Oldham post match

[Bender]

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

I'd hold fire on that ..............but yeah your right on Allen and Borini

[Lecter]

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.

To win 2nd balls you have to be aggressive, dynamic and quick to turn the play

Just dont see it at all in his game

This is why I say hes a misfit

[el matador]

Midfield is our real weak link

I think Rodgers solved this by switching to a 4231 with Lucas and Gerrard as the two with Henderson off the front man or on the left.

It looked much much better but its clear that Rodgers compromised on his 433 to play this way. Thank god because that didn't work for ****.

[Phoenix07]

The thing I'm still not sure is whether we would've gone for Allen if we'd managed to sign Sigurdsson instead. Allen didn't appear on the radar until Sigurdsson decided to sign for Tottenham ahead of us. Both are completely different players, and the latter was arguably what we needed more of in my opinion.

[Shaggy]

Gareth Roberts @robbohuyton
Rodgers says he was disappointed with some of the younger players today. Questioned whether they were up for it.

"The FA Cup was a competition we wanted to have a go at and there is no excuse," Rodgers told ITV Sport.

"We put out a strong team capable of winning the game but we didn't. There is no excuse.

"You have to take it on the chin, but there has been plenty of warnings throughout the weekend - if your application is not right you can get found out."

[Lecter]

I think Rodgers solved this by switching to a 4231 with Lucas and Gerrard as the two with Henderson off the front man or on the left.

It looked much much better but its clear that Rodgers compromised on his 433 to play this way. Thank god because that didn't work for ****.

Neither did whatever he tried today

[BigChief]

Its not just upfront

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

Well at least its nice to see you back in force on the forums Lector. Missed your midfield comments after the previous game.

[el matador]

To win 2nd balls you have to be aggressive, dynamic and quick to turn the play

Just dont see it at all in his game

This is why I say hes a misfit

he's quick on his feet and sharp into pressing but in physical confrontations he is lacking so I guess that's why he looks to pick up the second balls from other people challenging.

His passing isn't brilliant though and his left foot isn't great. But he looks like a continuity / circulation type player suited to a system which Rodgers realises that we can't play.

Now he's redundant imo. Unless you play the 433, Joe Allen can't play.

[Bender]

Well at least its nice to see you back in force on the forums Lector. Missed your midfield comments after the previous game.

Lector is another poster on Another site i think you mean Lecter

[Lecter]

The thing I'm still not sure is whether we would've gone for Allen if we'd managed to sign Sigurdsson instead. Allen didn't appear on the radar until Sigurdsson decided to sign for Tottenham ahead of us. Both are completely different players.

You see with Gerrard dropping deeper and playing nearer to Lucas someone like Sigurdsson would make sense

Allen just doesnt

I think Rodgers wanted players comfortable with his ideals and principles (much like Rafa bought Garcia and Houllier with Ferrer )

[Lecter]

Well at least its nice to see you back in force on the forums Lector. Missed your midfield comments after the previous game.

Thats cause Allen didnt play

[el matador]

Neither did whatever he tried today

but its not been bad recently though since he's partnered Lucas and Gerrard together in central midfield.

Today was more of a 433 because we had threw forwards on the pitch than 4231 or even a 424!

[BigChief]

Lector is another poster on Another site i think you mean Lecter

Apologies, Lecter.

As for Rodgers comments on the youngsters they're spot on. I don't think we'd be too upset if we lost but gave our all but the youngsters were dreadful. Playing like they had no future here. The ones that secured their big contracts played like they had just secured their big contracts. I guess this is why Rodgers was resistant with Sterling getting so much, and he did get too much too soon.

[BigChief]

Thats cause Allen didnt play

I can see the existential dependency on the two of you now.

[Lecter]

but its not been bad recently though since he's partnered Lucas and Gerrard together in central midfield.

Today was more of a 433 because we had threw forwards on the pitch than 4231 or even a 424!

I thought we played a 4-2-4 / 4-4-2 hybrid system today

Puts a lot of pressure on your midfield pairing

Even more so when they are lacking.....