What went wrong?

[spud_gun]

How can we have fallen so far in such a short space of time?

Is there one overriding factor in our demise? or simply a myriad of smaller issues that have resulted in a cataclysmic collapse?

[Armchairkopite]

How can we have fallen so far in such a short space of time?

Is there one overriding factor in our demise? or simply a myriad of smaller issues that have resulted in a cataclysmic collapse?

My Uncle has one word for it 'Alonso'

[Exiled_red]

The main issues for me are a lack of confidence, the loss of Alonso and the change in system, and injuries.

The loss of Alonso and change of system first: for the majority of the season our like for like Alonso replacement Aquilani has been out, the midfield of Mascherano and Lucas haven't had the on the ball skills to dominate and dictate the game. The lack of someone spraying passes about in midefield has resulted in our wider players coming narrower to receieve the ball and our secondary striker coming deeper, leaving the striker isolated and a compacted midfield with no space for anyone to work in. Last season with Alonso's passing range allowed Riera to stay wide left, Gerrard to stay closer to Torres and Kuyt to play further up the pitch. From what I've seen of Aquilani I believe he is capable of of spraying the passes about, but this requires the other players to move into positions of space in the wide areas, stretching the opposition's defence.

We have also been conceeding more goals because we have been attempting to push the fullbacks further up the pitch and there is a lack of communication about who is supposed to be covering, in short there are teathing problems with this area that need working out, but are becoming bigger problems because of the inability of the team to function in other areas of the pitch. The poor results (and performances) are leading to a lack of confidence which further restricts players ability to play well.

The injuries, now I know they are a part of the game and other sides have them too but they are an issue because they are affecting mulitiple areas of the team and we haven't been able to get any form of a settled unit. At centre back we've had almost every possible combination of Carragher, Agger, Skrtel and Kyriacos, at right back so far we've played Johnson, Carragher, Degen, Darby and Kelly at various points left mid we've had Riera, Benayoun, Aurelio, Dossena and Babel the list goes on. We are also harmed by the fact that we don't have players who we can switch like for like without changing the system, for example if we play with Riera on the left wing we will play a different way to if we play with Benayoun there and a different way again with Aurelio there.

We need a settled team and method of play with the right players to play it. We need width (from the likes of Rodriguez and Riera) and someone in midfield who can get the ball to them (Aquilani). I believe if we can do this we will see a vast improvement in our game.

[Carras_Shin_Pads]

My Uncle has one word for it 'Alonso'

One man does not make LFC, yeah he was key but he's not the reason why we're playing like legless dogs in treacle!

[The Birdman]

More attacking intent from our full backs has left us more exposed at the back, far, far too many injuries to mention so no continuity and no confidence.
That and the main point for me is we have stood still in bringing players in because obviously Rafa hasn't had any money to spend.
We're never going to improve when we've got 1.5m to replace Sami Hyypia

[ronniedrew]

we are going through a terrible time, in a rut

2nd last year, progress there for everyone to see, getting close and hit by injuries

how often have riera & aurelio played down the left togther this season?, cant think of any games, they were mainstays in the team last year

rafa has not become a bad manager and we have not become a bad team, we just need to regain confidence, its all about getting a 11 regulars out there and regaining confidence.


sacking rafa after 1 bad year in 5 would be madness , and rash, what has wenger achieved lately? **** all

[vlahka]

Alonso could pass. This bunch of people cant. He didnt need to get an assist in every game. Generally he was the guy who provided the guy who assisted. Its no shock that during his best season with us we came second. He's our only change since last season.

[Shanks]

[Vermilion]

Alonso could pass. This bunch of people cant. He didnt need to get an assist in every game. Generally he was the guy who provided the guy who assisted. Its no shock that during his best season with us we came second. He's our only change since last season.

When Alonso was'nt fit nothing anywhere near this happened, no mass loss of form and we managed fine in comparison to now, he had a good last season, a great one, but he wasn't the only one, to say this seasons disaster is all down to losing him is imo very wrong.

It's a whole load of things coming together that's made the season what it is, not one or two reasons but many.

[Guest]

Alonso could pass. This bunch of people cant. He didnt need to get an assist in every game. Generally he was the guy who provided the guy who assisted. Its no shock that during his best season with us we came second. He's our only change since last season.

We beat United 4-1 on their patch with Mascherano and Lucas in midfield. What would you say about that?

[vlahka]

We beat United 4-1 on their patch with Mascherano and Lucas in midfield. What would you say about that?

Run of alot of wins, mainly because of Alonso, brings confidence, something you keep harping on about. With confidence comes wins. I've also noticed our team seems to take the fight to the big teams but when it comes to the lower end of the tables they go all defensive and spineless. You dont win leagues being defensive.

[Guest]

Run of alot of wins, mainly because of Alonso, brings confidence, something you keep harping on about. With confidence comes wins. I've also noticed our team seems to take the fight to the big teams but when it comes to the lower end of the tables they go all defensive and spineless. You dont win leagues being defensive.

Ok one last time. We were highest scorers in the league last season. Does that make us a defensive team?

[fah-q]

Run of alot of wins, mainly because of Alonso, brings confidence, something you keep harping on about. With confidence comes wins. I've also noticed our team seems to take the fight to the big teams but when it comes to the lower end of the tables they go all defensive and spineless. You dont win leagues being defensive.

Chelsea, 2 years in a row. Infact with the run of 1-0 wins last season you could argue United played very defensively too.

[Exiled_red]

Winning games consistently wins you the league, it doesn't matter whether you win 1-0, 5-0 or 6-5.

We got alot of goals in some games but it was the struggling in other games that cost us.

[vlahka]

Ok one last time. We were highest scorers in the league last season. Does that make us a defensive team?

You're letting stats get the better of you. If a team gets 20 penalties in a season and scores them all, coupled with their normal goal rate, does that make them the most attacking team? Stats dont always paint the proper picture. Rafa has always made our team play with a specific build up. They pass the ball to the middle, pass it about, then pass it backwards, move to the other side, repeat for like 10min at a time. Alonso helped get theball forward. Who is doing that right now for us? Practically nooone. We have always been a defensive team. We hoof the ball constantly. When trailing we bring on defenders. We have more players playing wide then up front because they wait for the usual counter attack style and hope to get it up along the wings, which usually breaks down.

Chelsea, 2 years in a row. Infact with the run of 1-0 wins last season you could argue United played very defensively too.

Chelsea played a different style to ours. They played counter attack and whenever they had the ball the entire team would sort of move forward like one huge wave, shifting upwards but keeping their shape, instead of 3/4 of the team stay back and a couple players run forward. What they didnt do was spend an age passing the ball back and forth between their midfielders then back to their defenders to screw around with while they tried to think up what exactly they were on the field for.