ball game to rhatid,stoke look more tactically aware,it look like di free fall start already,clueless.

[Dunny]

This Stoke team is one mean machine, when you here Karl talk about TEAM play that is it. Every player working for each other, they defend from the front where their two strikers put pressure on the ball. Magnificent work rate.

[Sir X]

Wow you think the coach has anything to do with it ? and pool may I ask ?

BR isnt in the class of pulis ,haughton,laudrup or that clown pardew.Certainley not in Villa Boas class,giving him a transfer budget is risky.He could have man city, chelsea or Arsenal he would coach all of them the same way....wide open.

[Paul Marin]

real fool.

What should he have done differently yesterday?

[Sir X]

Rodgers’ naive team selection costs Liverpool
By This Is Anfield on December 27, 2012
Stoke City 3-1 Liverpool
26th December 2012



Liverpool’s yo-yo form continued with a disappointing Boxing Day defeat at the Britannia Stadium – not that it should have been particularly unexpected.

Brendan Rodgers’ decision to play the same side that beat Fulham at home four days earlier backfired and showed a naive approach from the young Liverpool manager.

Going into December, there was hope that the fixture list of Southampton, West Ham, Aston Villa, Fulham, Stoke and QPR could see a fruitful period for Rodgers’ side and have us entering January in a strong position. With just QPR of those games remaining, we sit 10th and are on the same points after 19 games as we had when Roy Hodgson was in charge.

What is most disappointing though is the manner of the latest defeat and how Rodgers appears not to be learning from his mistakes.

Let’s get one thing clear; we are a mid-table side who cannot just pick our team and not worry about the opposition. We have to take into account the opposition we are facing – that is the manager’s key job.

Yet Rodgers picked the same exact 11 at home to Fulham and away to Stoke – two more different fixtures in the Premier League you could not find.

To start young Suso and again sub him is poor management. This isn’t Suso’s fault, far from it. But Everton and Stoke have a lot in common, both are strong, physical sides. Yet Suso started both and was subbed at half-time in both. Learning from mistakes? Clearly not.



I feel for Suso because being subbed early once you may be able to accept but that’s three times now this season and no matter how many times Rodgers pats him on the face and gives him one of them awkward cuddles we became all too familiar with on Being:Liverpool, his confidence must start to be affected.

And there were other options available. The most obvious one being Raheem Sterling – who had finally been rested against Fulham. A player who is capable of being involved in the physical challenges and whose pace could do more damage to Stoke’s myriad of six foot plus players. By half-time we were struggling to get back into the game and thus Sterling’s impact was ineffectual.

There was also the option to have played Enrique further forward – who certainly revels in the physical aspect – moving Johnson to left back and Wisdom in at right back.

Earlier in the season we were impressed by Rodgers showing tactical acumen by changing tactics mid-game; Everton and Chelsea away most notably – either to combat specific threats or because the starting system wasn’t working. There was absolutely no sign of this against Stoke, despite the clear problems.

Rodgers is clearly a very positive manager, one who believes in his methods, and his players. But there is a worry that his idealism is a character flaw.

Having a philosophy is very well, but if you don’t have the players at your disposal to use that philosophy, to continue to use it shows arrogance and naiviety. We aren’t Barcelona – as much as the manager wants us to play like them. Several times we attempted to play out from the back, Stoke knew this was going to happen, pressured the ball, we got panicked and ended up giving the ball away in our own defensive third. Barcelona play the way they do because they possess some of the best players in the World, who have that style of play engrained into them since they were kids.

There is also this question now about the fact we struggle against big, physical forwards – see Fellaini, Benteke, Kenwyne Jones in recent weeks. The question being that if Skrtel and Agger aren’t playing up against these types of players in training, they struggle when challenged in a game.

We’re now nine points worse off than this stage last season. The second half of the season was poor for Dalglish last season, so Rodgers needs a good run in the second half now to catch up that points tally.

January can’t come quick enough, just as it couldn’t from the moment the summer window closed, but no signings will be able to help if the manager continues to fail to adapt his tactics and team selection based on the opposition and type of game we are facing.

Idealism vs pragmatism? Optimism vs pessimism? Realism is what is needed at Liverpool. That and leadership at the top of the football club.

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[Karl]

Yet Liverpool got the chances to have won! 'pool's big problem was Johnson at wide right at the back. He let in...directly responsible...for 2 of the goals 'pool coughed up...and also gave away the ball often...granted he was not the only one at fault here.

btw - the 1st goal 'pool gave up was due to poor header by a 'pool defender. Failed to clear ball sent long from Stoke's defense...no excuse from any half-assed defender who has a year in time to see and play/clear such danger.

....but as Dunny suggested, do not overlook Stoke's TEAMPLAY! Each Stoke player works FULL 100 90minites for TEAM. Deserved win!

Aside: Johnson played like a man who after having had a 'hard' night was called to report to work when he should have been resting/recovering.

[Sir X]

Thats the problem,if its not johnson,its agger,if not agger its enrique,if not him then skertel which tells me its the coach, he doesnt have his defence set up in any zone , or to mark any player, look at lucas all over the place , this team has no balance but to attack, and when they loose the ball the strategy is to chase it....high school ball to rhatid.

[Paul Marin]

Thats the problem,if its not johnson,its agger,if not agger its enrique,if not him then skertel which tells me its the coach, he doesnt have his defence set up in any zone , or to mark any player, look at lucas all over the place , this team has no balance but to attack, and when they loose the ball the strategy is to chase it....high school ball to rhatid.

