Logic

Could people stop making comparisons between the manager of LFC and someone who managed H&G's team? There is no comparison to be made between the two. One is, and always has been, a c*nt and the other is a young manager at one of the biggest clubs in the world.

I agree that we have been poor defending against similar tactics for a while now but you'd expect Coates and Skrtel to be able to handle the physical nature of the game. And even if we are weak against these kind of opponents you'd expect full internationals and top prospects to handle a team like Oldham. The players weren't up for the fight. It's been a weakness of ours for years. Agree with this. IMO we need to have the option in the squad to put both a Momo type player and a Hyypia type against teams like these. Big, strong players who won't be bullied physically. But since Coates is probably the biggest defender we have... You can't blame Brendan for not having these types of players (yet). Our priorities have rightly been elsewhere. If we are still without an enforcer type of midfielder after next summer then we can start getting worried. At the moment there are too many gaps in our squad that need to be filled.

There's always some blame on the manager. But if those same players start the game focused and play to their ability we win that game easily. It's the same issue as always. Our players seem to think the "reward" for winning against lesser teams is less than the "reward" for winning against the big teams. If we were playing a Bigger Team™ today with the same starting XI we wouldn't see such a disgraceful performance by those players.

His post-match comments are good. He was let down by the players. The players who suffer from the same weakness our teams have done for a long time. "It's not enough to play for Liverpool and get up for the Arsenal and Manchester City games. If you're going to win trophies and go far in competitions, you need to be able to come to places like this and win. We weren't good enough for that." http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/rodgers-it-wasn-t-good-enough The players let the manager down today. No blame on Rodgers today IMO.

Simple. 4-3-3. The two wide forwards play close to the central forward, are comfortable on the ball with a 1-2 or 2-1 central midfield behind depending on the opposition. Fullbacks provide the width. The dutch 4-3-3 will form the basics of all we do. Just like we've tried to set up all season and just like he set his team up at Swansea.

Yeah, Crouch is a very good comparison. Although I think Ngoo is both faster and will be stronger physically. We should give him a decent medium term contract and keep loaning him out and see how he develops IMO.

He'll have a decent to good career that lad IMO. He looks awkward, but is quite mobile and has decent enough technique. Plus he always seems to score goals regularly.

He's the best goalkeeper in the world (or at least the poster of the following video says so) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sGDyE4Eb-Q

That'd require the reporters to actually do some investigative work. Reporters don't do that anymore.

Does Snodgrass have a tramp-stamp?

That's no certainty. You can have injuries and whatnot which prevent you from taking him off. And what if we are still chasing the game when he needs to come off, who do you put on to create a threat? Borini that's also coming back from injury? Or any of our other "numerous" options off the bench?

I'm in the Conspiracy!!!™ camp but I've got no problem with that goal being given. No way for the linesman to see that well enough. Now if we had video technology and a challenge system...

I agree with you on Hendo but it's most likely the club has the fitness info needed to see if Sturridge can complete a full 90min. And no, you shouldn't start a player who can't finish the full 90min unless forced to. Because what do you do if the game develops the same way it did today but then after 50-55min Sturridge is f*cked and we need to put on another attacker. We were able to finish the game with our strongest front 3 on the pitch. That was most likely the plan. Yeah, agree with that. Yes, he isn't perfect but he looks like a better version of Allen. An English Xavi if you like. Which is good. Because they also all like to move about meaning the two wide forwards will both be eager to move in to fill the gap the starting central forward creates while roaming about. Instead of Sterling and Downing who'd both prefer to stay out wide although Sterling is improving in this regard.

I might be wrong about that, I'll admit. Haven't studied him in that much detail to be honest. But the type of player that should play in front of SG+LL needs to be a mobile, good passer of the ball who can effectively press the ball high up the field (Hendo fits this but isn't good enough for where we want to be at the moment). From what I've seen WS fits that bill but I'll cede that point to those who've seen more of him.

Agree with that. Hendo is a better advanced midfielder than Allen (and better than many give him credit for) and he offers the energy needed in front of Stevie and Lucas. There are IMO two ways we could improve our midfield with signings. One is to buy a physically imposing playmaker (like Stevie plays basically) and move Stevie forward. But that's based on not knowing how Stevie is physically. The club has all the data needed to see wether he can play that Stevie G role under Rafa. OR We buy an upgrade on Hendo. A high-energy, mobile advanced midfielder like WS. But from our current set-up I'd say Lucas+Stevie G with Hendo in front of them is our best bet.

The starting line-up was most likely like it was because of fitness issues with Sturridge and Borini. If those two were fit they'd both be starting. Can't fault Rodgers for that. The big question mark is Allen. I just don't see what he offers that Hendo doesn't already do (and in many cases better IMO). When everyone is fit we'll most likely start seeing a front three of Sturridge, Borini and Suarez. Just that upgrade from the current front three including Sterling and Downinho will mean we'll start winning more games. The question is what to do in midfield. If we play a 2-1 with Stevie + Lucas with someone like Hendo in front it probably has the best balance. We'd all like Stevie more advanced but the problem is who can solve his current position better than he does? IMO none of our current options. And I'm sure I read somewhere that he broke his assist record for a season today. That's pretty good considering many consider him being utilized wrongly. If we can get in a better player in front of the two (someone like WS in the alternative universe where we have money) we'll be in good shape. Even if we lost today we are getting better. Keep the faith and we'll be up there with the best soon enough. But don't expect us to be challengers this year (or even the next). We've been too badly managed since the start of the H&G era for that to be realistic.

We need more c**** in our team. You don't win anything with nice guys. Leo Beenhakker: "“Give me 11 a******s like him [Zlatan] and we’ll be champions.”

Some motherf*****s are always trying to ice skate uphill. Yeah, no idea if we have the money to do this deal but you'd think with Brendan's love for the dutch 433 he'd try to get someone in who was brought up in that system.

I've decided to believe this Wesley Sneijder rumour because I'm becoming overly optimistic about everything LFC related. Cole is gone (50k/w based on us paying half his wages), Sahin gone (let's imagine 50k/w), Sturridge is probably within the "Dempsey budget", and if the rumours about Downing going on loan is true then IMO it's obvious we are making room for someone special. But like I said, I'm becoming overly optimistic about everything LFC related...

He's not crap, but I'd say he's not good enough for us. But his strength is deadball situations so a long as Tottenham keep him away from them I'm happy.

I hope Tottenham continue to insist on not letting Gylfi take freekicks when he's on the field. Will hurt them in the long run.

The only real highlight in the game was Julio Cesar's double save right at the start of the game. Other than that...

http://www.danielgeey.com/manchester-city-their-97m-loss-and-financial-fair-play-compliance/