Norwich

[gkmacca]

Oh god is that Sterling next to Flanagan?

 

[the_khl]

Should give you some indication on how are starting line up will look like today.

At this rate I wouldn't even be surprised to see Rodgers in the middle of the park.

 

[gkmacca]

Oh well.

 

[Rosco]

Roy Hodgson did the exact same thing, agreed.

Maybe it will turn out better for this manager in the long run, fact of the matter is, what I thought was going to be a breath of fresh air in terms of style and play - with a manager that loved possessions based, attacking-minded football and the players thriving from this style of play - are now turning into a circus of excuses and long ball tactics against the Hulls of this world.

Roy Rodgers indeed.

If less than 10% of our passes were long, can you really say the tactics were long ball tactics ?

Or does it matter what the reality is ?

 

[Modo]

Oh god is that Sterling next to Flanagan?

I'm not sure, could be Ibe. He didn't play yesterday did he?

 

[Buddha]

It's Sterling, he's slimmer.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Can you, just on top of your head, tell me how many goals Agger has costed us this Season?

@Ryan loves this game, he'll help you I'm sure

 

[Fabio]

Honestly KHL, all of them need a clip round the ear.

Skrtel constantly tries to defend but is prone to a fuck up

Same with agger.

His handball in the first game that nearly cost us (good ol Mignolet), and he loses a striker at least once a match (see Lukaku against Everton [even if you disagree]).

He's picked agger out because he likes to saunter forward more than the others, and as vice captain, he SHOULD be one of the players who has strong concentration

 

[the_khl]

If less than 10% of our passes were long, can you really say the tactics were long ball tactics ?

Or does it matter what the reality is ?

I am not sure what constitute long ball tactics percentage-wise, but we were set up to hit them running rather than try and control the game. Sterling and Moses and a midfield trio of Gerrard, Henderson and Lucas left us with absolutely no creativity whatsoever.

I think these tactics also influenced on especially Johnson's and Suarez' performances whom got very little support in the final third, and when you then play Flannagan, who gets the job done mostly in his own half but looks more clueless than a racoon caught in a maze on the opposing half then you are, imo, hoping that a fast break or a set piece can save your day. That looked very much like the reality to me both before and after the game itself.

 

[Mystic]

Skrtel hasn't done much wrong this season, he can't really be blamed for the goals on Saturday, maybe the third one I suppose.

 

[Mystic]

What a load of bollocks.

Why is it that the manager completely overlooks the fact that if we get our game together and play as a unit to our best players strengths (from the back Agger and Johnson in particular) our way of attack and possession based play is a much better defense, than when he tries to be clever and swap Toure with Agger to mark some Hull player that is strong in physique and revert to counter tactics out of fear/cleverness?

Why is it that Rodgers doesn't at least acknowledge and learn from the fact that Agger is the only central defender in our team that has been present in all 4 clean sheets this Season? And has also got the most clean sheets of all Premiership defenders in the past 1½ Season now?

Why on earth does he suddenly have to move focus to Agger's "lack of physique" when his attributes, such as composure, calmness, positioning, anticipation and skill on the ball are extremely beneficial to our team?

Why does he constantly need to bring up how brilliant Skrtel is, ever since he started doing that he has been shaky and directly involved in goals.

Rodgers, get a grip.

 

[tony]

Oh god is that Sterling next to Flanagan?

I think we need to give him a chance, he is still just 18, I think a loan deal to a championship club would have done him the world of good but ho hum.

 

[the_khl]

Skrtel hasn't done much wrong this season, he can't really be blamed for the goals on Saturday, maybe the third one I suppose.

Skrtel has had a good Season indeed but he lost Barkley for the first goal against Everton, he backed instead of closing down on Hull's first goal and then got unlucky with the deflection, he tackled Toure TWICE second half, with both incidents leading to goals. The last one a rather silly own goal, it's not like it was a deflection.

Why is it not ok to blame him for those goals?

 

[Mystic]

Skrtel has had a good Season indeed but he lost Barkley for the first goal against Everton, he backed instead of closing down on Hull's first goal and then got unlucky with the deflection, he tackled Toure TWICE second half, with both incidents leading to goals. The last one a rather silly own goal, it's not like it was a deflection.

Why is it not ok to blame him for those goals?

