Liverpool vs Southampton Post Match Thoughts..

[the_khl]

I kinda half agree with this post and half disagree.

Agree with Agger, if he couldn't train he shouldn't have played. Rogers should have played Sakho in CB and trusted a youngster at LB.

Don't agree with the Carroll situation. Carroll can't play the style of football Rodgers wanted, so to me the team will just be playing with 10 men if he stayed. I believe Rodgers tried to get another creative midfielder but they didn't want to come to Liverpool. So be it, their loss and not worth us bleating about it.

Unlike last season we have Suarez, Coutinho and Sturridge but not from the get-go. Suarez was a tit for the biting and we lost out for 10 games. So far, it only mattered today where we needed a little creativity. No one can predict when an injury can happen so it's unfortunate we lost Coutinho and nearly lost Sturridge, if it wasn't for the International break. Hopefully, all 3 will be available in October and we have an amazing attacking line-up. It's clear Aspas is a back-up striker, so he's only playing because of the Suarez ban. It now looks like he'll continue until Coutinho returns, although I'd be tempted with Albert.

Our problem is midfield. Gerrard is off the boil, Lucas is Lucas and Henderson is our water-carrier. He'll run and run and run but he can't dictate play. I'd bench Gerrard and put in Allen. If it doesn't work then sub him for Gerrard.

I agree with regards to Carroll not being what Rodgers were looking for, I still think there is similarities though.

But as you say, hopefully we'll have that trio ready for November (Coutinho is our for six weeks right)? I just don't hope we have lost all momentum at that stage.

Our midfield is a major area for concern.

 

[Halmeister]

Erm yeah we have. Really poor second halves against Villa, Swansea and United, and shit today.

I wouldn't get too over the top with being top. We've done well in terms of getting points on the board when we haven't played well, which is encouraging, but it was a matter of time before hoping to get a goal first half and sitting back for the rest of the game, all while playing disjointed football, was going to come back to haunt us.

Maybe everything is rosy, though, I don't know.

And just to add, we could have a lot fewer points this season than we have done due to poor performances. The way things were going last year we would have conceded that penalty against Stoke, Benteke would have scored that shot for Villa, United would have had 8 more minutes Fergie time to get a goal, Swansea could have grabbed a winner and we churned out a performance today we've seen a lot in recent years. That could have been 3 points instead of the 10 we have.

I know a lot of it is hypothetical, and like I said before, getting points while not playing well is the sign of a good team, but glossing over everything as "oh we were top this morning" is laughably naive and detrimental to our progress. There are lots of things to improve and it was a matter of time our poorness caught up with us.

 

[Red Mullet]

I agree with regards to Carroll not being what Rodgers were looking for, I still think there is similarities though.

But as you say, hopefully we'll have that trio ready for November (Coutinho is our for six weeks right)? I just don't hope we have lost all momentum at that stage.

Our midfield is a major area for concern.

Momentum is key so a win against Man Utd and beating Sunderland to get us back on track is vital. It'll also show today was just a blip.

It might be worth flooding midfield to shore it up. Either play 3-5-2 or 4-5-1. I'd prefer the former since we have Sturridge and Suarez and we don't really have a balanced back 4 at the moment.

 

[FoxForceFive]

Quiffing as don't have time to read the thread, but if was just shite.

Front to back. Shite.

 

[Molbystwin]

Its better its over now tbh...

shite... Pure shite... And poorly balanced and poorly balanced shite at that.

 

[Molbystwin]

My comment over balanced.... Poorly organised...

 

[StevieM]

The real problem is the players just aren't good enough.

Skrtel give away a stupid corner & Agger looses his man - simply put - the pair of them aren't good enough - they both have ability & they both can perform at a high level, but neither have the consistency really top players have. Toure is our best defender & I like the look if Sakho.

Enrique is what he is - average. Again, he can be good, but he's as likely to be horrific as he is good.

We say we miss Johnston - and part of me thinks, only because its one less name to blame for a lacklustre performance. Again, capable but inconsistent.

One thing you couldn't accuse Lucas of being is inconsistent - he's consistently average - but he does his job and he really isn't the problem.

Gerrard - let's be honest - I have no idea why Rodgers is playing him so deep. His entire career, he's been at his best when given freedom in the attacking third - playing him deep is Rodgers biggest mistake IMO.

Henderson - look, the lad has improved - but the one thing he is not is a creative force - I don't know what the fuck he's doing in the attacking line - really don't - he needs to be played deeper - him & Lucas would be decent in the middle.

