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Crystal Palace 3 Liverpool 1 (Nov 23 2014)


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Report by

Dave Usher

 

 

 

That international break was great wasn’t it? Weekends are so much more enjoyable when we’re not being force-fed a shitburger by the Reds. It was great not having a weekend ruined by an abject Liverpool defeat but it proved to be only temporary respite. As soon as the internationals had finished it was back to being kicked in the balls by the Reds.

 

First there was the Sturridge news late in the week and then this horror show at Selhurst. In many ways this one result is the perfect microcosm of how things have gotten away from us so quickly. Last April we blew a lead at Palace, conceded three goals but still got a draw because we’d found the net three times ourselves. And if Victor Moses wasn’t such a massive shithead we’d still have won that game in stoppage time, such was our attacking threat.

 

This season we go there, blow a lead once again, concede three goals again, only this time we lose. Why? Because we’re still shit at the back and we’re still - in the words of Jamie Carragher after this debacle - “a mentally weak team that’s easily bullied” but we no longer score enough goals to cover up those deficiencies.

 

This wasn’t wasn’t a surprise, it was expected. That’s the saddest thing about it. In the Chelsea report I wrote: “Can anyone really see us winning at Palace in a fortnight? I don’t see us coping with their direct style at all, in fact all I can see from that game is more abject misery.” I feel the same about Stoke next week too, in fact I can’t see us beating anybody right now. Not even Burnley or Leicester.

 

What made this one especially bad was that we got off to a perfect start through Lambert’s well taken goal. If we’d fallen behind early and never got going it would have been more understandable but we can’t even win games when we go ahead and that’s really worrying. The same thing happened against Chelsea a fortnight ago, but losing to the Champions elect is one thing, being embarrassed by Palace yet again is another.

 

You know what else is really worrying? Brendan picked the team that most of us would have done and we were still shit. Ok, he still kept Lovren and Johnson in there when most of the fans would have dumped them both, but the front six looked to be the best that we have (the unwell Henderson notwithstanding) and I think he even sent them out there in a diamond. At least that’s how it looked to me, but Sterling’s performance was so bad I’m not entirely sure where he was playing and we may have been playing some kind of variation of 4-2-3-1, I really don’t know. That I couldn’t even tell what system we were playing probably says a lot about the lack of shape.

 

Plenty of fans have been saying for weeks that we need to stick Sterling up top and play a diamond, yet Rodgers does it and we’re still hopeless. I’ve reached the stage now where I honestly feel like whatever we try isn’t going to work. It could be any combination of players in all manner of different systems and it won’t matter. We’re too far gone, we’re just shit and I don’t think anyone knows how to fix it, least of all Brendan.

 

He had two weeks to try and come up with a plan for this game and THIS is what we served up? You could see he made some adjustments to how we normally play, even my untrained eye noticed Mignolet kicking it long from goal kicks instead of the usual fannying about playing tiki taka with his centre backs before hitting the lob wedge shot out to Johnson on the touchline. Clearly Rodgers is trying to come up with solutions but it feels like he’s just wasting his time and nothing works.

 

Maybe I’m being a bit melodramatic there but that’s how I feel. Palace were 2nd from bottom yet it seems like most of our fans didn’t like our chances of getting anything from the game. What does that say? It says we’re terrible, especially when those fears turned into brutal reality with a 3-1 loss.

 

We can’t even blame Balotelli for this one. For once we actually had some production from the centre forward position yet we still lost and still did next to nothing in attack. Lambert obviously can’t give us the same level of performance that we had with Suarez and Sturridge, but he did ok and he wasn’t the problem. We only had one effort on target in the entire game, and that was the goal. Lambert also had two headers narrowly off target in the first half and he looked a threat in the first half. Unfortunately, nobody else did.

 

Lambert deserves a run now though as Mario had his chance and didn’t take it. For Rickie to get a goal so early in the game was just what he needed and despite the result, hopefully we’ll see a more confident Lambert from now on. He took the goal like the “Southampton Lambert” and it was a great ball from Lallana too. I actually almost felt hope again for about ten or fifteen minutes until we came crashing back down to earth.

 

Having taken that early lead though, we should have been able to gain some self belief from that and go on to win the game. Instead we quickly gave up a cheap equaliser and then failed to force a single save of note from Speroni for the rest of the game. Predictably, we also gave away a terrible goal that cost us the game. The third goal was merely rubbing salt in the wounds, the real damage was done with that hideous second goal.

