Liverpool put in a very encouraging performance against Manchester City in the 2-2 Premier League draw yesterday, and although the team deserved to win (yet again), the fact remains that the Reds have dropped four points in the last two games, and thrown away two victories as a result of calamitous defensive mistakes. Despite this, Brendan Rodgers showered the team with his usual brand of fawning, over-the-top praise, none of which is fooling Anfield legend Dietmar Hamann, who suggested last night that Liverpool are still an 'average' team.
Here is a selection of Rodgers' post-match comments:
"It was an outstanding performance at a notoriously difficult place for teams to even score a goal. We've been outstanding in our game but mistakes have cost us. I can't fault the players. I thought they were absolutely brilliant today. We showed great character"
On Sturridge:
"He was terrific today. His hold-up play, his movement, his pace. He was a real, real threat. His combination with Suarez and Downing and Henderson up front was outstanding."
On Gerrard and Carra:
"I thought they were brilliant. Carra has never put a foot wrong for me. And Steven Gerrard - It was a brilliant goal from him to beat Joe Hart, who is six feet five, from that distance. His performance was immense".
On the senior players:
"The senior players are vital for us. We've got a lot of young players, talented players, who are going to need time to grow. But while they're growing we've got senior players who've been outstanding"
With the greatest respect to Rodgers, this kind of praise for two draws in a row is massively over the top. If the players were 'outstanding, terrific, and absolutely brilliant', then the implication is there's nothing they need to do to improve.
Thankfully, Didi Hamann is one of the few who prefers (like myself) to take a more realistic view of things. Whilst everyone else is bending over backwards to worship the Reds for drawing another game, the Kaiser is not convinced. He agreed that the team put in an "encouraging performance', but pointed out that there is 'still no win against a top 10 side'. He observed:
"Yes, LFC played very well but City were without Kompany and Toure. The team is improving but we are nine points behind Spurs which we won't make up [which means] another season without Champions League football. The best teams win even [when] playing badly. Collectively the team made too many mistakes this season. A good team finds a way to win. An average team finds a way not to win".
Predictably, Hamann received abuse on Twitter from fans who can't hack the realist approach, but he responded:
"Stop telling me we deserved three points. The mentality is not top 4 material. LFC should have won last two matches but they didn't. I'm very happy how the team is playing but if you play very well and don't win it's not a good sign".
I totally agree with Hamann here, which is why Rodgers' gross overpraise is really irritating. It's great that the team is playing well, but that will mean nothing at the end of the season if Liverpool finish between 6th and 8th.
I honestly believe that constantly showering players with exaggerated praise - win, lose or draw - dulls competitive edge. It's simple: glowing praise should be reserved for victories; draws and defeats mean the team didn't do it's job properly, and the focus should be on improvement, not rewarding players for failure, which - harsh as it may sound - is what a draw ultimately is.
For some reason, over the last 10-15 years, Liverpool have developed a counter-productive habit of jumping the gun with premature praise; whether it's Gerard Houllier telling everyone that the team is 'ten games from greatness'; Dalglish and Rodgers showering undeserved praise on the team after defeats and draws; players constantly massaging each others' egos in public, or - like yesterday - Steven Gerrard telling everyone that Liverpool can finish 4th, the club and its players constantly talk the talk in public, but rarely deliver on the field, especially in the league.
I disagree with Didi's suggestion that Liverpool are an 'average' team; that's clearly not the case, but the team's league results this season are definitely average, and irrespective of the City performance, the cold, harsh truth is:
* Liverpool have failed to win five of the last nine league games.
* That's thirteen points dropped out of a possible twenty seven.
* The club is nine points off fourth place, and twenty-six points off the top.
Irrespective of good performances on the field, that is average, and there is nothing 'outstanding, brilliant and terrific' about it.
People may accuse me of being churlish after such a good performance, but what is the point of regularly performing well without winning? Ultimately, football is about winning games, and I really wish the club would just tone down the unwarranted triumphalism and just get on with quietly progressing on the field.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
Here is a selection of Rodgers' post-match comments:
"It was an outstanding performance at a notoriously difficult place for teams to even score a goal. We've been outstanding in our game but mistakes have cost us. I can't fault the players. I thought they were absolutely brilliant today. We showed great character"
On Sturridge:
"He was terrific today. His hold-up play, his movement, his pace. He was a real, real threat. His combination with Suarez and Downing and Henderson up front was outstanding."
On Gerrard and Carra:
"I thought they were brilliant. Carra has never put a foot wrong for me. And Steven Gerrard - It was a brilliant goal from him to beat Joe Hart, who is six feet five, from that distance. His performance was immense".
On the senior players:
"The senior players are vital for us. We've got a lot of young players, talented players, who are going to need time to grow. But while they're growing we've got senior players who've been outstanding"
With the greatest respect to Rodgers, this kind of praise for two draws in a row is massively over the top. If the players were 'outstanding, terrific, and absolutely brilliant', then the implication is there's nothing they need to do to improve.
Thankfully, Didi Hamann is one of the few who prefers (like myself) to take a more realistic view of things. Whilst everyone else is bending over backwards to worship the Reds for drawing another game, the Kaiser is not convinced. He agreed that the team put in an "encouraging performance', but pointed out that there is 'still no win against a top 10 side'. He observed:
"Yes, LFC played very well but City were without Kompany and Toure. The team is improving but we are nine points behind Spurs which we won't make up [which means] another season without Champions League football. The best teams win even [when] playing badly. Collectively the team made too many mistakes this season. A good team finds a way to win. An average team finds a way not to win".
Predictably, Hamann received abuse on Twitter from fans who can't hack the realist approach, but he responded:
"Stop telling me we deserved three points. The mentality is not top 4 material. LFC should have won last two matches but they didn't. I'm very happy how the team is playing but if you play very well and don't win it's not a good sign".
I totally agree with Hamann here, which is why Rodgers' gross overpraise is really irritating. It's great that the team is playing well, but that will mean nothing at the end of the season if Liverpool finish between 6th and 8th.
I honestly believe that constantly showering players with exaggerated praise - win, lose or draw - dulls competitive edge. It's simple: glowing praise should be reserved for victories; draws and defeats mean the team didn't do it's job properly, and the focus should be on improvement, not rewarding players for failure, which - harsh as it may sound - is what a draw ultimately is.
For some reason, over the last 10-15 years, Liverpool have developed a counter-productive habit of jumping the gun with premature praise; whether it's Gerard Houllier telling everyone that the team is 'ten games from greatness'; Dalglish and Rodgers showering undeserved praise on the team after defeats and draws; players constantly massaging each others' egos in public, or - like yesterday - Steven Gerrard telling everyone that Liverpool can finish 4th, the club and its players constantly talk the talk in public, but rarely deliver on the field, especially in the league.
I disagree with Didi's suggestion that Liverpool are an 'average' team; that's clearly not the case, but the team's league results this season are definitely average, and irrespective of the City performance, the cold, harsh truth is:
* Liverpool have failed to win five of the last nine league games.
* That's thirteen points dropped out of a possible twenty seven.
* The club is nine points off fourth place, and twenty-six points off the top.
Irrespective of good performances on the field, that is average, and there is nothing 'outstanding, brilliant and terrific' about it.
