mcjackson

Spot on - but I'm still waiting for us to be linked with any serious upgrade to the back line. Maybe I've missed something, but the only names I've heard have been Moreno, Lovren, and Cole...all of whom may be good to add to the squad because we're so thin at the back, but I don't think any of those names would be a clear starter over our current starting CBs and FBs. A lot depends on Enrique coming back strong next year....that would be much better than any of the names being floated. Flanno could switch back to being a RB and Johnson can claim his rightful spot on the bench. Still, it would be great to bring in a decent option so we wouldn't have to hold our breath every time one of our FBs goes down...

It's a fair point, but frankly unless we get something like Bale money I'll always assume that we could have gotten an extra X million had he not pulled so much stupid shit....and that's a really frustrating thought given the club's recent history.

I think it's more a case of his good choices slipping through our fingers (Willian, Salah, and maybe even Konoployonko), and his plan B's all sitting there instead.

If anything a bit of a different option up front could be a good thing in certain games. As good as our attack is, it can get a little one dimensional.....not sure if Lambert is the perfect fit, but I think he'd provide a decent target to change the flow of a game. Also, if we're up by a goal or two it's not a terrible idea to have a striker up front who can slow the game down a little. Like you said, it is what it is, and he's a backup striker - just hoping he's a decent one.

Lambert for the right price (not more than 5 million) would be a positive addition to the team. The team needs his sort of experience and stability...and frankly I'd rather get a 32 year old Lambert on board than take the sort of shot we took last year with Aspas. If we make a marquee signing or two, this deal will look like really smart business. If we end up with Lallana, Lambert, and some no names.....it'll be another shit window. Still a long way to go yet and I'll give the team the benefit of the doubt and assume it's going to be the first of a few solid signings.

It's the headline writers who have it the best - you read through an article and then decide how much hyped shit you can squeeze into a single sentence.

If he's on the way out, fine - but let's sign a quality CB or two first. No need to replay the Carroll-Dempsey stupidity...

Totally agree, the stats aren't totally accurate/representative, just thought it'd be interesting to see some numbers.

Can't wait to see how Roy's going to suck the energy out of the team. Also, any wagers on how quickly the French team implodes?

If you break down the main partnerships' performances this year: Skrtel-Sakho: 17 starts, 26 goals allowed = 1.53 g/g (1 clean sheet) Skrtel-Agger: 12 starts, 12 goals allowed = 1.00 g/g (6 clean sheets) Skrtel-Toure: 7 starts, 12 goals allowed = 1.71 g/g (1 clean sheet) Agger-Toure: 2 starts, 0 goals allowed = 0 g/g (2 clean sheets) We allow 50% more goals on avg when Sakho starts instead of Agger, and the clean sheets drop dramatically. If it was a system issue, you wouldn't expect that sort of difference by substituting at that one position. I actually rate Sakho and I'm excited about him being a major force for us for many years to come. But I think almost all the shit goals we've let in this year come down to inexperience and lack of chemistry. Toure's two howlers were incredibly stupid, but he's also been on the pitch for 3 shutouts. The "bad" goals we allowed were almost always down to poor marking and not covering for the other CB - and those are communication and organizational issues more than anything. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I'm disappointed that Rodgers has insisted on not playing Agger and Sakho together (maybe I don't understand the left footed issue). Even rotating Agger in as a DM or a second DM would have done a lot to stabilize our defense, especially in those games where we'd given up 2 goal leads and Skrtel and Sakho looked like they were shitting themselves. I also think Sakho would develop a lot better with a more stable presence like Agger next to him....

Assuming we buy only one 25-30m player this summer, shouldn't it be on a position we need the most improvement with? We need depth everywhere but adding another world class attacking player won't really solve our biggest problems. Lallana is a very good player and would slot into the team easily, but we'd still leak goals left and right. It bothers me that every name being thrown around so far on the defensive side have been afterthoughts, either washed up, completely unproven, or package deals with a marquee.

Defensive play is overwhelmingly about experience and chemistry. De Gea walked into a very settled defensive unit, Mignolet did not. Our fullbacks were either injured or very inexperienced, our CBs were without their leader (Carra), playing with a new DM in Gerrard.....that's a hugely different situation from any other team in the top 4 or even top 7. Not going to say Mignolet is perfect - but I think the problems we saw this year have very teachable solutions and will be improved upon hugely by an improved back line. He's young, and his shot stopping ability is something you can't teach.

Agreed on all points. If we get Lallana I don't see us moving for Rakitic as well....I'm positive on both players, but Rakitic is in another class. I haven't heard Mbia's name for this summer, but wasn't he linked pretty strongly over the past 2 or 3 windows?

