Mancs: Post Match

[danperkins]

He's a passenger initially in games like these. He doesn't track runners as he doesn't have the legs. But once the game opened up and the opposition were too tired to break from midfield, Gerrard started to dictate.

Once he could push higher up he was a bit better. The guy has a wand of a right foot and should be played closer to goal. Gerrard defensive side of the game of positional sense are poor,when he plays in that deeper role he is so in effective. Always look dangerous around the box.

Maybe bit more stability in midfield with new personnel will be Gerrard will be released forward a bit more.

[Mostar]

Shame we can't attract Isco, but the fella from Galatasary looks handy.

[DannyMan2006]

Oh come on, they were two goals up, of course they eased off. We were chasing and naturally more energetic and up for it in the 2nd, hence the second half performance. Just look at the table.

Its absurb for people to say they're not much better than us or even worse they're not a better side than us.

On the plus side, if we can keep Borini, Suarez and Sturridge fit, and play them together, we'll improve significantly and should be good to make a fight for 4th next season.

They were knackered. It went exactly as it always does for teams who press us.

[danperkins]

Oh come on, they were two goals up, of course they eased off. We were chasing and naturally more energetic and up for it in the 2nd, hence the second half performance. Just look at the table.

Its absurb for people to say they're not much better than us or even worse they're not a better side than us.

On the plus side, if we can keep Borini, Suarez and Sturridge fit, and play them together, we'll improve significantly and should be good to make a fight for 4th next season.

In general, how anyone can say that Manchester United aren't a much better side than us... Is absolutely astounding.

The league doesn't lie... And hasn't for the last few decades. We ve been falling behind for years now and can't see us being a threat to them for awhile yet.

[Daniel 7]

So bored of the ponderous build up from the keeper to the central defenders EVERY time the ball goes back to Reina. It nearly ended in disaster a couple of times when the Mancs pressed right up.

So slow and predictable

[DannyMan2006]

Once he could push higher up he was a bit better. The guy has a wand of a right foot and should be played closer to goal. Gerrard defensive side of the game of positional sense are poor,when he plays in that deeper role he is so in effective. Always look dangerous around the box.

Maybe bit more stability in midfield with new personnel will be Gerrard will be released forward a bit more.

Gerrard has been in fine form from a deeper role in the past few games. And that's part of Rodgers problem.

He wanted Gerrard up top, Lucas deep and Allen to knit the two together.

Think:

Britton - Lucas
Allen
Gylfi - Gerrard

But Gerrard struggled further forwards and so Rodgers dropped him deeper. It's worked for Stevie and the team as a whole, but it's meant Hendo, Allen or Shelvey have to play off the front. Only natural for it is Jonjo and he ain't ready for it yet.

[danperkins]

We do look so uncomfortable and panicked when teams press us. Shows how poor some of our players are technically and tika taka doesn't suit the personnel we currently have.... As they are not good enough to play that system when put under a bit of pressure.

[cannotmakeit]

Once he could push higher up he was a bit better. The guy has a wand of a right foot and should be played closer to goal. Gerrard defensive side of the game of positional sense are poor,when he plays in that deeper role he is so in effective. Always look dangerous around the box.

Maybe bit more stability in midfield with new personnel will be Gerrard will be released forward a bit more.

That's what an ex manager did and during those few years he was the best attacking midfielder in the world. Gerrard, however, always wants to play the central midfield role and subsequent managers have indulged him.

[Daniel 7]

This wasn't the game for it, but it would be good to see Suso given a chance as the advanced midfielder.

Shelvey - just can't see it with him.

[DannyMan2006]

In general, how anyone can say that Manchester United aren't a much better side than us... Is absolutely astounding.

The league doesn't lie... And hasn't for the last few decades. We ve been falling behind for years now and can't see us being a threat to them for awhile yet.

We are 24 points off them. It's a chasm. If the league started tomorrow I'd fancy that by the 22 game stage we'd be a lot closer, but it'd still be a 12-15 point gap methinks.

[Gibbo]

This wasn't the game for it, but it would be good to see Suso given a chance as the advanced midfielder.

Shelvey - just can't see it with him.

I like Suso but I think at the minute he suffers with the same problems as Sterling, he needs to develop a bit more before we start throwing him in regularly.

[Daniel 7]

We do look so uncomfortable and panicked when teams press us. Shows how poor some of our players are technically and tika taka doesn't suit the personnel we currently have.... As they are not good enough to play that system when put under a bit of pressure.

Exactly. Its so easy to break it up. Harras any one of the deep lying midfielders who drop back to pick the ball up from the central defenders and we're struggling. A weak pass back and they're in trouble. It happened a fair few times today. The players are not strong enough on the ball to play like that.

[danperkins]

Gerrard has been in fine form from a deeper role in the past few games. And that's part of Rodgers problem.

He wanted Gerrard up top, Lucas deep and Allen to knit the two together.

Think:

Britton - Lucas
Allen
Gylfi - Gerrard

But Gerrard struggled further forwards and so Rodgers dropped him deeper. It's worked for Stevie and the team as a whole, but it's meant Hendo, Allen or Shelvey have to play off the front. Only natural for it is Jonjo and he ain't ready for it yet.

I disagree mate, I think Gerrard has been effective when he has got further up the pitch.. To effect the games.

Imo Rogers has played Gerrard deeper not because Gerrard has struggled as you say but more so because Allen is vulnerable defensively and Lucas is nowhere near match fit.

Stevie s comments about having to play that role are evidence of this.

[DannyMan2006]

So bored of the ponderous build up from the keeper to the central defenders EVERY time the ball goes back to Reina. It nearly ended in disaster a couple of times when the Mancs pressed right up.

So slow and predictable

We didn't do it every time. We played it long and caught them out with a ball over the pressing midfielders every now and again.

Barca play the same. Difference is they have better players and have played that system since being in the Academy , just like we are now.

[Chazza]

Peter McDowall @Petermcdowall10
Brendan Rodgers: "They showed great fight in the 2nd half but we were tentative in the 1st, our aggression in the 2nd period much better."

Peter McDowall @Petermcdowall10
BR on Sturridge: "He's a real threat, you can see he's going to score a lot of goals in this team." #LFC

Peter McDowall @Petermcdowall10
BR: "United are 24 points clear but I don't think there's that big a gap in terms of squad quality." #LFC

Peter McDowall @Petermcdowall10
BR on Sturridge & Suarez: "They are giving defenders something to think about. We're disappointed but there's good hope going forward." #LFC