People may accuse me of being churlish after such a good performance, but what is the point of regularly performing well without winning? Ultimately, football is about winning games, and I really wish the club would just tone down the unwarranted triumphalism and just get on with quietly progressing on the field.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
I like how Hamann refers to LFC as 'we'. Regarding his assessment, I certainly agree that against quality opposition defensive effort has been really poor this season.
ReplyDeleteDidi must have has a pony on a city win.
ReplyDeleteAgree with you on this one Jamie, ultimately it's wins that matter in football and it high-time the team and Buck starts delivering. Getting sick and tired of BR jumping on the bandwagon in press conference.
ReplyDeleteTo tell you the truth, I was starting to dread the moment Skertel came on to replace Jose Enrique and Agger moved to the left to accommodate Skertel. Just felt the timing of the substitution was wrong. We had just taken the lead and a 5 minute period of consolidation would;nt have gone amiss.
The whole team can't be blamed for Reinas ever more frequent aberrations and the sudden drop in form of Skrtel which in part has a lot to do with the constant changing of his partner at right back, Aggar doesn't have too much of a problem because if it isn't Enrique it's Johnson and even Downing at a push. Skrtel has one kid after another to look after and he isn't a Carragher who is constantly shouting at people, Skrtel hasn't got that in his locker IMO.
ReplyDeleteLets be honest here, we loose because of stupid mistakes, either from reina, or are Center backs. 9 points can be made up..... Spurs have-arsenal,city to play and us. Everton-have us,arsenal,united,city to play.... So it's still open.... But il be happy with 5/6 finished least it be a improvement, least we can see Rodgers is creating something good at Liverpool.....
ReplyDeletedidis just saying it as it is,we are average,we may be improving on this seasons performances but they have been average at best
ReplyDeleteJones makes one mistake in umpteen games and gets castigated, Reina makes them time and again, Jones is much better for high balls. no he's not taller than Pepe
ReplyDeleteJaimie, you write that Rodgers' praise after two draws is way over the top. Well, first of all he tends to over-praise players, no big deal. Can't remember a Liverpool manager in recent history who didn't talk rubbish, at least at times. Then I'd like to think that it would be fair to consider whom those draws were against. Arsenal and Man City away. Yes, we could have won both games and surely should have won yesterday, but I didn't take it for granted that we would even compete in those two matches. Furthermore BR also criticises our players if they perform poorly. It's the right blend of praise and slagging off that should do the trick. By praising our players after yesterdays match he simply told them to carry on the good work. Nothing wrong with that. It instils believe into the lads.
ReplyDeleteIf Enrique had not reverted back to his very worst, giving the ball away 100% of the time he would not have had to be replaced and the second goal would not have happened.
ReplyDeleteI am missing something here? Did anyone really think Liverpool would actually challenge the top 2 or 3 this year?
ReplyDeleteOf course we are still average, Rodgers has had about 6 months in the job. Totally unrealistic to expect anything much better than we are getting at the moment. He's sorted out some of the forward issues, he's getting better performances out of Henderson and Downing and he's given opportunities to 2 or 3 youngsters. He needs another defender and a keeper now but we had bigger issues to sort first.
Last week Rodgers was being slaughtered for having a go at the players, this week he's hammered for praising them for being the better team in away games at Arsenal and Man City.
Too be fair to the criticism in question, the first goal was defended quite poorly, but the second goal was entirely Reina's fault, and if there were a worse keeper than Hart in goals it wouldve been 3-2 or if we had a good keeper 3-1.
ReplyDeleteAnd if we beat Arsenal and Man City, people would be saying, "well, they've only got 2 wins over top 10 teams". Anything can be spun to make a point.
ReplyDeleteAnd now I'll do my "spinning"! :)
9 points off with 13 games to go is a long way, but if this team continues to play well, we will be in the hunt. It may be too little too late at this point, but I see no reason why we can't at least make it close (provided the team plays consistently well).
We MUST put teams away when we have the opportunity. That's my bigger issue than with the draws. Being up on Arsenal and Man City away and getting a draw is completely different than coming from behind to salvage a point. These last two games feel more like dropped points as opposed to salvaging a point due to the circumstances.
That being said, if we continue to play well against the West Broms and the Swanseas of the league, then I feel strongly that we will win those games.
If we take care of our own business (getting wins), pieces will fall into place for us to challenge for the top 4. If we don't take care of our own business, it's a moot point.
In terms of BR's comments, I have no issue with them. Just like @anteater71:disqus said, he praises good performances and bemoans poor ones.
And furthermore, I thought his comments yesterday were some of his most level-headed. While he praised the players, he also said that we need to cut down on the mistakes so that we will turn these draws into wins.
It's right there on the LFC website if you want to see all of his post-game comments.
We have 39 points up for the grabs in the final months of the season.
At the minimum, we probably need to get 30 of 39 to have any hope of even being in the hunt for the top 4. It's a tall order, especially given our recent history of not closing out teams. The good news is that all of our toughest (IMO) opponents have to visit Anfield.
Bottom line: If we play well, we will be playing season-defining games in April and hopefully into May.
Squad played well, we got ahead and reina made the mistake. No one else's fault but his. Where away from home outplaying the champions in all aspects and reina made a costly mistake. This does not suggest the squad is average. Look at how unstable lfc has been the past 3-4 seasons ever since rafas last season. We haven't maintained a manager for a long enough period. A mass amount of money spent on average British players. Change in ownership. Many mistakes made inbetween (mainly by kenny daglish and Damien comolli). This season was never going to be a top 4 season, that is realism. Saying we are an average squad is not realism. An average squad doesn't outplay most of the teams it plays. Next season things are going to be much more stabilised, and the philosophy will be well under way. Hopefully this summer we don't waste our trasnfer budget on players like borini and Allen. We need top quality players (not necessarily world class because we can't attract the best anymore). Next season it would be fair to asses BR. Next season we should be finishing top 4. This was common knowledge before the start of the season but somehow it slip through some people's minds.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder this journalist recieves so much critiscm...no offence.
Actually, I'm not sure it was entirely his fault. Skrtel should have covered across far better which would have meant Reina wouldn't have needed to be out there.
ReplyDeleteDidi's got a point, to certain extent...Coz pre-BR, we were a team that play with tactical nous and grit (we looked relatively comfy, when we didn't hav the lion share of possession). Since we are trying implement tiki-taka, everyone needs to be on 'point' with how they move the ball on to next person. Think Skrtel's a good defender (old school style), but his lack of composer, is scuppering the dynamics of the philosophy of BR. These days when we have the ball at the back, passing it around, my sphincter goes through hell!!!! Think 3 of our back 4 are pretty good with the ball in possession, Enrique tho sometimes gets into D*CK measuring comps with the opposition (I'LL OUT MUSCLE YOU, which is probably one of his flaws). Reina? thought he would've been a duck to water in the system, think we should off load him (highest bidder even if is the mancs). Marc-André ter Stegen seems good choice, coz the space our full-back leave when forward, has us vulnerable to crosses, this guy has a good cross collection percentage (thinking moneyball,lol).
ReplyDeleteI can see Liverpool going on a run of wins to put in a late challenge for a CL spot. I don't think they get will get it as I felt that they needed to get 6 points from the last two games. If we finish above Everton which would mostly mean a place in the top 6 and have a good run in the europa league( semis/final) then for me that would be a good sign of progress.I remember 2010 when City battered us 3-0 in Hodgson's 2nd game in charge. If you compare that game to yesterday we are most definitely heading in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteRecently you criticised Rodgers for criticising the kids but you say he continuously lavishes exaggerated praise on his team. Which is it? Rodgers admits when we're outplayed and states when we don't get what we deserve. I personally don;t see the problem with this. It's essential to maintain the wave of positivity generally being felt by the fans. This improves the support on match days which in my opinion has helped our home form in recent months.....
