4 Nov 2014

Lineker blasts: BR's shock decision is 'unbefitting' & he's annoyed LFC's 'star players'. Agree?

England legend Gary Lineker has criticised Brendan Rodgers' white-flag surrender against Real Madrid, suggesting that Liverpool's top players will probably be unhappy about being dumped on the bench for tonight's showpiece Champions League game.

Reacting to Rodgers' decision to 'rest' seven senior first-team players, Lineker claimed that selecting a weakened side against Real Madrid 'is unbefitting of a club of Liverpool's stature', and further added:

"If I were one of Liverpool's star players, I'd be choked to be left out of a game at the Bernabeu against the European Champions".

I totally agree with Lineker here. As noted in a previous post, giving up so easily is a disgraceful decision, and I have no doubt that the likes of Gerrard, Coutinho, Sterling et al are privately feeling miffed about missing out on such a massive game.

For most footballers, the Champions league is the absolute pinnacle of club football, and they thrive on facing the best players in the world. If it was Basel, or Ludogorets, it wouldn't matter, but Real Madrid, the Champions of Europe, and one history's greatest ever clubs?

Who wouldn't want to play in such a prestige game?

How often will the likes of Sterling, Coutinho, and Lovren get to play against the world's best players? With the way this season is going, it may be a while before the Reds qualify for the Champions League again...

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86 comments:

  1. Doesn't seem like such a huge "surrender" considering how we've been playing. It'd be better with Cou's creativity and Sterling's incisiveness, but hey, can't blame the effort so far.

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  2. Why the hell should the 'bigger' players automatically get to play? As a team we've been very average this season with the 'big' players. I hope this is rogers telling them they need to up their game rather than just expect to be picked. We have 11 internationals in that starting 11, so its an insult to them to suggest they have no right to be starting when the regular starters have been doing so poorly this season.

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  3. This has been a good decision by Rodgers. He has played most of what could be considered the first choice defence (bar Toure) and why not try and freshen up the attack. Coutinho and Sterling have been hit and miss for the past month. So why not change them out? Borini for Balotelli. Good call if your going for an energetic team. There are quiet a few players out there who cost a fair bit of money, let them out there and see are they fit to wear the jersey. So far it's been no worse than what we've seen most of the season. Unfortunately it's been not better.

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  4. Once again all the experts get it right re. surrender, one of our best performances of the season thus far .... well done BR ... stuff the moaners/ lineker etc.

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  5. The way we are going we might be renamed LIVERPOOL NIL F C

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  6. Joe Allen is not up to it - AND I AM WELSH

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  7. Liverpool never score with just 1 forward tactics are shameful

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  8. Lone striker used again by BR - another disaster - never ONCE looked by scoring = NOT ONCE - still playing coward football

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  9. One of the best performances of the season? Liverpool *lost* - the performance is largely irrelevant. Defensively, it was better, but in an attacking sense, LFC created next to nothing.

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  10. As opposed to the regular starters who have been creating loads of chances? I think not. In your opinion the performance may be largely irrelevant but that's just your opinion. It was good to see obvious signs of improvement from Can and Markovic. Can offers a lot in midfield and must be pushing for a start.

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  11. Of course it's my opinion, so why don't you stop stating the obvious.

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  12. Nevergonnacrackthecode9:45 pm, November 04, 2014

    so happy what a performance !
    borini should play every game
    markovic improved , can was fantastic ,mignolets increasing


    COME ON LIVERPOOL!

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  13. Okay then. Your statement on the performance being largely irrelevant is plainly wrong. This team is struggling for confidence, a good performance could do wonders for them. Amazing me how that could be dismissed so easily.

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  14. The didn't deserve it, not the way they've been playing lately. If Liverpool were playing well enough for anyone to believe they were going to be competitive then you'd expect a full strength team but they've been rubbish. They don't have any case to make. The result justifies that, they were better than the players they replaced. These supposedly second string players produced a much better display that we've seen recently and this was a welcome wake up call to those other first teamers that they need to wake up and improve.

