Our weak links

[Fabio]

Come on then you junior tacticians and coaches you, where's our weak links?

This isn't a list who we should sign thread, it's a proper deep look at our tactics and current players thread

For me, our defensive side is the huge pressing issue. Agger seems so off form and offers little going forward so id drop him and bring in Skrtel.

Skrtel and Carra always looked decent because Skrtel needs help in positioning sometimes.

My other gripes at the minute are DM and LB. We've got nobody to bring in for either of those positions so we're stuck with them, short of playing people out of position.

Your turn

 

[Insignificance]

Next game is Swansea at home. Should be a opposition that suits us well, but we are a bit fragile on the mentality side these days so you never know were we end up in this one. Massive game for us as a defeat here will see them opening a gap on us.

Defending is not about individuals only. We defend naive as a unit exposing our defenders to situations were they are outnumbered. That has to stop. The fullbacks have wild cards to roam offensively, but we need to make sure they don't do it both at the same time. The DM (Lucas) is often to late in his pressure which makes him easy to walk past, and the midfield is not tough enough as a unit. It seemed to work better for a few games so it was dissapointing to see us let go of the formation that had worked best for us. Bring Hendo back in the middle to cover acres next to Lucas and make them both sit deep as the standard with Hendo moving upwards when he can. Gerrard infron of them has the freedom to walk around.

In this game Sturridge is possibly back, and it might be a good opportunity to give Luis a slight rest. Send him off to a short vacation with his family and let Sterling and Downing create width for Sturridge.

We must think game by game now. 4th is NOT doable and we need to fix the small things one by one. Discipline in midfield, solid at the back.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

We can't score for shit. Suarez can't do everything. Sturridge will hopefully continue to help out, but we need someone else in the squad that can score. We have other issues, but if we can sort out our finishing and ability to break down teams then we'll win a lot more games.

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

1) We definitely need a commanding CB. A leader. A Hyppia-like player would be almost perfect. That would sort out out set piece defending inefficiencies.

2) I agree with all the tiki taka, even when under pressure - which we are gradually trying to play like that more often. However, something's still amiss. We are still not entirely positive with our possession play and the side and backward passes have to turn into forward passes. Our movement leave much to be desired. Nothing new there then.

Otherwise, everything seems pretty much on the up to me. I still have a few little gripes with the role of our DM though. Lucas at times, looks like a clueless chicken and has no tactical sense whatsoever. The DM's role is crucial to how we setup to play. We need our DM to be the water-carrier.

And finally, it's fairly obv that the Studge and Suarez combo improve our gameplay tremendously. Having 2 nutters run at you, makes defenders shit in their pants and all their tactics would be thrown into the drain, cos they will be so busy watching them two. I think eventually people will suss us out and know how to mark them two out of the game. So we better come up with a Plan B/C/etc soon.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

If we can't win, at least don't lose - our keepers and the centrebacks is the first place I'd take the bludgeon to. You can't blame tactics for a lot of the problems they've caused us this season (you can for others, but the goal by Lukaku was the first since mid-December when we've conceded from a counter attack).

Collectively, the lot of Jones, Reina, Agger, Skrtel and Coates have been so bad this season, taking turns making mistakes or shirking their responsibilities in their positions. It's like we've suddenly got a pair of Titus Brambles in the middle of defence, with a one-armed Barthez in goal. It's a horror show back there.

 

[gkmacca]

Sterling will be a weak link until he gets a proper rest. Why Rodgers doesn't do what Ginsoak did with Schmeichel and send the lad on a complete break for a week or two is a mystery to me. Instead he 'rests' him by bringing him on from the bench. But he's mentally shot. He's going to be remain mentally shot even if he only plays 30 minutes instead of 90. He needs a rest, now, so he'll be back firing on all cylinders for the last weeks of the season.

 

[hmmmmm1]

After a spending a gazzilion pounds over the last 10 years, we are still a 2 man team.

 

[Insignificance]

After a spending a gazzilion pounds over the last 10 years, we are still a 2 man team.

The two look tired and demotivated at the moment. Anyway, Man City is depending on yaya, United on Rooney and van Persie and Chelsea on Torres... we are all the same!!!

 

[6TimesaRed]

Our weakest leak is Brendon Rodgers

Until we install the correct management, we will continue to be an average club..

There I said it...

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

We've been blaming the managers for a long time now, and it hasn't made anything any better. I don't think any manager would make us into a top four team in 8 months. Rodgers was always going to be a long term plan, so he deserves more time. We've seen glimpses of a decent side, not enough, but enough to warrant a bit more of a chance.

 

[Insignificance]

We've been blaming the managers for a long time now, and it hasn't made anything any better. I don't think any manager would make us into a top four team in 8 months. Rodgers was always going to be a long term plan, so he deserves more time. We've seen glimpses of a decent side, not enough, but enough to warrant a bit more of a chance.

he deserves more time. But what will he do with it? Is there anything in the past proving he has got more up his sleeve than the system we have now?