ReplyDeleteI felt like Aguero had no play there unless Pepe left the net.
ReplyDeleteThere wasn't any support for him to cross it to and Skrtel was on his way. There are plenty of plays like that in games where a guy gets space out wide and nothing happens (mostly because the goalkeeper lets his defense catch up instead of trying to deal with it himself).
P.s. 'I'M NOT' Damien Comoli trying to get my job back.
ReplyDeleteam sick of hearing about what rodgers is going to do next season ,what about this season, never in my life have i heard so many supposed lfc fans,willing to forget about a season,because nexts going to be better and if it is not no doubt the same,super fans will still be posting (give rodgers time he has a plan fsg are great b"llshit)well to be fair rodgers has not done a bad job but imo kenny would have had us in a lot better position than we are now,also if fsg thought there was a chance of top four they should have invested more in january,and before people say they will in the summer we will be looking at the same caiber of player in the summer as we were in jan so at least it would have given rodgers the rest of this written off season to get is squad to gel ready for a push next season,because do you all think the clubs that get champions league this year and the other clubs that just miss out are not going to invest in the summer,except everton;-)
ReplyDeletemaybe enrique was not fully ready for a recall maybe our shocking lack of depth forced rodgers hand
ReplyDeleteswansea west brom ,we have took 1 point out of six uptill now,hardly inspiring is it ;-)
ReplyDeletewhos the we do you speak for everyone,so 6th and no cup finals is an improvment not in my book i would rather be 8th and have some silverwear sorry not a slate on you but imo 1st is 1st and second is nowhere,but each to there own
ReplyDeletecan you tell me all the average sides that have got to both domestic cup finals over the years
ReplyDeleteWe should have been City twice this season and would`ve done if it werent for mistakes. We had Arsenal in the bag but backed to deep in the second half, hence the draw. We had United for most of the second half at O.T. We drew against Chelsea and matched them throughout. I dont think we are to far away from the top again. We still need improvement and we will be hard for any side to handle. The futures good the futures Liverpool!!!!!
ReplyDelete"Next season things are going to be much more stabilized"? And you know this how??
ReplyDeleteTo be frank, all the teams that we played this season, we deserved more than the score suggested. The only games we looked pants/out our depth in were Stoke at crimbo, Oldham and against Gunners at start of the season. When you watch us against the Gunners, you can easily see we are the newer team playing Tiki-Taka (both times). Winning 'UGLY' is beyond us, can't hold onto leads we have.. Didi right saying we don't have TOP 4 bottle, when was the last time we won 'UGLY'. We don't have a win by any means necessary mentality anymore, instead we approach games ala Barca/Arsenal (be a novice version).
ReplyDeleteTo be frank, all the that we played this season, we deserved more than the score suggested. The only games we looked pants/out our depth in were Stoke at crimbo, Oldham and against Gunners at start of the season. When you watch us against the Gunners, you can easily see we are the newer team playing Tiki-Taka (both times). Winning 'UGLY' is beyond us, can't hold onto leads we have.. Didi right saying we don't have TOP 4 bottle, when was the last time we won 'UGLY'. We don't have a win by any means necessary mentality anymore, instead we approach games ala Barca/Arsenal (be a novice version).
ReplyDeleteOutstanding, brilliant and terrific post Jamie. Totally agree with you. These young punks should be drilled with the philosophy that a draw is not acceptable at LFC.
ReplyDeleteWe can talk about the bright future to kingdom come. Results matter. It was there for the taking yesterday for us. Constructive criticism is the way to motivate these boys. They should go back home after the game like this and reflect. But with buck's praises, they will go home and be content with a draw result. mediocre mentality will set in and we will be a mediocre team.
We won a carling cup or wot eva its called. How much was spent winning that 1 cup and finishing 2nd in a F A cup final? 2nd is nothing so lets see if wecan go one better this season with spending less money. Remember we are still in europe and could still finish higher than 8th. To b honest i dont think u have much of a point.
ReplyDeleteTo be frank, all the that we played this season, we deserved more than the score suggested. The only games we looked pants/out our depth in were Stoke at crimbo, Oldham and against Gunners at start of the season. When you watch us against the Gunners, you can easily see we are the newer team playing Tiki-Taka (both times). Winning 'UGLY' is beyond us, can't hold onto leads we have.. Didi right saying we don't have TOP 4 bottle, when was the last time we won 'UGLY'. We don't have a win by any means necessary mentality anymore, instead we approach games ala Barca/Arsenal (be a novice version).
ReplyDeleteI do understand that Rodgers has only had 6 months in charge and that alone would mean patience is required but unfortunately it is not something to look at in isolation.
ReplyDeleteOne could also look at Steve Clarke and AVB who are also 6 months into their tenure for comparison to gauge the level of progress and it is in this area that Rodgers may be found as being a rather slow starter.
West Brom started very well and occupied positions in the top 4 that Rodgers Liverpool have not but given Liverpool has now gone past West Brom it certainly feels strange that we have now spent about £50 million this season to play catch with low spending West Brom and we face off next to dispute 7th position.
AVB is the other manager who probably has more in common with Rodgers so would be the ideal ma to measure against.
AVB and Rodgers are both in their second premier league season having started at the opposite ends of the financial spectrum i.e AVB at mega spending Chelsea and Rodgers at a modest Swansea.
They are now at clubs with similar budgets but maybe Spurs have the advantage of getting value on their assets because they seem to get the right deals done by going for deals that make sense.
The two men are in charge of squads where they seem matched like for like on first team basis give or take one or two players.
Spurs seem to have more quality in reserve but Liverpool still spent almost the same amount if not more to get under-performing squad players.
Liverpool have outscored Spurs by 2 goals while conceding 3 more goals
Spurs have 13 wins to Liverpool's 9 wins something that puts the lavishing of praises for settling for 2 consecutive draws from 2-1 winning positions into perspective.
The most important metric though is that Spurs are comfortably 9 points ahead of us and 3 clear of the nearest challengers for the 4th sport while only 1 point off third.
The point I am trying to make here is that it is noble to say Rodgers is new and needs time to change things and some tentative positives are showing through when you look at the growing Suarez-Sturridge partnership the fitter Sturridge gets having been injured and sparsely used before January while at Chelsea.
The worry though is Spurs like Liverpool also felt in hiring AVB they needed to change their direction and give their project to AVB so they could sustain the push for top 4 but also at the same time probably feel he also needed time to achieve this and on current form he is on course to surpass expectations.
It becomes clear that top clubs may change dynamics by replacing managers(Spurs,Chelsea and Liverpool) or changing key playing staff(United, Arsenal, Chelsea,Liverpool,City and Spurs) but the clubs we are competing with seem to improve at a better rate by either overtaking us or sustaining their places ahead of us.
Harry Redknapp had a similar brief to turn around relegation threatened Spurs into a competitive outfit back in 2008 and in the very next season they were challenging for top 4 which clearly implies that if you are playing catch up you have to improve at a better rate than teams you want to surpass and Liverpool has clearly failed at this since the 2008/09 season hence the reason we have consistently found ourselves fighting for 6th to 8th place in-season and at the end of the season.
