Where will we finish this season?

[Lecter]

He's going to make a big difference - a lot of what they're trying to do will click into place when he's offering educated movement. He'll be knowing the types of runs to make which helps the midfield decide where to pass or predict where to pass to.

That knowledge of style and movement that was learned during last season can only have a huge positive impact to both confidence and intuitive thought.

Nobody in that team knows anything about Mario and what he is or isn't going to do, much the same as he doesn't have a clue what kind of service or ball is going to be played to him by Coutinho or Sterling.

More than just Sturridge coming in needs to change

The new system leaves the midfielders too far away from the frontman, we dont pressure the ball any more either

We've heard the "dont worry we will be better when Joe Allen returns" and now we are on the "dont worry we will be much better when Sturridge returns"

I like Sturridge, I dont like Allen but more than just him returning needs to change before we see dramatic improvement in results

We had Sturridge upfront for the Southampton game, we were ****e then, slow ponderous in possession and failing to close the opposition down. Yes we won but Sturridge got us out of jail by getting on the end of a hopeful punt / cross into the box

[MrMichael]

I think Sturridge will make a massive difference to the type of play our attacking focus is based around. Having a clinical striker with a natural instinct for making runs off the shoulder of defenders on the pitch can only improve us significantly. It won't sort all our problems out by any means - we have a massive issue with defending in general and with midfield shape, and also badly need one (or more) of Coutinho, Lallana or Markovic to start producing big moments, but Sturridge is one of our very best players and we really need him fit.

[Lecter]

Its not necessarily the system though, having the familiarity of Sturridge back, as well as having the confidence in what he's going to do will be huge for everyone behind him. Those players that aren't playing very well haven't become bad players - they're missing a key component. Sturridge will bring a degree of that back.

It is the system imo

2 up top gives you OPTIONS when in possession

The diamond system we employed last year allowed us to press high and turn possession and then because we were high the midfielders could make runs beyond the front men

The change in tactics for me has left less high pressure on the ball, so we are having to attack from deeper, which allows men to get behind the ball, it also means the midfielders have further to run to get beyond the front men by which time anyway theres too many men to thread intricate balls through

[MrMichael]

More than just Sturridge coming in needs to change

The new system leaves the midfielders too far away from the frontman, we dont pressure the ball any more either

We've heard the "dont worry we will be better when Joe Allen returns" and now we are on the "dont worry we will be much better when Sturridge returns"

I like Sturridge, I dont like Allen but more than just him returning needs to change before we see dramatic improvement in results

We had Sturridge upfront for the Southampton game, we were ****e then, slow ponderous in possession and failing to close the opposition down. Yes we won but Sturridge got us out of jail by getting on the end of a hopeful punt / cross into the box

Oh come on Lec, you had a point about Allen but missing a player with the established strike rate of Sturridge is a completely fair call, especially when the alternatives are so poor. Your last paragraph contradicts yourself too, surely that showed the difference Sturridge can make as an individual on the results even if the overall play is still lacking?

[Lecter]

Oh come on Lec, you had a point about Allen but missing a player with the established strike rate of Sturridge is a completely fair call, especially when the alternatives are so poor. Your last paragraph contradicts yourself too, surely that showed the difference Sturridge can make as an individual on the results even if the overall play is still lacking?

I think he will make a difference but it wont be enough

I've said I thought we got out of jail in that Southampton game and he will always give you the chance of nicking a game (a strikers chance), but if you are expecting the dynamic football to return just by bringing him back and sticking with this system is aint going to happen imo

The sum of last years system was about a lot of things, Suarez was part of that and so was Sturridge up top alongside him but it was also about pressure, transitioning quick etc.. none of which we have seen this season other than against Spurs

[Lecter]

I wouldnt be too worried if we were creating tons and tons of chances per game and missing them all because then at least you could say ah well at least Sturridge is coming back soon

[RichC]

So Lec is it the system you're not happy with ? I'm not sure

[The_weatherman]

It is the system imo

2 up top gives you OPTIONS when in possession

The diamond system we employed last year allowed us to press high and turn possession and then because we were high the midfielders could make runs beyond the front men

The change in tactics for me has left less high pressure on the ball, so we are having to attack from deeper, which allows men to get behind the ball, it also means the midfielders have further to run to get beyond the front men by which time anyway theres too many men to thread intricate balls through

I think we are changing from the diamond in an attempt to prolong Gerrard's career with us, at least partially, BR is changing the way we play to fit Gerrard better.

[RichC]

I think we've changed from the diamond because of lack of options available to us up top at the moment - Lambert looks like he runs through treacle & Borini he just doesn't seem to rate at all.

Remember we've got Origi to come in next season and I'd imagine the plan is to be playing 2 from 4 of Sturridge, Origi & Balotelli.

