Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has named a very strong team for tonight's Europa League clash with Zenit St. Petersburg.
The biggest surprise is that Daniel Agger is not even in the squad. With Rodgers naming virtually a full strength team, it must mean that the Dane is paying the price for his abject recent performances.
I can't remember a time in the past when Agger was dropped from the team for poor performance, so this is a major turn up for the books. It's definitely the right decision though, and it's good to see Rodgers showing some balls.
Lucas and Jonjo Shelvey are also dropped to the bench after the West Brom debacle, with Joe Allen and Raheem Sterling coming back into the team:
FULL TEAM: Reina, Johnson, Enrique, Carragher, Skrtel, Allen, Henderson, Gerrard, Sterling, Downing, Suarez.
SUBS: Jones, Coates, Lucas, Borini, Shelvey, Suso, Wisdom.
Liverpool legend John Aldridge believes the Reds are in for a tough game, but is confident the team can come away with a good result. He told the Liverpool Echo:
"It will be very tough to come back from Russia with a positive result, but we have the personnel capable of getting a result against Zenit St Petersburg, even with Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho both cup-tied. We still have the squad capable of getting a result – as we have already proved in testing away assignments at Young Boys and Udinese"
Jan Molby is a bit more confident than Aldo, and fully expects Liverpool to get a good result. He told The Chester Chronicle:
"It won’t be easy in the freezing conditions in Russia but Zenit haven’t played competitively since December due to their winter break. I believe Liverpool will take full advantage. Our form has been good recently and over the two legs I expect us to get past them. We are capable of getting a decent result over there and then finishing the job off at Anfield".
Prior to the game, Ian Ayre expressed concern about the prospect of racist abuse during the game, and when asked about the possibility, Rodgers said:
"If anything untoward happens, us as a group will always do everything we can to support the player or players that may happen to. If there’s an issue in the game it will be something that will very much unite the group"
Totally off-topic, but Rodgers' rhetoric really bugs me, especially his constant reference to the players as 'the group'.
Back on topic: if there is any racism during the game, I sincerely hope the players decide to stop playing and walk off the pitch. Screw UEFA, FIFA and their laissez-faire approach to racism; the only thing that will make a difference is direct action, and why should LFC continue playing if the team encounters racist abuse?
If football's governing bodies weren't so gutless and actually dealt with racism in the harshest possible way, then perhaps it wouldn't be such a massive issue in the modern game. I will fully support the players if they decide to walk off the pitch in the face of racism, but I suspect that Rodgers will instruct them to continue playing.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
The biggest surprise is that Daniel Agger is not even in the squad. With Rodgers naming virtually a full strength team, it must mean that the Dane is paying the price for his abject recent performances.
I can't remember a time in the past when Agger was dropped from the team for poor performance, so this is a major turn up for the books. It's definitely the right decision though, and it's good to see Rodgers showing some balls.
Lucas and Jonjo Shelvey are also dropped to the bench after the West Brom debacle, with Joe Allen and Raheem Sterling coming back into the team:
FULL TEAM: Reina, Johnson, Enrique, Carragher, Skrtel, Allen, Henderson, Gerrard, Sterling, Downing, Suarez.
SUBS: Jones, Coates, Lucas, Borini, Shelvey, Suso, Wisdom.
Liverpool legend John Aldridge believes the Reds are in for a tough game, but is confident the team can come away with a good result. He told the Liverpool Echo:
"It will be very tough to come back from Russia with a positive result, but we have the personnel capable of getting a result against Zenit St Petersburg, even with Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho both cup-tied. We still have the squad capable of getting a result – as we have already proved in testing away assignments at Young Boys and Udinese"
Jan Molby is a bit more confident than Aldo, and fully expects Liverpool to get a good result. He told The Chester Chronicle:
"It won’t be easy in the freezing conditions in Russia but Zenit haven’t played competitively since December due to their winter break. I believe Liverpool will take full advantage. Our form has been good recently and over the two legs I expect us to get past them. We are capable of getting a decent result over there and then finishing the job off at Anfield".
Prior to the game, Ian Ayre expressed concern about the prospect of racist abuse during the game, and when asked about the possibility, Rodgers said:
"If anything untoward happens, us as a group will always do everything we can to support the player or players that may happen to. If there’s an issue in the game it will be something that will very much unite the group"
Totally off-topic, but Rodgers' rhetoric really bugs me, especially his constant reference to the players as 'the group'.