It is really a measure of our progress and more effort will be needed to turn this around just Like Spurs and Everton who this season seem to refuse to accept defeat by drawing when it looks like they are well beaten or not relinquishing winning positions once they put their foot in front.
Sorry for the rather long synopsis but that's my 2 cents on our current plight
You don't win with pony's. You need studs.
ReplyDeleteAre you havin a laugh Kenny was shockingly bad and Rodgers is definitely improving this team.With the money Kenny spent a top four spot should have been a certainty, an absolute waste of a chance to bring in some world class players or at least players with world class potential.I could not care less about the domestic cups they should only be for giving youth valuable experience,what we need is european football to attract the best players domestic cups wont do that.The owners are really going to have to dig deep in their pockets in the summer or there will be uproar from the fans who are starting to get impatient with their lack of spending.
ReplyDeleteByrnesey, do you think Rodgers is doinga fantastic job with the squad he as had to work with? Top reply m8
ReplyDeleterodgers has the same team as last season and spent another 50 odd million,so there is apoint or dose rodgers not use any of them signings
ReplyDeleteIt's about improvement in the league.... Your a fan who living in the past you want top league position and trophys well we are not the same Liverpool. We've changed, new team,young. Everything takes time.
ReplyDeleteI think Hamann is spot on.
ReplyDeleteA very creditable display, but I never thought we would win this one (and only briefly did against Arsenal). The players are capable technically and physically (though certainly not perfect in either regard) but not mentally.
We need strong, tough characters in the spine of the side. I wouldn't be against a new GK and 2 centre-halves. Even a CM if only to make sure Lucas hits the heights he can.
domestic cups are what made this club,or would you rather have a european super league,because i certainly would not,european football is special but if you have a european league it would soon get boring
ReplyDeletea fantastic job surely you jest,even rodgers mam would not think hes doing a fantastic job satisfactory maybe but fantastic your having a laugh or are you a person who lavishes praise very easerly like rodgers in his postmatch interviews
ReplyDeleteThat was in the first half of the season; I'll bet a tenner that the LFC of the last 6 weeks would take 6 points from those games.
ReplyDeleteWe murdered them 2-2.
ReplyDeleteExactly. The assumption here is that we are going progress as opposed to regress.
ReplyDeleteAnd with that in mind, if we play as well as we did yesterday, we are going to win more than draw and draw more than lose.
Especially given the upcoming run of games.
time will tell we have them both two play anyone can bet with monopoly money
ReplyDeletewas that not what you said before the villa match
ReplyDeletePatience - Rome wasn't built in a day
ReplyDeleteLook at SAF's early years with United
-Didn't win a major trophy until 3.5 yrs into his reign (1990 FA Cup)
-Didn't win the league for another few years after that
-1989 - fans held banners - "Three years of excuses and it's still crap...ta-ra Fergie."
Rodgers wasn't brought in to bring success this year; at 40 years old, he was brought in to develop a team for the next 10, 15, or even 20 years. I for one would rather have 1 or 2 seasons of rebuilding
Didn't Birmingham win the League Cup the same season they got relegated?
ReplyDeletei hope it is a deliberate ploy, by senior players such as reina, to show the younger players, how not to to do it!?
ReplyDeleteb"llshit fsg defeatism if shankly had thought that we would still be in the old second division,
ReplyDeletePatience - Rome wasn't built in a day
ReplyDeleteLook at SAF's early years with United-Didn't win a major trophy until 3.5 yrs into his reign (1990 FA Cup)-Didn't win the league for another few years after that-1989 - fans held banners - "Three years of excuses and it's still crap...ta-ra Fergie."
Rodgers wasn't brought in to bring success this year; at 40 years old, he was brought in to develop a team for the next 10, 15, or even 20 years. I for one would rather have 1 or 2 seasons of rebuilding
was that the question stat man
ReplyDeletef"ck man ure fergie had won tropheys with an unfashonable side in scotland rodgers has won nowt,big difference
ReplyDeleteAnd we've had Spurs on their knees for much of the match at their place, too, if I may add this.
ReplyDeleteDidnt know u knew his mum. I can honestly say im not a jester but i do know when someone is doing fantastic job. 1 min u r sick of people saying wait till next season then you tell people Dalglish would of turned it round this season. Double standards or what?
ReplyDeletebecause as he says rodgers is not going to waste money on his sh1te explayers
ReplyDeleteI wasn't on here before the Villa match.
ReplyDeleteWhile I understand your point, we didn't play well against Villa.
I'm making the leap of faith that we are going to continue to play at a high level which will yield us wins. I'm just hoping that leap doesn't end up with me falling head first into the ground. :)
I thought great players and winning league titles year after year made the club? Yep, must of been them domestic cups
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone else have input on this: "we cannot compete with big clubs" -pepe reina.
ReplyDeletei find Reinas Assesment of our team pretty annoying. coming out stating that we cant compete for title. wonder where we would be if he would bother to catch balls for change and whine a little less. it looks to me that he doesnt want to be in LFC, and is trying to force a move. made me kind of furious to read the stuff after yesterdays performance, good riddance and i hope he goes to finish his career somewhere else.
He seriously has the same team? Last time i checked a shed load of players went out in both windows. So how come the squad is so thin?
ReplyDeleteBeing as he was such a great scottish manager then surely the money he spent when he 1st got to manu should of been well spent? All i remember is he nearly getting the sack.
ReplyDeleteforget about league position.....Liverpool had the 3rd best defense and reached two finals last year anteater. its not like rogers has nothing to work with the wheels fell off because Suarez got suspended and Lucas was injured
ReplyDeleteGod Heavens ! You actually think ' we may be improving but performances have been average at best '. You can't have it both ways. Over the last few week we have played 1st and 2nd in the league and Arsenal. We lost one and more than held our own in two. That has got to be better than average.
ReplyDeleteCan't really agree with your comment any more than I do agree with it.
ReplyDeleteI too didn't see us doing anything in the last two matches, being what they were. But although I was hugely disappointed that they did not amount to six points, I would rather be moaning about that than about how poor we were, had we been stuffed in both matches.
I must admit I was pleasantly surprised by both games performances. The mistakes that cost us are old news and pretty obvious to see what needs sorting out, (which I am banking on happening in the summer!) But we are definitely looking more fluid in our approach and up front. If we maintain that for the remainder of the season, then although it still may not be enough for CL, I will still be hugely optimistic of our chances next season.
I'm hoping for enough finances to realistically challenge for the right players that will make top four reality.
On another note, I must mention, I was a massive Reina fan, but unfortunately, despite his massive error of judgement yesterday, he comes out and states, "Right now we can't compete with the big guns. They have a big edge over us at the moment, both financially and squad size. There's a reason they are so many points ahead of us, and it's not because of one or two players." What?? ...That may be true, but for him to come out and say that instead of holding his hands up to his mistake, speaks volumes to me, and confirms to me that he himself actually sees his future elsewhere now. I hate to admit it, but it would absolutely be for the best now, that both sides depart company. Just have to hope an improvement can be found in the summer.....
whats funny is two of rogers best players are hendo and downing who he was going to ship out....im not sure how rogers has improved the team that much as only one of his signings is playing and thats sturridge...so up to now hes spent 40m to get one player into the team?????....
ReplyDeleteLike what your saying and agree 100%.
