18 Aug 2015 22:36:28
I've given in quicker than last year!
I kept quiet after the Stoke game because I thought it wasn't the game which would truly reflect our style of play. Well it seems I was wrong. The slow lethargic mundane passing of the previous season was on show again last night. I'm not impressed!
Our back line is still too deep meaning that we struggle to get sufficient numbers into supporting attacks. But it's too risky playing a high line if you don't press the passer. We need to do this as we are not a good team without the ball. The only player who is. should be the 1st name on the team sheet. But he's not in the squad! !
Yesterday's performance for me was worrying. We were the recipient of 2 awful decisions although some sympathy for the goal as Coutinhos presence did nothing to affect the outcome. But if he isn't interfering then why is he on the pitch?
But I digress, I saw little fluidity from a system in its 4th year, a team which lacked balance and who showed it's frailties defensively are not too far away. Despite the plaudits being given to Bournemouth, they are one of the weakest teams in the league. They played well because the expensively assembled, established premier league, home team allowed it to happen.
I give credit to Bournemouth but this is the lfc page so ill stick to them.
I really hoped that this game would see a return to a pressing game which would allow our playmaker s to pick up the ball in broken play high up the pitch. But the slow speed in which we commit players means that we expecting them to produce in condensed and tightly marked spaces. This may happen sometimes but more often won't.
There are some positives and ill even congratulate BR on trying to tighten up defensively and I hope it works.
Also, Clyne looks a good player and Gomez could be too if handled correctly (not over exposed).
Benteke has his qualities and had got his 1st goal!

1.) 19 Aug 2015
19 Aug 2015 00:06:17
I agree with everything you said in your post there . I've been saying the same thing for a few years now .If Rodgers can't see what we are seeing there will be more stoke results from last season. I can't see Brendan Rodgers being here after christmas to be honest . Bigger teams will just pick us off now .

My tip for a top 4 place is Swansea .They will surprise a lot of teams if they stay injury free .

2.) 19 Aug 2015
19 Aug 2015 00:21:10
You've given in after 2 games?

Wouldn't want to stand next to you in the trenches.

3.) 19 Aug 2015
19 Aug 2015 01:22:02
I agree with all that was said in the initial post, we won and I am happy with the two wins but the performance just isn't there. No individuals are playing terrible, although one or two could improve. But the lack of fluidity and ideas is startling.

Btw Swansea will not finish fourth in a million years.

4.) 19 Aug 2015
19 Aug 2015 01:27:16
were do i get started here, name a top team that presses high in first few games and doesn't completely tire in the last 20 minutes of a match? pressing comes with fitness 2 games in you won't see much of it. carnt stand these moaners that know nothing about the game moaning about things because of there own stupidity. Players are getting fit so this will get a lot better we have a £29m player on the bench at the moment who is not fit and is world class in firminho, 2 the 2 idiots who have thrown the towel in after 2 wins out of 2 don't dare come back on here when were doing well this season and start joining in with everyone elses happiness should be ashamed of yourselfs

5.) 19 Aug 2015
19 Aug 2015 02:01:27
In a million years, if they're still playing domestic premier league football in Swansea, carlitoc's quote will be as famous as Hansen's "you win nothing with kids".

😀

6.) 19 Aug 2015
19 Aug 2015 02:46:36
Why is it that Firmino isn't 'fit'? I keep seeing that thrown around but it makes zero sense to me. Did he not play in the same tournament as Coutinho in the summer?

7.) 19 Aug 2015
19 Aug 2015 03:54:38
What is with all the negativity 2 games in and yes we are not playing with any fluidity but a combination of new signings and fitness is the reason. TBH I would happily play rubbish and win than play great and lose, it is at least a dozen games before we have full fitness and some players settle faster than others.

{Ed001's Note - full fitness is no longer that far away, modern techniques ensure players are pretty much match fit before the season starts. The issue is more about gelling as a team, that is what takes the time.}

8.) 19 Aug 2015
19 Aug 2015 04:30:08
(I'm putting my neck out here) I said it last week and I say it again, Coutinho's breaking the fluidity of our play. He keeps hold of the ball for too long, our team improves every time he isn't on the pitch. I'm not saying he's a bad player, we just don't function as a unit when he's playing. There's times where he looks excellent, interchanging passes with Benteke etc. but most of the time he tries to much tricks and avoids players in better spaces around him. I'd like to se Milner given a chance in that space behind the front 3, I think you'll see a different beast then.

{Ed001's Note - good job we don't have Messi there if you think that! Coutinho is the brightest spark and you want him out. Those extra touches you are moaning about are while carrying the ball forward, usually at pace, creating problems for the opposition. It is not like he is slowing down the play when he is taking those touches, he is not just farting about like Lallana does, he is driving at them. What we need is more people like that, rather than less, and giving him more options so he has forward passes on.}

9.) 19 Aug 2015
19 Aug 2015 07:27:33
If you watch Coutinho, nearly everyball that comes his way he takes on his back foot meaning that he has angled his body to attack the opposition. That is how he scored v Stoke and creates chances for others. He is still a developing player but has come on leaps and bounds in his progress.

10.) 19 Aug 2015
19 Aug 2015 08:33:13
Phil is the best player in that Liverpool team. There is no second thought.

11.) 19 Aug 2015
19 Aug 2015 10:24:55
Sirshanks I agree with your post, but let us not forget the high press was Bielsa's system and not Rodgers. That is why he doesn't like it and keeps reverting to his pet project. I have a feeling that Rodgers is using our club to stamp his name on the game of football.

Ron, it isn't just two games is it now? It's four years. As for the trenches comment, I doubt that's where you'd be sent. Your blind faith in authority attitude would probably see you as part of a sucide mission squad.

12.) 19 Aug 2015
19 Aug 2015 10:35:31
The problem is that Coutinho is very fast and by holding the ball he is waiting for support from team mates.

13.) 19 Aug 2015
19 Aug 2015 11:52:24
I think you mean Lallana. PipCo has been the driving force. i don't know what Lallana is doing wasting all that skill prancing about on the pitch, he was like a taller more skilled version of Joe Allen on Monday. he offered no threat to the opposition, i only saw him impose himself a bit towards the end, where he took a ball from a corner and sprinted out with it. Apart from that there wasnt anything attack wise.