Back on topic: if there is any racism during the game, I sincerely hope the players decide to stop playing and walk off the pitch. Screw UEFA, FIFA and their laissez-faire approach to racism; the only thing that will make a difference is direct action, and why should LFC continue playing if the team encounters racist abuse?
If football's governing bodies weren't so gutless and actually dealt with racism in the harshest possible way, then perhaps it wouldn't be such a massive issue in the modern game. I will fully support the players if they decide to walk off the pitch in the face of racism, but I suspect that Rodgers will instruct them to continue playing.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
I think you are getting overly critical of whatever Rodgers says. I don't agree with a few of the things he says after matches but we all use different phrases and words, he's still a damn site better then Kenny was and there hasn't been any major talking points or slip ups when talking to the press.
ReplyDeleteOn the Racism note, I completely agree! All UEFA will do is fine the club and that doesn't make a bit of difference to the violators they still get to watch their team. Hopefully we will not see any incidents but, if there are I will definitley back the players and I hope the white players show the same kind of outrage.
rodgers has named the team and imo a poor team if we lose he has to face the consiquenses,agger not even on the bench will carra bee able to last the pace so soon after monday,allen your having a laugh, hope we can get some kind of result or the seasons over tonight
ReplyDeleteId like to see us win this competition as its our last chance for silverware this year.
ReplyDeleteWell it's a two legged fixture so regardless of the result it is not over tonight. I'm happy enough with this team. It gives Lucas a break and Allen a chance to get back up to speed. As for Carra we will have to wait and see how he holds up but he's made of tough stuff.
ReplyDeletetotally agree with you on the racism front, they should walk off the pitch in order to help kick Racism out of football.
ReplyDeleteNot to sure about dropping Agger though, all players can have off days then make it up in the next game!
Could the omission of Agger be just to give him a rest?
ReplyDeleteI think he's just rotating his squad personally
Could be, but all the other senior players (bar Lucas) make the team.
ReplyDeleteLucas wasn't responsible for the West Brom debacle.
ReplyDeleteAgger and Shelvey I get.
But just because he dropped Lucas doesn't mean he played poorly. Perhaps he's trying to make sure he doesn't overuse him considering he's only a few months removed from a major leg injury, his second in 12 months. He's trying to get Allen some game time so he can get back in form.
Additionally, while I am happy that he named a strong side, I would prefer if he could have given some other players a shot to rest the regulars, even if the regulars were on the bench. We need our depth be fresh.
Calm down, Agger is known to be on his own strictly regimented play/rest schedule this season, there was never any way he was going to be risked for 2 games in 4 days... The only reason he's risking Gerrard and Johnson who also struggle to play multiple games per week is because we now need to go deep into this competition to salvage the season. But Agger would be too much of a risk. Yes he's had some poor performances but he was never the best in the air ( first goal) and for the second what was Enrique (not) doing and where is our defensive shield in the middle? And will Reina ever make another save one on one?
ReplyDeletea better side? are you dreaming? on what base? you better read what you're writing mate... yes a better side than QPR or Wigan...
ReplyDeletewhat about Johnson or Enrique? their worst game easily this season, and if you think LFC has a strong side this year then
ReplyDeleteyou live in a dreamland....
"Strong" is a relative term
ReplyDeletethere is not a relative term for this team in current period mate unfortunately , BR has managed that very well....
ReplyDeleteI think it is you who should read what I'm writing I said "site"(probably should have spelled it sight) Not the best at English, Sorry!
ReplyDeleteBut Agger has played every game recently whilst Carra and Skrtel have rotated. Agger has been hopeless last few weeks in all honesty but Skrtel is little better, they both make way too many errors to be considered anything other than average defenders.
ReplyDeleteWhatever the team that BR has put out and for whatever reason , Just want to say good luck to the lads and hope we can manage a win
ReplyDeleteBuck should realize that the current squad is just not up to his tic tac system. Any player who under performs in a competitive match should be replaced for the next game.
ReplyDeleteGJ had a poor game. Enrique as usual running around in circles. Agger was lost and most of all Shelvey. No
impact whatsoever in the game. besides 2 offsides
That is one dodgy centre back pairing they got. Missing Alves.
ReplyDeleteCome on, Luis, put one away!
Agree that Agger needed to be given a boot up the booty .. whether it's 'rest' or not.
ReplyDeleteI must say I disagree with your view that direct action is the right thing to do.. this just empowers racists.. Imagine if everybody walked off the pitch as soon as racial abuse started anywhere..