There are plenty of managers that would make us a top four team this season. The teams fighting for those positions have been pissing away points throughout the whole season, and we have a squad consisting of 15-20 internationals. it is not like we are a gang of amatuers picked out to be part of a freak reality show (even if it do look like that from time to time!)

 

[6TimesaRed]

We don't have time on our side, the longer we are out the top 4, the harder it will become to reclaim our status as a top 4 side.


We continue to make inept decisions from board level to the pitch..

The last 3 installments in terms of a manager have been a complete disaster..

None of them have what it takes to make this club great again.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

We continue to make inept decisions from board level to the pitch..

The last 3 installments in terms of a manager have been a complete disaster..

None of them have what it takes to make this club great again.

Neither did Rafa or Houllier, and yet, they were given time to try and they both came close. How on earth do we really know Kenny or Rodgers can't do it? Again, it's rather scary (and a sign of our times) that people want us to become like Chelsea, minus the trophies, money and soon the racist cunt.

 

[the_khl]

The new signings.

Again last night not one of his new guys were good enough to be handed a starting berth. Yeah, Sturridge, who so far is the only singing whom have made an impact of note, was injured, but what about Allen, Borini and Assaidi? And I truely doubt Coutinho is one to be expected to make an instant impact. That would be an extremely dangerous path with such a young player, only getting to know the league, new country etc.

Add to this you loan out Carroll and you see a transfer pattern that so far hasn't helped us at all. A club that struggles to make it into the Europe League needs a few new Starting XI players, and out of the five new ones being brought in so far odds is in favour of only one starting for now.

This is highly concerning especially when having to endure a game like last night.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

Anyone thinking that a manager could come in and turn us into a top four club(without the aid or City or Chelsea money) in a matter of months, is deluded.

Anyone who thinks progress is always linear is also deluded.

I'm not saying Rodgers is definitely the man to take us back, but chopping and changing will do more damage than good.

 

[Insignificance]

Anyone thinking that a manager could come in and turn us into a top four club(without the aid or City or Chelsea money) in a matter of months, is deluded.

Anyone who thinks progress is always linear is also deluded.

I'm not saying Rodgers is definitely the man to take us back, but chopping and changing will do more damage than good.

There are managers who has spent lifes being top four contenders. Sacking Kenny and rushing in Rodgers is what is deluded. If the right man aint available or hungry enough we could afford to wait with kenny at the helm. It would definately not been worse off than today.

 

[gkmacca]

The new signings.

Again last night not one of his new guys were good enough to be handed a starting berth. Yeah, Sturridge, who so far is the only singing whom have made an impact of note, was injured, but what about Allen, Borini and Assaidi? And I truely doubt Coutinho is one to be expected to make an instant impact. .

I think they'll all come good, barring Assaidi, and that's only because he seems frozen out (isn't it strange when you rate a player more highly than the man who actually went out and bought him? cf. Rafa with Bellars, Yossi and Maxi). Personally I think the choice of signings is the least of Rodgers' problems - there's enough evidence of good judgement there, in terms of potential and position, to warrant quite a bit of hope. But obviously it's worrying that none bar Sturridge seems anywhere close to being confident and in form.

 

[6TimesaRed]

Neither did Rafa or Houllier, and yet, they were given time to try and they both came close. How on earth do we really know Kenny or Rodgers can't do it? Again, it's rather scary (and a sign of our times) that people want us to become like Chelsea, minus the trophies, money and soon the racist cunt.

Under houllier and Rafa we where always there or thereabouts.

We are in a ruthless results business. Results mean success, success brings you money to compete. If you don't tick the first box, your in danger of falling behind the pack, so out you go.

Sad, but it's the sign of the times

 

[Insignificance]

Under houllier and Rafa we where always there or thereabouts.

We are in a ruthless results business. Results mean success, success brings you money to compete. If you don't tick the first box, your in danger of falling behind the pack, so out you go.

Sad, but it's the sign of the times

I dont even brand it big success to be above WBA, Stoke and Swansea. I brand that ordinary.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

Under houllier and Rafa we where always there or thereabouts.

We are in a ruthless results business. Results mean success, success brings you money to compete. If you don't tick the first box, your in danger of falling behind the pack, so out you go.

Sad, but it's the sign of the times

And if we hire another manager and it's the same results, and another after that. Then what do we do?

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Under houllier and Rafa we where always there or thereabouts.

We are in a ruthless results business. Results mean success, success brings you money to compete. If you don't tick the first box, your in danger of falling behind the pack, so out you go.

Sad, but it's the sign of the times

They were given a far better platform than Rodgers has - and a far less competitive league where we were amongst the big players financially.

I understand we're the business, but I think we need to give this man a bit more than 6 months before we give up on him. Something can be built here the right way - at least the right way when you're not Chelsea or City, or have had the success and marketing genius of the Mancs. He may not be the right one - I think he is, but I've been wrong many a times. But I refuse to allow the idea of a 'ruthless results business' mean we kick out every manager we have after a year of 'ordinary.'

