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

daithijjj · 19-10-2014 07:32PM

There are some common denominators with years of bad defending and they didnt walk through the door last summer or even the summer before (as dodge as Mig can be on his day sometimes).

We will never defend well with Skrtel, never. I will rejoice when he finally goes because, tbh, in his primary role is nothing short of sh1te.

There is a massive issue at the back and that is reflected as a whole most recently by 'Sakho in the car park'. He isnt the answer to everything but he is relatively new to the league in the grand scheme. Skrtel is there 6/7 years and makes some of the most irritating efforts at tackling i have ever seen from a CB at the club. Loose cannon on deck. We will never be any use at defending while he is in the team.

For me, we can criticise what we do but overall we should criticise what we dont do more. The first one is defending, all aspects of it. The 2nd is protecting that defence in the form of a starting def mid. The club has done fk all about that since Clark and Mascherano left.

I could have a spiel about attacking too but theres far too much 'Suarez gone' and i think there should be more emphasis on the player who has 37 in 53 or whatever it is these days. There is no issue for me up front when Sturridge plays. Balotelli simply isnt capable up there on his own, he was never any use at it.

All of the above and some Rodgers stubborness. It borders on negligent for me how the club hasnt brought in a standard of player to both ease Gerrard out of starting line up for us so much and also to compliment the player who is aging when he does start. Gerrard has done his fair share of 'carrying' over the years, the club has needed to return the compliment for at least 3 or 4 windows imo, and has done fk all bar sign a kid from Germany. I dont class anyone else on the payroll capable of what im referring to as DM. Henderson is only a temporary solution and is fundamentally wasted there anyway given what his particular attributes were for us over the last 18 months.

Demosthenese · 19-10-2014 07:49PM

daithijjj wrote: »

We will never defend well with Skrtel, never. I will rejoice when he finally goes because, tbh, in his primary role is nothing short of sh1te.

All of the above and some Rodgers stubborness. It borders on negligent for me how the club hasnt brought in a standard of player to both ease Gerrard out of starting line up for us so much and also to compliment the player who is aging when he does start.

I dont class anyone else on the payroll capable of what im referring to as DM. Henderson is only a temporary solution and is fundamentally wasted there anyway given what his particular attributes were for us over the last 18 months.

Ridiculous statement about Skrtel. Not his biggest fan but to blame and single player for our defencive inadequacies is just plain lazy and wrong. There is no single player to blame for the way we defend plain and simple. We defend as a team, as a collective and then as a back 4 or 5 ...

I do agree though about the Gerard situation, i cannot really remember us ever under Rodgers trying to sign a proper replacement for Gerard. Today we seen Can play in the Gerard role and BR deployed Stevie in the #9 slot that he has basically said he cannot do anymore since he arrived - incredible that he has flip flopped on that train of thought.

We lost Suarez this summer, he was 1 player. 1 world class player and one that we cannot replace. BUT ... it doesn't take 1 world class player to make the other 10 around him chase, tackle, put in 100%, close down after losing the ball and within a few seconds win possession back for your team. Thats just basic football that ANY team can achieve no matter if getting 100k a week or nothing.

We have lost our identity from last season. We have lost our hunger. We have lost our team willingness to attack the throat of teams once we win the ball back. This is not a "We added many new players, settling in time, GEL" situation. We have become such a different team from last season that it truly beggars belief.

BR for some reason cannot seem to get the max from his players. Very worrying now. This is not a blip anymore it is every game since Spurs and a few before! It is not about Mario, Glen, Skrtel ... this is so much more worrying.

Mr Alan · 19-10-2014 07:51PM

Skrtel has been been out of the team plenty over the last 2 years & our defending actually worsens when he's not on the pitch. He always cons back into the team on merit.

Blaming Skrtel is actually hilarious.

Kerrigooney · 19-10-2014 07:51PM

5starpool wrote: »

I may have missed a post or so about it, but I didn't notice Johnson getting any credit today for telling Sterling to look lively and take a quick free which Johnson then crossed in for the first goal. I may be cynical, but if it was Moreno/Manquillo who did that I bet it would have been gushed over. He obviously had some dodgy moments as well, and Carragher/Phillips reckoned he could have been sent off just before half time (which I don't really agree with) but credit where it's due and all that.

Oh I definitely think he could...

5starpool · 19-10-2014 07:55PM

That picture is great and all, but he kicked the ball before that and his foot then went high due to the way he was off balance and kicking. I wouldn't have considered it outrageous obviously if it was judged a red, but he did kick the ball first and it was just the follow through that was just a bit wild. There as nothing malicious in it, not that that's a requirement for a red card of course.

Kerrigooney · 19-10-2014 08:01PM

5starpool wrote: »

That picture is great and all, but he kicked the ball before that and his foot then went high due to the way he was off balance and kicking. I wouldn't have considered it outrageous obviously if it was judged a red, but he did kick the ball first and it was just the follow through that was just a bit wild. There as nothing malicious in it, not that that's a requirement for a red card of course.