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  15. Whatever happened to no one player is bigger than the team? Well we domonstrated that tonight in our selection and in many senses performance. F@@k Gary Lineker :)

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  16. Lineker 100 % corerect = MADRID AND BASEL will qualify -

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  17. How do you know that this game will be good for confidence? Liverpool *lost*, and barely created any chances. How does that boost confidence? Madrid barely needed to get out of second gear. Lionising this performance is just lauding mediocrity. Rodgers should be demanding more.

    This is just one game; in context, it's the 4th defeat in 6 games, and LFC have failed to score in 4 of those games.

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  18. Rodgers " well no I knew what I was doing" the arrogance of the man. But on we go

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  19. Please read my earlier comment above. The overall performance was pretty must the same but some of the individual performances, as stated, we're much improved. That can only be good for the confidence of those individuals. Again amazing how this is being dismissed.

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  20. We have never come close to indicating that we wouldn't be beaten by 6 tonight. BR you have a squad that stretches longer than your clique. Maybe you should give Assaidi a crack while your at it.

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  21. Nicolas Chamberlain10:02 pm, November 04, 2014

    Our league match against Chelsea is much more important. If we lose this weekend Rodgers will be officially under pressure. Prestige means nothing in times like this. More than happy that this game is behind us. Although I must admit I was shockingly surprised when I saw our line-up.
    Rodgers has lost the plot a bit, but now he can show us how good or bad he really is.

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  22. Is he supposed to say he doesn't know what he's doing??

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  23. Total joke. Not playing your best against the best is defeatist and accomplished nothing. 3 shots is not improving and accepting defeat so we can have "rested" players vs. Chelsea is absurd. I now question BR's confidence in his team and himself. Would he have done this last year if we were in the CL with Suarez? I think not.

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  24. This wasnt part of the plan. BR actually anticipated a beating. LIttle did he know his '2nd team' would turn out to be better than the one that gets spanked by Chelsea on Sat/Sun

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  25. A bit off topic, but why don't you just make a google/disqus account? You've been a guest forever....

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  26. And you know this how? Borini's been better than Balo, Lallana has been more consistent than Coutinho, Toure needed to come in instead of Lovren since he's been poop. Sterling and Gerrard needed a rest. Most of the switches are logical. I'd say thats a pretty good plan.

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  27. He tried that first time round and got battered

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  28. BR is a serial scapegoater. For once something has come good of it. But read my posts you'll find no inconsistencies therein

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  29. This season what exactly is the definition of our 'BEST TEAM' is it a side that played well last season? Our best side is that team which is playing well now. LFC holds a squad of 20+ players... not 11

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  30. I tend to look for the positives rather than negatives,so I see a much improved performance from a Liverpool 11 and I'm pleased. You're stating the obvious by saying we lost, I'm very aware we lost. I'm encouraged by some of the performances I saw from Liverpool players who were apparently lambs to the slaughter.

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  31. You'll never crack the code ...

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  32. Hang on ... are you the same person? I'm never gonna crack this code.

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  33. BR is probably playing a damage limitation game right now. His no. 1 priority to hold onto his job is to finish in the top 4. So to him being in the CL was good enough for last season, job done. He doesn't have to get out of the group, that can be explained away to FSG with some BS. So he is more concerned with the EPL, not to win it, but to finish top four, that's it.

    It's very disappointing to see Liverpool being happy with mediocrity. We are always in "transition"........since 1991. When we think we are getting somewhere we drop back because the manager fails to build on the progress made. Houllier and Benitez did it, and now BR is doing it. Sadly I think BR is in fear of his job and is sinking way out of his depth.

    All it could take is a bit of luck to snap him out of this strange daze he's in. I hope it starts against Chelsea.

