Liverpool vs Sunderland post match

[alunevans]

Hard to argue with this. Obviously our squad has weakened due to the financial constraints, but it is at least good enough for top 6.

I do think we'll get top 6. It's far too early to judge one way or another though.

[calvoboy]

It didn't make sense to start with Meireles on the right, then after 3/4 of the game gone, remove the shockingly poor Poulsen and replace him with Meireles. What did that show? It showed that he got it all wrong and waited that long to change the formation. We didn't have any shape whatsoever when we were attacking, nor when we were defending. There were gaping holes between our lines each time we lost the ball but the most shocking thing is that Hodgson didn't rectify anything until late in the second half and even that is debatable as Sunderland started to run down at that point and we had more space to play and punt long balls in their box.

It showed that he realised it wasn't working and changed things...Rafa never used to make changes before 55-60 mins either. Very few managers do these days. They have the half time team talk, give it 10-15 mins, and then start thinking about changes. On Saturday the changes worked. The mistake was that Poulsen looks like a **** signing, far too passive to play as a defensive midfielder in the premiership, and Meireles can't play wide right.

[Lecter]

It didn't make sense to start with Meireles on the right, then after 3/4 of the game gone, remove the shockingly poor Poulsen and replace him with Meireles. What did that show? It showed that he got it all wrong and waited that long to change the formation. We didn't have any shape whatsoever when we were attacking, nor when we were defending. There were gaping holes between our lines each time we lost the ball but the most shocking thing is that Hodgson didn't rectify anything until late in the second half and even that is debatable as Sunderland started to run down at that point and we had more space to play and punt long balls in their box.

This to me is ****ing basic tactics

Shape and holding formation is the simplest thing to get across

If the guy wanders out of position you get off the bench and tell him to ****ing get back in it (although that would appear to be anathema to Hodgson)

This is not an isolated incident its been happening for weeks

West Brom picked holes in our lines whilst Poulsen wandered all over the shop

This is one of the reasons I'm worried, you have to start seeing development in our play / tactics by now even if it is small signs. I just dont see that the same mistakes are being made game in game out and it really is surprising that a man of such experience is seemingly inept when it comes to getting his message across (assuming that hes got a message)

I look at the side now we are sitting deep and letting the opposition have possession (whether thats 4th division Northampton or the powerhouse of Premier League football that is Sunderland)

We let Poulsen who lacks any kind of pace wander around the park getting picked off when he should be under implicit order to hold his position (assuming we are sitting back defending)

We dont even press the ball anywhere on the park

Then all we do when our defenders get it is ****ing launch it 50 yards down the pitch (no wonder Torres looks forlorn). Whereupon the ball comes right back and we are put under pressure again

If he wants to sit deep and long ball it hes got to get some pressing of the opposition, otherwise its tantamount to surrendering the whole pitch and just playing in our 18 yard box which frankly leaves you open to aerial bombardment which again we are not too clever at defending

As I said I'm baffled as to what exactly hes trying to do

At least with Benitez you could see some semblence of tactical reasoning in what he was doing. You might not have agreed with his methods but there appeared to be a reason for it

I dont see any reason for giving the opposition the ball and hanging around your own 18 yards box in the hope you wont be picked off and that Torres or Gerrard will beat 6 men and score a wonder goal

Good god this actually makes Houlliers system look attacking

[Fredo]

It showed that he realised it wasn't working and changed things...Rafa never used to make changes before 55-60 mins either. Very few managers do these days. They have the half time team talk, give it 10-15 mins, and then start thinking about changes. On Saturday the changes worked. The mistake was that Poulsen looks like a **** signing, far too passive to play as a defensive midfielder in the premiership, and Meireles can't play wide right.

You don't have to be a luminary to see that Meireles can't play wide right and is no winger or inside right, whatever is the modern name for it.

Rafa was constantly changing things, talking to the players all the time during matches. He was always writing notes, picking up little things he saw, standing up and talking to them when there was a break in play.

Hodgson is passive, doesn't seem to have a clue.

[Lecter]

You don't have to be a luminary to see that Meireles can't play wide right and is no winger or inside right, whatever is the modern name for it.

Rafa was constantly changing things, talking to the players all the time during matches. He was always writing notes, picking up little things he saw, standing up and talking to them when there was a break in play.

Hodgson is passive, doesn't seem to have a clue.

Added to which if the story about the heckler and Hodgsons reply of "what do you want me to do"

FFS I could give him a few suggestions