mcjackson

Yep....Chelsea it is.

I had to stream the game and ended up with some channel called beIN. The commentators spent the entire first half calling Coutinho Lallana and vice versa, plus the usual "ger-AARD" vs "Gerrard"....bah (I'm American and even I cringe). Ended up listening to the end of the game on TalkSport.

If it does, it's his own fault for insisting on selecting underperforming players. Why Lovren started today instead of Toure is beyond me. Same goes for keeping Can off the pitch and not starting Markovic. Real pity Borini is being dropped entirely without explanation. What BR's doing hasn't worked, surely he knows he has to try something different especially on the obvious weak points of the team. I agree this was a better performance than last week, but to me it's just the same problems without any real attempts at solutions and that's what bothers me.

"we know what the solutions are" -- Rodgers literally just said that. Fuck off

Crazy Marioooo!

He sold ONE player from his starting 11. If he was really invested in a system, BR would have signed as close as possible to a like for like replacement (Sanchez?). Instead, the plan was to use the money to (supposedly) upgrade some of the midfield and defense and go into next year playing Sturridge as a lone forward. That's a pretty big shift considering how we set up last year. Funnneeeee's right, the emphasis is on individuals > system. Get back to system first and good things will happen.

Agreed, and I'd add Manquillo, Sakho (when fit), and Borini to that list. If there's anything positive about last summer, it's that we finally started to fill out a squad that has been ludicrously thin for years. On paper, we have a couple of interesting options at some positions. Right now that potential is being completely wasted because the manager: 1) doesn't select players on merit 2) can't settle on a system that everyone understands (including himself) If Rodgers just goes back to a simple, balanced formula like a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 (basically something that doesn't require a dominant DM, which we don't have), and started selecting players on performance.....I think we'd very quickly get back to playing some of the best football in the league. Right now the players look completely confused, confidence is shot, and nobody seems on the same page. All that said, I think Mignolet needs to play under a quality #1 keeper. He has potential to be the #1, but there's no way he develops while the rest of the team looks just as scared as him. Romero looked good in the world cup, and we keep hearing about links to Begovic....both would be good. If a decent, quick striker is available for cheap....I wouldn't say no. None of the names I've heard so far seem like the answer, but at this point I really think it's more important for Rodgers to start settling on a system suited to his current players rather than hoping that a transfer window will solve our problems.

I still think these things are fixable....but name me one club that built itself on a completely wide open, attacking style of play and actively competed, every year, for their domestic title and the CL, while giving up goals in almost every game. I can't think of any. If you can name me a squad like that, then show me the year they decided to go into games playing a single striker and carrying ZERO strikers on the bench. Every single club out there that is at a level we should be aiming to build towards, has one of the top 10-20 goalkeepers in the world and at least one or two world class defenders. It's not just about "building from the back" or playing conservative football.....it's about at least being able to control a game when plan A isn't working and generally having a balanced team. The biggest indictment is the fact that most of us can't even name a clear first 11, or their strongest formation. So where do we go? If you're one of the ones who thinks everything will be ok if we just wait it out - I think you're delusional, but I admire the confidence, really. If BR stays, I hope there are serious changes to the management structure. Introduce a DOF, a defensive coach, overhaul the transfer committee, anything that will concretely address his weaknesses. If I were him and FSG offered me that instead of being fired, I'd take it in a heartbeat (surely even he has to realize he needs help and if things stay the same he'll be out by summer). If he's replaced, I think we're in for another "re-building" phase....As much as I've lost confidence in Rodgers, I don't think more change is good for the club right now. This could be an incredibly stupid suggestion, but if BR goes, why not give Pascoe a shot. It might be a fresh perspective without having to completely throw away the side (which is what I think would happen if Rafa or Klopp or any other big name came in). If you read all that, that was me saying I don't have a clue where to go from here :mellow:

GET IN STEVIE!!!!!! FUCKING HELL

NOOO

So...our most important game of a shit season and Rodgers has left Lallana on the bench and made sure to try out yet another unnatural midfield setup.

Much better selections the past two games, but I still don't think Rodgers has a clue how to manage games - substitutions have been awful in my mind, and some players are still playing out of position. On a positive note, I thought at least we're starting to look like a team with a bit of an identity going forward....not saying much really, but it's still progress from where we were last month. Hope we sign a new keeper and another striker in January. Lambert visibly tires in the second half and we don't have an alternative. Sturridge can't stay fit, Balotelli's shite, and Borini's disappeared. Bringing in someone like Bony - fast, strong, etc would add a lot to the team. I wouldn't mind another DM, but when Lucas, Allen, or Can are allowed to play there we've looked decent.

Was Manquillo injured? If not, another strange use of a substitution....

anyone surprised? this is fucked

They both certainly looked a lot more shit when playing for us than with their other teams.

No idea what the manager is thinking - I don't like who he chooses for his first 11 and how he lines them up, but at least that's open to debate. What I don't understand is his complete refusal to adapt and react constructively to negative situations or poor individual/team performances. His substitutions have been awful all year, and the decision to not start more players from the Madrid game is ridiculous. This is like his first 6 months in charge all over again... The rest of it is on the players...the most nervous group I can remember watching. Sloppy defending (best example was the 4 blue shirts in the 6 yard box vs Mignolet, no defenders, for their 1st goal). How many passes today went directly to Chelsea players? Not a deflected long ball or anything - one of our players taking the ball, looking directly at a Chelsea player, and passing it right to his feet. When was the last time we had a win in which we controlled the game, secured the lead, and indisputably "deserved" to win? Spurs? Certainly nothing in the CL, nothing in past couple of months in the league. This can be fixed, but the manager needs to manage. Adjust when things, for MONTHS, have been going nowhere. We bought all these new players so we'd have legitimate competition at all positions. Can is the only player who was rewarded for a good performance at Madrid, and he comes on and scores our goal and was one of our best players - but Lovren, Henderson, Balotelli? Come on.

This is what bothers me the most, I can't believe how soft we've become. Sissoko almost breaks Allen's leg, and none of our players stand up for him. Janmaat wipes out Balotelli, nothing. Then when the other team has possession, none of our players actually commit to a challenge, or when they do it's an incredibly apologetic, hesitant flap.

WHAT THE FUCK

we all knew that was coming....

That's unfair on Lucas - the season leading up to the injury he was one of the best DMs in the league if not Europe, never asked to leave during the bad years, etc. I think the injury's ruined his career and he's not going to cut it playing for us, but to say he's shown nothing in his career here....

One ugly game - we had several last year and still did brilliantly. Negatives: I think we have a couple players who are brilliant going forward but don't know what they're doing defensively (Coutinho and Gerrard). Moreno should have cleared the ball, but it was Gerrard who dropped off his man to create that space in the first place. Also think Sturridge needs a creative partner up front - maybe Markovic as a second striker? Positives: All our signings have looked like they actually contribute to this team (can't say that about Aspas et al). Markovic will be brilliant, Can had a shit start but I still think he's going to be our best DM option. Moreno looked great, even Rickie showed something different in creating the goal.

Manquillo's done well - can't wait to have Moreno start on the other side too. Skrtel still can't cover a diagonal runner for shit, but this is better from our back line.

Really hoping Can will be that presence in DM. Because this doesn't work.

I also don't think it'll happen, but he'd fit perfectly with the Rodgers' system. I'd still like to see us go after a decent fullback or two (why weren't we in for Felipe Luis??), but if we sign Reus I wouldn't be complaining either.

Of all the crazy bullshit rumors every summer, this one has to be my favorite, purely for more : insanity: Balotelli for 14m http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/media-watch/metro-transfer-boost-for-striker