 

Mignolet’s free-kick directly out of play was almost incomprehensible. How can that happen to a professional footballer? What happened afterwards was a lot easier to believe as we’ve seen it time and time again. Johnson half arsed a challenge from the throw in and Lovren was made to look like a complete mug by Bolasie. Just for good measure, you then had Gerrard and Sterling not picking up the run of Ledley and Mignolet allowing the shot to go straight through him. Just shite all round.

 

It’s brutal stuff and it shouldn’t be happening as these are all international class footballers who should be better than this. For whatever reason, they aren’t “better than this” though. They stink. All of them. There’s not one player this season who has played up to the level he should. Not one. If you had to name our player of the year so far who would you choose? I don’t think you can, there isn’t one who deserves a mention. Not one. How depressing is that?

 

Even the third goal was awful. It was a great strike from the free-kick and Mignolet had very little chance with it, but why was Skrtel holding the shirt of Dwight Gayle in the first place? He’s getting involved in a physical tussle on the edge of the box with a player half his size and weight. If Gayle wants to back in then stand your ground, put an arm on his back to hold him off and head the ball away. Don’t start fucking wrestling with him and holding his shirt. I don’t even care that Gayle was holding his shirt too and that the ref should have seen it. Why take the chance? Because he’s Martin Skrtel and that’s what he does.

 

Where do we go from there though? It’s such a mess and it feels like whatever changes Rodgers makes has a feel of moving the sunbeds round on the Titanic about it for me now. He’s tried different things, different players, but by and large we’ve been crap no matter what. I expect we’ll give three at the back a go again soon and guess what, that won’t work either.

 

Whenever we’ve been shit in the past I’ve always been able to maintain at least some degree of positivity and hope because it’s usually been fairly obvious what needed to change. Whether it was an ownership issue, a manager who had ran his course or a team that just needed a centre back or a top class wideman to be really good, there was always a feeling of “we’ll be ok as soon as we do x, y or z” Even this year is was “we’ll be ok when Sturridge is fit” except now it’s starting to feel like he’ll never be fit again.

 

I don’t have that hope anymore as I have no idea how we turn this thing around. I just think from top to bottom we’re screwed. I despise pretty much every senior figure at the club now apart from Rodgers. My belief in his ability to turn this round is no longer there but I have no dislike for the fella and I’m sure this is really hurting him. I can’t say the same about the rest of them: that pisshead Ian “Teflon” Ayre, FSG and their constantly increasing ticket prices that are totally out of whack with their lack of ambition, the fucking frauds masquerading as scouts… I wouldn’t piss on any of them if they were on fire. They’re all taking us for a massive ride in one way or another.

 

People will say Rodgers should go and that’s fine. If this continues into the new year then he could have no complaints if that happened, but if he does get canned then everyone else that has had a hand in player recruitment also needs to go. If you take the sole responsibility of signing players away from the manager you also take away sole accountability. Why should Rodgers alone carry the can for the club’s horrific record in the transfer market? Only some of these cackers are on him.

 

So no, you’d have to replace them all (Ayre, Michael Edwards, Barry Hunter and Dave Fallows) otherwise you’re not eliminating the problem. And who would be entrusted with finding the right people to succeed them? The same people who hired them in the first place. The same people that appointed Kenny and Damian Comolli before them. It’s the blind hiring the blind.

 

For the first time in my lifetime I can’t actually see any way out of this mediocrity. We need players in January but even if money is made available (and there’s no guarantee there will be) there is nothing whatsoever to suggest those in charge of spending it will get anyone who is even remotely useful to us. We’ve got a bunch of phoneys in charge of signing players and any time I see us linked with a player I haven’t seen much of I just automatically assume “he must be shite if we want him”.

 

Then there’s the captain. I look at Gerrard now and I just think he owes it to himself to leave. He shouldn’t have to go out like this, playing in this shit team and looking like a shadow of the immense player he’s been. The fans will turn on him too, as he’s contributing nothing in this role he’s being asked to play. It worked last year but it’s not working now because the dynamic of the team has changed and opponents aren’t scared of our attack any more so they’re pushing up more on our midfield. Maybe he needs to play further up the pitch or maybe he should be left out completely. He’s still got more quality in his boots than most of the others combined but in this team - with all of its weaknesses - can we afford to play him every week? It sure doesn’t look like at the moment.