A group of supporters whose side is losing could just start racial chanting and happily see the game abandoned ..
What I would like to see happen is that if any team's supporters are found guilty of racial abuse then ALL of their fans be banned from home and away matches for we say 6 games..
While this inevitably will cost innocent people the chance of supporting their team it would ultimately make people less tolerant of racial abuse amongst their own fan base and would eventually drive racial chanting out of the game imo
Ive never felt so flat over a game before, hope iam wrong but can feel another bum result coming up, even if we pull something up so what? we aint got a hope of winning this competition & that aint being negative, just realistic
ReplyDeleteHULK COST 14 Millions EUROS ...ANDY CARROLL COST IS 35 Million Pounds I REST MY CASE ME LUD!
ReplyDeletewere a lost team ..
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get the 14m euros figure from? Was a lot more than that, me thinks. Around £40m.
ReplyDeleteBarely any incision from us in this half, despite the possession. Closest chance being a free kick just now. This system is at its worse when our defense drops off deep. Although, not helped by the lack of defensive presence in central midfield tonight.
ReplyDeleteWhat another embarressment.But hey our stats are brilliant,BR is playing tikka taka and we all know his priority is top 4.BR knows hes safe this is why when he gets interviwed hes so smug,he realises the fans who wanted Rafa out havent got a clue and they must be either easily led or their just plain thick so he can string them along.YNWA Rafa,I hope your watching this falling over in hysterics but i know you wont be,i just wish those sheep who wanted Rafa out would vanish forever and we could have the real fans left and not some cry baby fans who used to say CL finals arent good enough we want the prem,well your not going to get anything now,but we all know youll never admit your thick and you dont realise what we had when Rafa was here.YNWA Rafa your the best.
ReplyDeleteThe game against WBA looks like it had a bigger effect than I imagined at first. We've outplayed all our opponents in the last three games and now we're about to loose a game where Zenit has looked harmless for the majority of it. Reminds me of a certain Arsenal of old...all the possestion, bags of chances, and still not winning games. It didnt work for them and its not working for us. At this rate, Jason might get his wish and we might be seeing a shortlived stint of the tika doesn't work at anfield!
ReplyDeleteI,ll have a glass of what jan has been drinking if he thinks our form has been good lately :)
ReplyDeleteOpps I thought 40 Million not 14 even at 40 Million Euros he's in a different league to Carroll and I mean that literally and figuratively
ReplyDeleteBare in mind that Brendan has never played in European Competition He's learning as he goes which I think is dangerous at this level
ReplyDeleteI've seen Zenit play before a few times since Spalletti has come in and they are capable of much much more than this, especially when Danny is in full flow and missing the speed of Bystrov. Just goes to show it doesn't matter how ordinary the team plays, when you got individual quality like Hulk, a team is always dangerous.
ReplyDeletePOO!!
ReplyDeleteOh that goes without saying! Although even though I'd take Hulk over Carroll all day long, he is rather inconsistent in terms of performances for £40m player. Always dangerous with that left foot shot of his but in terms of overall package of his game, he doesn't show that enough.
ReplyDeletePeople suggesting in comments of a recent L-K article that Downing and Henderson have improved to be good enough for LFC's first team should see this match with both eyes opened and without their usual rose-tinted glasses.
ReplyDeleteYou just can not make players born for the Sunderland and Villa level good enough for the current ambitions of LFC. If we're OK with mid-table performances in the EPL and relegation from the EL playoffs, then sure, Henderson, Downing and Shelvey have great future at Liverpool and we can read the official website 'Henderson targets stability' interviews with great delight.
Those misses by Suarez in the first half. Costly.
ReplyDeleteTough one to lose,we just have to put a few in in front of the Kop.
ReplyDeleteThis game demonstrated the basis of the 3-year-long calls for Johnson to be played as winger. He was more than decent going forward, while his shocking positioning in the box cost the team the second goal in defense.
ReplyDeleteWhat did Sterling contribute to be left on? He can barely hold on his feet when confronted with physical challenge, and is only effective when released into empty areas. Johnson would be a much more effective option as RW.
Rafa Rafael Rafa Rafael Rafa Rafael Rafael Benitez.