ReplyDeletebecause hes bought poor players like borini and allen
ReplyDeleteNo, just food for thought brainiac.
ReplyDeleteSorry Jason, but I would have given them both up in return for top 4.
ReplyDeletedon't act clueless, FSG have pumped in so much money, it takes time, our squad isn't up to it, we need more players, we make silly mistakes. That will clear up next season.
ReplyDeleteour net spend on players is more than utd...we just buy a lot of crap and pay over the odds
ReplyDeletein football its the result that matters nothing else......all this hogwash about stats is just a smokescreen....im proud of the lads they where brilliant ( we drew or lost game ) it breeds defeatism ...rogers should be drilling it into the team win win win win
ReplyDeleteWhere have I heard that excuse before? It surely was known to the men in charge that we had no back-up defensive midfielder and only a malfunctioning 35m striker as back-up for Suarez. Now tell me this. If KD was as great a manager as some make him out to be, how come there were no contingency plans for the case that occurred? After spending 100m within 6 months? Now, don't get me wrong, I don't want to slate Kenny, but I'm getting a bit tired of the same excuse, probably just like you get tired of things some people have to say about Rodgers.
ReplyDeleteI use downing and hendo as my example for borini snd allen
ReplyDeleteget real
ReplyDeleteI dont think he is doing fantastic but he is making progress and is doing the right thing by bringing through these young players,he has definitely made some errors but I feel we are going in the right direction under him
ReplyDeleteYour the only one who don't trust FSG or Rodgers on here, when they are doing there best to put us back on top.
ReplyDeletetwo games dont make a season 3 games if you want to count oldham with no wins
ReplyDeleteThe same team minus those experienced players who did us and Kenny such good service in his first half season in charge, namely, Kuyt, Bellamy, Maxi. And minus Aurelio, not that he contributed much outside the phyio's room.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, dominating teams yet coming up short doesn't quite cut it. Was this not the same scenario last season? Last season we dominated a lot of teams, out-possessed them 60/40, hit the bar more times than any other team in the EPL and defended better than this season. But Dalglish lost his job, not because the performances weren't impressive enough, but because the results weren't there. If this wasn't acceptable last year, why should it be acceptable this year? It's still a results game.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day, bad luck and misfortune are part and parcel of the game, even if we sometimes seem to have more than our fair share of it. The mentality has to be we just weren't good enough, that's the only way to move forward. Most of the goals we concede have blatantly been due to an ineffectual midfield and defensive errors. Our inability to close out games has to be deemed due to our inability to make the most of our opportunities.
If we can't acquire the quality players that some of the other teams can, then we must compete with the correct attitude.
me too but not 4 6th or 7th place in the league
ReplyDeletelol me to ;-)
ReplyDeletelol
ReplyDeleteWhen I read that headline I thought "because you make so many mistakes". I've been telling my mates for three years that I think Reina wants to move away from us. It's catch 22 for him, really. If he plays really well for us, there would be more interest in him, but we'd find it harder to let him go and would want more money for him. If he plays the way he currently does, we want to replace him, cannot command a huge fee, but the top clubs won't be interested in a keeper off form for three years.
ReplyDeletegood signing but not 40 millions worth lol
ReplyDeleteI can only guarantee that I will be agreeing with every word you say, IF this is the same situation next season.
ReplyDeleteIt has taken us longer than TH to improve, but I still believe, while we are overtaking the likes of Spurs next season, it will probably be their turn to struggle. All they have to do is lose one or two key players next season, (eg Bale) and they will be right up s... creek.
We know 100% what our weaknesses are, (and imo it's not Rodgers) and where we need to strengthen big time in the summer and as long as that happens, we will be up there.
not double standards silverwear last season f"ckall this
ReplyDelete100m - 50m torres and money received for babel.....kenny did mess up in the transfer market ..but alot of it was offset by what we got for torrez..i still think carrolll will come good ...id have him on the bench over borini and allen all day long....plus kenny was about to buy diame on a free
ReplyDeletedomestic football is our bread and butter
ReplyDeleteThis is not the old days anymore man if we are to get back were we belong we have to finish in the european places,Unfortunately I dont think 4th is looking likely at the moment although not impossible but 5th or 6th defo.The club is not going to move forward with domestic cups simple as that.
ReplyDeleteIf the owners get their finger out and start backing Rodgers proper in the summer then I have no doubt we will be in the top 4 next season and returning to were we belong among the elite.For the most part this season we have dominated games and invidual errors have cost us big but as far as team performances go we have made big improvements in our play.
change your name are you rodgers in cognito
ReplyDeleteSkrtel was tracking back with Agureo and Reina came hurtling out of the goal. Skrtel gestured to Reina but our keeper was not acknowledging him, such was his intent to get the ball. Skrtel then stopped his run, having no option really than to trust his team mate. Not saying Skrtel had a blinder or anything, but that goal was purely down to a ridiculously crazy decision by Pepe.
ReplyDeleteso what? maybe i am not as gullabull as some
ReplyDeleteno just nothing
ReplyDeleteApart from the journalist comment, you basically read my mind....
ReplyDeleteOkay then,what would be a successful season for you? Explain.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is meant as a prediction of fact, but merely a belief. Some people see improvements and some don't.
ReplyDeleteI for one am quite optimistic of our chances to challenge next season. If we are still very far off it, then I'm sure many more will begin to turn against.
But considering the mess we have come from and what needs to be changed, I can see a progression and agree their will be a little stability.
The likes of Suarez and Sturridge for example will be more stable in their understanding of each other's game.
challenging for honours ,or the league the seson not over by the end of jan would be a start whats the best we can hope for this year europa league and no silverwear hows that better that last season
ReplyDeleteI was prepared for a drubbing at the hands of Man City and find it difficult to understand how some people still don't want to give any credit to Rodgers at all. The way we play this season has often been pretty exciting to watch, with some painful accidents at work in the mix, too. And those mistakes, oh my. What Reina did even required my comment to be massively changed by the moderator, so hurtful was that one.
ReplyDeleteReina's comments are disgusting and you are absolutely right. Today was the day when he should have come out and hold his hands up. Instead he decided to be classless. Good riddance. Will be interesting to see what calibre of clubs will be lining up for him. He once was, imho, the best keeper in the Prem (and I, too, was a big fan of his), but those days are long gone.
You surely have a point, as results are what matters most. Anyway, sometimes it is necessary to have a look at the bigger picture, too.
ReplyDeleteYeah, as I thought your clueless, we haven't got a squad to fight on all fronts, we are through in the Europa, see where we come in that but this season was always goings be a right off one.
ReplyDeleteIn that case I pity you.
ReplyDeleteI have no desire to consider myself a superfan, and it breaks my heart that I have had to give up on this season. That is why I attempt to stay optimistic for next season.
ReplyDeleteThe signs, imo, are there; that next season should be an improvement.
I can only pray that next year I'm not writing on here to sack the manager!
We were something like the 3rd worst team in the prem in the second half of the season last year.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately we did get a few strokes of bad luck, namely hitting the post so frequently, but at the end of the day, we were poor in the league.