Best: Coutinho's goal vs City Worst: the slip Second Worst: The cunts who waited all year in silence while we did well and they dropped to 7th...then suddenly after the final whistle of the final game, my email/facebook/phone explodes with abuse about the team and Gerrard especially. The hypocrisy was a new low, even for them.

He's not a terrible player - he's just not consistent. And when he's off, forget about it. I wouldn't mind seeing him come off the bench and change a game with his runs, but he's not a reliable defender over 90 minutes and will want a wage that the "best RB in the country" would get.

I think that number goes up if/when he plays for us. I'm not completely sold on the move (esp if it's 20m+), but I think it's positive and he'll fit well with the squad. Assuming that deal goes through, I really hope we make several major upgrades in the back. RB/LB (or both), a DM, and maybe even another CB if FSG feel like spending. Mattia De Sciglio looks like he's turning into something - made a bit of a breakthrough at Milan this year and would be a great buy. His contract runs through 2016 (maybe a January window buy then), he's only 21 and looks a lot more developed than Flanno. I hope we get someone quality, sell Johnson, get Enrique back, and continue to play Flanagan at RB/LB - we're not far away here. Also, I'm sure Varane would cost some silly money but I wouldn't complain...immediate upgrade on everyone we have at CB. Are there any decent DM options out there? De Jong's almost 30, but I'd love to see someone who doesn't give a shit about getting forward and lives for the tackle.

Obviously would like to see us win the league, but realistically I'd be happy with top 3 and getting out of our CL group. Our style going forward is incredible - and if we get a couple key transfers, it will be great to watch Rodgers work with more options at all levels. Top 3, good showing in the CL, and continued evolution of the team....

I think the faults with the team are pretty obvious, and most people would agree that Rodgers' game management was less than perfect over the past few games. I don't think Johnson deserves all the blame for the Palace debacle - post-injury Lucas can't cover properly and Gerrard, while immense in the new role most of the time, has looked painfully nervous and always has an eye to the next attack rather than sitting back. Bit of a blessing and a curse. Anyway as long as we do something decent in the transfer window (at least one real first teamer), I am confident Rodgers will come back smarter, the squad will come back mentally stronger, and we are going to be one of the scariest teams in Europe playing some of the most attractive football that's been seen in quite a while. Say what you want about the crying - I know it's a disappointing moment for the club, but having players who invest themselves so strongly in their club is something I'm very happy with and I think it will translate into even better results in the future. And on a similar note, the fans' reactions singing Gerrard's name after the slip, getting behind the players during the shit moments, and even the crying - goddamit I'm proud of this club, the players, and the fans. If we can react this way during the most disappointing moments, it's going to be especially sweet when we win.

I'm confident we'll pick up all 6 points because Rodgers has always reacted well to a fuck up, he knows how to get the players back on point and focused. Not giving up hope yet! I also think we're going to be challenging from here on out every year, especially with some improvement on the transfer market. Last time we challenged was the winding down of the Benitez era and there was all that instability creeping into the club - this time it's the opposite. We've got a great manager and a great core of young players.

Agreed about looking to Barcelona for a formula to beat Mourinho's negativity....but not sure about all the pushing and screaming bit. Barcelona would win by: 1) not shooting from distance 2) playing direct, short passes into players' feet waiting at the edge of the box 3) staying patient, trying some dummy runs and more one twos... I hate to admit it, but Neville's analysis was spot on - we lost our composure and didn't look like we had a plan after going down 1-0. Could Rodgers have done something different? I doubt it - and frankly I'm not going to second guess anything he does for a long time :) In some weird way maybe this takes a little pressure off for the remaining 2 games - hope City hiccups in the meantime...

Let's work on not letting Spurs steal our transfers before we think we're going to compete with Real over top talent

I thought that was a fantastic microcosm of the rest of the match - already up 2-0, and our strikers are literally fighting for another goal. I love that about this team, they're all going to fight like hell for the ball down to the smallest guy on the pitch.

any contact in a set piece is pretty much going to be seen as 50-50....but when a single striker goes up against 2 defenders and gets wiped out by the guy everyone expects it from... when he's on, skrtel is a great defender, but otherwise he's a complete liability.

I cringe whenever I see Webb is going to officiate one of our games - but the fact is he's the FA's favorite ref and nobody outside of Liverpool is going to think twice about any SYP connections. End of the day, he's a ref that insists on "managing" a game and that's trouble for a team like ours that runs at/past defenders in the box. He's clearly happy to have different rules for fouls in vs out of the box, and the FA is clearly happy to let him do it. Had the two penalty claims happened more than 5 minutes apart, they would have been given - something needs to be done about this sort of thing. I agree with Barnesey though - if we're to really challenge for the top we're going to have to bury our chances and make sure the ref isn't deciding the game for us.

Thought that was a great response by Sturridge at the postgame interview, glad he said all that. World class effort by everyone tonight, I hope they can keep up this kind of hunger!