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  34. Some fans below may be pleased with the effort but I doubt anyone at the club is actually happy with the result. It's just an accurate reflection of where they are at right now. The team is playing poorly, that's reality, and there was never any chance they'd beat Madrid. Fans and commentators need to stop living in the past. Like you say we've been in transition since 1991. So what more do you realistically expect? Liverpool are, at best, a team that will make the top 4, compete in European competitions and otherwise have an occasional 2nd place finish. On what basis do you think they will ever be more than that? History? Reputation? So if Rodger's goals are what you say they are then what's wrong with that? Goals need to be achievable, anything else is just romance and clichés.


    Liverpool can still comfortably get out of the group and I expect them to give every effort to achieve this. Two wins will do it, assuming Basel lose against Real the second time around. So there is no drama here, no unrecoverable situation.

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  35. Been saying this for ages, FSG love "the Arsenal model". They said it when they came in. Arsenal model = doing bare minimum. Qualify each year but do sweet FA. For years they could've bought 2 or 3 serious players to challenge for the title but they don't, why? Its all about the money! FSG first thing they did...chop the wage bill, then start buying youngsters cheap that they can sell on later for profit. Then get more seats, raise the ticket price and rinse fans over and over. Hopefully they'll straighten us out financially and sell us on to someone with real cash. The first team choices haven't been doing it all season, changes had to be made. Players have to be in the side on merit, no automatic picks and hopefully a few left on the bench will have a look at themselves and as a result of being "rested".

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  36. In the end the selection pretty much justified itself. Madrid were deserved winners, but I think the Liverpool performance was far more solid and competent than many fans, myself included, were expecting. And who's to say that a team with Gerrard, Sterling, Henderson et al, none of whom are exactly on sparkling form form, would have done any better against Europe's best attacking side? I said before the game that I think it was important to see effort and application from whatever starting eleven BR put out, and I think we got that.

    There were some good turns; Can and Moreneo were both outstanding (to use one of Rodger's favourite words). The ever likeable Toure had a good game too, except he appeared to be ball watching when the cross came in for the goal instead of sticking to Benzema.

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  37. Interesting comment to be fair. However, to answer your direct question. I would not be basing any expectation on history or reputation, that would be naive and as you say, romantic tosh. I base it on the fact that the club finished second last season and would have won had they not employed the wrong tactics against Chelsea. They scored goals for fun. What they needed to do was build on that and address their deficiencies. Now, they let their most potent player leave and did not build on it with the return they received on their "investment". They have failed to sufficiently reinvest. If a company were to perform in such a way then normally the board and the CEO are under pressure to step down.

    You are correct, it is a true reflection of where the club is at right now, mediocrity. Are we all happy with that? Some might be, but I am not. I would expect we all want to see us competing properly with the likes of Chelsea, City, etc. But it won't happen any time soon with this squad, the tactics and transfer strategy. They need to think again.

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  38. Perhaps those "stars" would have something to complain about if they weren't run out of their own building a few weeks ago to this very same Madrid team.

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  39. Since when did the Arsenal model mean spending hundreds of millions.


    And one of the reasons why they chopped the wage bill is because it was a major contributing factor to the poor financial state of the team.

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  40. Is that the code?

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  41. the best player we have after spending over 320 million since rafa benitez got sack ( 30mil by hodgson..100mil by kk and 215m by rodgers)

    is a player whom Rafa signed...

    Raheem Sterling and even he looks burnt out because of the over reliance on him

    what has rodgers done to us...sack is the answer

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  42. qualifying for and actually trying to win the CL are 2 different things, the squad rotation from tonight has an air of doing the minimum about it. it's not in the psyche of this club to be 3rd or 4th or rock up to a fixture expecting to lose. arsenal have spent hundreds of millions on a stadium funded by player sales and qualifying 3rd or 4th year in year out, they have done this imo from a fairly decent scouting/ recruitment / wage structure process. i understand the reasons for the wage bill cuts and largely agree with them but I'm sure these guys will sell once the capacity has increased. selling Suarez was a huge mistake, also how we went about the sale and what we replaced him with.....even with CL football and a year of positive media praise of our attacking style, our recruitment team couldn't persuade players to join us, the transfer window was a joke. for all the right things the owners do, it may take many years to recover the momentum we had from last year just from this one transfer. meanwhile we've got many talented players already in the reserves and youth who will never get a shot at the first team because of the current recruited overpaid duds who have someone's ego/reputation attached to the deal. i feel more and more like i'm supporting a franchise/ business rather than a football team.