ReplyDeleteTime for a proper manager, Rogers soundbites and spin simply don't cut the mustard anymore, This is a results based business and we simply aren't competing. West Brom was a joke and lets be honest we threw the city and arsenal games away, defensively we are bloody awful and i've had enough of this rubbish. Coming out to defend the players is one thing but BR is looking like a fool trying to defend the indefensible. Allen, Borini and lately skrtel are not fit to wear the jersey so there goes 20 million so explain your way outta that one BR. Project, vision, long term plans? i see no consistency whatsoever and we are gonna lose suarez because of the mediocre team he has to play in. yeah we can't beat anyone in the top half and all the "Fantastic play" and "i can't fault the players attitudes" is such a load of tosh. Who is at fault for the results if not the players and the manager for his team selection and tactics? Kenny got the chop for the same results last year, lets just see if FSG apply the same rules for BR.
ReplyDeleteIt clearly show that the system isn't implement well enough. I afraid if the end of the season still show no progress in the tiki-taka playstyle it will be a great set-back for the managers, players and club as well. It is more safer to employ Louis van Gaal at the beginning. He is experience and has a great record but the owner want to bring an new era to LFC and now they have to pay if this fails. I don't the owner have the capability to support LFC for another 2 years. If they managed it mean they will downsize the squads hence no more star player. I hope this will not be truth. I wish all the best for BR to succeed if not it will be hard to for LFC to compete in the future.
ReplyDeleteBorini? Assaidi? Allen? Striker, winger, central midfielder? Where are this guys? Why BR buy them?
ReplyDeleteGerrard need rest until next season and must decide what is his part in the future. Season is over, European competitions is out of our reach, Liverpool must start to try young players until end of season.
And after that FSG need to react. Support BR or change him. For now I'm not sure about BR methods.
I was one of those suggesting Henderson and Downing had improved. During their recent run they most certainly had. You would have to be wearing sunglasses in a storm not to see that.
ReplyDeleteBut has any one actually suggested they are good enough for LFC's first team or the fans ambitions?
Out of the CURRENT squad we have, they have recently been our two most consistent players. Both achieving man of the match performances. Who in our squad at present should replace them?
Trust me when I say this, but there are no rose tinted glasses here my friend. On reflection of our last two matches, there are more than these two players that I would be willing to see gone and replaced with improvements........Improvements obviously being the key word.
Carra did fine. Who would you have played, not just for Carra, as you said poor team, what would your team looked like?
ReplyDeleteCreate chances, but VERY wasteful, strikers need to be brought in the summer... To have off the bench. New CBS too... But we are rebuilding we are goner to through bad times... Next up Swansea.
ReplyDeleteAs long as we dont let Zenit score next week I think we'll be alright,but disappointing result all the same
ReplyDeletenow is not the time to reason why now is the time to do or die
ReplyDeleteThat was so disappointing. Our passing was very poor, our mid field was over run, we had our usual 70th minute breakdown. We looked lost, I could see where a goal was going to come from. Suarez and Enrique gave the ball away too many times to count. The defence lost concentration for both goals.
ReplyDeleteVERY POOR!
agree about carra i hoped he would do well just worried about how is fitness would hold up,lucas had to start instead of allen,he was pants as usual apart from that it would have to be the same side as borini is not upto it and sturridge is cup tied maybe susso instead of sterling or pushed johnson up field and started with wisdom
ReplyDeleteThe BR system that is employed does leave us prone to conceding goals, can't see us keeping a clean sheet next week we are now leaking goals at an alarming rate every game
ReplyDeletecomment not approved
ReplyDeleteI'm not shocked by the result because we are inconsistent this season. I am annoyed of course by the result. I do have to say that Suarez had 5 chances. Johnson was unlucky when he ran the whole length of the pitch nearly. Some of these chances need to be put away! Then it's a different game, surely?! The pitch was atrocious and that could not have helped!!!
ReplyDeleteThe lack of concentration at the back is a going concern. It's costing us points big time. Costing us results. Be it Reina dashing off his line unnecessarily. Agger's poor marking. Skrtel looking like a scary dude but defending like a kitten. Enrique and Johnson's poor control, distribution, positioning etc.
From an attacking sense we create so many chances but convert so little so that's pony too. So frustrating. 5/6 chances created away from home is good but we must must score!!!!
the only defence i would give in aggers case is that he is the 1st to come out and admit is form as been poor
ReplyDeleteCan those who wanted Benitez out please own up.
ReplyDeleteIts not the players; its the system and the manager that are the problem. The players are not capable of playing this type of system particularly on poor pitches. We need a manager that can adapt systems to suit the opponent. Allen and Stirling are to small, Gerrard needs a rest, and there were no suitable alternative on the bench to replace Suarez who's finishing was poor tonight. Please replace BR now; don't wait until the end of the season !.