The attacking midfield is where it's all going wrong - the quality is just not there. Moses is ok, and he'll add balance on the left, but hrs not and will not be tip drawer - again he has ability, but he won't consistently deliver. Aspas is just a middle of the road player. We really fucked up not buying more creative, attacking players in the summer and it will cost us dear. Coutinho & Moses aren't enough even if you throw Suarez in to the attacking midfield mix.

Sturridge isn't going to score every game , he's done we'll - he drifts out of games when things don't go his way, and he also drops way too deep when the creative mids fail to deliver - which is the worry.

At the end of the day, we can blame selections, the manager, bad luck.... whatever - the truth is the group of players we have just isn't good enough - they never where and the majority never will be.

 

[Red Mullet]

The real problem is the players just aren't good enough.

Skrtel give away a stupid corner & Agger looses his man - simply put - the pair of them aren't good enough - they both have ability & they both can perform at a high level, but neither have the consistency really top players have. Toure is our best defender & I like the look if Sakho.

Enrique is what he is - average. Again, he can be good, but he's as likely to be horrific as he is good.

We say we miss Johnston - and part of me thinks, only because its one less name to blame for a lacklustre performance. Again, capable but inconsistent.

One thing you couldn't accuse Lucas of being is inconsistent - he's consistently average - but he does his job and he really isn't the problem.

Gerrard - let's be honest - I have no idea why Rodgers is playing him so deep. His entire career, he's been at his best when given freedom in the attacking third - playing him deep is Rodgers biggest mistake IMO.

Henderson - look, the lad has improved - but the one thing he is not is a creative force - I don't know what the fuck he's doing in the attacking line - really don't - he needs to be played deeper - him & Lucas would be decent in the middle.

The attacking midfield is where it's all going wrong - the quality is just not there. Moses is ok, and he'll add balance on the left, but hrs not and will not be tip drawer - again he has ability, but he won't consistently deliver. Aspas is just a middle of the road player. We really fucked up not buying more creative, attacking players in the summer and it will cost us dear. Coutinho & Moses aren't enough even if you throw Suarez in to the attacking midfield mix.

Sturridge isn't going to score every game , he's done we'll - he drifts out of games when things don't go his way, and he also drops way too deep when the creative mids fail to deliver - which is the worry.

At the end of the day, we can blame selections, the manager, bad luck.... whatever - the truth is the group of players we have just isn't good enough - they never where and the majority never will be.

DOOOOOOMMMMMM, DOOOOOOMMMMMM, DOOOOOOMMMMMM, DOOOOOOMMMMMM...

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Manure were an average side last year - bar a goal scoring phenomenon in RvP and some wonderful performances from De Gea ... We can do it too I guess if things a) go right (i.e. luck) b) the mentality is right (i don't think it's there) and c) the manager instills something in the players ...

 

[Buddha]

Meanwhile, another excellent performance by Suso today for Almeira (and scored).

On that note, surely Ibe's worth a sub appearance when we're struggling for attacking verve?

 

[Hansern]

I was surprised by Sterlings display after how good he looked for the U-21s.
He was a poor touch away from getting us a point though. Fack.

 

[rurikbird]

 

[Wilko7]

Every player can have a bad run of form and it's perfectly understandable for a 33 year old to be a bit leggy but what is inexcusable is a poor attitude.

The disinterested, half arsed and lackadaisical manner in which the captain "led" our team today was nothing short of disgraceful.

 

[Hansern]

Sakhos tackle on Osvaldo was insanly brilliant

 

[localny]

Ah Stevie, we are good enough but this was a bad day at he orifice. Injuries abound, and we don't have depth. Eriksen could have come in for Coutinino, but we, as everyone knows are lacking the midfield going forward. Jaypers, put gerrard up there!

 

[Y1]

Time to moan and groan. Lose another next, ash and sackcloth.

 

[IGotALuvlyBunchOfCoconuts]

Should have kept Downing, lol, we're dumbasses.

After next years world cup, Van Gaal should be free. Something to consider.
Sick of seeing us play like turd during the second half. What the fuck is that all about.

 

[dmishra]

Sakhos tackle on Osvaldo was insanly brilliant

And also mad. If he'd gotten it wrong, it would have been a penalty and a red.

