Pan77

If Henderson can't play that probably is the best team we can put out. It's pretty worrying really. We have two 'proper' midfielders against Spurs 4 or 5. As much as I'd like to feel positive about this game (and the ones against Chelsea and City) I just don't. I can't see us getting anything from those games based on our midfield...or lack of. It's so frustrating as we're only a couple of players from being a really good team, then again, I've been saying that for the last 20 years. Hopefully the yanks will put their hands in their pockets and Rogers and his team will invest wisely in Jan.

Dropping Gerrard is ridiculous. Playing him upfront for 60 mins where he can do more damage to the opposition than us is sensible. We need more legs in midfield and we need the defenders to play a higher line. We'd look a different team.

Ming Johnson. Skrtel. Sakho. Flanno Henderson. Allen. Lucas Coutinho Gerrard Suarez Back to 442 and get Gerrard out of midfield. We need extra bodies in midfield and we need the defence to push up 20 yards. I'd tell Gerrard he's getting hooked after 60 regardless of the score. Then bring on Aspas for Gerrard and Alberto or Ibe for one of our painfully average midfielders.

Yep totally agree about our signings and that's why we'll finish 7th. Rogers has spent a fair chunk with us and I'm not convinced he's spent well. Unquestionably decent signings are Sturridge, Coutinho and Ming. But then you have Allen, Ilori, Sahin, Cissokho, Aspas, Borini, Sakho, Moses, Alberto and not one has made an impact. At the moment I have no faith in his transfer policy. There are numerous examples to back this up: Sahin - debacle of a loan. Was he even played in the right role? Henderson - he was trying to get rid to Fulham and now he's the mainstay of our midfield. Borini - Rogers quoted him as someone who will 'excite us and keep us on the edge of our seats'. Moses - Jesus. Allen - the Welsh Xavi. Nice one Bren. CB's - we now have 5 who could start. The one he paid 17 mill for isn't playing. Bizarre. More importantly why the fuck do we need 5 CB's when we there are clearly other areas that need strengthening such as the mid-fucking-field. Granted, our previous managers haven't had great success in the transfer market but Rogers really has taken it to another level for me. This new 'transfer committee' need to be intervening ASAP. Saying all that, I would have taken 4th at this point of the season. I just feel a bit cheated, a bit like a wank wank.

Our midfield is shite and has been for years. It doesn't mater that much against 70% of the teams in the prem as we've got amazing forwards so we just outscore them. Against better teams we keep getting found out though and this will continue to happen. We desperately need a couple of new players in there. Fuck knows who though...

Yep I'd play him as well. I don't think he's been as bad as people make out. He's made a few errors but so has Agger, Sakho and Toure. As for CB I'd go with Skrtel and Sakho.

Can't see him scoring that many to be honest. From what I've seen so far his shooting looks one of the weakest parts of his game. Still a boss player mind.

I'd like to see a 4312 for this. Fulham are fairly shit and I'd like to see Allen, Lucas and Henderson in midfield. I want to see Gerrard just behind Sturridge and Suarez. Bring Coutinho on for Gerrard after 60. We need to start preparing for a midfield without Gerrard and ultimately a team without him. We might as well start against the shite teams. Let Gerrard and Coutinho battle it out for that role behind the strikers. I doubt Rogers has got he balls to do it though.

For me that midfield is woeful and we'd get battered against anyone decent. We'd end up with 2 midfielders against 5 in some games! I don't think Gerrard and Coutinho can play in the same team in that formation. I'd rather us play 4312 with 3 midfielders (Lucas, Allen, Henderson) then Gerrard or Coutinho behind Sturridge and Suarez.

