Really pleased

[joyno]

What a season,we are chasing the scum all the way,we actually look like a team with cohesion,Rafa is smiling all the time now and we are probably the most exciting football team in the world, we are scoring goals for fun if anybody had looked at the goal difference a few months a go and had predicted we would have been 6 goals ahead of the opposition we would have seen them as fantasist,so what if the scum win the league and even the european cup this year, fergie the pensioner has a young rafa, a resurgent peoples team called liverpool fc and man city with all the money in the world in his rear mirror and in a couple of years there will be fuk all he can do about it, it is happening again,what a great season life is good and is going to get better.ps and someone i know in the know reckons moyles is nailed on to be the scums new boss,it just gets better and better.

[Craig_H]

If the way we're playing now becomes permanent into next season, we'll win the title.

**** the cautious approach, just go for it. We'll beat most teams with this current mentality.

[Leyton388]

If the way we're playing now becomes permanent into next season, we'll win the title.

**** the cautious approach, just go for it. We'll beat most teams with this current mentality.

Thats my biggest fear next season is if we don't pick up where we left off. But i am sure we will and with some new signings it could be even better.

[redpablo]

i would take the odd 4-4 against arsenal tbh we would ****ing slaughter the likes of wigan, boro etc next time around

[barnes10]

i dont give a monkeys jizz. we are a top, top side again and that is the bottom line.

i love my reds

[Father Ted]

It's May and we're in the running for the league title.

****ing ace, progress is excellent and only bodes well for the future.

[wavydavy]

What is REALLY funny is the general unwillingness from SKY, Talksport, Setanta et al to actually admit we've had a good season and are back in the mix at the expense of London based Chelsea & Arsenal.

[Skillz]

I think we are getting the balance right now, hence why Rafa may seem a little happier. We didn't get out of 2nd gear last night after getting a very early goal. I was watching with a West Ham supporting mate last night and he just had to admit our defence was far too good.

[Duncan Jenkins]

i would be delighted if moyles gets teh scum job. he has done a great job for the bitters no doubt but he'd be out of his depth at united 100%. i'd love it if he got that job.

really pleased great season. massive progress, rafa is the man.

[Rigadon]

i would be delighted if moyles gets teh scum job. he has done a great job for the bitters no doubt but he'd be out of his depth at united 100%. i'd love it if he got that job.

really pleased great season. massive progress, rafa is the man.

He could combine it with his breakfast show.

[murder_inc]

He could combine it with his breakfast show.

I'd Imagine him and Rooney would clash over who eats the last bacon and egg roll. Would never work imo. Too many BIG egos (and arses).

[Tatterdemalion]

Remember we used to be good.

[destinydude]

Remember we used to be good.

[Paul12]

So what has changed since then? Well, in terms of players on the pitch the changes are:
(1) Arbeloa out and Aurelio, Johnson and Insua in.
(2) Alonso out, Lucas in.
(3) Gerrard having to play at about 80% because of groin injury.

And, in terms of performance the changes are:
(1) Back four performing badly, with lapses of concentration, poor positioning and poor decision-making. Is this all because we have two full backs that cannot defend, and this is pulling the central pairing about too much? I think this is about 75% of the problem. The only solution in the ashort-term is to replace Johnson and Insua with defenders.
(2) Midfield struggles to get the ball into dangerous offensive positions. I see this as being largely the result of two things: (a) having to rely on Lucas (at his age and with his experience) to be a satisfactory replacement for Alonso (I don't blame Lucas for this; how many top class teamshave a player of his age and experience running their midfield?); and (b) Gerrard's ongoing fitness issues. The key to (a) is of course Aquilani. If he is fit he must be played. If he is not fit, then we will have to struggle on with Lucas but the formation/system needs to be changed to make up for the lack of guile/haste in midfield. On (b), Gerrard simply has to be fixed, and if that means surgery then so be it because he is just an ordinary player at the moment. Beni is a decent replacement offensively.
(3) Nothing of substance is now coming from the flanks, apart from an occasional foray from Johnson. Again, several reasons. Firstly, Kuyt is having a poor season on the wing(some would add "even by his standards"). Secondly, the fitness problems of Riera and attitude problems of Babel, and issues with the reserves (injuries: El Zahr; attitude and ability: Dossena). In the short-term, I agree with those who are suggesting playing Johnson on the right. He wouldn'y be in my defence (see 1), and does create problems on the wing. Beni could fill this position, if not required more centrally; otherwise we will just have to 'make do' on the left, unless and until someone strikes a rich vein of form - but having one position playing poorly shouldn't be a big issue for us.
(4) We have been too static offensively (the result being that offensively we are too easily snuffed out). I see this as being about the fitness problems of Torres and Gerrard, the inexperience of Ngog, and the uselesness of Voronin. Again, I think the answers are straight-forward: never let Voronin near the pitch again, and play two up front unless/until Gerrard is back to full fitness.

