Stoke: Post Match.

[vonk]

By the way, I doubt we will get these all in January, but if we buy well over the next 3 windows we could be closer.

Not that our scouting network gives me any optimism.

[dww]

I'm not sure that the problems of the overall system looked to be to blame today (judging admittedly from MoTD) - the issues seemed to be with defending set pieces and individual errors. I really think defensively we lack some leadership. I'm not totally sold on Skrtel/Agger as a partnership either.

In terms of a squad overhaul I'm still not sure it is a necessary as some. Get one player to support Suarez in the goalscoring and I genuinely think it would change how the side played more than just the goals. One of the defining features of United, for example, has been the fact that they (and the opposition) always believe they can score and it changes both teams attitudes.

[cream]

By the way, I doubt we will get these all in January, but if we buy well over the next 3 windows we could be closer.

Not that our scouting network gives me any optimism.

Have to agree with that. Lots to do.

[BG1973]

I disagree that there's nothing to worry about. Yeah, I porbably expect us to beat QPR now and steady the ship for another week but what about the week after? There's been something intrisically wrong with the club for a while now.

I think one of the problems is, between all the players in our squad we just about manage one 'footballing brain' and they're all trying to share it.

We have some quick players, some skilful players, some strong players, some strong characters, some players with nice technique.

The problem is they're all a bit impulsive and a bit thick.

[RichC]

I'm not sure that the problems of the overall system looked to be to blame today (judging admittedly from MoTD) - the issues seemed to be with defending set pieces and individual errors. I really think defensively we lack some leadership. I'm not totally sold on Skrtel/Agger as a partnership either.

In terms of a squad overhaul I'm still not sure it is a necessary as some. Get one player to support Suarez in the goalscoring and I genuinely think it would change how the side played more than just the goals. One of the defining features of United, for example, has been the fact that they (and the opposition) always believe they can score and it changes both teams attitudes.

good post.

Individual errors through the season have cost us and we're light up top.

[TheElephantMan]

good post.

Individual errors through the season have cost us and we're light up top.

Does that mean brainless? We're playing very naively.

[kemm1]

I'm not sure that the problems of the overall system looked to be to blame today (judging admittedly from MoTD) - the issues seemed to be with defending set pieces and individual errors. I really think defensively we lack some leadership. I'm not totally sold on Skrtel/Agger as a partnership either.

In terms of a squad overhaul I'm still not sure it is a necessary as some. Get one player to support Suarez in the goalscoring and I genuinely think it would change how the side played more than just the goals. One of the defining features of United, for example, has been the fact that they (and the opposition) always believe they can score and it changes both teams attitudes.

I think our squad is thin and weak. in central midfield I don't think we have any real quality there. If the central midfield gets sorted that will greatly assist our central defensive partnership. With our front 3 we have Suarez and a very talented youngster and that's about it.

[dww]

I'm not saying we are a title contenders in disguise or anything just that we should be notably better than the likes of West Brom, Swansea (and even Everton IMO). I'm not so sure that central midfield needs to be sorted in the way many suggest either - if you are feeding a threatening forward line in this division then the CM does't seem to be overly under threat. The problem for me is that teams mark Suarez and don't have to worry about any other outs, midfield becomes clogged and our game plan is ineffective from that position.

[marcus50bucks]

The same people that ripped Dalglish a new one at every opportunity need to add some balance when defending Rodgers. You know who you are. I'm a Rodgers fan and think he should be given a minimum of two years before I'd consider sacking him but lets not beat around the bush, something is horribly wrong when you see a team concede at least two goals in a match 13 times. I'm not saying it's all Rodgers fault but I do think tactically he's struggling on the defensive side. We lack shape without the ball and I question how much work we do on organisation and shape in training when it comes to defending. I also hope we cut out this passing the ball around at the edge of our box. It doesn't hurt to play it long and try to get teams on the counter.

[kemm1]

I'm not saying we are a title contenders in disguise or anything just that we should be notably better than the likes of West Brom, Swansea (and even Everton IMO). I'm not so sure that central midfield needs to be sorted in the way many suggest either - if you are feeding a threatening forward line in this division then the CM does't seem to be overly under threat. The problem for me is that teams mark Suarez and don't have to worry about any other outs, midfield becomes clogged and our game plan is ineffective from that position.

Fair enough, I'll concede the point that we should possibly be better than Swansea and West Brom so BR has maybe failed there. I can't agree with your general midfield points especially in a system where we have no intention of playing the ball long from back to front meaning the midfield must dictate the play of the game. Our midfield is not capable of dictating anything. So should BR abandon his system and 'play down' to the level of talent?

[kemm1]

The same people that ripped Dalglish a new one at every opportunity need to add some balance when defending Rodgers. You know who you are. I'm a Rodgers fan and think he should be given a minimum of two years before I'd consider sacking him but lets not beat around the bush, something is horribly wrong when you see a team concede at least two goals in a match 13 times. I'm not saying it's all Rodgers fault but I do think tactically he's struggling on the defensive side. We lack shape without the ball and I question how much work we do on organisation and shape in training when it comes to defending. I also hope we cut out this passing the ball around at the edge of our box. It doesn't hurt to play in long and try to get teams on the counter.

In what BR is trying to do defending means the other team doesn't have the ball and press them hard to get it back when they do a la Barca. Time will tell to see if he can coach that system especially if and when he gets better players.

[cream]

The same people that ripped Dalglish a new one at every opportunity need to add some balance when defending Rodgers. You know who you are. I'm a Rodgers fan and think he should be given a minimum of two years before I'd consider sacking him but lets not beat around the bush, something is horribly wrong when you see a team concede at least two goals in a match 13 times. I'm not saying it's all Rodgers fault but I do think tactically he's struggling on the defensive side. We lack shape without the ball and I question how much work we do on organisation and shape in training when it comes to defending. I also hope we cut out this passing the ball around at the edge of our box. It doesn't hurt to play in long and try to get teams on the counter.

Problem with Dalglish was unsustainability, we would have gone close to administration again if we carried on spending the way we were.

[marcus50bucks]

In what BR is trying to do defending means the other team doesn't have the ball and press them hard to get it back when they do a la Barca. Time will tell to see if he can coach that system especially if and when he gets better players.

He doesn't have the players though hence why he needs to be more flexible with his tactics.

[Fredo]

We don't have the depth in the squad hence we're inconsistent.

[Bender]

watched the game while drinking and defensivley we were/are terrible......truly a world class mid table side,no consistency at all........as i said before it's one step forward 2 or 3 steps back........we don't have any fight in the team