Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2014 - Mod Note in OP, 1/09

I'm kind of glad Liverpool won't be challenging for the title this season, it means I won't need to take up residence behind the sofa

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Running some worst case scenarios over in my mind. What would people say to a season along the lines of:

~60 point season
CL group elimination
No Cup achievements

?

That's what we look like right now tbh. I'm not sure Rodgers would survive that unfortunately.

I think it would be harsh, hes spent two years implimenting his style and his recruitment drive is with an eye to the future aswell as the present so i would like to see the the team develop under him. Weve a lot of players bedding in, injuries and players out of form so ill personally wait for a larger sample size to start making possoble predicitons.

hefferboi wrote: »

Sakho wasn't on the pitch when we conceded the 2 goals before the 10th minute, yet he's still getting abuse. Same lads are probably saying Gerrard can still start consistently for another 2-3 years at dm.

Idiots.

He scored in the 7th minute :P

Harry Palmr wrote: »

The Tally Ho publishes the thoughts of Chairman Gerrard

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/171128-gerrard-i-won-t-let-things-fizzle-out?

No accident it appears this morning.

Gerrard so far this season as compared to last, that wedge at the bottom is pretty damning.

Presumably the rest of the team have stellar stats and Gerrard is pulling the averages down?:rolleyes:

mylefttesticle wrote: »

Defence is a mess! but its because no one trusts each other yet and that's because the manager does not trust any of them to be his back four at the moment so that needs to be sorted out quickly BR needs to pick what he thinks is his back four and in still the trust and confidence in them to stick with them for a long run of games as chopping and changing them is breeding instability.y.

Itd be great if it was a bedding in thing but unfortunately I don't think it it. It was dire last season but covered up by goals. You don't need time to adapt to basic things in your game when you move clubs or others are brought in.

ie, in 20 games time what will be different when Skrtel sees a man running in to the box as the only forward option for a pass which will put him through on goal? What will the next 5 months teach him that he hasn't learned in the last 15 years?

I doubt BR deliberate defensive plan is to let players have handy headers at the back post to square to the players weve deliberately left unmarked in the 6 yard box. That's basic stuff and has been going on for a long time , regardless of which players are playing. Something is right with the defence and it needs addressing.

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Mega fit young guys like frank Lampard?


Next week is another young up and come, Gareth Barry.

You still asleep? When was Frank Lampard converted to a DM?

Also, Gareth Barry is an out and out DM who is younger and less used than the unsuccessfully converted Stevie.

Moreno is fast becoming a bit of a liability in that defence too! Been heavily responsible for goals since he came in:

Jovetic
Aguero
Ludogorets
Sakho

Now it may be the way he's being told to play by BR but first and foremost he's a defender and that's what he should be doing.

I really hope these piss poor performances are just a 'bedding in of players' problem but I think it's time for BR to get tough. Seems to me he'll let Gerrard do whatever he wants and won't drop him.

Think we'll see a much better Balotelli when Sturridge comes back too.

BenEadir wrote: »

You still asleep? When was Frank Lampard converted to a DM?
.

He wasnt, which is why he was one of the young bucks running against Gerrard.

Nerdlingr wrote: »

Teams have figured us out. Just like Southampton were first to do at anfield last year. Press us high up the pitch and we're f*cked.
I think all our problems both defensively (obviously) and offensively are coming from our centre backs. They all seem unwillingly, or unable, to bring the ball out of defence themselves. Everything goes either through Gerrard who's got someone on him or is passed into our congested midfield. They need to step up into midfield to create space for others. Been crying out for them to do it since the season started but it doesn't look like happening. Also I wish we could switch play to our full balks without having to take five passes to do it.

On numerous occasions yesterday, lovern stepped out past Gerrard with the ball and on other occasions he passed it to Gerrard only to get it right back.
Gerrard was a passenger yesterday and the stats don't tell all, he gave sloppy passes to players and passed poor balls to players who were under pressure.
He can't receive the ball under pressure as good as he use to be able too but he isn't really effective at making space for himself either to receive the ball, like Pirlo can do. The amount of games can't be helping him either.
Lovern has made the most passes for any centre back in the premier league as of yesterday.

Allen is badly missed and while he is better higher up the pitch, I think he can do a very capable job at dm with Henderson and another playing in the midfield 3.

I still think Lallana will prove to be a good purchase and he has looked good in his appearances so far. Still not 100% though.

Balotelli and Borini look to have a nice understanding and Borini played well, when looked at in the context of the teams performance.

Sterling getting a little greedy? Held onto the ball a few times yesterday when better play was on if he passed. Still our best player so far though.

Skrtel, Sakho, Lovern, Agger, Coates and Toure, what do they have in common? All prone to individual mistakes and no combination of them looks to be much better than any other. The issues with the defence is the lack of protection in front of it (the team is so open) and their lack of confidence in Mignolet.

The overall solidness of the team needs to be looked at as a main priority. Another worry is the lack of pressure. Last season the team would hound the opposition all over the pitch, the intensity of the teams pressing is sorely lacking and at times there is no pressing at all.

I think it was against Southampton where Henderson won the ball back in midfield after an attack had broken down and Sourhampton were pushing up. This stealing of possession lead directly to a goal as The saints weren't defensively set.
Against Villa, West Ham and City, there was a lack of any real constant threat and an almost total lack of creativity, no matter who played. Teams are letting us have the ball as they know that one of two things well happen. One, the defence and the deep lying midfielders will eventually cock it all up and two, the attack minded players won't be able to penetrate a deep sitting well organised defence.

A loss against Everton and we are in for fun times. I predicted that this was a crucial season for Rodgers and it looks like it will make or break him. All ready on here there is massive questioning of him in terms of his coaching, team selection, tactics and transfer dealings.
Rodgers despite an excellent season just gone, hadn't totally won over his detractors.
And to be fair to them, they have a lot to be unhappy about and concerned over. Defensively the team is too open and as a result they make mistakes. The midfield has been crying out for a bit of steel in the last few transfer windows and only Can has come close to be possible able to provide it. On his own he is t enough, more is needed here.
With the players his has, Rodgers can only really select a cohesive and efficient team, if it's set up to attack, to score more than the opposition. He can try and pick a team to cel out wins but he hasn't the players for it and unfortunately the players that are picked get criticised and while some of that is warranted it's not all fair.

According to all reports, the club had more to spend in terms of money. One more midfielder with a but of steel and discipline would have been nice.
Medal went for cheap and was already bedded into the league and offered verstabilty. Can do a job at cb and dm. Also has that fire in his belly which is missing with Suarez gone.
I think the teams misses that desire and hunger more than his goals.




I still think the club will get fourth but it will be very close and Rodgers needs to add another string to his managerial bow and play ugly sometimes.

Ugly is beautiful in moderation, if it gets results. And the beautiful football will be all the more striking in contrast.

CSF wrote: »

He won't/shouldn't and the fact that you're hypothesising over it 5 games after a season that nobody could even have dreamt of is preposterous/moronic/*insert big negative word here*

There wont be the same amount of goals scored as last season. Which means if the defence isn't shored up we'll be a lot worse off ,results wise, than last season. This isnt really a 5 game thing. ITs something that's been going on for a long time that was covered up by goals.

klose wrote: »

I think it would be harsh, hes spent two years implimenting his style and his recruitment drive is with an eye to the future aswell as the present so i would like to see the the team develop under him. Weve a lot of players bedding in, injuries and players out of form so ill personally wait for a larger sample size to start making possoble predicitons.

No no it's better to look at the doomsday scenario 5 games into a season. Makes much more sense.