We need 2 new midfielders who consistently deliver 8 out of 10 performances. We've currently got: Gerrard - ranges between 5-8 out of 10 depending where's he's played (and that's normally in the wrong position). Lucas - again ranges between 6-8 out of 10. Henderson - I like his attitude but he rarely puts in a performance above 7 out of 10. On the odd occasion he does. On current form how many of them would get into city, arse, spurs, Chelsea? Not one of them would. You can carry one inconsistent performer but not three. Those players coupled with the fact the balance isn't right anyway AND we're generally outnumbered in midfield in every game is a recipe for disaster. It doesn't matter how many time Roger's 'flips the fukn triangle' it won't work. We get away with it against average teams because we've got boss forwards. Moving forward the first place that needs sorting. I can't actually believe it wasn't in the summer. Lunacy.

Agree with that mate. We certainly aren't title contenders and it's ridiculous to even consider that. At the other end of the spectrum we're not completely shite as some would make out. At the moment who are actually better than us...Chelsea, Arsenal, City. You've then got us, Spurs, Scum who will be fighting for 4th. If we're gonna get higher that 4th or 5th we have got to sort out the midfield. It's been shite for years. Gerrard needs to be higher up the pitch in a free role. Him and Coutinho should be fighting for the same position. We then need 2 new midfielders who can play with one of Allen, Lucas and Henderson. I'd still like to see Allen given a run because he was boss in his first few games for us. Anyway it's no disgrace losing to Arse at the Emirates. We didn't play well but there still wasn't that much between the teams. They took their chances, we didn't. Also the disallowed goal was a fukn disgrace.

Same team as the west brom game for me but stick Enrique at left wing back. I'd bring Coutinho on depending on what the score is after 60. I think people are going a bit over the top with Coutinho. Don't get me wrong, he looks to be a very good player in the making but I personally don't think he's the 'difference' for us. He had some decent games against some shite sides at the back end of last season whereas in the few games he's played this season I actually think he was quite poor. It'll obviously be good having him back as it gives us another attacking option but I just think people go a little over the top about him. Hopefully I'll look a right bellend on Saturday night and I'll edit this post to say 'Coutinho is way better than people think'.

Boss attacking performance that, we could have had 8 on another day but I'm not complaining. The front 2 look brutal at the moment. They must a nightmare to play against. The most pleasing thing for me today was seeing Gerrard further up the pitch. We looked a much better balanced team and he was unlucky not to be put through on a couple of occasions. It's going to be interesting to see where Coutinho fits in when he's back. I really hope Rogers doesn't drop Gerrard back into defensive midfield and stick Coutinho in his role today. For me in that formation it's one of Gerrard or Coutinho behind the front two. At the moment I'd use Gerrard and bring Coutinho on after 60. Lucas and Henderson did really well today, they looked a good pairing and we were more solid than usual in the middle. Roll on the Gooners.....

A very good read that which brings back some brilliant memories. That's when football was proper. I was also 12 at the time. The one abiding memory I have after the game is my Bluenose mate saying to me "yeah, but we're better cause we scored first". Tit. Even at 12 years of age Bluenoses are inherently Bitter.

So it appears it's not just the team that has a problem with ball(s) retention.

Same team as Sunderland game for me but I'd stick Sterling in as right wing back and get Henderson in the middle with Gerrard. It's gonna be very interesting to see how that works. Hopefully Gerrard can play a bit further forward. I'd also keep the 3 at the back but get Toure to push up a bit. I hate Palace after that semi-final defeat. I remember hearing the result on the radio in the car on the way back from lads and dads footy. I was absolutely gutted. Fukn downhill from there wasn't it.

I hear what your saying mate but I actually think we've looked a bit more solid with the 352 in the last couple of games. We were horrendous against Southampton and Swansea. Personally I don't think we've got the players for 433.

Good result but fairly average performance. Pros: Played pretty shit and won. We will improve as the season unfolds Suarez and Sturridge linking up well Back 3 looked solid Won without Johnson and Coutinho We've now scored 2 goals from corners this season! We actually capitalised on other teams shit results, we haven't done that for ages. Cons: Dreadful passing at times Midfield still looks lightweight to me I'd still rather see Gerrard further forward Very reliant on Sturridge and Suarez for goals (although who gives a fuck if they keep scoring) Rogers shirt and tie combo More positives than negatives for me. We've not got out of 2nd gear really and we're second. It felt like a massive win based on the previous shite week. Let's hope we can keep it going against Palace.

