Mark M

Thank Christ we didn't have to go to extra time before the Derby.

 

I've seen our midfield future tonight what a performance when Can moved into midfield a real driving force.

He will get a chance in the remainder of the season whether some fans like it or not.

 

He shouldn't be thrown straight in to the starting line up but bring him on as a sub when Sturridge plays and let's see how he does with a bit of space.

 

He looked better against Chelsea playing deeper even though a lot didn't acknowledge it, let him build his confidence coming on as a sub and he will improve.

 

Sturridge laid a lot of goals on a plate for Suarez and his presence on the pitch helped Suarez, Balotelli will benefit as well and if given a fair chance and is not written off after any game where he doesn't score he will improve and be useful for the squad.

Balotelli was garbage when he came on against Chelsea.

He linked up well a couple of times but was at fault for the goal with a sloppy pass for Lucas.

 

He had a good chance to hit the target from the centre of goal and blammed it into row Z. 

 

He got the ball in a good position out wide left and had 2 players to aim at in the box and he shot again into row Z from a fucking ridiculous angle. 

 

Also when we had the ball in a good position just outside Chelsea's box he stopped running and watched as Sterling as had no options in front of him.

 

He also didn't put anywhere near enough running or pressing for coming on a sub. Every other player ran themselves into the ground that night.

 

Your standards of what is acceptable from Balotelli seem to be what Hodgson did when he was here of lowering expectations.

 

Sturridge came on a sub at the weekend and scored and linked up well. Thats the standard he should be judged at.

Just to add brought the Kids to see Paddington at the weekend wasn't expecting much but when we came out I think I enjoyed it more than they did. ( And they liked it).

A surprised 8 / 10.

It never fails to amaze me how Sky roll out Purslow every transfer window for his opinions.

Him signing Joe Cole and giving him the wages he did is as bad a transfer as we've made in recent years.

The difference a top class striker makes to this team. We've been playing very good stuff the last few weeks but have just lacked what Sturridge showed today no fucking about get half a yard shoot, score.

We seriously need to bin off Balotelli, Lambert and Borini.

Our next striker that's signed needs to be of the same quality as Sturridge.

With those 5 metre sideays passes, no doubt.

haha ok. He got man of the match and deserved it.

Fucking freezing in the ground today. Im only just getting feeling back in my whole body after that bone chilling wind.

 

Well, 3 points, 2 goals and a clean sheet. What more could anyone want? Once again, Skrtel the head and shoulders defender in the back line and Mig showed up well. Not sure what went on for their disallowed 'goal' but it seem no one jumped. never mind as it didnt count.

 

Not much of note happened in the first half that I can remember, maybe the cold froze my brain? Second half was more lively with Sterling scoring with a low drive. Sturridge's return was warmly greeted and within no time at all, he had the ball in the net with a firm to the point drive. Nice ball from Coutinho.

 

And that was effectively that! Oh and the ref was absolutely hopeless.

sakho was class as well.

@bbc606: Daniel Sturridge: 1 goal in 12 minutes.

 

Mario Balotelli: 0 goals in 780 minutes.

Looks like Sakho is fit. Thank fuck. This is from a guy who's got the last 5-6 teams spot on.

 

@DamianLFCpl: Mignolet – Emre Can, Škrtel, Sakho – Marković, Henderson, Lucas, Moreno – Lallana, Coutinho – Sterling.

Listening to the AIP podcast this morning. All the lads on it that thought Balotelli was going to be brilliant when we signed him in the summer even one of the gobshites said when we signed him he'll be our Cantona. 

 

He's been fucking awful and instead of the lads admitting he's been awful and they called it wrong. (lets be fair everyone makes a mistake at some stage with players christ knows I've had to change my opinion at times)

 

The lads are blaming Rodgers on why he's underperforming. The fucking mongs. 

That's exactly it and the thing is, I keep falling into the trap too. 