X - the problem would be less of an issue if we were taking our chances. This is not Rafa's liverpool or methods and personally, I don't know why they don't have a tighter form when they lose the ball, but there is no question the team should be scoring more. Part of the problem is the dependence on a single individual to score, we need our midfield to score and of course, we need another striker. I agree with the post when they said Enrique should have been played higher up the park, but I am NOT seeing Lucas do a good job since he's been back either. Your criticism to my mind is unfair, but only because you have not given him time nor does he have the personnel he needs. My concern is that we are now about to sign Sturridge for £12m which is far from the answer - his choice in signings are a big concern for me.

[Sir X]

Are you serious , when we wernt taking our chances in the 2nd part of the season under KD , yuh remember highest % of banging the woodwork our defence was still in the top 4,we drew so much they called us artist,we depended on Saurez last season too when he wasnt as profilic as now, i am being unfair or you overly generous ,...you are onto something about his choice of singings but unlike you , i believe sturridge is a good one , the problem is the coach, think about it ....he has coached championship and prem ball before , he knows the transfer system yet he scuttels his team before the start of the season,then he employs school boy tactics for his campaign, his tactical acumen is questionable in every game, so bloody predictable.

You win and loose ball games in the middle , we have no midfield, in zonal design and personel.

[Paul Marin]

Are you serious , when we wernt taking our chances in the 2nd part of the season under KD , yuh remember highest % of banging the woodwork our defence was still in the top 4,we drew so much they called us artist,we depended on Saurez last season too when he wasnt as profilic as now, i am being unfair or you overly generous ,...you are onto something about his choice of singings but unlike you , i believe sturridge is a good one , the problem is the coach, think about it ....he has coached championship and prem ball before , he knows the transfer system yet he scuttels his team before the start of the season,then he employs school boy tactics for his campaign, his tactical acumen is questionable in every game, so bloody predictable.

You win and loose ball games in the middle , we have no midfield, in zonal design and personel.

X - you are correct that we hit the frame more than any other team last season, but KD's run was on the back of an £80m expenditure. It is as if I give you $20 to go by a pound of steak and you come back with a can of sardine and want to blame the grocery. KD had to be accountable for results that should have been WAY above the final standing for that kind of expenditure.

Okay - now on to Rodgers. The reason I say Sturridge is NOT the answer (incidentally - Ince may be a better choice) is because he is lousy at pressing high up the park which is what BR's system needs. We need a player with a much higher work rate if we are ever to turn the tide. I agree that we have no midfield, but not that we have no midfield players, it is just that some of his selections have been perplexing. For example, the game against Stoke (where the back four have 3 players over 6'3") was a perfect game for Shelvey who is more physical. I am not sure why that didn't happen. Secondly, as you said, Enrique should have been playing higher up and Suso should not have started at all. He had to be far more physical with them than the line up we put out there could ever have been. Anyway, I am willing to give him more time as expectations for the season could not have been very high considering the personnel changes required to employ his system. Next season however, will have to be different.

[Karl]

'Nice', Paul.
...do you think Rogers can have Sturridge share the ball? If he does you could have a stiker among the very best in the EPL. He has just about all the other needed tools - fast, good mover off the ball, shoots well...strong.

If he starts sharing the ball as a real TEAM player would he will end up getting a ton of chances and opening up opponents defense to teammates.

[Dunny]

'Nice', Paul.
...do you think Rogers can have Sturridge share the ball? If he does you could have a stiker among the very best in the EPL. He has just about all the other needed tools - fast, good mover off the ball, shoots well...strong.

If he starts sharing the ball as a real TEAM player would he will end up getting a ton of chances and opening up opponents defense to teammates.

Good point Karl, he is a little bit too selfish however he is a good player and will get goals.

[Sir X]

You make my point every day

1) which is what BR's system needs.

2) I agree that we have no midfield, but not that we have no midfield players, it is just that some of his selections have been perplexing

3) I am willing to give him more

4) Next season however, will have to be different .


You think dis bredda ave a system ? giving that you agree we have no midfield but the players ?....bossman ...you can blame the players all you want , who havent you blamed Paul ? whom Lucas, Downing , the Hobbit, Shelvey,Henderson , none of them will be sold by Rodgers etc etc ? from BR to Hodgson to Rafa you were on the deadwood and Rafa bad buys campaign !....you hoping that someone can come along and do better than Rafa with less, because that is where we are.KD stopped a rot and that 80 million was money well spent to plug a gushing wound we had two finals to show for it and a cup....

Dis bredda next season will be a bigger flop, None of the top 6 are waiting on us to catch up.

[Paul Marin]

You make my point every day

1) which is what BR's system needs.

2) I agree that we have no midfield, but not that we have no midfield players, it is just that some of his selections have been perplexing

3) I am willing to give him more

4) Next season however, will have to be different .


You think dis bredda ave a system ? giving that you agree we have no midfield but the players ?....bossman ...you can blame the players all you want , who havent you blamed Paul ? whom Lucas, Downing , the Hobbit, Shelvey,Henderson , none of them will be sold by Rodgers etc etc ? from BR to Hodgson to Rafa you were on the deadwood and Rafa bad buys campaign !....you hoping that someone can come along and do better than Rafa with less, because that is where we are.KD stopped a rot and that 80 million was money well spent to plug a gushing wound we had two finals to show for it and a cup....

Dis bredda next season will be a bigger flop, None of the top 6 are waiting on us to catch up.

X - all your arguments are around BR being a flop - all I'm saying is give him more time; and KD £80m extravaganza didn't do any rot stopping, it made it harder to rebuild because he wasted the people dem money.