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  43. Um...no? Did people really think that?

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  44. I was happy with the team selection and I don't see the point in picking the team on reputation. The starting team held their own. The Chelsea game is next and above all, our 'stars' haven't been producing.


    20m Lovren has been rubbish, Henderson was rubbish last game, Gerrard should retire and Coutinho has been off the pace. The only player rested for Chelsea was Sterling, who came off the bench anyway.


    However, I was annoyed that Lucas got subbed off for Gerrard, who yet again had no influence and spent half the time on the pitch out of position while ball watching. Maybe Henderson could have come on to give things a boost, we could have snatched a draw. Lucas is such a better player than Gerrard in DM. Does more work with less fuss. Right now, I couldn't care less if Gerrard leaves at the end of the season.

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  45. They all played against Madrid before and didnt cover themselves in much glory, with the bonus of being at Anfield

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  46. 1. We didn't have much of a choice to sell Suarez. We couldn't rely on him to be available because he was suspended at least once a season. I didn't have a problem with selling Suarez once he was banned for 4 months. If he was not banned, I would have been angry with the decision.


    2. You talk about failure to recruit... the one player we wanted for certain and could not get was Alexis Sanchez and that was because we weren't in London. Rodgers admitted as much. So the idea that we couldn't recruit is not true (in my opinion).


    3. You say that we have all these talented players in the reserves who will never get a shot at the first team, yet if FSG didn't spend the Suarez money (and the additional 40m), people would be complaining about the fact that they didn't spend.


    The bottom line is that we lost our best player last year, and our second best player (Sturridge) from last year has been out for over 2 months already. It's only logical that we'd take a step backwards considering those two facts.

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  47. It says a lot when Lucas is out-performing Gerrard. I think maybe Gerrard still has an edge on him going forward and has something to offer in terms of vision and guiding the attack. The problem is, I agree, the ball watching when Liverpool are looking to defend. I honestly don't know what he's doing sometimes. It's like he knows he isn't able to charge down players and tackle them like he used to - but in that case what the hell is he doing on the pitch?

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  48. Was today's squad your best 11 from our squad of 20+? Was this the team you'd pick to go against the best team in europe? Are these the players the best team now. Again 3 shots and just no chance of being competitive with this team.

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  49. Yeah, and those awesome tackles of days passed weren't due to positioning, it was just energy and enthusiasm. In his prime, Gerrard had Alonso and Mascherano behind him. He isn't cut out to be DM. On the ball things are positive, but it's not to say Lucas isn't capable of making an impact. I think he made a fine impact this morning. He made plenty of room for others and started off a few positive moves, with good balls forward. They just go about it differently. In fact, I probably prefer the way Lucas receives it and makes some room before moving it forward. Gerrard just looks up and bombs it long.


    Defensively, chalk and cheese and I know who I prefer on the pitch. With Lucas, we can have Hendo and then Coutinho/Lallana as the most advanced mid.


    Even the substitution itself was pointless. He got on the pitch because he's Stevie G and it was the Bernabeu. I think many will see this as over the top, but I struggle to find a proper role for Gerrard in the team. He was our talisman for years, but he's no longer required to move forward. If anything, Gerrard impacts BR's decision making, and holds the team back.