So 4-4-2:
Reina
Defensive right back (Carragher or Kelly); Two of Carra, Agger and Skrtel; and Defensive left back (Aurelio or Carragher)
Johnson, Masch, Aquilani (or Lucas), Beni/Riera/El Zahr/Babel
Torres Ngog/Kuyt/Babel

And then tell the back four to use the midfield, and the midfield to move the ball forward more quickly than they are now.

Football is such a simple game really!!

[Tribute]

So what has changed since then? Well, in terms of players on the pitch the changes are:
(1) Arbeloa out and Aurelio, Johnson and Insua in.
(2) Alonso out, Lucas in.
(3) Gerrard having to play at about 80% because of groin injury.

And, in terms of performance the changes are:
(1) Back four performing badly, with lapses of concentration, poor positioning and poor decision-making. Is this all because we have two full backs that cannot defend, and this is pulling the central pairing about too much? I think this is about 75% of the problem. The only solution in the ashort-term is to replace Johnson and Insua with defenders.
(2) Midfield struggles to get the ball into dangerous offensive positions. I see this as being largely the result of two things: (a) having to rely on Lucas (at his age and with his experience) to be a satisfactory replacement for Alonso (I don't blame Lucas for this; how many top class teamshave a player of his age and experience running their midfield?); and (b) Gerrard's ongoing fitness issues. The key to (a) is of course Aquilani. If he is fit he must be played. If he is not fit, then we will have to struggle on with Lucas but the formation/system needs to be changed to make up for the lack of guile/haste in midfield. On (b), Gerrard simply has to be fixed, and if that means surgery then so be it because he is just an ordinary player at the moment. Beni is a decent replacement offensively.
(3) Nothing of substance is now coming from the flanks, apart from an occasional foray from Johnson. Again, several reasons. Firstly, Kuyt is having a poor season on the wing(some would add "even by his standards"). Secondly, the fitness problems of Riera and attitude problems of Babel, and issues with the reserves (injuries: El Zahr; attitude and ability: Dossena). In the short-term, I agree with those who are suggesting playing Johnson on the right. He wouldn'y be in my defence (see 1), and does create problems on the wing. Beni could fill this position, if not required more centrally; otherwise we will just have to 'make do' on the left, unless and until someone strikes a rich vein of form - but having one position playing poorly shouldn't be a big issue for us.
(4) We have been too static offensively (the result being that offensively we are too easily snuffed out). I see this as being about the fitness problems of Torres and Gerrard, the inexperience of Ngog, and the uselesness of Voronin. Again, I think the answers are straight-forward: never let Voronin near the pitch again, and play two up front unless/until Gerrard is back to full fitness.

So 4-4-2:
Reina
Defensive right back (Carragher or Kelly); Two of Carra, Agger and Skrtel; and Defensive left back (Aurelio or Carragher)
Johnson, Masch, Aquilani (or Lucas), Beni/Riera/El Zahr/Babel
Torres Ngog/Kuyt/Babel

And then tell the back four to use the midfield, and the midfield to move the ball forward more quickly than they are now.

Football is such a simple game really!!

Great post and spot on analysis (should start calling you 'Hansen')
Given the limitations of our current squad, this would be the most positive and effective line-up... the issues then only lie with Rafa's man-management and his ability/willingness to change things before the 64th minute.

Martin O'Neill changed Young and Milner over after 20 minutes against United and the result was Agbonlahor's winner... You're right, it ain't rocket science.