Tackles like that are necessary only when there's a cast-iron goal scoring opportunity you're trying to negate. This wasn't it. He was at a difficult angle from goal, and a fair distance from it. A smart centre-half would have used his strength to shepherd him away from goal, and then kick it out of play.

 

[StevieM]

We aren't going to finish in the top four with a centre back pairing of Agger & Skrtel, Henderson playing in an attacking midfield position & only 2 players in Sturridge & Suarez that are capable of reaching double figures in goals - Gerrard isn't going to score many from deep outside of penalties and free kicks.

We'll do alright - but it's not enough to break us out of the slump and get us back to Champions League.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

We aren't going to finish in the top four with a centre back pairing of Agger & Skrtel, Henderson playing in an attacking midfield position & only 2 players in Sturridge & Suarez that are capable of reaching double figures in goals - Gerrard isn't going to score many from deep outside of penalties and free kicks.

We'll do alright - but it's not enough to break us out of the slump and get us back to Champions League.

How many players do the Mancs have that can break 10 goals? Van Persie and Rooney? Same as last year no?

 

[white-sox]

And also mad. If he'd gotten it wrong, it would have been a penalty and a red.

Tackles like that are necessary only when there's a cast-iron goal scoring opportunity you're trying to negate. This wasn't it. He was at a difficult angle from goal, and a fair distance from it. A smart centre-half would have used his strength to shepherd him away from goal, and then kick it out of play.

Nar. It was a brilliant tackle, never looked remotely like giving a penalty away. Even got the crowd going in an othwise lacklustre affair.

 

[StevieM]

How many players do the Mancs have that can break 10 goals? Van Persie and Rooney? Same as last year no?

Apart from Hernandez - who got 10 last year.

Wellbeck, Young, Nani, Valencia & kagawa will all chip in with a few - That's their attacking line - it's better than ours - by some distance - ding kid yourself its not - all of the would walk in to our team (well maybe not Wellbeck).

 

[Der Alte]

Manure were an average side last year - bar a goal scoring phenomenon in RvP and some wonderful performances from De Gea ... We can do it too I guess if things a) go right (i.e. luck) b) the mentality is right (i don't think it's there) and c) the manager instills something in the players ...

They were not an average side. You are being silly.

 

[Judge Jules]

Wizzy's not the one being silly. They won because everyone else was worse, not because they were anything special.

 

[Spionkop69]

Yeah, lets hope it was a blip only.

PS Agger has just said he made him self available for selection and that he is now cursing his own stupidity once again as obviously wasn't fit and is now feeling more injured, and that it is not his first time either being this stupid.

Rodgers will not get any more slack from me over picking him then. Soz Brendan.

Look everyone, Kris is having a go at Agger! Can't believe you all missed it...

 

[Spionkop69]

Wizzy's not the one being silly. They won because everyone else was worse, not because they were anything special.

They won the league by 11 points. That's quite a margin for a "not all that special" side.

 

[Judge Jules]

Yes, it is, and it shows what a poor Premiership it was. Several past title-winning sides, including some of their own, would have murdered last season's ManUre.

 

[Der Alte]

Yes, it is, and it shows what a poor Premiership it was. Several past title-winning sides, including some of their own, would have murdered last season's ManUre.

They were definitely not the best title-winning side but they were far from average and way way way better than we are at the moment.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

They were not an average side. You are being silly.

They were not a great team last year

Apart from Hernandez - who got 10 last year.

Wellbeck, Young, Nani, Valencia & kagawa will all chip in with a few - That's their attacking line - it's better than ours - by some distance - ding kid yourself its not - all of the would walk in to our team (well maybe not Wellbeck).

... not as good as Chelsea or City last year, and yet they won.

And yet, they won't win the league this year (I'm guessing) despite having the same team as last year and an addition of a 10-15 goal/season midfielder. I'm not saying we're going to win the league, but you don't have to be 'great' to win in the premier league - you just have to be the most consistent and learn how to grind out wins. Here's hoping we can get back on track.

 

[Hansern]

And also mad. If he'd gotten it wrong, it would have been a penalty and a red.

Tackles like that are necessary only when there's a cast-iron goal scoring opportunity you're trying to negate. This wasn't it. He was at a difficult angle from goal, and a fair distance from it. A smart centre-half would have used his strength to shepherd him away from goal, and then kick it out of play.

Nah, thats the glas half empty look upon things. What ifs and buts.
He's a brilliant tackler, knew what he was doing and did it to perfection.
Stop overanalyzing it mate.