Yep I agree re Sterling. He looks poor at the moment although to be fair he hasn't been given a long run in the team. If we play a 352 I think he'd be a decent enough wing back. Didn't he recently play there an under 21 game? He's rapid, works hard and can get up and down. We Could be worth a try. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

I'd go 352 on the basis that our current midfield is a crock of shit and has been for years. I reckon we need to get more people in midfield which will allow Gerrard to play further up the pitch. I'd play Billy Elliot in midfield if he was fit as we need someone to keep the ball and someone who doesn't shit their Warrior pants every time they get the ball. I'd also play Sterling as a wing back. He's rapid and can get up and down. I think he'd do a better job there than upfront. I'd go: Ming Skrtel Toure Sakho Sterling Enrique Henderson Lucas (Allen if fit) Gerrard Sturridge Suarez We could bring Moses on for Sturridge and Alberto for Gerrard (when he's fucked). I will be fukn suicidal if we don't win this game. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

1 step forward 2 steps back. Rogers is trying to be way to clever. I thought he'd stumbled on a formation and a set of players that worked for the Arse and Citeh games. So why the fuck change it for this game. If Sturridge is injured then replace him with Borini and leave the rest alone (especially our midfield which as been dog wank with all the chopping and changing). I wasn't keen on his appointment but I really hope it works out for him. It's not looking too bright at the moment though considering we're regressing. We'll end up in a worse league position than last year despite having Gerrard and Suarez playing all season (so far). His signings haven't been great (Sturridge aside). Also the one player who has contributed recently is Henderson and he tried to ship him out to Fulham! Fingers crossed Coutinho adds something otherwise Brendan's purchases will have been on a par with Kenny's. We have played some decent football at times this season but its generally been against wank teams in the shittest standard of top division football I can remember. Rogers needs to learn very quickly from his mistakes and he needs to play to the players strengths rather than trying to mould players into a formation they don't know. Otherwise by Christmas he'll be unemployed and have plenty of time to draft another 800 page dossier on reinventing the the cunting wheel.

About 2 years ago I played a few games with Wisdom. I played on his side and against him. He was unbelievable. There were some other lads who were on Leeds and Bradfords books but the difference between them and him was frightening. I expected him to be better but didnt expect the gulf to be so large. As you said in your post he is very comfortable on the ball and is rapid. I really hope he gets a chance to play soon. He seemed a really decent lad too.

Absolute legend is Crouchie. I remember when he was on Soccer AM a few years ago and he was still wasted from the night before. By his own admission he was out on the beers with his mum and dad. He was descibing how they were all doing the Robot on the dancefloor. His autobiography is a very amusing read as well. He loves boozing, takes the piss out of himself, scores some boss goals, loves us and has got a fine bit of scouse beaver on his very long Inspector Gadget arm. Top lad.

Granted, Pepe has had a poor run of games of late but he's the least of our problems. Our problems this season have been a combination of injuries to crucial players, suspension of Suarez and signings that have underperformed (even if they weren't the correct buys in the first place they shouldn't be this shit). Lets win the FA Cup and regroup in the summer. Hopefully we can buy another couple of players and move some on. Kenny isn't stupid, he knows our league position is unacceptable and some of the signings havent worked out but he deserves time to sort it out. The football we're playing is decent enough, we just need some tweaking and some fucking patience from the fans.

I'm not suggesting he plays 'wide' as a front 3. I'm suggesting he plays as part of a fluid front 3. There's a big difference. You make a good point though, we havent played him 'wide' as a front 3, perhaps we should try him there as his creativity has outweighed his finishing this season.