The Sturridge injuries has really hurt us this season so far.

[The_weatherman]

I think we've changed from the diamond because of lack of options available to us up top at the moment - Lambert looks like he runs through treacle & Borini he just doesn't seem to rate at all.

Remember we've got Origi to come in next season and I'd imagine the plan is to be playing 2 from 4 of Sturridge, Origi & Balotelli.

The Sturridge injuries has really hurt us this season so far.

I'm worried that there isn't a plan.

We are changing tactics because of Gerrard, they have said as much, I just think we should stick to a system and not change it for the sake of one player. I also think the diamond could work with Borini and Balotelli upfront, we tried it at West Ham but they also put Downing on Gerrard and maybe that was the reason it didn't work. Maybe we could try the diamond without Gerrard?

[Bender]

Problem is were playing absolutely ****.....if we were playing like last season at least we could say were unfortunate.But were playing crap and now dropping more and more points

[RichC]

I'm worried that there isn't a plan.

We are changing tactics because of Gerrard, they have said as much, I just think we should stick to a system and not change it for the sake of one player. I also think the diamond could work with Borini and Balotelli upfront, we tried it at West Ham but they also put Downing on Gerrard and maybe that was the reason it didn't work. Maybe we could try the diamond without Gerrard?

That's also possible but I think it's pretty apparent that he simply doesn't rate Borini and tbf 99% of the fans didn't either and were desperate for us to get rid of him in the Summer.

The summer window for strikers looks more and more of a mistake but then I guess we also didn't expect to have Sturridge unavailable since the end of August.

[Kenneth]

As it stands, I'd say 5th or 6th.

Really not impressed with whats happened this summer to be honest, the money we've spent could've transformed the starting 11, but instead we seem to have purchased prospects (Lallana aside, I think he'll do well), and spent just £4m on Lambert filling the hole left by Suarez (I know he's not a Suarez replacement as such, but one striker out and one in). Its a huge risk this by Rogers, absolutely massive and if it backfires this season there will be some huge questions to be asked. This is live and die by the sword territory here with the expenditure likely to hit or even exceed £100m by the time the season starts.

Man Utd will be back in the top 4, their pre season couldn't have gone better for them. I don't take pre season games to mean anything at all individually, but they've beaten some decent sides this summer and that will do wonders for their confidence, LVG is a top manager and the break from the CL will do them wonders. Arsenal will finish ahead of us into 4th I think.

Despite the flak he got for it, Tanner pretty much nailed it in this thread.

[RichC]

So, 13 games left of our Premier League season and I'd say to reach the top 4 we're going to need around 72 points i.e. 30 points from the remaining fixtures; quite a tough task but not impossible.

We don't have the luxury really of any slip ups in the run in and juggling both the FA cup and the Europa League alongside the league is going to be hard work these Thursday Sunday/Monday game weeks never seem to work well for teams but it's something we're going to have to try and deal with

On a positive note though if we can replicate the league form we've shown since the Manc game in December i.e. 9 games & 21 points it would leave us with a fighting chance to do so.

Games left in the league for us -

22-Feb Southampton (A) Win (3 pts)
01-Mar Man City (H) Draw (1 pt)
04-Mar Burnley (H) Win (3 pts)
16-Mar Swansea (A) Win (3 pts)
22-Mar Man Utd (H) Win (3 pts)
04-Apr Arsenal (A) Loss (0 pts)
11-Apr Newcastle (H) Draw (1 pt)
18-Apr Hull City (A) Win (3 pts)
25-Apr West Brom (A) Win (3 pts)
02-May QPR (H) Win (3 pts)
09-May Chelsea (A) Loss (0 pts)
16-May Crystal Palace (H) Draw (1 pt)
24-May Stoke City (A) Win (3 pts)

Looking at that I think we'll get 69 points and probably just miss out but I'm **** with predictions !

[Trippendicular]

So, 13 games left of our Premier League season and I'd say to reach the top 4 we're going to need around 72 points i.e. 30 points from the remaining fixtures; quite a tough task but not impossible.

We don't have the luxury really of any slip ups in the run in and juggling both the FA cup and the Europa League alongside the league is going to be hard work these Thursday Sunday/Monday game weeks never seem to work well for teams but it's something we're going to have to try and deal with

On a positive note though if we can replicate the league form we've shown since the Manc game in December i.e. 9 games & 21 points it would leave us with a fighting chance to do so.

Games left in the league for us -



Looking at that I think we'll get 69 points and probably just miss out but I'm **** with predictions !

I honestly think we can win 10 of 13. It's got a similar feel to last year where we're slowly turning into a juggernaut. If Sturridge stays fit I think we score enough to win most games.