Udinese post match thread

[Mostar]

What can he do if no one acknowledges his good movement and position? We never once tried to take advantage of him being on the should of the defence all the time.

Downing played very well tonight, ridiculous having a go. He was challenged by the manager to react and he did. Hopefully he carries that on.

On Borini. I'll not hide that I'm a fan if his. He will prove a good buy in the future. His character is first class and that's why he'll succeed in time.

His problem tonight was that despite excellent movement he wasn't seen. But to be seen he has to perform better when he gets it, as that is what will make his team mates look for him, and therefore see him, more. He'll get there.

On the performance, too sleepy at times. But the bigger problem for me is that when mistakes are made in this system, it's too easily punished.

A lack of a safety net. Players will always make mistakes, they need more allowances to make them. Lucas is such a player.

I am far from being his biggest fan but I thought tonight was by far his best performance this year.

Had an assist, could have had at least 2, 3 goals himself, attacked defenders plenty of times which is not what normally he does etc.

Started well, then faded somewhat and then finished ok.

The problem is that even when he puts in more than decent shift people cannot give him credit as he is so frustrating to watch majority of the other times.

[TheElephantMan]

I put in more of a shift than Downing! He's a lazy useless ****er.

[Gibbo]

Very well?! That is ridiculous.

No it isn't.

[TheElephantMan]

In my opinion it is. Blimey - how far have we fallen that Downing's performance tonight is worthy of defending?! He was **** for most of the game. Our £20m winger was appalling for most of the game.

[Gibbo]

The full team was appalling then on that logic

[TheElephantMan]

The full team was appalling then on that logic

Except that most of the team didn't cost £20m. I'm made up that people are so easily pleased, in my opinion our £20m winger was **** and should have been substituted.

[Mattshark]

He just ran from side to side, but he didn't move into space. Shelvey's movement was much more intelligent, he was looking for space and to move between defenders. I'm not sure what Borini was doing - he doesn't seem to have the awareness and positional sense that we need.

I disgree, Borini was in an excellent position many times, but we didn't once try and play him through, instead we went out wide constantly.

[TheElephantMan]

Borini ran about a lot, but not into positions where there a team-mate could pass to him. I'm not criticising his work-rate, but I am questioning his game intelligence.

[Baracus]

[baitman]

borini was often tightly marked. what he did do was to drift away from the goal mouth and try and draw defenders with him. this shows his intelligence. it may be that he is taking up too central a position and this is allowing defenders to pick him up too easily, similar to andy carroll used to. at least borini does move about a bit, unlike andy did.

[TheElephantMan]

We do lack pace at the back and we don't move the ball forwards quickly enough. I think it will come, but there's still a lot of work to do.

[TheElephantMan]

We were using Borini as a #9 which he isn't, similar to the way we tried to use Carroll. We need players who will fit the system and although Borini has played for Rodgers previously I just don't think he has the qualities to fit our system.

[TheElephantMan]

**** it anyway, we lost at home in spite of having 70% possession. We just didn't create enough. Shelvey worked hard and made the effort, the rest were below par. We should have expected our senior players to provide inspiration, but they were a bit rubbish. It made a big difference when Gerrard and Suarez came on, the structure of the team fell apart momentarily!!!

[Baracus]

We do lack pace at the back and we don't move the ball forwards quickly enough. I think it will come, but there's still a lot of work to do.

[little dave hedgehog]

**** it anyway, we lost at home in spite of having 70% possession. We just didn't create enough.

we scored twice and had plenty more chances. i think the three shipped goals is the issue here.