mcjackson

Good points. I've been more positive than most regarding the owners, but I've got to admit I'm getting especially frustrated with the transfer failings. They've done well to stabilize the club, sign some sensible commercial deals, etc. The stadium issue is a big one, and I'm fairly confident they'll take it a positive direction. But the glaring hole at this point is the squad, imo. Something's not right with our transfer policy if we consistently lose out on our primary targets each window and don't seem to have a reliable plan B.

You're right, I guess I just meant that I'd feel a little more secure knowing we were chasing a few established names already playing at a high level in addition to the value acquisitions. I know we're going after under valued players for good reasons, but in this case with the CL and Suarez future on the line I'd like to see us in contention for one or two of the bigger names, some players we know are ready to slot in immediately (just like Sakho and Mignolet in the summer and Sturridge and Coutinho last year). This year, not really sure any of the names being touted aren't just Aspas-types. Also, I'm just complaining.

Agree with all that. Also worried that there's no clear strong alternative formation-wise if Allen's also out or for whatever reason.

Every window that goes by, I get less and less excited by the names we're supposedly linked with. It's either kids or fringe players from fringe teams...and this window is the worst by far - the biggest name has been De Jong. wtf. Stating the obvious, but if we don't sign some starting-quality first teamers in the next week....we'd be lucky to finish 4th.

Or the past few games - Eto'o's hip check, Terry's wiping him out on the corner, plus all the other cheap shots he's taken outside the box. I get that he has a reputation and he's probably not going to get calls easily - but December was one of the most ridiculous stretches of non-calls I can remember.

This. And triangle flipping. Every time he goes into that spiel we lose the next game.

I'm not saying FSG are perfect by any means, but I strongly disagree with the idea that ownership doesn't affect success. Again, the baseball story isn't a perfect correlation, but they took over the Red Sox in 2001, won the Series in 2004, 2007, and 2013, and have been highly competitive every year (they hadn't won it since 1918 previously). They came in, hired a superb management staff, made smart investments...etc etc. I'd rather have owners who do have that track record of coming in and delegating the footballing decisions to people who know the business, instead of owners like Abramovich and Tan who are going to meddle. I'd love to see FSG engage even more with the city itself, and they have some really sensitive issues around the stadium planning...but this will be a good spell for the club.

I'm a big supporter of the owners, and I guess I don't really understand why people still have their reservations. Can you name a better ownership group in the EPL? There are a couple with bigger pockets, but money won't necessarily solve the stadium and other development issues we have. Chelsea and Man City have obviously enjoyed success recently, but what about PSG, Anzhi, Monaco, Malaga, Cardiff, etc? I'd rather trust in an ownership group that has a proven track record of success and consistency, than an ultra rich megalomaniac who might decide that blue is a lucky color and change the team colors. Or walk away the minute things didn't go right.

Might be talking out of my arse, but watching this Gerrard DM experiment I can't help but think about Nuri Sahin and that whole line that Rodgers was playing him out of position b/c he didn't want to give up any of Stevie's "territory" in the middle. Lucas is looking really fragile, and while Allen's rediscovered some form I'm also worried about his injury record. And without a natural defensive midfielder on the pitch, we seem to lose our shit completely... I just hope Rodgers gets to fill out the ranks with some quality first teamers asap. I love Stevie, I think he's got a few really good years left in the tank - but I'd rather see him rotated with other players at his more natural position than playing a full 90 minutes forced into an awkward role that doesn't suit him.

Crazy formation today, really frustrating to watch - especially Cissokho and 1st half Gerrard. Either Rodgers thinks too much and gets cute with his tactics or we have such a thin squad that we can't sustain basic lineups and formations from week to week. Probably a combination of the two... Also, why was Cissokho allowed to play the whole match? Surely bringing on anyone - ANYONE - else would have been better. I can't think of an LB who looks more uncomfortable in possession. And for the Mignolet critics - yes, he's made some mistakes but can you blame him with the mess in front of him? The lack of any sort of marking in the penalty box would make any gk nervy as hell.

I'm hugely disappointed with Moses, thought he was a good pick up this summer...and yesterday was not the first crap game he's put in. He's anonymous at best and a liability at worst. The scary part is that there's not much alternative. But BR has to take some of the blame for yesterday. According to the Opta board, we didn't have a LW. Moses ended up playing the same position as Hendo on avg, and didn't create anything from either a wide or a central role. Not a big surprise that nothing happened when there was no structure to the team on the pitch...