That's just not how I saw the incidents, admittedly I was only half watching by the time they were 2-1 up.

 

[the_khl]

http://rutube.ru/video/300f2bd7c335028e6130d3d22b588481/

(don't have skills to embed that one.. but there you go).

 

[i_rushie]

It would amuse me no end when Skrtel is dropped or sold but Sakho returns to the team at the expense of Agger. What would happen then? Would Sakho be the target of the_khl's ire?

 

[SummerOnions]

I think we need to give him a chance, he is still just 18, I think a loan deal to a championship club would have done him the world of good but ho hum.

He has to have a run of games i think. If aspas is still unfit anyway. Giving an 18yo the odd game now and then won't help build up his match sharpness or confidence.

 

[Rosco]

I am not sure what constitute long ball tactics percentage-wise, but we were set up to hit them running rather than try and control the game. Sterling and Moses and a midfield trio of Gerrard, Henderson and Lucas left us with absolutely no creativity whatsoever.

I think these tactics also influenced on especially Johnson's and Suarez' performances whom got very little support in the final third, and when you then play Flannagan, who gets the job done mostly in his own half but looks more clueless than a racoon in maze on the opposing half then you are, imo, hoping that a fast break or a set piece can save your day. That looked very much like the reality to me both before and after the game itself.

Usually when we have 62% of possession people declare we controlled the game.

 

[the_khl]

Then people should probably include other parameters as well before they declare whether you have indeed controlled a game of football.

Because we did NOT control the Hull game, at all.

 

[tony]

I am not sure what constitute long ball tactics percentage-wise, but we were set up to hit them running rather than try and control the game. Sterling and Moses and a midfield trio of Gerrard, Henderson and Lucas left us with absolutely no creativity whatsoever.

I think these tactics also influenced on especially Johnson's and Suarez' performances whom got very little support in the final third, and when you then play Flannagan, who gets the job done mostly in his own half but looks more clueless than a racoon in maze on the opposing half then you are, imo, hoping that a fast break or a set piece can save your day. That looked very much like the reality to me both before and after the game itself.

Flanno deserves a bit of slack imo. Bodgers is playing him on the wrong side and he had Moses in the first half and Sterling in the second in front of him offering him minimal cover, he really had no option but to stay deep. Given a run and more confidence he may surprise us.

 

[the_khl]

Flanno deserves a bit of slack. Bodgers is playing him on the wrong side and he had Moses in the first half and Sterling in the second in front of him offering him minimal cover, he really had no option but to stay deep. Given a run and more confidence he may surprise us.

Yeah that was pretty much jibberish. Soz.

 

[Ryan]

What a load of bollocks.

Why is it that the manager completely overlooks the fact that if we get our game together and play as a unit to our best players strengths (from the back Agger and Johnson in particular) our way of attack and possession based play is a much better defense, than when he tries to be clever and swap Toure with Agger to mark some Hull player that is strong in physique and revert to counter tactics out of fear/cleverness?

Why is it that Rodgers doesn't at least acknowledge and learn from the fact that Agger is the only central defender in our team that has been present in all 4 clean sheets this Season? And has also got the most clean sheets of all Premiership defenders in the past 1½ Season now?

Why on earth does he suddenly have to move focus to Agger's "lack of physique" when his attributes, such as composure, calmness, positioning, anticipation and skill on the ball are extremely beneficial to our team?

Why does he constantly need to bring up how brilliant Skrtel is, ever since he started doing that he has been shaky and directly involved in goals.

Rodgers, get a grip.

He's 29 years of age next week, has been playing in the premier league for 7 years, is our vice captain, and is being dropped cos the manager doesn't rate his ability to "defend".

What the fuck does that tell you?

 

[mark1975]

What a load of bollocks.

Why is it that the manager completely overlooks the fact that if we get our game together and play as a unit to our best players strengths (from the back Agger and Johnson in particular) our way of attack and possession based play is a much better defense, than when he tries to be clever and swap Toure with Agger to mark some Hull player that is strong in physique and revert to counter tactics out of fear/cleverness?

Why is it that Rodgers doesn't at least acknowledge and learn from the fact that Agger is the only central defender in our team that has been present in all 4 clean sheets this Season? And has also got the most clean sheets of all Premiership defenders in the past 1½ Season now?