 

I said to my dad last night, "if he gets a chance I reckon he'll score here. He's due a change of luck". My dad looked at me like I was a moron. "If he gets a chance he'll put it miles over the bar" he said.

 

And then he did exactly that.

 

"Dave's Dad" knows.

Jairzinho nailed it for me it's the not giving a fuck and total lack of end product does it for me. The last player I can remember hating this much was downing.

Good stuff Paul.

Agree on Lucas I thought he was finished as a player for us but he's come back into the team and recently has been excellent.

Danny mills said costa could argue it was just his normal running pattern.

 

eh danny all you need to do is look at the replays to see he is looking directly at the players ankle and then stamps on it.

snide cunt defends snide cunt.

Couple of sloppy passes that didn't cost us.

he's been immense since coming into the 3 at the back formation he's our best CB imo.

He starts so many attacks for us with his front foot fast paced passing from the back.

I really hope it's not a bad injury as we looked so much weaker on that side with him off tonight & the thoughts of Lovern coming in worries me.

I hope someone makes an every touch video tonight because if people can't see an improvement from most of his performances this season I find it bewildering.

the only thing that's bewildering is your defence of him. He was shite tonight. He laid off a couple of passes big fucking whoop. He didn't press or put himself about despite the fact he's physically able and should have had plenty of energy.

He'd only just come on the pitch when sterling has the ball just outside the Chelsea box and mario is standing still behind him not moving for an angle or making a run for a pass he's a selfish braindead shite useless cunt.

He had a partner up front for a while tonight and was still a clown. Awful signing.

In fact hes high on the list of one of our worst ever.

it's not just the fact he's braindead, slow and lazy it's the no goals and assists with all his game time and shots.

Same team as last week. 

 

Damian @DamianLFCpl

Mignolet – Emre Can, Škrtel, Sakho – Marković, Henderson, Lucas, Moreno – Gerrard, Coutinho – Sterling

We can't afford not to pay him what he wants & him and his agent knows it.

So you think it's reasonable that a professional footballer, one who has been playing the game as a living since his mid to late teens, cannot (will not) adapt to something as simple as pressing the opposing defenders when they're in posession? Something which requires predominantly physical attributes which Balotelli has in spades? It's like I said previously, it's not like we're trying to get some big grock dribbling the ball round players or something, expecting him to apply a technical skillset which he simply doesn't posess, we're talking about closing players down when he doesn't have the ball.

 

I didn't say he has zero ability by the way, so pack your strawman away. One ability that he definitely seems to be lacking is doing what he's fucking told though and considering the vast amount of money that's being invested in him I don't think that's much to expect from him to be honest.

we have a winner.

It's just a terrible man-management, he doesn't have a fucking clue how to use him, talks horseshite in interviews and pressers when every konwledgeable person aware of football outside UK knows what kind of player he is.

what kind of a player is he?

There's a massive problem with balotelli in that even if he plays in a system that suits him, his finishing is worse than borini. I cannot believe people still go on about how well he played in the spurs game. No he didn't play well, sturridge played well and balotelli had a fucking stinker missing three open goals.

I know it's fucking nuts. He's continued on that Spurs game form in every other league game he's played for us with no goals and no assists and shooting from distances when better options are avialible.

 

I was dreading this "partership" with Sturridge because Sturridge would have to do all the donkey work pulling wide & dropping off and have to accomodate that useless twat. Thankfully Rodgers seems to finally see what most of us can and that he's a waste of time and not even worthy of a place on the bench.

Decisive action would have seen us replace or at least prepare for the inevitable departure of Suarez instead of running around with fingers in ears all summer only to end up with Balotelli

cant disagree with that. Balotelli was our replacement for Suarez. Fucking mario Balotelli. Heads on the committee should roll for that.

I've been screaming for Cuadrado for so long. But you can't expect this kind of signings from FSG and their local male slut, he's 26 and will ask for prime wages. Cuadrado is twice as good as Willian.

you screamed for Balotelli and got him. So sshhhhh.

Balotelli.