 

Last season must have taken a massive toll on him mentally and I don’t think he’s recovered from it. He knows now that was his one and only shot at it, and not only did we fall short but he probably blames himself for it. To make things worse Suarez left and we replaced him with a pile of shite. Is it any wonder he just looks like a broken man now? He looks the way I feel, completely demoralised and beaten.

 

The way this team is playing we’d be much better served with Lucas in there. I don’t think we can play him and Gerrard in the same team as we get exposed by anyone who can run, so what does that mean for Stevie? A role as an impact sub maybe, I don’t know. It’s one of a number of questions that I can’t even pretend to have an answer for. Worryingly, I don’t think Brendan does either.

 

I think I’ll stop now as I’m sure this has done nothing to lighten anybody’s mood. Sorry for dragging you down even further but if you’re looking for any kind of hope from me then sorry, I got nuthin. I’m just preparing myself for the worst now before every game and if we somehow manage to avoid defeat, or dare I say it, win, then it’s a welcome bonus.

 

Star man was Joe Allen who used the ball well, ran around a lot and showed the kind of fight and heart that was lacking in most of his team-mates. I’m not entirely sure why he was brought off, maybe it was due to the head wound. I wouldn’t have taken Lallana off either for that matter, yet I can’t get too worked up about any of it as, like I say, I don’t think any of it makes any difference right now.

 

 

Team: Mignolet; Manquillo, Skrtel, Lovren, Johnson; Gerrard, Lallana (Borini), Allen (Can), Coutinho; Lambert, Sterling:


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Brendan picked the team that most of us would have done and we were still shit.

 

Don't know about that. Took one look at the team and knew we'd get done in midfield and lose the physical battle. Not one defensively minded player in front of a defence that can't defend. Lucas and Can should have started with Henderson out and Toure (can organise a defence and better than Lovren) and Moreno would have improved the back four given how bad Lovren and Johnson are.

 

All of Lallana, Allen, Coutinho and Sterling away at a physical side in shit weather conditions with only Gerrard behind them was not sensible.

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Rodgers is at the point where he's going to get pilloried whatever he does. He needs to pick a team and a way of playing that will win.

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“a mentally weak team that’s easily bullied”

 

That's Television speak for "Pussies". We need a hard man for a DM.

 

 

He had two weeks to try and come up with a plan for this game and THIS is what we served up?

 

He excels with one week, not two

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Rodgers is at the point where he's going to get pilloried whatever he does. 

 

Agreed.

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There is no excuse for picking Johnson. It's not all his fault, I agree with everything else you say. But. He clearly doesn't give a shit about the team, his performances are abject and I'd much prefer Moreno or a youth team player who would at least try. Whilst picking him, let alone Lovren and even the skipper, Rodgers is asking for criticism and is letting Johnson get away with murder.

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If Rodgers had sent out that team he would have been pilloried Ritchie.

 

Not if it had won.

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I think that stunt that BR pulled in Madrid will be the one that brings him down. He alienated the players who where dropped, the ones that got is there in the first place. He then alienated the players he brought in by dropping them for the next game. He then lied to the fans about the reasons for doing so. The press didn't need an excuse to turn on him but they got one. So that's how to turn the world against you in a week. I'd go 442 with the team we've got an hope for the best...

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There is no excuse for picking Johnson. It's not all his fault, I agree with everything else you say. But. He clearly doesn't give a shit about the team, his performances are abject and I'd much prefer Moreno or a youth team player who would at least try. Whilst picking him, let alone Lovren and even the skipper, Rodgers is asking for criticism and is letting Johnson get away with murder.

 

Surely you must have noticed that we got destroyed down the left hand side all game by the mighty bolasie. Unfortunately, Manquillo was the fullback having a mare at the weekend, not Johnson. Lovren has to be dropped, but Rodgers doesn't seem to have the balls to do it as he spunked £20m (Twenty million pounds) on him. His 'defending' for their second goal was as bad as it gets. 

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If Rodgers had sent out that team he would have been pilloried Ritchie.