Why on earth does he suddenly have to move focus to Agger's "lack of physique" when his attributes, such as composure, calmness, positioning, anticipation and skill on the ball are extremely beneficial to our team?

Why does he constantly need to bring up how brilliant Skrtel is, ever since he started doing that he has been shaky and directly involved in goals.

Rodgers, get a grip.

Read it again Kris, it's more or less the same article posted this morning. "When asked about Agger". He doesn't directly reference Agger at all, typical media spin.

 

[the_khl]

He's 29 years of age next week, has been playing in the premier league for 7 years, is our vice captain, and is being dropped cos the manager doesn't rate his ability to "defend".

What the fuck does that tell you?

That I don't quite agree with Rodgers? I am actually starting to think Rodgers posts on here.

First he drops Eriksen and now Agger.

I AM SORRY IF I HAVE MADE YOU HATE THE DANES, RODGERS, I TAKE EVERYTHING BACK. APART FROM THE FACT DANES ARE BOSS FOOTBALLLERS, AT LEAST 5 OF THEM OR THEREABOUTS.

PS I am genuinely interested in knowing your stance with regards to his clean sheet record. I am not saying that you can pick players from stats alone, but doesn't it at least indicate that he gives us some benefits when in the team?

 

[Ryan]

I can only blame myself for entering into this discussion with you but anyway... What clean sheet record? Some arbitary selective bullshit you'll conjure up to prove half a point.

We finished 7th last year and had the worst defensive record in the top 7. Agger played pretty much all year long from what I can remember.

And no we've got the 2nd worst defensive record in the top 12 this year, and your man is thought of so highly that he gets dropped.

Oncy said something on here years ago which i always thought was pretty fucking solid: if you're arguing a point on here, and every other signle person on the site disagrees with you, then the problem isn;t with everyone else.

 

[Mystic]

That I don't quite agree with Rodgers? I am actually starting to think Rodgers posts on here.

First he drops Eriksen and now Agger.

I AM SORRY IF I HAVE MADE YOU HATE THE DANES, RODGERS, I TAKE EVERYTHING BACK. APART FROM THE FACT DANES ARE BOSS FOOTBALLLERS, AT LEAST 5 OF THEM OR THEREABOUTS.

PS I am genuinely interested in knowing your stance with regards to his clean sheet record. I am not saying that you can pick players from stats alone, but doesn't it at least indicate that he gives us some benefits when in the team?

He dropped Eriksen? I didn't realise he player for us, thats quite a turn up.

 

[Ryan]

Thomas McMahon ‏@TomMc_Sports11m
Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Flanno, Gerrard, Allen, Coutinho, Sterling, Henderson, Suarez = Team that will start tonight.
Retweeted by Billy Liddell

 

[the_khl]

I can only blame myself for entering into this discussion with you but anyway... What clean sheet record? Some arbitary selective bullshit you'll conjure up to prove half a point.

We finished 7th last year and had the worst defensive record in the top 7. Agger played pretty much all year long from what I can remember.

And no we've got the 2nd worst defensive record in the top 12 this year, and your man is thought of so highly that he gets dropped.

Oncy said something on here years ago which i always thought was pretty fucking solid: if you're arguing a point on here, and every other signle person on the site disagrees with you, then the problem isn;t with everyone else.

You can call it arbitrary and you may to some extent be right but when you are looking at more than the past 50 games in the Premiership (soon 1½ Season) and he comes out on top as the CB in all teams with the most clean sheets it may also hold some actual insight?

Dismiss it all you want I just thought I'd hear your thoughts on it. No worries.

With regards to Oncy's wise words they are just that, wise. I think however this must be the exception to the rule. I know Modo like him too?

*waves Scando flag

 

[the_khl]

Thomas McMahon ‏@TomMc_Sports11m
Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Flanno, Gerrard, Allen, Coutinho, Sterling, Henderson, Suarez = Team that will start tonight.
Retweeted by Billy Liddell

Very good to see both Agger and Allen in there. Would have liked the Aspas too instead of Sterling, but two out of three is better than I would've thought/feared.

 

[Ryan]

Very good to see both Agger and Allen in there. Would have liked the Aspas too instead of Sterling, but two out of three is better than I would've thought/feared.

Rodgers said Aspas isn't fit to start.