Let's get it this straight - we aren't Liverpool of the 60s, 70s, 80s or even 90s.

We are a team trying to return to the high level.

We ARE ordinary. Rodgers may not take us out of that stage, but I don't think firing him now or at season's end, will do anything but push us back further.

 

[gkmacca]

And if we hire another manager and it's the same results, and another after that. Then what do we do?

Fail again but fail better. Or make a better choice of manager. That's the key thing, isn't it? Trying harder NOT to hire someone who'll just get the same results? It's no good not doing anything out of fear of it not improving: that either suggests the standard of managerial talent has declined alarmingly or the people who make the decisions are incompetent.

 

[the_khl]

I think they'll all come good, barring Assaidi, and that's only because he seems frozen out (isn't it strange when you rate a player more highly than the man who actually went out and bought him? cf. Rafa with Bellars, Yossi and Maxi). Personally I think the choice of signings is the least of Rodgers' problems - there's enough evidence of good judgement there, in terms of potential and position, to warrant quite a bit of hope. But obviously it's worrying that none bar Sturridge seems anywhere close to being confident and in form.

I agree with most of that mate even though I am not sure Borini and Assaidi will be here come next Season.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

Fail again but fail better. Or make a better choice of manager. That's the key thing, isn't it? Trying harder NOT to hire someone who'll just get the same results? It's no good not doing anything out of fear of it not improving: that either suggests the standard of managerial talent has declined alarmingly or the people who make the decisions are incompetent.

Or we realise that the manager is not the problem(or at least not the only one), and work on getting the right players and structure to help us compete.

The problem last night was an inability to take advantage of our possession and our chances. If you want to put that blame solely at the managers door, then fine, but I think the real problem is more down to the fact that we are over reliant on Suarez. Sturridge has gone some way to alleviating that, but we need another couple of players capable of winning those games for us.

Rodgers has begun to give us those options, but I think he needs the summer to prove whether he can continue to do so.

 

[6TimesaRed]

They were given a far better platform than Rodgers has - and a far less competitive league where we were amongst the big players financially.

I understand we're the business, but I think we need to give this man a bit more than 6 months before we give up on him. Something can be built here the right way - at least the right way when you're not Chelsea or City, or have had the success and marketing genius of the Mancs. He may not be the right one - I think he is, but I've been wrong many a times. But I refuse to allow the idea of a 'ruthless results business' mean we kick out every manager we have after a year of 'ordinary.'

Let's get it this straight - we aren't Liverpool of the 60s, 70s, 80s or even 90s.

We are a team trying to return to the high level.

We ARE ordinary. Rodgers may not take us out of that stage, but I don't think firing him now or at season's end, will do anything but push us back further.

He lacks the experience to take us forward, and that's what we need right now.

Like I've said before, no point trying to create a System that requires a high level of technical brilliance and expect your players to adapt, you play to your players strengths..

To play in the Barca mould you first need the players.

He has got till the end of the Season. His only saving grace imho is to win the Europa League, as that is our best chance to qualify for Europe as things Stand.. Being in Europe is crucial to our development as a team, especially to help blood in these youngsters.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

So you need experience, like say Kenny Daglish, to move us forward? I don't think experience is relevant - you're either good enough, or you're not. There's plenty of inexperienced managers who've won (and lost) ... and plenty of inexperienced ones who've not ...

I cannot believe people actually are saying we should fire Rodgers ...

 

[6TimesaRed]

So you need experience, like say Kenny Daglish, to move us forward? I don't think experience is relevant - you're either good enough, or you're not. There's plenty of inexperienced managers who've won (and lost) ... and plenty of inexperienced ones who've not ...

I cannot believe people actually are saying we should fire Rodgers ...

Name me one inexperienced Manager who has managed a top 4 finish in the last 15 years..

Not one...

Rodgers comes under the heading. 'Promising Young Manager' and imho a 2nd tier manager, that simply is not good enough for this club.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love him to prove me wrong, but I just cannot see it.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

What's an experienced manager?

Was Redknapp one, given he hadn't managed a big club?
Or maybe Mancini, Mourinho or Benitez given they hadn't managed for very long.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Two inexperienced managers (2 - 4 years) did win the CL in the last decade though, which I guess might possibly be as good as a 4th placed finish.

edit: Didn't Kenny win a few titles when he was just a baby in management? Granted, that's more than 15 years ago. Still...

 

[6TimesaRed]

What's an experienced manager?

Was Redknapp one, given he hadn't managed a big club?
Or maybe Mancini, Mourinho or Benitez given they hadn't managed for very long.

All won titles, trophies and managed at the highest level.

Redknapp on the other hand has a proven track Record in the premier League.. especially at bringing fine young players through.

However it's debatable wether he could manage at the very highest level in the Premier League, long term.

He falls under the Roy Hodgson type classification of manager for me..