 

Whatever team he put out he'd have got stick if we didn't win and played poorly against what are a shit alehouse team with a shit manager. There's a consensus of why the fuck are we persisting with Johnson, Lovren, Gerrard, Skrtel? So he plays all four for 90 minutes, they all play shite and we get thrashed. Why stick with them? Why play three mavericks ahead of them in Coutinho, Lallana and Sterling who aren't going to offer anything defensively and neither will anyone behind them?

 

You can get away with anything if you win. You go away from home in the league you've got to be able to compete physically and in terms of energy. 

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I think Dave was spot on in terms of the scars left on Gerrard from the chav/palace games last season. It's just one of the most brazenly unfair, fucked up things ever that Gerrard will carry that with for the rest of his life while the likes Phil Neville have Premier League medals. Also, I still want BR given a chance, and again you're right Dave, this "transfer committee" should be fucking lined up against the nearest wall. It's so apparent that they haven't a fucking clue and I wouldn't trust them to buy me a packet of crisps. In the history of football has there been a bigger waste of £40m than Markovic and Louvren? What's that? Andy car....oh right! It keeps happening though, Chelsea buy players in the £20-30m bracket and they look worth every penny. We buy a 'promising' 20 yr old for £20m and the only thing that comes to mind is 'which agent has pictures of Ayre bumming a sheep this time?' It's laughable, except no-one's laughing...

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Excellent report Dave.  I just feel sorry for Rodgers - I haven't got the heart to slag him off any more.  It's all been said, and rather than add to the noise I'd rather just let him crack on with it.  I have more or less no faith in him being able to turn it around.  He shows no sign of being able to control events.  He's in a whirlpool, and it looks like the fight has gone out of him.   If he turns it around, it will be one of the biggest comebacks since S Club 7.  I want him to, but he has to want it, and be prepared to fight for it.  No real sign of that.  

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Excellent report Dave.  I just feel sorry for Rodgers - I haven't got the heart to slag him off any more.  It's all been said, and rather than add to the noise I'd rather just let him crack on with it.  I have more or less no faith in him being able to turn it around.  He shows no sign of being able to control events.  He's in a whirlpool, and it looks like the fight has gone out of him.   If he turns it around, it will be one of the biggest comebacks since S Club 7.  I want him to, but he has to want it, and be prepared to fight for it.  No real sign of that.  

 

This is depressingly accurate. Although I hope you're completely wrong of course.

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It's fucking grim. Grimmer than a Norwegian murder drama. Ayre has to go, I don't care if it's not his fault, he's the right sacrificial lamb his tenure as CEO is shit like his pomade. Get rid of the rest too, few other jobs can you consistently show such levels of shitness and still have a job, I'd rather the Girl Scouts than the clowns we have. Complete overhaul. Ian Ayres smugness combined with rodgers from last season is just too much pollution one has to go for the good of the planet.

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I'm contemplating how bad it could get. If we can't beat Palace away, and in conjunction with some of the horror results and performances we've had this season, how will the season pan out for us? Rodgers has shown absolutely no sign of being able to turn this around. We are in free fall and it wouldn't surprise me if we are stuck in the bottom half of the table until Sturridge returns. If he does at all, this season. 

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I'm gonna throw this out there again re. Gerrard, why not drop him in to centre half? The man can lead, he's tall enough, he's probably still as quick as Lovren, he's canny enough to know what he's doing there and he could also pick some 40 yarders out from that position. Plus he'll tell the likes of Moreno and Manquillo where they need to be.

 

Oh and Glen Johnson needs binning off ASAP, his performances for the last year disgust me.

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Gerrard is struggling enough playing out of position.  We've got £20 million CBs, why the fuck would we humiliate Stevie further by doing that to him ?

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The reason it is brought up is cuz both he and the manager have spoken of it. 

 

The reason it won't work is Stevie has not made his name worrying about where the fullbacks are, much less telling them where to be.

 

He has not really had to worry about where he was much tbh.

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I know, it's an idea borne of desperation, something to stem the tide.

 

I do think he could play that position more effectively than he can do his current holding midfield role though, and I think the team still needs his presence. I'd like to see Lucas come back in and I think Can has something to offer too. Let's get as many players with character back into the 11.

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Should try him at right back, he was boss there. If Dennis Irwin could do LB until he was like, 56, then why not.

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How about in goal?

 

Maybe play Mignolet as the holding midfielder.

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How about in goal?

 

Maybe play Mignolet as the holding midfielder.

Are you joking? Have you seen Mignolet's long range passing!!!

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