Lets simply forget about having lost three experienced players. Makes things much easier. You know what, Jason. In a way I understand your point of view, but at times it is necessary to let go of the past. We could bemoan all day long how some 20 odd years ago we were the best in the country for more than a decade. We could bemoan every single mistake that was made back then and since then, all of which amount to where we are right now. But instead we can have a look at what's happening right now. Not all of it is great, not every signing will work out right, money will be wasted, but it's not as bad as you seem to portray it. As I've told you before, I don't have anything against you. I wish we could get you, a critical thinker, on board, as I truly believe that we, as a club, will be stronger going into the future if we could unite a bit more. That doesn't mean that we'll always agree (that would indeed be boring), but it doesn't help us if some only try to see the negatives.
ReplyDeletepumped in so much money!! compared to who ??
ReplyDeletefsg cost us this season, like proper cowboys.
all obvious
Most definitely
ReplyDeletePretty good post. Spurs have underachieved for quite a while. The way they have spent in the past and the kind of players they've got, they should have been challenging for top 4 long before they actually did.
ReplyDeleteSpending big doesn't guarantee anything, even spending on the right players does. A world-class manager doesn't necessarily bring sustained success (just ask Mancini about their CL exploits this season).
You are right, having to catch up we must improve at a better rate. I think that things look quite good. The way we play that better rate of improving results wise might just be around the corner. But there are no guarantees.
50 million since Rodgers started and how much KK spent on transfers that's alot of money. We've done that without CL money.
ReplyDeleteI thought Shanks said that the league is our bread and butter. And we are starving for more than 20 years now, though the lobster in 2005 was nice.
ReplyDeleteFirst off it was a good team performance on Sunday at the ground of the current PL champions, tempered by two ridiculous mistakes (Skyrtel and Reina) which i really don't think a manager can legislate for(would any amount of work on the training ground, or any amount of direction from the management or coaching staff have prevented Reina or Skyrtel from making the ridiculous decisions that lead to the equaliser).
ReplyDeleteI have utmost respect for Didi as a player and a commentator, he is analytical and direct, and imo gets things right most of the time. However I do believe the mentality here is flawed. I cant be sure because i dont have the information in front of me, but i would hazard a guess he would be one of the many people, including myself, critical of the shotgun hiring and firing of PL managers that is now the culture of the elite andrich clubs of the PL. Cries of time needed, building teams, cant buy success and you'll never win anything without stability, abound whenever an Abramovich-like sacking affects a football club. However it seems to me these cries are reserved for after the fact commentating.
LFC started this campaign with near debutants such as Suso, Sterling, Wisdom, not as young players being blooded in PL matches, but as bona-fide first team choices( i am not diminishing these players, undecided on Suso, Sterling has talent and should build on that, and i think with his strenght and ability Wisdom could be one of the best RBs in the game). But how many of the top four finishing teams will have started with three players from their reserve team that summer, in the starting 11 for the first half of a season? That we are only 9 points off 4th place is a bit of an over-achievement imo. I'm not saying dont aim for 4th place, but did Didi expect to take the top four at the satrt of the season? I did not.
I expected a season exactly like the one we are experiencing. Steady improvement from september, lots of mistakes along the way yes. But our club and football has been in decline for sevral years now, and i think we have finally turned the corner. Is losing to Oldham good enough? Of course not! Throwing away leads against Arsenal and Man City? Very disappointing!! And the embaressment of A.Villa at home? Gut wrenching.
But there have been times to savour. Watching a young squad growing with each other into a philosephy, which has not been at this club for a decade, of passing, attacking and exciting football. A philosephy which has to be first emparted at club level, to a team of people previously working under Hodgesen, Dalgleish and Benitez. Not an easy job. Think back to a time last year to home game at anfield, 0-0 was the shortest odds in most bookmakers across the country. We have improved, we are improving, we are making mistakes but we are learning. This is a good team that can get better.
So Didi please give this team some time, and time is not 6 months, 8 months, another transfer window, another couple of new faces and another couple of old ones out the door who don't want to be here, and another year, and we'll see.
Jaimie i agree totally that the OTT praise has now place in the post match commentary, but nor do i think berating players in public will fit the bill either. I hope he finds a level median.
Also Didi, i dont think the arguement of facing a "weakened" city team fits when Tevez, Nasri, Kolorov and co are on the bench.
But we've won the Mickey Mouse, erm, League Cup. Against a second tier team, who probably would have deserved more out of the match. We won that one not because we were better than them, or good at taking pens, but because they were even worse at taking pens than us.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it annoyed me too and I mentioned it in an earlier post. I think he wants out too and has surely enforced that with these comments. Will be interesting actually, to see if Jones starts next match.?
ReplyDeleteI think Reina was happiest when he thought we were going to be a spanish club in England, Benitez and his staff, Alonso, Torres, Riera, Pacheco etc. When the spanish exodus started i believe he has grown to dislike playing for liverpool, and is on his way out in the summer.
ReplyDeleteNot agreeing with you to have a pop at Jason as I too believe in his honesty. (I think I've already told him that) But I'm finding it really difficult to stay depressed and have to put all my eggs into this one basket in the belief that it finally has to come good next season. (I'll be grey if we have another poor one!!)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that the Bad Luck mentality serves no purpose except to give the players an escape route for under-par performance. However i shudder to think that BR went into dressing room after match and commiserated Skrtel and Reina on their bad luck.
ReplyDeleteI think there's a reason Skrtel has been dropped for Arsenal and City matches, I just wish he had the courage to stick to his convictions and leave him in the stand.
agree all points except i think he is taller
ReplyDeleteYou should read the full post-match comments. You'll see that he wasn't over the top with praise nor was he berating anyone.
ReplyDeleteIt's actually pretty level.
Admittedly he has gone to extremes at times this season, but this wasn't one of those cases. It just seems that way because of the quotes that Didi seemed to pick up on (and the ones he subsequently didn't use which would have hurt his argument)
We need Skrtel to play well as part of a rotation.
ReplyDeleteWe are too thin in the back 4 without him.Some may not like it. It just is.
Are you upset that he said it or because there's probably some truth to it?
ReplyDeleteI feel we are missing the point here somewhat, IF it wasn't for a certain MR Pepe Reina leaving his goal agape for one of the most clinical strikers in the prem to float the ball into then we would probably be talking about how well Rodgers called it and NOT how he keeps lavishing undue praise.....
ReplyDeleteI've said it before & i'll say it again, Brendan Rodgers is the next scapegoat manager at LFC, my utter frustration/anger is directed at those players who are constantly costing us points by gifting our opposition the opportunity to score, constantly making defensive errors and allowing the opposition the chance to punish us....
How many more managers do we need to shoot down in flames before we address the real issues at the Club re some of our players...?
Another transfer window closes.....and "we" didn't want to buy a keeper...? Did "we" actually think that Reina would somehow come good for us...??
Erm...i don't think that is going to happen....goodbye Brendan Rodgers, biggest mistake of your managerial career in football was to come to LFC....
The man has my sympathies.....
Valid point. I still think he can be a very good player for us. He's just had some terrible brain cramps at the worst moments.
ReplyDeleteThat's not to absolve him of anything. I just feel badly for him because we could all see how much it bothered him at the final whistle with the way he reacted.
The guy cares; there's not a doubt in my mind about that.
It's like i originally put........... i don't see that you have 1 valid point.
ReplyDeleteThis wasn't meant as a pop at Jason. Not at all. It was a plea to him. Folks on here have been telling me how my English is a credit to myself, but the truth is that every time I want to write something, I can see how limited it is, especially when I want to go into depth. I'm struggling for words most of the time and I think it shows, as, at times, I'm being massively misunderstood. Should have paid more attention at school.
