Oldham post match

[el matador]

Its interesting that more and more people are picking up on this

Its been plainly obvious for months!!!!!

Teams with a physical presence up top seem to beat us without doing anything special. Just put the ball in the box and we will cave.

tough physical players who can play cost a fortune. I know the manager wants us to play but this isn't la liga or serie a where its all about technique.

Busquets is a physical presence in Spain. ****ing busquets. He wouldn't last five minutes in our league.

You need a mix of bricklayers and painters. All we've got are painters.

[Lecter]

Clearly not Rodgers nor does he seem to accept or realise how poor and detremental Allen is to the side

The amazing thing for me is that people slate Dalglish for spending big money on Downing and Henderson and Carroll and rightly so

But Rodgers has spunked £11 million on Borini and £15 million on Allen and that looks equally as dreadful to me

Still Sturridge looks half decent for the money, so at least hes got one right

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Teams with a physical presence up top seem to beat us without doing anything special. Just put the ball in the box and we will cave.

tough physical players who can play cost a fortune. I know the manager wants us to play but this isn't la liga or serie a where its all about technique.

Busquets is a physical presence in Spain. ****ing busquets. He wouldn't last five minutes in our league.

You need a mix of bricklayers and painters. All we've got are painters.

Sorry but Busquets would comfortably be one of the best players in the league if he came here, he's a cunt, but he's still class.

[Lecter]

Teams with a physical presence up top seem to beat us without doing anything special. Just put the ball in the box and we will cave.

tough physical players who can play cost a fortune. I know the manager wants us to play but this isn't la liga or serie a where its all about technique.

Busquets is a physical presence in Spain. ****ing busquets. He wouldn't last five minutes in our league.

You need a mix of bricklayers and painters. All we've got are painters.

Its not just upfront

Opposition teams with a presence in midfield stiffle us and easily dominate us

[el matador]

They're system players. Now we've changed the system Allen doesn't look anywhere near as effective.

Borini looks well short imo for a 21 year old.

[RichC]

I think today it highlighted just how important our CB pairing is, they give us the platform to build from the back and dominate possession, the pairing we saw today are very rarely going to be given a run out together and certainly not Caotes after that display.

There was no calmness in possession at the back and I think thar filtered through the side; it was a terrible result and perhaps gave us more answers to those that aren't quite good enough to be playing for us.

I expect a far better performance this coming game with Arsenal with our usual back 4 in place hopefully with Lucas, Gerrard & Henderson playing in midfield.

[el matador]

Its not just upfront

Opposition teams with a presence in midfield stiffle us and easily dominate us

we don't respond very well to physical and pressing pressure imo.

Henderson, Lucas and Gerrard can handle themselves and since that's been the midfield trio we've looked more secure.

Today, without those three together our misfield looked ****.

[Exiled_red]

For the last 10 minutes we should have stuck one of the centre backs up front as a target. Trying to walk the ball in all the time is a failed logic. There are times especially desperation, you launch it and try and pick up on the knock downs. We are so brittle from front to back. Neither Suarez or sturridge were capable of retaining possession.

If only we hadn't loaned out Andy Carroll...

[Lecter]

They're system players. Now we've changed the system Allen doesn't look anywhere near as effective.

Borini looks well short imo for a 21 year old.

I dont know what system Allen suits

I keep saying it, hes not a holding player because hes weak as a kitten and cant tackle. Hes not good enough to be an attacking player because he doesnt contribute enough assists or score goals. He cant be a link player because he slows the game down

I just dont know what type of player he is, for me hes a player you bring off the bench when you are winning to close things out / slow things down

He doesnt impose himself enough front or back to be a starter in midfield

[Shaggy]

Knowing us we'll probably get a result at Arsenal - they won't boot us all over the shop that's for sure.

Coutinho will be buzzing after that

[Buzzo]

I dont know what system Allen suits

I keep saying it, hes not a holding player because hes weak as a kitten and cant tackle. Hes not good enough to be an attacking player because he doesnt contribute enough assists or score goals. He cant be a link player because he slows the game down

I just dont know what type of player he is, for me hes a player you bring off the bench when you are winning to close things out / slow things down

He doesnt impose himself enough front or back to be a starter in midfield

He's a £15m Jay Spearing then....

[Exiled_red]

I dont know what system Allen suits

I keep saying it, hes not a holding player because hes weak as a kitten and cant tackle. Hes not good enough to be an attacking player because he doesnt contribute enough assists or score goals. He cant be a link player because he slows the game down

I just dont know what type of player he is, for me hes a player you bring off the bench when you are winning to close things out / slow things down

He doesnt impose himself enough front or back to be a starter in midfield

[Lecter]

we don't respond very well to physical and pressing pressure imo.

Henderson, Lucas and Gerrard can handle themselves and since that's been the midfield trio we've looked more secure.

Today, without those three together our misfield looked ****.

Henderson, Gerrard and Lucas has the best balance about it but its far from ideal imo

Long term we need better

At best Henderson should be a squad player, but I'd still have him ahead of Allen any day of the week

[Bender]

Its not just upfront

Opposition teams with a presence in midfield stiffle us and easily dominate us

Midfield is our real weak link

[el matador]

I dont know what system Allen suits

I keep saying it, hes not a holding player because hes weak as a kitten and cant tackle. Hes not good enough to be an attacking player because he doesnt contribute enough assists or score goals. He cant be a link player because he slows the game down

I just dont know what type of player he is, for me hes a player you bring off the bench when you are winning to close things out / slow things down

He doesnt impose himself enough front or back to be a starter in midfield

he's supposed to be the link player who looks to pick up the second halls and work both ways but he looks unsuited to the final third.

Long term I think he will be ok. Interestingly I saw Leon Brittan play against Chelsea and he looked very calm and composed as the holder. Maybe he made Joe look a better player.