I agree. I just meant I've seen players sent off for less. Wild lunge,both feet off the ground. As you say...not malicious but I still think he was lucky.

klose · 19-10-2014 08:01PM

Mr Alan wrote: »

Skrtel has been been out of the team plenty over the last 2 years & our defending actually worsens when he's not on the pitch. He always cons back into the team on merit.

Blaming Skrtel is actually hilarious.

Not a fan of skrtel by any means but id have lovren out of the team before him. Looks lost out there at the moment.

mav79 · 19-10-2014 08:02PM

I always thought Skrtel drops too deep when defending and apart from last ditch defending I never have confidence in him to win a one on one either in the air or with a player running at him. But the main problem with the defense is the way Rodgers has not looked at how we are conceding but rather change personnel and hope that solves the problem. Completely agree that Lovren should be dropped first, haven't seen anything to warrant him keeping his place in the first team yet.

djPSB · 19-10-2014 08:04PM

Skrtel has been our best defender for the past couple of seasons.

One thing I noticed as well though, we don't seem to be getting as many goals from set pieces this season.

ebbsy · 19-10-2014 08:05PM

Grayditch wrote: »

Does Mario Balotelli actually like football?

Is he a professional footballer ?

Francie Barrett · 19-10-2014 08:10PM

8-10 wrote: »

Joint 4th with more points than Arsenal, Spurs, Everton and United (who have game in hand) having played absolutely muck to date.

Our year

That is one thing at least. We have been absolute dirt, but yet look at our league position. If Rodgers can get this team humming again, then the sky really is the limit.

shamrock55 · 19-10-2014 08:21PM

Ah its nice to be back after a 3mth ban, ill try to be good this time;)

J Mysterio · 19-10-2014 08:23PM

Headline on Liverpool website is "Brendan: Emre will be multi-functional". FFS. That's taken out of context and just reads like a really bad backwards compliment.

daithijjj · 19-10-2014 08:26PM

Its ok, i dont expect everyone to see what i see in Skrtel.

Best game we played this season he didnt play. Last clean sheet, didnt feature.

I'd love to say i'd have confidence in the gaffer sorting out the defending if he left but.....

That's not to say Skrtel is the only issue. I'm just picking him out because he irritates the sh1te out of me a half dozen times per game................for about 4 years.

Lovren will prove people wrong, i have every confidence in him. Provided Skrtel leaves :cool:

For posterity ^^^

whatawaster · 19-10-2014 08:27PM

ebbsy wrote: »

Rodgers on Emre Can -
“Emre can play in any one of those three midfield positions. He's a big talent, just 20 years of age but with good experience for a young player.
“He was never going to last the game, but I felt if he could get 60-65 minutes, I thought that would help him.
“He prefers to play in that holding “controller” role, but he's also got the power and the pace to run forward. He's a multi-functional player.
“He played centre half for Bayer Leverkusen, and played in the Champions League against Manchester United at left back. So he's a footballer who will do very well for us.”

WTF ?????

Thought Can did ok today

Fowler87 · 19-10-2014 08:32PM

whatawaster wrote: »

Thought Can did ok today

Solid first start alright. Tricky as he had to play two roles today in each half to accommodate Gerrard.

T-K-O · 19-10-2014 08:32PM

daithijjj wrote: »

Its ok, i dont expect everyone to see what i see in Skrtel.

Best game we played this season he didnt play. Last clean sheet, didnt feature.

I'd love to say i'd have confidence in the gaffer sorting out the defending if he left but.....

That's not to say Skrtel is the only issue. I'm just picking him out because he irritates the sh1te out of me a half dozen times per game................for about 4 years.

Lovren will prove people wrong, i have every confidence in him. Provided Skrtel leaves :cool:

For posterity ^^^

Maybe some day :rolleyes:

noodler · 19-10-2014 08:44PM

Benzino wrote: »

As infuriating as Balotelli has been, I'm more annoyed at Rodgers for continuing to play him alone up front. It doesn't suit him and is just putting more pressure on him.

I am not sure what more it will take for the rest of the fans to realise what an imposter he is. The lack of effort, walking the other direction when a trick doesn't work, shooting from ridiculous positions, breaking down attacks, giving out to other players for his own mediocrity.

djPSB wrote: »

Being played alone up front doesn't cause him to miss a sitter from 6 yards.

Being played alone up front isn't the reason he's taking shots from outrageous positions.

I agree that the system isn't totally to his strengths but my God a plastic bag would be more useful up fronta at the minute.

Yup.

Pretty much.

Although, most of my disdain comes from his lack of effort.

Raif Severance · 19-10-2014 08:48PM

ebbsy wrote: »

Rodgers on Emre Can -
“Emre can play in any one of those three midfield positions. He's a big talent, just 20 years of age but with good experience for a young player.
“He was never going to last the game, but I felt if he could get 60-65 minutes, I thought that would help him.
“He prefers to play in that holding “controller” role, but he's also got the power and the pace to run forward. He's a multi-functional player.
“He played centre half for Bayer Leverkusen, and played in the Champions League against Manchester United at left back. So he's a footballer who will do very well for us.”

