The reason why we are shit, and shit is what we are, is because we are soft. We are soft as shite and it is plain as day to see. Every team we play can see it and that's why we aren't getting any space or time. Be they QPR, West Ham or Real Madrid they know that almost to a man our players to paraphrase Dunphy "don't like it up em", they won't contest that breaking ball, attack that incoming corner or chase down that loose clearance and that is because they are acting like a bunch of pussies.
I think there's a kind of general bullshit feeling out there in football that somehow to have a hard edged team you need a bunch of yard dog hoofers on the pitch but that's total bullshit. The reason why the likes of Bayern, Chelsea ,City etc. are so formidable is that the majority their players have both the technical ability and the right winning mentality. The 50/50 balls don't go their way by chance, it's down to the fact that each player backs themselves to take that ball every time and commits full to the collision or the sprint. Good players don't just get space and time to play, they fucking forcibly take it from their opponents and ram it down their throats.
Looking at the selection of midfielders out there tonight and to a man nearly they are all probably good honest lads but being good honest lads isn't enough. These players have the ability to play they just need to get fucking mean and want it more than their opponents. This all starts not with the feckless Balotelli, but with the coach and the captain. Rodgers and Gerrard need to realise that if this side doesn't get meaner quick, then all the pressing and "control" in the world won't count for shit.