Ludo post match thingy

[Fierce]

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.

Really does restore one's faith to read something like this amid a steaming bubbling cauldron of absolute cuntsmithery

[Zapater]

Lallana is definitely nowhere near fit. Thought he was poor on the weekend and horrendous last night. Hopefully getting some minutes will help him play better in the near future.

Also reflecting back, I know it's a harsh criticism as he had a good game, but Manquillo definitely should've scored that volley. It seemed like we didn't create enough, but we had more than enough good chances to win this game comfortably. Lallana, Manquillo, Borini and possibly Henderson and Lovren should have scored or at least done a lot better with their chances. It gives a bit of reassurance that we will win these kind of games down the line.

Oh, and I hope Balotelli takes Rodgers advice and gets in the 6 yard box a bit more, because at times during this game and Villa we did look a bit like we did when Dalglish was the manager. I.e. A lot of possession, but not managing to be penetrative and having no players in the box when we've needed them in there. Fingers crossed the goal will encourage him to stay there more. It's a good alternative to drop off now and then, but shouldn't be explored too often.

[CAD]

IMO this diamond is the crux of our problem:

-----------Mig----------
-Lovren-----------Sahko--
---------Gerrard---

Mignolet doesn't show any sort of leadership and command in goal. Doesn't inspire confidence at all. Sakho's positional sense is a real concern & i'm just not convinced by him. Lovren been directly at fault for 4 or 5 goals already this season, new player or not he had a disaster start. We desperately need to sort the CB's out. And Gerrard offers zero protection for the CB's & puts the midfield under pressure to cover up the gaps he leaves defensively. But to be fair he is some man for the penos.. ice cool.

IMO two up top in Balotelli & Sturridge is our best shout.

Spot on this. Its so clear that there is zero communication between the HM/DM and the defense. Watching the complete lack of positional sense at HM ....well, it hurts. And it will hurt us for the entire season. It has to be like this, doesn't it? What a fix BR has put himself in....

[dom9]

I got in last night one minute before the first goal. Looks like I caught the best part of the game.

[Shaggy]

I'll just leave this here...

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

What a gang of absolute "fecking" tools.

"PENALTYPOOL"

"LIVERPEN"

They are the absolute worst. Hope they enjoyed Coronation Street last night.

[CAD]

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.

Isn't that the point exactly? We need a makalele class player at HM to play this aggressive football...

Or a suarez at his best...

[wiw]

Special mention for Lucas last night, I was reasonably drunk at the time but he looked very good to me Brought that zip and urgency to our game back.

[Infadel]

I'll just leave this here...

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

I laughed when I saw this comment after the pen was given:
"oh no, silly Ludo sausages" Classic Manc!

[Tribute]

Special mention for Lucas last night, I was reasonably drunk at the time but he looked very good to me Brought that zip and urgency to our game back.

...yep, you were drunk.

[wiw]

...yep, you were drunk.

Oh..

[SK]

Other than the game against us (and the start against Man City) Liverpool have not looked good at all this season.

Then again, people said the same about us last season and we kept on winning at a pretty consistent rate all season so I don't think they'll care too much as long as they carry on winning.

this one from redcafe what?

[meffin]

this one from redcafe what?

i'd imagine from a Spurs fan as that was the only game we looked OK this season

[SK]

i'd imagine from a Spurs fan as that was the only game we looked OK this season

oh..that makes a bit more sense

i thought us as in utd pre season

[Scratch]

this one from redcafe what?

i'd imagine from a Spurs fan as that was the only game we looked OK this season

oh..that makes a bit more sense

i thought us as in utd pre season

Given that the person who wrote it was called AfricaSpurs or something, I'd guess you were right!

[DannyMan2006]

Isn't that the point exactly? We need a makalele class player at HM to play this aggressive football...

Or a suarez at his best...

Obviously that would help, but so would having Franco Baresi and Paulo Maldini.....

But we're going to get any of them or similar until January at the earliest. So we make do with what we have.

For me Gerrard looked at his best out of possession v Spurs. He was terrible on the ball, but like a demon off it - snuffed out virtually everything at source. He's capable. As are out other players. They just need a run of games as a unit.

We've made individual errors in the past two seasons and it has cost us. But for now I'll be happy if we can get some partnerships going. I've seen enough of our players to know they have the individual quality to make it work.