Dejan Lovren

[danperkins]

Yup true individual errors are costing us in every game.

[DannyMan2006]

Hmm. That's not really the bottom line but thanks for your reply, etc.

Our protection isn't great at all - I'm sure we all agree - but the CB's and Mignolet are making individual errors too. Skrtel, Sakho and Lovren wouldn't look good in any team with their frequent individual ****ups.

You expose players to frequent pressure and they'll make mistakes. And no one is there to help them out of trouble when they make a mistake. Constantly getting punished, constant last ditch tackles. I've seen enough.

[DannyMan2006]

I'm sorry but until we sign players that will make zero mistakes, we have to change the system to one that offers more protection. As Rodgers says, if you can't win then at least make sure you don't lose. Let's tighten up, get a solid platform and then allow our attacking players a bit of creative freedom and the knowledge that they don't need to score 2 or more goals just to avoid defeat.

2 goals should mean a victory for a top side. For us, for over a year, it doesn't even guarantee one point.

[Lecter]

Well all of the centre backs we have are very good players. Not perfect, maybe not of the standard of a real quality side and maybe we should be expecting better for the fees paid. Toure is obviously in the twilight of his career, whilst Lovren and Sakho are still very young and will make mistakes. Skrtel seems to be the most trusted and probably rightly so, as he'd be considered to be in his prime.

Bottom line is you could put anyone of those lot in the City or Chelsea sides, or in the Bayern side and they'd look like really good players. They look poor because they're getting zero protection and they've had little to no protection for nearly a year.

We didn't need Lovren, Lambert and Lallana. We needed Schniderlin more than those three. Someone of that ilk. Actually, we might not even need someone like that. We just need to remove Gerrard from the quarterback role.

Disagree. Gerrard playing doesnt push a centrehalf out of contact with his other centrehalf, Gerrard playing doesnt make a centrehalf be out of position as much as Lovren is and Gerrard playing doesn't stop Lovren getting goalside of players.

These are fundamental defensive mistakes

I have issues with the midfield and in an ideal world Gerrard wouldn't be playing much but there are plenty of other problems that arent his doing that havent been resolved either

[BubbaZanetti]

I'm sorry but until we sign players that will make zero mistakes, we have to change the system to one that offers more protection. As Rodgers says, if you can't win then at least make sure you don't lose. Let's tighten up, get a solid platform and then allow our attacking players a bit of creative freedom and the knowledge that they don't need to score 2 or more goals just to avoid defeat.

2 goals should mean a victory for a top side. For us, for over a year, it doesn't even guarantee one point.

[DannyMan2006]

Disagree. Gerrard playing doesnt push a centrehalf out of contact with his other centrehalf, Gerrard playing doesnt make a centrehalf be out of position as much as Lovren is and Gerrard playing doesn't stop Lovren getting goalside of players.

These are fundamental defensive mistakes

I have issues with the midfield and in an ideal world Gerrard wouldn't be playing much but there are plenty of other problems that arent his doing that havent been resolved either

Well Lovren looked fine for Southampton last season. Whilst we still looked ****e when he didn't play for us last season. In fact, we've had multiple partnerships at the back and we've looked poor for everyone of them since Gerrard started playing in front of the back four.

I thought last season, Gerrard was first class. Teams couldn't really push onto us because otherwise the SAS killed them. I'll be honest, even now if we had Balotelli & Sturridge up top we'd probably be alright even now. As evidenced against Spurs. But when Sturridge is out...... The systems breaks down.

[Shaggy]

I'm completely pissed but he looks ****. Problem is no matter who Rodgers picks, or buys and then picks, they all look ****. I love Brendan but it's a problem isn't it.

[EwarWoo]

I think its been clear all along its as much the system as the players.

But a score 1 more than you policy is only workable if you're scoring.

And we're looking blunt this season

[Phoenix07]

This is what Lovren said 5 days ago:

"It is not so easy to lead all the time. I was used to other players leading before but I have the confidence in myself and I am ready for it. I am just 25 and the thing is I need to improve in every game as a person and as a player.

Wasn't he supposed to be the commander at the back? Maybe Rodgers expected him to step up, but now it's like we have an entire back five devoid of leadership.

Valdes is a leader, and I really hope we sign him, but we need someone else at the back. Our set pieces are symptomatic of missing organisation.

[Vermilion]

Lovren, i don't think was anywhere near this bad at Southampton, so whats changed ?

His job should really have got easier joining a bigger club.

[Exiled_red]

This is what Lovren said 5 days ago:



Wasn't he supposed to be the commander at the back? Maybe Rodgers expected him to step up, but now it's like we have an entire back five devoid of leadership.

Valdes is a leader, and I really hope we sign him, but we need someone else at the back. Our set pieces are symptomatic of missing organisation.

I don't think it is just about leadership it is about communication we need the back 5 to talk to one another for example when they need to switch over who is picking up which man, when one of the CBs should go to the ball and the other should cover, where opposition players are around them. That shouldn't be the responsibility of just one person all the back five should be doing this, the only extra duties the 'leader' of the back four should have is telling people where to hold the line. At the moment no one seems to be very vocal on any of these issues.

[G]

The system he plays in has changed. Southamptons personnel have changed but they are still very good defensively. At this stage and after trying so many combos for me it's simple, the manager isn't very good at drilling a defence or getting a team to defend as a unit when they don't have ball. All good successful teams are built on a solid defence. We've pretty much ignored that and will end up like Keegans Newcastle if we aren't careful. They came second once too. Is the manager big enough to accept where his failing are and address them?

[Tee]

He has just looked so average since a very impressive debut v Dortmund. With each game he should be more settled but it looks like he is regressing almost each time he plays. I am at a complete loss right now as to how we can turn our defence round.

I am actually looking forward to having GJ back! Personally I would go with a Skrtel and Sakho CB pairing v Everton.

[danperkins]

Lovren, i don't think was anywhere near this bad at Southampton, so whats changed ?

His job should really have got easier joining a bigger club.

Pressure and expectation. He looks terrified

[Muddled]

I wouldn't say terrified. I think Lovren has taken on the responsibility of being the supposed 'leader' (as he has alluded to in various interviews), but has unfortunately channelled this energy incorrectly. He is so keen to lead by example and to authoritative, that he is all over the place as he looks to impress and takes ownership of an entirely new defensive line.

Hyypia looked like a new player when he was replaced as club captain, maybe once Lovren has realised he doesn't need to be an all defensive hero, we may start seeing some improvements.