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  50. I feel like everyone has just forgotten that Lucas was actually a pretty decent player in his position and had one very good season that showed all his qualities. One of the complaints JK consistently has is that he's slow to chase down a player if he gets beaten but there is no way Gerrard is an improvement in that department. Otherwise maybe it's just been too long since we've seen him at top form. A serious injury can hurt a career but if Lucas is fully fit and can re-capture his existing form then surely he's a viable option. I'd support that and agree, with guys like Lallana and Henderson in front of him there is enough to work with.

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  51. One of our best performances? We had 4 shots against their 30! Is that what you call a good performance? Trying not to get hammered? Is that what you expected this season to be like last May? Is that what you expect after investing over 200 million on players?

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  52. It's being dismissed because it's entirely irrelevant and clutching at straws

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  53. Lucas started the first game of the season, then got bombed out, and now starts against Madrid. His last 3 appearances (two cups and Madrid) have been very good. He only suits one role in the team and plays that better than anyone else in the squad. I just want Rodgers to play a fair game.


    The 'recovery' thing I'm not too sure about. Lucas is quite slow in comparison to others but if a player beats you they are going to be 10 yards ahead after you turn around, unless you're speedy Moreno you don't have that much chance of getting back. Valid point but it clearly applies to most, if not all players. Besides, we all know Lucas cynically fouls opponents so no recovery required :)

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  54. Suggest you read it again my friend .... '' much improved performance '' i didn't mention what i thought this season would be like ! i didn't use the word 'good' anywhere ! If you can compare this performance against Newcastle at the weekend again i suggest '' it's a much improved performance '' ...... sometimes it's only about reading :)

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  55. I think you are searching a bit here. Rodgers, as with any manager, never 'expects' a drubbing. He played a team that he thought could absorb a bit of pressure with help from the midfield of Allen, Lucas and Can to transition quickly to the high energy forwards (Borini, Marko and Lallana) and hopefully snatch a goal on a break. RM are too tactically disciplined, and the break never really came. Before constantly labelling Rodgers a 'serial scapegoater' maybe stop scapegoating him in every post? If Rodgers singles a player out for criticism when they deserve it, then they deserve it. He made these changes because that's what managers do, he sees a team that isn't performing and generally looks like they don't have the passion or determination, and an upcoming game against the team that will probably win the league, and decides to see how badly the fringe players want it. That way he can turn around to the likes of Couti, Sterling, Lovren, Hendo and Balo and say "if you want to be in the XI, you have to be better than these guys". At the moment, Borini has jumped ahead of Balo and Can is making a solid case to push the midfielders, or at least make them worry a bit.

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  56. I think it's all been said below by the two separate camps of fans, the 'weshouldplayourbesteleveneverygame' crew versus the 'weneedtorestforchelsea' gang, so I wont add any more to that. Instead, what did this game teach us, leading up to the Chelsea game?
    First, it told me that a few changes have to be made from the Newcastle lineup in order to have a chance against the plastics.

    Miggles performed fairly well and we don't have much choice, so he gets the spot between the sticks. At RB, I don't think Manquillo did anything to help himself, BUT he was up against some of the best wingers in the world. He will be up against the likes of Hazard and Willian on the weekend, so I would be tempted into putting Johnson in, for experience alone. At CB, Lovren hasnt done enough to keep his spot as I shiver at the thought of him vs Costa. For me, it's Skrtel and Toure, unless Sakho is fit. I would kill for Agger right now. LB should be Moreno, Enrique looked awful last time out.



    In the midfield, I'd like to see Stevie sit out the start of this one, and possibly be brought on later. Im saying all of this knowing full well that he will start, but lets play pretend. I was thinking about how Lucas impressed in the RM game, and I've realised that the reason I dont rate him is because he is always played next to Gerrard, leading to a super slow midfield that accomplishes nothing. I'd like to see Lucas, Can or Allen in that DM role, but my pick would be Can, due to his balance of pace, strength and passing, he seems to be able to attack and defend, in balance. Hendo and Lallana get the other two central spots, both provide heaps of movement and can supply the forwards.


