fred milne

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Minor correction. Coutinho is the key man now, but he wasn't back then.

We'd finished 5th the season before and stalwarts like Clemence and Case had moved on in the summer. We were placing our faith in younger, unproven players like Rush, Whelan, Grobbelaar, Lawrenson and Johnston. That we would go on to dominate the rest of the decade didn't look too likely in December 81.

The blueprint was three mobile skilful forwards, two hard-running midfielders and a deep-lying playmaker. Even if we wanted to revert to that formula we don't have the personnel. The only player with a switch is Henderson but playing him deep negates his biggest strengths and in any case Gerrard had far superior vision.

As an example, I assumed he meant Firmino didn't want to be out there playing as a wide player.

Double post Perhaps I'm wrong but I see Ancelotti as the continuity option which wouldn't be what we need if Rodgers goes.

I don't want the most experienced manager - I want the best up and coming manager - ideally with a track record of success - Rafa in 2004 is a good example. Having said that, I'd rather take a chance on a Rodgers than go after a (say) Capello who is as experienced as they come but well past his prime. I gave Rodgers the benefit of the doubt last year because of the year before, but he has it all to do now and he has to get it right quickly.

That's a daft statement. Managers have to start somewhere.

He didn't have a great game but he was not the worst player out there by any stretch (Firmino was a complete passenger) and at least showed heart. He has looked best in a back three - he looked a real find there - strong and composed. There is a player in there.

Coutinho was a big part of the 1st half performance at the Emirates. We could try a Houllier type approach: Mignolet Clyne Skrtel Lovren Gomez Milner Henderson Lucas Moreno Benteke Ings

When Carra played LB I remember him being pretty averse to using his left foot. Perhaps not quite as much as Gomez, admittedly.

Its not without precedent to have a right-footed LB - see Carra, Gallas, Flanagan, Azpilicueta - all of whom helped the left-sided CB. If you play that way you do need another way of getting width in the attack though.

As soon as we conceded the second goal, Moreno should have been for Gomez. The other thing that drove me mad was Milner taking a short corner in injury time at the end of the 1st half. He had Gomez, Skrtel, Lovren, Can and Benteke in the box - just put it into the mix for god's sake.

Berger

Quite a few. Vidic and Matic to name just two from Serbia, never mind the rest of "Eastern Europe".

Agree with all of that

Absolutely. Its not necessarily a negative move to play Lucas. Playing him against Arsenal allowed Can and Milner to press the ball high up the pitch.

It would be if it were true.

Rodgers sees him in training every day so I will defer to his judgement but for me he has shown more in a red shirt than Ibe has so far. Admittedly, not as much as we would want.

Moreno has a real job on his hands to get back into the starting XI. We've seen a lot of right footed LBs in recent times - Carra in 2001 and 2002, Gallas for Chelsea when Mourinho was first at Chelsea, Flanagan in 2014, Azpilicueta for Chelsea now. You lose something at attack but it helps the left sided CB no end.

If you ignore that shot in the derby last year, he hasn't really shown a great deal in the final third in competitive fixtures. The Sterling comparisons don't really do him any favours.

Thought he looked more suited to where he played last night than he does holding the midfield.

Not a big surprise really.

He was the holding midfielder after Ince left. Souness was the holding midfielder when he played with McDermott. Whelan was the holding midfielder when he played with McMahon. It's not rocket science.

That looks like a sensible side. If Henderson doesn't make it then Can takes his place.