ReplyDeleteThe reality for us is quite depressing, if we strip ourselves of the faith, hope and believe that things will change for the better, if we stopped trying to see the positives. Are those positives really there, or do we just want to see them? It could all be wishful thinking. We may seem to be on the right track, but the wheels could come off pretty soon, too. Hopefully this time of the year next season we will at least still be in more of a contention for fourth than right now. I'm flecked with grey already, although I'm a few years younger than you and have no kids. My parents always blamed us kids for turning grey :-)
Hm, I'm not so sure. Did you ever notice that Grobbelaar let goals in deliberately?
ReplyDeletethat told me......... pmsl.
ReplyDeleteI actually thought that he brought on Skrtel to show him that he still trusts him and that he wants him to regain his spot in the team. He did it with Henderson, too, and currently many of us are very happy with the way he's been performing recently.
ReplyDeleteProbably the stupidest comment i have ever read, 1st is 1st and 2nd is nowhere? why do you care so much about the F.A cup final? We came 2nd. Personally i'd rather come 2nd, play in the champs league which would in turn help us progress in the league than win the carling cup and come 8th. Lol Jason with that post you have lost a lot of repsect
ReplyDeleteI believe Middlesborough also made the worthington cup final and got relegated
ReplyDeleteLol, almsot as scary as CArroll for 35
ReplyDeleteHe really doesn't. I'm seriously stqarting to think it Might be Jaimie using a 2nd account. Surely nobody is so silly?
ReplyDeleteYou're a terrible hypocrite, I see you've gone very quiet on Suarez. What exactly is the point everyone is missing? That Reina is deliberately doing badly, palyers are intentionally making mistakes?
ReplyDeleteToure and Kompany are arguably Man City's most influential players.
ReplyDeleteNot in the same season, but a few years later.
ReplyDeleteJason has a point as it is some silverware, but the least prestigious one at that (apart from the Charity, erm, Community Shield and the European Super Cup).
I think Allen will come good and Borini may come good, too. You have a point about Diamé, but, spilt milk.
ReplyDeleteWell as a coach he as improved the players you mentioned and plays players in form. Rodgers as worked with Allen and Borini before so he knows all about them. Just give them time.
ReplyDeleteSo let me get this straight. The squad is thin because he added Borini and Allen??????
ReplyDeleteIs this a private joke or can anyone join in?
ReplyDeleteAnd that's all the managers done is it??????
ReplyDeletesuper Cup might be mroe worthless but being in it means you've done well the previous season
ReplyDeleteSorry if you thought I was suggesting you was having a go at Jason. I only meant that referring to myself....
ReplyDeleteI read a psychology report a few years ago about the mindset of a football supporter. It was very interesting to a boring fart like me, but it suggested a genetic fingerprint that has been stamped on us through evolution.
We have deep ingrained tribal instincts within us, and in the modern world, we still have no less of a desire to attach ourselves to a tribe. Football offers that outlet, and has proven to be the most popular sport to serve this purpose.
The emotional ups and downs are all part of the rewards of the passion of this attachment, and the reason why we are so instinctively defensive of our 'colours'. However, tribe members of the same tribe can also differ in opinion of what is for the best, and this debate is what essentially keeps the tribe strong.
Those members will always agree to disagree. We might succeed, we might fail, but passion will be ours forever.
Oh, and between my kids and supporting this bloo.. team I'm surprised I'm not more grey than I am!
:-)
Based on the number and size of the stadia around the world, the number of people who wear football merchandise, the number of people who are aware of football and the number of leagues/tournaments worldwide, football ranks at the top of the list regardless of the definition of "most popular".
ReplyDeleteJust one of those interesting things you pick up that I thought I'd mention.
Geez man all I'm saying is have some patience and let him get accustomed to his role; you never know it may turn into a legacy, it might not but nobody can really tell after 6 months in the job with a new young team
ReplyDeleteWouldn't say they are 2 of his better players but they are the most improved. pretty sure most of his signings have played in the 1st team this season so he hasn't spent 40m to get 1 player in the team.
ReplyDeleteI would like to point out, correct me if i'm wrong but that was a Shankly quote "If you are first you are first, if you are second you are nothing." i'm more sticking up for Shankly here as i would rather finish 4 with no silverware than finish 8th with a Carling Cup
ReplyDeleteLove that passion
ReplyDeleteJones is taller, Reinas a fairly small keeper isn't he? but Pepe should NOT be replaced by Jones! Every time he plays i get scared when the ball is around the box , he's not a good enough keeper. My mate is a Middlesborough fan and when we went for Jones he was in shock. Throughout his career Jones has been a laughing stock at teams.
ReplyDeleteMy brain just gave me a different meaning for your sentence "Not agreeing with you to have a pop at Jason". Now I understand it.
ReplyDeleteThink I saw a TV program discussing the psychology report you've read. They gave examples of how the singing was a tribal ritual and such things. Quite interesting indeed, and plausible, too.
The members of our tribe will probably always agree to disagree, though there comes a point when the disagreeing reaches such a negativity or bad vibe (I'm struggling for the right words again), that it becomes detrimental for the entire group and their goals.
While what we exchange anywhere on the internet probably is of no importance to the club itself, there are examples I'd like to give. For instance a few years ago I probably was one of the last of the tribe to fight Houllier's corner tooth and nail, or nowadays there are still quite a few people who can't get over the sacking of Rafa (there's one guy on the Liverpool Echo forum in particular who stands out. Have a look at his avatar if you ever go on that site, hilarious). This kind of disagreeing has not direct influence on the club, as said above, but it may stick with some people who go matches regularly. Negative stuff sticks better in our minds, as we've discussed before. They may "infect" others and the bad mood may be transferred from the stand to the pitch. Or it may not, of course, but if it does, that's when it doesn't make the group stronger anymore, but weakens it and hinders it's progress. The level of disagreeing may be the deciding reason here. Disagreeing can make the group stronger as different points of view tend to broaden one's horizon, but as soon as it drags people down, it is too much. And if the negativity is based on a blinkered view that ignores the positives, and is therefore not balanced, we start getting into a dilemma. An archaic tribe would probably oust such a member. All we can do in our tribe is to try and find persuasive arguments that may help broaden that members horizon, open his/her eyes (that's what they did with me when I was arguing in favour of Houllier even though it was obvious that he had lost the plot).
What does it make me, if you are a boring fart, and I find our conversations very interesting? I even progressed as a person, since you've explained to me how different opinions are as valid is my own. Took that on and try to consider it every time I reply to someone.
Maybe I'm deluded but I take a lot of heart from our 2nd half v Man U, and the two away draws.
ReplyDeleteDidn't like our setup v Arsenal but I guess it almost worked, loved our setup v City.
Gerrard has been in great form, Suarez imperious, Sturridge looks like a bargain, Downing has stepped it up, Johnson oozes class, Enrique is getting back to his best, Carra is back and is more reliable than Skrtel..... BR is correct to praise them
Much like this year so far.
ReplyDeleteLol "terrible" hypocrite....Sorry that im not very good at hypocrisy... :)
ReplyDeleteMy point was simply that "we" are being critical of BR but had Reina not gone awol...and left the goal agape (which he did...FACT!) we would have taken the 3 points we deserved...IMO & in doing so BR would have been right to praise the players....no?
That was my point...