ReplyDeletehenderson can become a star if he keeps improving i just think he needs a bit of self belief
ReplyDeleteallen was playing but you have to watch the game very closely to see him,its normally when he f"cks up that i realise hes on the pitch
ReplyDeleteWhat you said is not something I disagreed with in my comment. You should know there are numerous 'fans' whose attitude to the three mentioned players is not that they are 'better than X or Y'; these 'fans' are just in tune with the official website propaganda claiming that Jordan Henderson, Jonjo Shelvey and Stewart Downing - who would be allowed nowhere near any other team aiming for top 4 in the EPL - just 'need time' to become good enough [for our current aims].
ReplyDeletelol badtimes were on deathrow
ReplyDeleteToo lightweight as usual esp in the middle!
ReplyDeletewe will have to chase the game they will be more dangerous on the counter attack
ReplyDeleteenrique was my man of the match,if they have the hulk we have the hulkamator
ReplyDeletewhy single them out rodgers signings apart from sturridge would struggle to get in any prem sides
ReplyDeleteagree m8 or kenny
ReplyDeletePoor by Johnson for the 2nd goal, but he has been easily our most consistent defender this season.
ReplyDeleteIf we end up mid table at the end of the season BR should be man enough to walk before he is fired
ReplyDeleteive been saying it all year ....passing about at the back is a disaster waiting to happen....i only watched the last 10mins and you know its bad whem you switsch on and are not surprised at the score
ReplyDeletewe have no plan b ....im getting real apathetic im almost not bothered if we win lose or draw
ReplyDeletehas my comment been block JK?
ReplyDeleteWe do not have the quality of players like Barca to play Tikki Taka nor do we have the money to buy that standard of player , BR Trying to play like Barca with our squad is like sticking a Mercedes Badge on the front of a Fiat and trying to convince everyone that it is a Mercedes
ReplyDeletethe way we are set up to defend means we give poor teams a hat full of chances let alone good teams
ReplyDeleteyou missed an L;-)
ReplyDeleteAnd then not concede any, goose is cooked in this competition me thinks.
ReplyDeletelucky you
ReplyDeletetrust me its all over
ReplyDeleteallways like a win but know what you mean
ReplyDeleteabsolutely spot on , bit kind words though
ReplyDeleteI completely agree !.
ReplyDeletewe don't have a plan "A" at the moment !
ReplyDeletewhy do people make skrtel out to be terminator hard man, he is a complete pussy, along with agger.
ReplyDeletewhat so called big man turns his back when a striker is taking a shot?????
I wish he had dummied the shot and run round him to make him look more stupid than he actually is!!!
these players not commitited to the cause need to be gone soon as that window opens.
lfc fans spending hard earned money travelling in the freezing cold to watch that tripe.
for the first time, suarezs body language looked like that of a man fighting a lost cause. don't blame him when he leaves blame to muupits couldn't put it in.
We haven't got the defence for this system, nor some of the central midfield. Especially when we have periods in game where we go deep (sometimes we play high, sometimes we play deep but the style/set up is still the same). The defence got better protected in past years due to the formation e.g., two sitters in front of the CBs as well as workaholic Kuyt protecting Johnson. Now they are more exposed in this system and they aren't suited to it. He has got to be more willing to change things up. Though to be fair, he changed things in the first half against Man United and it was a failure, so he went back to the normal plan and we became the better side. But still too stubborn for my liking. Adapt.
ReplyDeleteIt seems we are making greater inroads to accepting this kind of performance,than the team(all incl) is in improving it.
ReplyDeleteHow we could do with another Henchoz / Hyypia CB Pairing now !
ReplyDeleteswansea do it?
ReplyDeleteYou could rely on Hyypia to put his body on the line as well as marshall the back line and he probably doesn't even have a single tattoo on his body, unlike wannabee hard men Agger and Skrtel!
ReplyDeleteOh Dear, yet another abysmal display we seem to be able to screw up virtually any situation regardless of how average the opponent is. Zenit didn't even have to play well,or even slightly above average, we just missed loads of chances and then committed suicide at the back. Glen Johnson hang your head in shame if you had done that on a Sunday morning in the park you'd have been told to wake up but in a Europa League match? Words fail me honestly. The problem is that Rodgers will clearly get the sack at some point in the next 10-12 months it just depends how bad his signings are in the summer and how badly the rubbish we currently have (Agger, Skrtl, Enrique, Shelvey etc) perform as to how quickly it happens.