    Sitting just behind the front two, I'd be popping Coutinho in there, mostly because he is a boss. His movement and through balls will finally have a target as I'd throw Sterling and Borini on up front as a 2. Both have pace, both can drift wide to spread out the defenders and both have the capability to get in behind the defense and cause problems. Coutinho's through balls that are completely lost on Balo.



    Miggles
    Glen-Skrtel-Kolo-Moreno
    Can
    Lallana-Hendo
    Couti
    Sterling-Borini


    Narrow, but if they block up the middle, just switch it out so you have Can, Hendo and Couti in the middle, Lallana and Sterling on the wings and Borini up front?


    Peace, YNWA

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  57. There are no positives. Much improved by your standards is still far below mine obviously. We didn't even try to win. How is that improvement on anything. If you want to judge improvement or progress, compare to last season, not last week.

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  58. You are absolutely right, Pete, and I'm glad that another human being shares my feeling about the Lucas/Gerrard situation.

    If Gerrard in his current guise had any other name, let alone another nationality, Lucas would be an automatic starter - as he was before he got injured last year.

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  59. I completely disagree.

    You don't change a winning team, but you sure as heck consider changing a losing team, especially when you have full internationals on the bench.

    I'd flip that 'morale' coin. If anything, the fringe players would see the "star" players being picked even when they are out of form and losing games, which would sap any remaining morale. If Lucas and co didn't get picked against Madrid they never would have been.

    I am happy that Rodgers selected the team he did, for whatever reason he did, and even more happy that we looked MUCH better than in recent games. Our 'non-stars' didn't get whacked against Madrid like our "star" or even Barcelona did.

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  60. Good post. Only thing I'd modify is to bench either Sterling or Coutinho and start Lucas, because Lucas and Can had a very productive partnership against Real, and I'd like to think that the midfield battle will be key against Chelski.

    Wish Sakho would return, too.

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  61. The team selection showed that BR had the b@11s make wholesale changes and drop/rest Gerrard and many others who played last weekend .Although the outcome was not surprising at all considering we were playing the champions of Europe in their own turf, i just hope that the players dropped/rested and the rest of the squad will be motivated to perform better against Mou's team this coming weekend.

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  62. i totally agree the so called top players had there chance at anfield and fluffed it big time,lucas and markp where playing okay last night but once again rogers bottled it at the last minutes and bought doc holly wood on to stroll about and hit 40 yard balls to no one

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  63. Gerrad it holding the team back and has been for two seasons ....as soon as he comes on its the stevie g ill do what i want show .....

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  64. Thanks mate.

    Exactly; they bottled their chance at Anfield so have no divine right to a place in the team. Agree about Lucas and Marko; the Serb was growing into the game, and then 'yank'; I'm hoping that he took Lucas off because he's resting him for Chelski :)

    Because four games a season takes its toll, you know.

    Gerrard sadly just killed our rhythm and offered little defensively, as usual. He should be fighting for a place with Lallana and co, in my opinion. Still think he was at his best down the right.

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  65. Yup - I'm beginning to suspect there's something in his contract that says BR has to play him, for shirt sale reasons or something stupid.

    It's quite clear he does not fit into the Rodgers philosophy and is being accommodated because of who he is.

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  66. Reading some of these negative comments....I would love it if we spank Chelsea on Saturday...absolutely love it!

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  67. '' of the season thus far '' is my comparison, against Newcastle is my comparison, Toure IMO is a positive, Borinis work rate compared to Balo is a positive,Lucas IMO was a positive .......... all about opinions, but for me there are positives. (went on TIA site and watched Red Men TV fans reaction leaving the ground ..... POSITIVE !!

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  68. Well after such a reasoned arguement as that. It's hard not to be wavering in my opinion.