If memory serves me right, he was investigated and proven innocent of match fixing.
ReplyDeleteRodgers himself suggested that we could challenge for 2nd.
ReplyDeleteIn Shankly's day only first made it into Europes elite competition
ReplyDeleteWas using terrible and hypocrite to describe your ideas
ReplyDeleteAn archaic tribe most surely would oust such a member I agree. But that's where strong leadership, (usually based on wisdom for achieving the most beneficial results) comes into play. Whether Brendan is the right wise man is I suppose what is up for debate.
ReplyDeleteWould just like to say though, how appreciative I am to hear the last part of your comment. It is very warming and humbling when someone can appreciate a statement made by another, so thanks for that, and long may our conversations continue.
He is spot on really, but I`m still happy with how we are going, and think we can iron out the creases with a few defensive signings in the summer to help turn those draws into wins.
ReplyDeleteRogers might be a bit overboard with the performances, but with due respect to Didi, how many of us gave LFC to come up undefeated in 3 days back to back trip to Eremites & Ettihad? That too after dominating the Champions & at least competing at per with the Gunners & both occasions loosing points from individual mistakes at back line? I was also impressed with the pressing style of Football at City & with a very thin squad, we were or road for 3 matches in 8 days from North to South & back North. I am not saying that we have won the 4th spot over a week, but lets be honest & let's praise when it's due.
ReplyDeleteRegarding BR's performance, I feel sorry for the young man. Ever since he replaced KK (no disrespect for my lifetime Hero, but he was incompetent as Manager after a decade of wilderness), from a selective group of journalists/fans/pundits he had been kept under constant question. He was handicapped in transfer market for his predecessor's mistake, had to balance his books off-loading dead woods, had injury crisis & most importantly, had to fix a squire peg in round hole. KK & SC had the squad to play "Long Ball", & BR came with almost opposite philosophy; yet within few weeks of the season, BR's team was much entertaining & stylish.
In his defense, I must say, he had a very rough time from the Officials as well - should have won against Everton, could have won against MU at home & lost 4 points against defending Champions for mistakes by senior most players. Over the entire season, we had only 1 penalty, but surely Luis & Sterling had been tipped over many more times than that (I dare to say, Sturridge would have got the Penalty instead of booking had he worn other Red shirt with black shorts).
Let's support the Manager, we might not win any trophy this year, might not even qualify for Europa, but in last 2/3 months, apart from the Villa (& Oldham, but I hardly care for that) Match, I have been quite satisfied with the style & result of our team under BR. It's not easy to bridge the gap in 38 game season with the top teams having twice the squad. After all that spend it took 3 years to MCity (That too in a League with Arsenal & Chelsea weakened & LFC gone) & they are struggling in Europe still. The Football ignorant Yanks got scared after the howlers by KK & DC, became too cautious & tightened the grip more than required; but I believe, come June '13, we 'll get 2/3 top quality players for starting XI (net-off 50mn) & good bench with existing & Academy boys; we 'll definitely give MU, Spurs & Gunners a good run in fair play (The Russian Mafia & Arab Sheikh is probably going to do crazy things this June).
Sorry for the long post.
very good post M.
ReplyDeleteHamann and Reina have both been courageous and correct in what they are respectively saying. I think we played better football [at times] last season than the current one. The fact remains we lack consistency week to week, and the majority of our signings have been poor this season.
ReplyDeleteWe have spent money but on potential not proven players.
There have also been plenty of bargains to be had [lot of commentators here have mentioned plenty] but BR has not turned in that direction. Tactically we have made mistakes as well that lies firmly with BR. I hope the futures bright but it certainly ain't Orange yet!!
I get very nervous watching our defenders playing from the back. They seem to hold on too long before making a pass, and when being pressed they lack composure which leads to us losing possession.
ReplyDeleteThe fact still remains that we scored 2 pts out of nine!
ReplyDeletehere here!!
ReplyDeleteI would have been interested in seeing who KK was going to bring in. I firmly believe he would have made better signings this season. Diame Dembele are a few names that were on his list [from what i've read]
ReplyDeleteHaving watched Andy Carroll on saturday why did he loan him out? He played really well. Another BR tragedy.
ReplyDeleteTrue indeed.
ReplyDeletewe had 3 points more this time last season! and a final to look forward to, how times have changed!! :-(
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed. I can recall numerous visits to foreign places when the common interest in football really was the door-opener.
ReplyDeleteThink you are right.
ReplyDeleteIf we won the Europa League (which I hope, but don't think we will), it would be a moderately successful season in its' own right to me (given that our league campaign doesn't falter entirely). Give me the UEFA Cup over the League Cup any time.
ReplyDeletehe's not alone mate, if your target is the top4, then you'll never be 1st, but if your target is 1st position then you're definitely in top4 :)
ReplyDeleteThe way you put it here, the quote seems to be twisted a bit, and shortened. If I remember correctly he said that we should aim higher than fourth, that we should aim for 2nd, but that it won't be possible this season. My guess would be that, as soon as we are actually challenging for top 4 or top 2, he will also claim that we should aim for 1st.
ReplyDeleteif you believe that KK spent that money all alone, then you are the clueless here....
ReplyDeletecheers m8 seems everybody s happy to be also rans lately
ReplyDeletei agree with you mate 1 would rather come second and get champions league but what i meant is i would rather come 8th and get to cup finals than come 5th 6th or 7th and have no cup finals
ReplyDeletelol deep man;-)
ReplyDeletebut were improving,so i keep hearing ;-)
ReplyDeletehe had the same squad he got rid of the players he brought in his players so surely we should improve
ReplyDeleteno feel free lol;-)
ReplyDeletehes improved kenny squad who hes worked with for 6 month,allen and borini have worked with him before so they should have an advantage because they are accustomed to his tackticts so either there not good enought or the others are quicker learners lol
ReplyDeletelol
ReplyDeleteok mate maybe we should have given hodgeson more time
ReplyDeleteagree m8 but imo it mite not and we will still have the rodgers fans begging for time
ReplyDeleteapart from sturridge half a season to late not one of rodgers signings were needed hence they dont play
ReplyDeleteKK and comolli were both at fault.
ReplyDeleteHe may have a point about the squad. No matter what players Rodgers signed it still doesnt replace the players who left or were sold. It all depends on if u think its the managers fault or the owners. I personally blame the owners. I am also not going to judge all the managers signings after 6 months or so.
ReplyDeletelol we can judge them at the end of the season then,andmost of them will still look bad:-)
ReplyDeletestop clogging my notifications up
ReplyDeleteSo you haven't learned from Lucas then?
ReplyDeletei always liked lucas,who came from another country and culture allen just changed clubs not even different leagues
ReplyDeleteThey have not changed to just any old club though have they?Allens stats were up therewiththe best of em, you seriously dont thinkhe as become a bad player over nightdo you. I ca
ReplyDeleteIm gonna ignore the fact u gave Lucas a chance and didnt jump on his back straight away...... You havent given anyone a fair chance so WE dont believe that for 1 min
ReplyDeleteWales and Italy are both seperate countries so why not give them a fair go
ReplyDeletei dont think hes become bad overnight i never rated him in the 1st place
ReplyDeleteallen was playing in the prem,so he dose not need to adjust to a faster league like lucas he also speaks the language
ReplyDeleteYawn......
ReplyDeletemoney back on players sold, which makes it how much?
ReplyDelete