ReplyDeleteWe then have to pay him and his pointless and ineffectual backroom staff off, get yet another Manager in and start yet again, leaving us with Allen and Borini who no one will want because no one will pay them more than about 10k a week and for some reason they will be on more than that with us.
I know you don't rate Benitez Jaime but seriously compared to Rodgers Benitez is Bob Paisley as compared to the bloke that runs our pub team which pretty much involves selecting which number top to wear and swearing on the touchline a lot. Rodgers has absolutely no clue at all.
Over the top we go, charge of the light brigade rolled into one!
ReplyDeleteif we go a goal behind jase its almost always game over...the team is just not set up tactically to chase games we inevitably concede another
ReplyDeletegreat comments and spot on, hypia used to win most things in the air to, regardless of his lack of pace, he was one step ahead of strikers a lot of the time.
ReplyDeleteif only agger and skrtel had some intelligence !!
But they don't religiously stick to that playing philosophy like Rodgers does. Laudrup isn't afraid to mix it up, offensively and defensively. When they do mix it up, they usually execute it well. They are more of a team, despite whatever so-called inferior individuals they may have. We don't work hard enough as a team defensively. Half-hearted pressing. Wishy washy CM presence in front of the defence, when it comes to defending or getting the ball from the defence. The defence look like Bambi in front of the headlights when exposed. Square pegs, round holes, some of these players. In a system like this, its very sensitive, i.e., it has to be executed very well, otherwise it looks very porous and wishy-washy. In some other systems, you can get away with not being near 100% as a team but not this one. Hence why Bilbao, yes they did impress last season with some of their games, with their version of this system but they were very up-n-down and still are, now languishing in the bottom half of the table.
ReplyDeletewe used to play with 2 banks of 4 ...now we play with a back 4 with 5 players randomly placed in front in no particular order not particularly doing anything ..its a joke our defense has been a joke all year...the back 4 gets exposed all the time to runners...coupled with the fact we have a vertically challenged team means we will leak goals from set pieces and open play
ReplyDeletelaudrup has mixed it up this year...coupled with the fact that when he speaks players listen.....he is probably better than most of them still on the training ground at swansea..rogers does not carry that kudos...soldiers follow generals they dont follow cooks
ReplyDeleteI did, and it was the right decision to get rid. He started the current malaise.
ReplyDeleteif allen sterling and courtino all play together the team is tiny
ReplyDeleteTrue.. Allen has also admitted he hasn't been playing well, Reina too..
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see players been honest about their form.. nothing worse than fellas skirting around the issue like Downing last season..
but needs must and all that..
If I see another article about Agger getting another tattoo, I'm going to explode!
ReplyDeletefor some reason because he has a plan ? he will be afforded more time than kenny or roy......i actually think we will be in for a tough second half to the season ...rogers doesnt know his best 11 and i get a sense some of the senior players are losing faith ( thats just my opinion ) theres a clear blueprint on how to us ( defend high up the pitch ) and we cannot handle Big Cf and SETPIECES ( what use will allen.sterling,courtino, be defending corners )plus when we go a goal behind its game over
ReplyDeleteYou have got to be seriously disciplined and switched on to play in a pressing system like this. Either you press properly or don't press at all and sit compact. Otherwise, your asking for trouble. My criticism of the back four aside, them lot in front of the back four, I don't know what on earth they (midfield) are doing defensively, half the time. We're nowhere near good enough as a team defensively. We don't work hard enough. Lazy is what I call it. We don't defend with a plan or at least do not execute the plan properly. Swansea may not be in the top 4 but considering their individual qualities, they are doing really really well. They use sometimes a similar system, but they work hard for it, as a team. You got to earn the right to play the way you want and to win with the way you want to play. A system like this is more sensitive to when players aren't executing things well. Some of these players aren't cut out for it, in terms of style, application and quality. Simply aren't, no matter how much time they spend training and trying to adapt to it. I'm not a fan of fitting square pegs in round holes, that is my main criticism of Rodgers that he is reluctant to adapt much to the players he has at his disposal, instead its all about them adapting to his system no matter what.
ReplyDeleteEm just to point out that Rodger's Swansea last season played lovely passing/possesion(call it tikki taka but thats what it is!!) football and have continued under Laudrup this season.. with arguably an inferior squad and team to ours not to mention Barca
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to be Barca to play possesion/passing football.. Do people honestly believe you have to have xavi inesta messi and co to play this type of football..
WTF ??