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  69. That's because supporters have a way of finding justification for what they don't want to accept. Sure we've wasted 200 million on players but at least we weren't as pee poor as we were against Newcastle. Big whoop. It's not about that. It's about what we should expect from our team which is a lot more than we are currently getting. Lucas having a good game doesn't solve one single thing. It doesn't make him the player we need nor does it mean he could become him. You call it positive, I call it too forgiving.

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  70. This was a defining game for Rodgers as his massive gamble has paid
    off....just. In one game the squad has become competitive again as all
    the starting line up can leave the Bernabeu with their heads held high.
    At the moment nobody is entitled to an automatic place in the first 11
    after some woeful performances in the first quarter of the season. A
    blank canvas is what the team needs to forget riding on the wave from
    the success of 13/14, so that the best 11 can formulated in time for the
    2nd half of the season.

    One of Liverpool most important games in their recent history was a
    defeat when the team lost a F.a cup game to man u treble winning team in
    the 98/99 season. Liverpool battled for 85 mins holding on to a 1-0
    lead only to be undone by 2 late goals. This was a liverpool that had
    been in transition from a Evans side to a Houllier team. The penny
    dropped for a lot of players that day like carra who played out of his
    skin and it was also the end for other players like Paul ince who
    bottled it in the final 20 mins by asking to be taken off...it was a
    defining game because it was the day liverpool became a Houllier team. I
    saw similar things in last nights performance as Rodgers has wrestled
    the team from shadow of Steven Gerrard just like Houllier did with ince.
    I'm not comparing Gerrard to ince in the way of bottling the game but
    in the way of the unhealthy stranglehold that their presence has on the
    team. As like that game in 98/99 I saw a lot of players breathing for
    the first time this season. there must of been a reason why Gerrard went
    public about his contract last week.. I think the answers were there to
    see last night why he did. Phasing the captain out of the first 11 was
    always going to fall on Rogers shoulders and it looks like last night
    has marked the beginning of that process.

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  71. If the players mentioned were in any way performing in the Premier league then they might have a case. As it is on current form, there's not a single player in our squad who can claim to deserve to play every game

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  72. My sentiments exactly

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  73. Totally agree with all that

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  74. i think the semantics of the argument are whats being missed , your right Jk we lost but we at least looked like a team unit some times we win and draw but dont look like a unit....at least when you look like a team of 11 players it is something to build on because at times this year and against lesser opponents we have looked like 11 strangers

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  75. We could've used the Suarez cash to get 2 or 3 top already proven players and bring a few youngsters into the squad from the reserves (maybe play them in the Carling and FA cup) alongside what we had last year and kept the continuity going by backing the guys that went close last year. It's not just this year we've been poor in the transfer market by failing to get deals done. Its also ironic coincidence that 3 members of the scouting team have been let go today. True, Sturridge has been a bad miss but we should not be reliant on one player after all that cash has been spent. My negotiation with Barca would've been cash plus Sanchez or no deal, or a couple of other players that are on the fringes of the squad. Tello, Pedro, Song could've all come in and integrated into the squad. Huntellar was also available as his contract was running out and would sit on the bench and would provide goals when called upon he could also shoulder the responsibility of being a striker at big club if Sturridge got injured. Ochoa also had a great world cup and was available on a free transfer and would provide proper competion for Mignolet. I reckon all those deals could've been done for about £50-£60m and could've been done with someone who could sell LFC as a club going forward with a dynamic philosophy and CL qualification.

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  76. we could've also gone for de Greizman.

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  77. hmmmmm Rodgers job or Steven Gerrards Liverpool Career. One of them has to end. Lets see how BR pulls those strings.

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  78. I was only pleased with him dropping Gerrard vs Madrid and must do the same vs chelsea because he has been erroneously playing him as a DM which he never was and never will be. When he brings SG "to inspire the team", SG must be playing further up the pitch. BR is starting to grow some b*ls.

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  79. I will mantain the argument that SG isnt and never was a CDM. Copied from another website talking about SG:

    "While it would be uncouth to suggest Gerrard’s Liverpool career is over
    at this juncture, it is also ignorant to maintain that the midfielder
    should start every game for Rodgers."