WTF ?????

Definitely a Weird thing to say by BR.

If I run my BS FIlter on it, it would probably come out as: "I played Can there because I was going to try another Gerrard Experiment. It didn't worked out, so I had to subbed him, since I didn't have the Balls to drop Gerrard."

Good thing QPR is a Team full of Plodders, if they had someone like an Agbonlahor making a nuisance of himself against Gerrard, we would definitely have Lost.

BR needs to Wake Up. Alot of Clubs have Figured us out, and we don't have the Deadly Duo (Suarez, Sturridge) to Bail us out this time.

whatawaster · 19-10-2014 08:58PM

Raif Severance wrote: »

Definitely a Weird thing to say by BR.

If I run my BS FIlter on it, it would probably come out as: "I played Can there because I was going to try another Gerrard Experiment. It didn't worked out, so I had to subbed him, since I didn't have the Balls to drop Gerrard."

Good thing QPR is a Team full of Plodders, if they had someone like an Agbonlahor making a nuisance of himself against Gerrard, we would definitely have Lost.

BR needs to Wake Up. Alot of Clubs have Figured us out, and we don't have the Deadly Duo (Suarez, Sturridge) to Bail us out this time.

Why is it a weird thing to say?

He has spent the last 2 years praising players, especially young players

Utopia Parkway · 19-10-2014 09:01PM

klose wrote: »

Not a fan of skrtel by any means but id have lovren out of the team before him. Looks lost out there at the moment.

Lovren was better than Skrtel today. Not that he was great or even good but Skrtel was a complete bombscare.

Benzino · 19-10-2014 09:02PM

noodler wrote: »

I am not sure what more it will take for the rest of the fans to realise what an imposter he is. The lack of effort, walking the other direction when a trick doesn't work, shooting from ridiculous positions, breaking down attacks, giving out to other players for his own mediocrity.

An imposter? lol. Balotelli didn't start doing this overnight, so I dunno why people are so shocked. Rodgers signed him, so ultimately it's down to him, and he can help Balotelli out by playing a system that suits him. Otherwise, it's going to be more of the same I fear until Sturridge.

Raif Severance · 19-10-2014 09:09PM

whatawaster wrote: »

Why is it a weird thing to say?

He has spent the last 2 years praising players, especially young players

Yeah he does. And most of the time, I'm used to it.

But this Line: "“He prefers to play in that holding “controller” role."

Make it seem, that Can chose to play that Position in that Game. Instead of BR, putting him there.

It's sort of a Misdirection. He basically didn't want anyone Focusing, on why Gerrard is not in his Customary Role.

Harry Palmr · 19-10-2014 09:12PM

Raif Severance wrote: »

Definitely a Weird thing to say by BR.

If I run my BS FIlter on it, it would probably come out as: "I played Can there because I was going to try another Gerrard Experiment. It didn't worked out, so I had to subbed him, since I didn't have the Balls to drop Gerrard."

That's exactly what is it. Scary how much revolves around Gerrard and where he is played.

Utopia Parkway · 19-10-2014 09:13PM

Amazing that we're actually 5th tonight given how badly we've played this season. We've played very well in just one game (Spurs) and been decent in another (Everton). The rest we've been pretty much awful in bar the odd decent spell here and there.

noodler · 19-10-2014 09:26PM

Benzino wrote: »

An imposter? lol. Balotelli didn't start doing this overnight, so I dunno why people are so shocked. Rodgers signed him, so ultimately it's down to him, and he can help Balotelli out by playing a system that suits him. Otherwise, it's going to be more of the same I fear until Sturridge.

I for one am not surprised.

He doesn't get to blame his stupdity, poor decision making, woeful finishing, horrible attitude etc on the system.

5starpool · 19-10-2014 09:29PM

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Amazing that we're actually 5th tonight given how badly we've played this season. We've played very well in just one game (Spurs) and been decent in another (Everton). The rest we've been pretty much awful in bar the odd decent spell here and there.

There is only 5 points between 4th and 17th though, it's incredibly bunched, even considering there are only 8 games gone.

daithijjj · 19-10-2014 09:31PM

Mr Alan wrote: »

Skrtel has been been out of the team plenty over the last 2 years & our defending actually worsens when he's not on the pitch. He always cons back into the team on merit.

Blaming Skrtel is actually hilarious.

Skrtel has the lowest win ratio at the club for anyone who has played 25+ games.

It is my recollection that Rodgers dropped him after a series of sh1te performances, possibly Oldham being the straw.

Harry Palmr · 19-10-2014 09:31PM

Time for MOTD, its great to watch when went the day well.

mikeym · 19-10-2014 09:33PM

During Robbie Keanes short spell at Liverpool he scored 7 goals.

2 in the Champions League and 5 in the League if Ballotelli doesnt score more than 7 goals by January he should be sent back to Italy.

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

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