It use to be called pass and move.. that's the Liverpool groove :)
Yes they do Ryan... and countless other teams .. but people are obsessed with this notion we're trying to emulate Barca.. Like they invented passing football !!
ReplyDeleteI don't think Rogers really had that much choice in the team to be fair. The side was strong enough ability wise to win IMO, the problem is in the attitude of the players. There not winners, they lose concentration at the 70 minute mark every game and once behind there is no desire to get back into it.
ReplyDeleteI would be interested to see how many times we have come back and won after going behind. I can only think of one game this season,
Ok, Bale, you shut me up good and proper. Still prefer Umtiti's goal but he got Spurs a winning goal in the dying minutes, and a very good one too. Kudos.
ReplyDeleteHe is great defensively, but his passing can be terrible.
ReplyDeleteOur season is over, there is nothing to play for which i think is all down to Rodgers tactics, you cant expect to play the same way every game and hope that it works. If we are to challenge for champions league football next season we could ONLY do it if Rodgers leaves/gets fired in my opinion. And I for one would like to see an experienced figure taking over such as Ancelotti
ReplyDeletewtf? the year we do as well as Rafa's worst ever season will be celebrated albeit a long time in the future.
ReplyDeleteConsidering top 4 is a must these days, I'd go with Roy Evans :) Top 4 like clockwork, most of the time. With very good football thrown in too.
ReplyDeleteNot so my friend .. simply not so..
ReplyDeleteWon the champions league, got to the final for a second time, we qualified for the champions league for how many years solid? Finished 2nd in the league and all under the miserly funding supplied by the 2 cowboys. Our team fell apart when Alonso and masc left us, on alonso i admit it was Rafa's fault. Now lets be realistic can you say you're happy with the progress under BR? The excuses imo are wearing thin and no amount of spin can hide the fact that we are going nowhere fast.
ReplyDeleteWe are in big trouble, for years to come if we dont figure something out, things aren't working out to well for us are they..
ReplyDeleteIs it me or all our players at a point in time dis season have admitted to poor form...is rogers really managing dem well?
ReplyDeleteBR was brought to liverpool to instantly over one season do better in the league, its exactly the same reason QPR got redknapp to instantly do better and save them from relegation. BR with a better team is doingg worse than our previous assistant, worse than everton, and is yet to beat any top 10 side. for me this is not what he was brought in to do, he was brought here to do better than KD and he has not. why do we have to go backwards to go forwards? people think we will come 12th this year and then propel over the summer to 4th!!!! if we come mid table, that is where we will stay as the better players will leave and the mediocre manager left will only be able to sign mediocre players. How do we change the status quo; we pull out all the stops to get a top top manager who will pull in players as to be fair liverpool alone will not do that the way we are going!!!! fact!
ReplyDeleteLet's argue like academicians ...Carroll is not in the team that lost to zenit ..compare him to suarez ...he is also a dalglish prouduct . Look at the money spent on borini .asaaidi.Allen.and sahin. Is it not the almost the same as the carol budget. GOD HELP US.
ReplyDeleteNo they're not Matthew a feel sorry for Suarez and Gerrard the most, deep inside they must know that something needs to change...
ReplyDeleteKenny would have come good with Carroll finding form at the later stage of the season. I switch my tv off to have a snack and come back to see 2 written by my little on my plasma tv close to zenit. I almost beat her up. Till I realized it was digitally written....and people. Suarez is gaining wait. He can't .run anymore.
ReplyDeleteNo jaimie woy hodgson did, its been hanging over the from the day he signed.
ReplyDeleteYou can blame the defense....or MF or BR tactics all day long but if Luis makes 2 very easy goals....we are not talking much here....other than the hope that Sturridge is back to help out and lead the team through to the next round.
ReplyDeleteI do not know what the heck Luis is problem is lately. He cannot finish anything....he seems spent since that Arsenal game. He looked weak in finishing against Spain....and should have just passed on playing 90 minutes in that game. It is not like Uruguay does not know what you can do....We just just have a coach who has become more conservative in his call ups and tactics since the nice years of 2010-11.. Anyways...that is for another rant on an Uruguayan blog.90 minutes every game since the Oldham game.....in what? 20 days, with 5 matches? The first miss was just bad luck but after that it was just lack of control and then trying to be too fancy.
It's not actually BR or the players' fault. Gerrard opened his mouth and very quickly things have gone downhill again. JK wasn't j/k!