    Its clear to me that BR is starting to realise that players like SG need to be subbed or to come off the bench

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  80. Having worked so hard last season to get into the champions league to then give up in this manner was sickening to watch. In 2009 we had a team that was no where near good enough but we beat them home and away. This only goes to show the tactical ineptitude of Brendan rodgers and shows that he is out of his depth in europe. He could've quite easily played a defend and break game with sterling up front on his own but went with a second string. I think its unforgivable as how many times will we get to play in Madrid?

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  81. 1. Barcelona were in a position of power once Suarez was banned.


    2. Sanchez did not want to come here. Simple as that.


    3. There's no telling the other 3 players from Barca would have wanted to come here either, especially with regard to the wages we'd offer.


    4. You're assuming Huntelaar would have been ok sitting on the bench here.


    5. Mignolet is not the reason we are struggling this year. Bringing in Ochoa is irrelevant to this year's results.

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  82. I wish some supporters would stop comparing BR to managers who won trophies and regularly competed at Europe's top table. Not a one season wonder . We are mediocre and that is because we are signing mediocre players and we signed a mediocre manager who is way out of his depth. Houllier had a heart condition and subsequently one could expect that maybe this impaired his judgement and Rafa had to work alongside snakes and piranhas like Hicks , Gillett and Rick Parry. BR had a supportive albeit naive board who have backed him more than either of the managers you compare BR with. The man is drowning in a cesspool of bullshi...and we have a squad full of average joes we have paid fortunes for. Shame on BR for giving up before kick off this has never been in the clubs DNA

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  83. Barca were not in a position of power, we could've used the Barca aren't allowed to buy players embargo as a counter negotiating position. Suarez had a contract, Barca are just better negotiators/ better at using the media and used the situation to their advantage. FSG panicked about the further media circus having Suarez at the club would entail. For me its about recruiting potential players and selling LFC to them, putting in their minds that they will get game time rather than sitting on the bench where they are at and that players that join LFC can be legends in the game and achieve everything they want/ can achieve. Tello and Song both subsequently left and Pedro, imo could've been part of the deal if we negotiated better. Huntelaar sits on the bench for Netherlands and regularly comes on as a sub and scores, doesn't make public noise about it, is a model pro, has a solid team ethic and is older, been around scored goals everywhere, his experience could benefit our younger pros and knows the score as far as where he's at in his career. Bringing in solid back up to the current GK relatively cheap makes more sense than money that has been spent/seemingly squandered in potential that may never materialise. Also replacing a £70m player with a £16m gamble who scores mostly from pens and set pieces and a £4m battering ram option for when teams park the bus is very poor management/ recruitment imo.

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  84. 1. Once Suarez bit the player, LFC immediately lost leverage. Combine that with Barca meeting his buyout clause and Suarez wanting to go there and Barca was in a position of negotiating power.


    2. FSG didn't panic. FSG decided that Suarez's value was never going to be higher and cashed in. Better to sell a player a year early than a year late.


    3. Money talks. The club would want them to sign incentive-laden contracts (less guaranteed money). In essence they'd have to take a pay cut to come here (ala Balotelli).


    4. Using Huntelaar's international career as justification for him willing to sit on the bench here is completely irrelevant. Outside of the World Cup or the Euro, the Netherlands play only several times a year. Huge disparity in several times a year vs. upwards of 45 games in a domestic campaign when including tournaments.


    I'm not disputing Huntelaar would have been a great signing. I'm only disputing that he would be happy sitting on the bench here.


    5. I understand your point on bringing in a quality backup GK. But it's largely irrelevant to the overall results this season.


    6. We didn't replace a 70m with a 16m gamble. We replaced him with several players, most of whom haven't have not worked out. That's part of a larger issue where Rodgers has brought in the wrong players. I do have hope for Moreno though.

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