Ludo post match thingy

[Kenneth]

Are we due to give someone a hiding?

[Buzzo]

It was great to see how much the goal meant to Mario - worked hard all night, and just needed the ball to break his way. Great goal, no small amount of skill involved. He will do well for us and particularly once Sturridge is back as his movement should create space for Mario.

It can't be easy being compared to Suarez all the time either.

[DannyMan2006]

1. Ludogorets are not a piss poor side, despite us not having heard of them so much. Knocked out PSV & Lazio with two away wins last season in the Europa League.

2. Balotelli & Lallana are not match fit.

3. We've got new players all over the pitch, many of whom didn't really have any pre season at all to bed in. We have too many players new in the side that have been forced due to injuries.

Due to all of the above, I'm struggling to have a real go at them. I mean, in a 433 or 4231, you look to have a focal point and Balotelli was dropping too deep until Brendan had a word. After that, a bit better. But he's clearly off the pace slightly due to fitness and he's struggling to link with Sterling and Lallana. Meanwhile, Couts gets the ball, looks up and he had no forwards running into the box for him, whilst the wide men only seemed to have likes of Hendo and Lallana getting in the box.

I mean, Couts has been poor. But that type of player is when he has little movement ahead of him. It's at this stage that we needed someone like Allen or Can in to just keep us solid and I suspect they'd be starting just to make sure we aren't losing games. I wasn't surprised to see Lucas come on despite us not leading at the time.

As for the back 6......... They're not working as a unit. Error after error. Not one has covered themselves in glory when we're talking about basic defending. They've all made some decent last ditch blocks, clearances, tackles etc. but they shouldn't have to be doing so. They should be a solid bank of four with the keeper sweeping up behind. When the full backs bomb forward, Gerrard should make it a solid bank of three. Gerrard is key as he needs to plug the gaps when a full back moves out of position. But even if he's never going to be Claude Makalele, the CB pairing should be communicating better and allowing us to have a playmaker sit in front of them.

We just have to hope that as the games go by we improve as a unit, and it's not just because either the players aren't good enough or the managers not capable of teaching defending as a team.

[danperkins]

On the plus side .. at least we don't have Per Mertesacker in our defence

[DannyMan2006]

Are we due to give someone a hiding?

No, not the way we're playing. But when Sturridge gets back, I reckon it will come. And when Sturridge is next out, I'm hoping the others will have settled in well enough to not have it as major a problem as it is now. Latter part Same for Joe Allen.

[Buzzo]

On the plus side .. at least we don't have Per Mertesacker in our defence

[danperkins]

[SK]

those crates remind me of windows 8

[danperkins]

those crates remind me of windows 8

Except their probably more stable

[danperkins]

Just watching Madrid they are amazing going forward & Modric runs the show , what a supreme footballer! But they are a banker to concede with that dodgy defence. Basel could have had 2 or 3. Our defence needs to get sorted quick smart before we play them or we'll be massacred at the back. Benzema's goal was unreal.

[McDermotX]

I'll just leave this here...

http://www.redcafe.net/threads/cl-2014-15-matchday-1.396591/page-17

[Assassin]

[fred_plasticine]

the 'group' just need to relax. we're way too uptight at the moment, trying too hard to make it work. need to get that mojo back. relax and take the time to make it happen. we seem hellbent on blitzing teams like we did last season. don't have to score 2 in the first 30 min. it'll come though, i'm sure of that.

[SB]

I'll just leave this here...

http://www.redcafe.net/threads/cl-20...396591/page-17

Inbred thick heads.

[ronanm]

the 'group' just need to relax. we're way too uptight at the moment, trying too hard to make it work. need to get that mojo back. relax and take the time to make it happen. we seem hellbent on blitzing teams like we did last season. don't have to score 2 in the first 30 min. it'll come though, i'm sure of that.

Agreed. I was a bit ott myself last night comparing Lallana to Oyvind Leonhardsen. It will take time. There was one move in the first half where Moreno played it to Sterling in midfield, who laid it off to Coutinho - superb move. Hopefully that's what we'll be able to do consistently when the team gets used to each other. Sturridge is missed though.