ReplyDeleteHeres my take on Rafa. Up till his final season, he did so so well. We hit levels we can now only dream of, won games we can now only dream of even playing in, and won trophies we can now only dream of. He over achieved massively, but in his last season, something changed, and since then he hasn`t looked like the manager he once was at any team he has managed after, therefore I think he was brilliant but it was the right time for him to go. I don`t think him coming back would be that much better. I do think he would do better than we currently do, but not by much.
ReplyDeleteYeh cos Rafa is doing so well at Chelsea..
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't even say he is superb defensively, I just think he is an extraordinary athlete and tends to get by on his pace and strength more than his guile.
ReplyDeletethe big part is losing the fans, up till recently I think a lot have felt positive, even tho results haven`t been, however with each game I can see that slipping away. So far there has been to many not needed, or not good enough signings, which is fine if results work your way, but they aren`t. Unless we hit top 6, I can`t see many fans still being into the project. I say to 6, as even though we all want top 4, that looks near impossible, and even top 6 would at least show signs of moving in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteits also worth noting, dispite how great Swansea played last year, they didn`t win the league or get close, and personally I don`t think Barca would either if in the prem. In CL many teams prem teams have beaten them, and I think they would struggle against the likes of stoke etc.
ReplyDeleteBren gun
ReplyDeleteAccordin to bren that was almost the perfect european performance, what a load of bollo*ks, yeah i,ll remember this for a long time, & he reckons its growing pains we have, more like a pain in the shi*ter listening to his sales patter
ReplyDeleteArsenal fan in peace.
ReplyDeleteWatched your game on TV tonight. To be fair, that would be a tricky match for any team. They have some great players.
Passing out from the back is ok, but not every time. If you dont mix it up now and then with a goal kick, opposition teams will figure that out and simply press non stop, making your defenders look average.
The philosophy is the right one, and while goals will always be conceded with the passing game, Liverpool are not scoring enough. The amount of decent chances you create is great, but until you have 4/5 players who can chip in with 15 goals a season, the chances will be wasted.
Keep the faith though, start worrying when you stop creating chances.
A few more goalscoring wingers and a proper second striker and you would have a chance to have a real go, in my opinion.
Best of luck for the rest of the season.
Suarez could have gone down when he took the ball past the keeper. There is contact that stalls him slightly........
ReplyDeleteThey do know that, Suarez will not be around next year that's a good and bad situation take it how ever you like. Gerrard must be thinking of retiring soon, before things really get worse. I'm not trying to be negative I'm a liverpool supporter I really feel things are going to get worse before they get better. Just look at the team, no depth, weak defense, no substitutes who can change the game. I was really optimistic about the future, then the Oldham game was played... I felt shattered. I was so mad I did not wear my toque and scarf for a week. I was on strike!
ReplyDeleteso wrong! you know he wasn't supported in his final season in the dressing room and boardroom...your short sightedness along with people like purslow/ the media etc has ruined us and yet your pride prevents you admitting this...we should have stuck with him and given him a chance after just one poor season...just one poor season! great site btw
ReplyDeleteAre we going to see a change in manager at the the end of this season?
ReplyDeleteme to west ham i think
ReplyDeleteanything is possible after istanbul 4-1 at anfield after going a goal downs my prediction
ReplyDeletestill the best we have
ReplyDeleteimo we mess around far to much trying to keep the possesion rather than getting it into the danger areas quickly
ReplyDeleteYep Agger needed to be dropped. Unfortunately it's about half a season too late, but there you go.
ReplyDeleteI am also bugged by Rodgers rhetoric at times. I don't mind him saying 'the group' half as much as I mind him continually going on about the club as a great institution and all this nonsense. We heard it when he arrived, it was fine then. Now it's just papering over the cracks.
Thats the thing if they score its over,but I think we can do it.
ReplyDeletei think we will sneak a win but don,t think we will go through
ReplyDeleteAgreed .. A Cold wet Monday night in January at the Britania with Huth & co kicking lumps out of them would soften Messi & Co's cough :)
ReplyDeleteCeltic beat them this year with typical strong ol' school Brittish type football.
i really cant see us getting top six utd, spurs, arsenal, chelsea ,city ,everton will almost certainly finish above us
ReplyDeletethats why i fear he is doomed as a manager...i actually like the guy and would love him to succeed...but we leek goals against the poorest of teams let alone the best...i dont think the players are lazy i just think they dont know how to play positionally ...what rogers doesnt seem to realise is you have to earn the right to play and teams raise there game against liverpool
ReplyDelete