Europa League - Napoli Away Build up

[RichC]

What was the name of the lad from Napoli that Rafa was supposed to be interested in ? was it Lavezi or something like that - do we know how he's been playing this year?

[Fierce]

If we get bad results against Napoli and in the league against Blackburn he's a goner, i reckon he'll play strongest team though, under too much pressure not to.

Not sure the Napoli game should be considered in whether or not to retain him, but I agree that his position is under that much scrutiny that he has to win as many games as possible

Personally I'd get rid now, but the pragmatist in me says give him 2 more league games. If no improvement, I don't see how he could stay

[Shaggy]

I honestly believe there will be no improvement, there's been no encouraging signs whatsoever. Zero. This is the norm. We'll lose in Naples for sure. He's got to go ASAP, the only excuse for it taking any time is making sure we line up the right replacement.

[danperkins]

Not sure the Napoli game should be considered in whether or not to retain him, but I agree that his position is under that much scrutiny that he has to win as many games as possible

Personally I'd get rid now, but the pragmatist in me says give him 2 more league games. If no improvement, I don't see how he could stay

i just hope that it won't be the case of us dragging out a few points here and there thus prolonging the inevitable.

If he starts winning and the performances get better i'll hold my hands up but surely it can't go like this for much longer? Gonna come to a head soon

[danperkins]

What was the name of the lad from Napoli that Rafa was supposed to be interested in ? was it Lavezi or something like that - do we know how he's been playing this year?

Yup thats him, been compared to Tevez, playing style anyways. Yet to score this season for Napoli but not prolific anyways. Alright player but think we dodged a bullet there.

P.S. Might look like Maradona against our backline

[Fierce]

I honestly believe there will be no improvement, there's been no encouraging signs whatsoever. Zero. This is the norm. We'll lose in Naples for sure. He's got to go ASAP, the only excuse for it taking any time is making sure we line up the right replacement.

Totally agree, but I think the owners have to be slightly careful that they're not seen as jumping in all guns blazing and immediately sacking arguably the most important member of the squad.

Of course, 99% of Liverpool fans want them to do just that, but still, I think they'll be cautious to maintain the good impression they've earned so far.

But yeah, given the option, he'd go right now

i just hope that it won't be the case of us dragging out a few points here and there thus prolonging the inevitable.

If he starts winning and the performances get better i'll hold my hands up but surely it can't go like this for much longer? Gonna come to a head soon

As you mentioned though, that might be the worst possible scenario. If he does manage to scrape a win here or there (and the fact that I'm using the word 'scrape' speaks volumes) then it might extend his stay

And that could be dangerous

[Mostar]

If we get bad results against Napoli and in the league against Blackburn he's a goner, i reckon he'll play strongest team though, under too much pressure not to.

I agree. He'll play his best team. It's do or die for him and hopefully die will prevail.

[danperkins]

As you mentioned though, that might be the worst possible scenario. If he does manage to scrape a win here or there (and the fact that I'm using the word 'scrape' speaks volumes) then it might extend his stay

And that could be dangerous

I hear ya mate, its a catch 22 situation, Do you want LFC to win Or do you want them to lose which means another step closer to Roy being gone for the good of the club??? Its a tough one but i want LFC to win every game, i'll be still rooting for a win and a good performance but sadly i just can't see it.

[danperkins]

I agree. He'll play his best team. It's do or die for him and hopefully die will prevail.

yup no way he's gonna risk putting out a weak side, its dire straits times.

[PTP]

i really can't see us getting anything from napoli unless we played the ressies - and when i say ressies i mean the actual reserves no the squad players who can't get a game - the likes of irwin, amoo, suso, ince etc - the ones that don't seem to have been corrupted by all this negativity - they would prob get beat, but there would be a chance that they would be up for it and have played together in the ressies all season so should have some sort of balance and understanding, it might help them cause an upset.

As it currently stands though - the 25 or so 'first teamers' - doesn't matter what mix you put out - they're all either, unhappy, unfit, out of form, lost or just plain ****. - if we sent out are strongest XI, they won't be motivated, they weren't motivated for the ****ing derby! so they would get beat, if we sent out a team like we did against northampton, well they'd get beat....at the moment any team we send out looks like they will get beat

[Rich]

I hasn't got much to do with the players - regardess of whether they're first teamers or ressies.

When you set up a team like Hodgson does you're on to a loser.

[-V-]

Last season at this stage we kept losing matches and Rafa Benitez tried to fix it by going more and more defensive. Thats what Roy seems to be doing, we are playing deeper and deeper.
This time last season I was calling for us to play more open and more attacking football. Accept that we will concede goals but just focus on outscoring the opposition by getting guys in and around Fernando to support him. Thats what we need to do.

If continue to focus purely on getting clean sheets it will never work, we will just keep inviting pressure. He is making the same mistakes Rafa was making but doing even worse now

[danperkins]

Last season at this stage we kept losing matches and Rafa Benitez tried to fix it by going more and more defensive. Thats what Roy seems to be doing, we are playing deeper and deeper.
This time last season I was calling for us to play more open and more attacking football. Accept that we will concede goals but just focus on outscoring the opposition by getting guys in and around Fernando to support him. Thats what we need to do.

If continue to focus purely on getting clean sheets it will never work, we will just keep inviting pressure. He is making the same mistakes Rafa was making but doing even worse now

very true Roy has picked up where Rafa off and dragged it down some more. He literally hasn't tried anything new, playing players out of position, negative tactics and lack of urgency all seen in Rafa's reign have been taken to the extremes by Roy.

[-V-]

Don't know what the situation is with Johnson, if he's fit then we need to try him further forward. We have literally no other viable option with pace to play out wide. So for that reason I would try a 4-3-3 instead.

Assuming that Johnson, Kuyt, Aurelio and Agger are all out and Joe Cole has forgotten that he's a footballer-

...............Reina
Kelly....Carra....Skrtle...Konchesky

....Gerrard..Lucas..Meireles

.......Ngog..Torres..Babel

[Rich]

Does anyone seriously think Roy "I've got 35 years management experience under my belt" Hodgson will radically switch his formation and tactics?

Hey after all we played well in the second half against Everton.