FC Basel vs Liverpool post match thread

[McDermotX]

After calming down and contemplating the match, the performance and the result, plus an in-depth analysis of the salient highlights, I've come to the conclusion that that was a load of ****ing ****e.

[Muddled]

3 big issues for me:

1) Formation

[snip]

2) Newcomers

[snip]

3) Selection

[snip]

Good post. I've only trimmed it because of the length to quote it.

The first two points you make are fair, but the third I think is easier said than done. You could argue we got through last season with a skeleton squad and minimal disruption, but we were lucky with injuries and had less football to cope with. This season was going to be all about the use of the squad.

Whilst it seems imperative at the moment to maintain the same back five, Moreno took a knock earlier in the season and might now start to feel the impact of that. Lallana has just returned from injury and after the 120 minutes against Middlesbrough, perhaps he was filling leggy. Sterling is obviously the enigma, but such is his form at the moment (last night aside), he's pretty much undroppable. I know Rodgers experimented with that at Aston Villa but look what happened!

This is a learning curve for Rodgers too. How does he maintain the continuity of the first team, but keep them fresh for the Premiership and Champions League games? It's what he spent his money on over the summer and it kinda goes back to your second point, coaching his methods to the newcomers so that when a player comes in, they know their role and the transition is seamless.

Whilst it would be nice to field the same starting eleven, I have faith in Rodgers and how he handles players to believe that there will be sufficient reason for tinkering. It's getting them to perform that is Rodgers' biggest problem at the moment.

[Bender]

Not sure why so many think Sturridge coming back is going to change the dynamics or our style of play,there's to many under performing players,a lack of passions and self belief,and where has our attacking football and quick starts to games gone,we seem to have become Jekyll and hide even as boring as we were under Hodgson.

[Muddled]

Not sure why so many think Sturridge coming back is going to change the dynamics or our style of play,there's to many under performing players,a lack of passions and self belief,and where has our attacking football and quick starts to games gone,we seem to have become Jekyll and hide even as boring as we were under Hodgson.

Because we are still creating chances. Last night, with more composure in front of goal we would have picked up three points. When Sturridge returns, our attack will change. Sturridge's ability to bring others in, his neat, intricate passing, his selfless running and movement and the knack for finding the net will help us no end.

[Bender]

very few chances,no i don't buy this Sturridge thing,don't see how him coming back will change the everything bad about the team,effectively your saying we are now a 1 man team

[Muddled]

very few chances,no i don't buy this Sturridge thing,don't see how him coming back will change the everything bad about the team,effectively your saying we are now a 1 man team

Well Sturridge coming back won't improve our defence, that's for sure. I'm not saying we're a one man team, I'm saying the return of a great player will help the team and more than likely raise the game of those around him. Countinho has someone with movement in front of him, Sterling has somebody to run off knowing they might get the return, Balotelli will have the pressure of leading the line reduced and Gerrard will have an outlet. One player returns, four more can play to their strengths.

[danperkins]

After calming down and contemplating the match, the performance and the result, plus an in-depth analysis of the salient highlights, I've come to the conclusion that that was a load of ****ing ****e.

[Bender]

very few chances,no i don't buy this Sturridge thing,don't see how him coming back will change the everything bad about the team,effectively your saying we are now a 1 man team

Well Sturridge coming back won't improve our defence, that's for sure. I'm not saying we're a one man team, I'm saying the return of a great player will help the team and more than likely raise the game of those around him. Countinho has someone with movement in front of him, Sterling has somebody to run off knowing they might get the return, Balotelli will have the pressure of leading the line reduced and Gerrard will have an outlet. One player returns, four more can play to their strengths.

If Sturridge will have an impact on all those players then i fear for the team long term,cannot rely on Sturridge given his injury record and the team albeit still in transition,the team is more like Hodgsons team or Rodgers team in his first season,incredible how we our fortunes have turned around from last season.

[fred_plasticine]

like someone else has stated above, some 6 months ago we would have been at least 3-0 up by half time. they gave the ball away in attacking moves far too easyly and we intercepted that well. but instead of swarming all over them with pace, power and decisive running and passing we just gave it back to them.
we were brilliant last season because of our movement and pace. this season there's no movement at all. it's static. and everyone seems to go for the killer pass far too early.
and the way a mediocre basel side tore us open is really, really worrying. and again i think it's down to a lack of movement and just bad positioning and timing.
one thing's for sure, brendan's got his work cut out.

[danperkins]

like someone else has stated above, some 6 months ago we would have been at least 3-0 up by half time. they gave the ball away in attacking moves far too easyly and we intercepted that well. but instead of swarming all over them with pace, power and decisive running and passing we just gave it back to them.
we were brilliant last season because of our movement and pace. this season there's no movement at all. it's static. and everyone seems to go for the killer pass far too early.
and the way a mediocre basel side tore us open is really, really worrying. and again i think it's down to a lack of movement and just bad positioning and timing.
one thing's for sure, brendan's got his work cut out.

It was chaotic defending for the goal but Basel were their for the taking... so many of our attacks broke down, wasted passes, wrong decisions & **** finishing. Take Enrique out of that back line & we made one mistake. We should have punished them up front but we look slow,predictable & toothless. Players shrugging their shoulders & with their heads down... polar opposite to the fight and intensity we showed last season. We are relying on Sturridge to come back to fix all those problems up front and link the front line to the midfield and wide areas. It's a big question mark & considered his injury record... chances are he'll be injured quite a bit this season. Allen seems imperative to this LFC side at the moment..which i thought i'd never say.

[Muddled]

If Sturridge will have an impact on all those players then i fear for the team long term,cannot rely on Sturridge given his injury record and the team albeit still in transition,the team is more like Hodgsons team or Rodgers team in his first season,incredible how we our fortunes have turned around from last season.

Great players bringing out the best of other players shocka.

You hit the nail on the head Bender - transition.

[G]

It's exactly what Suarez did, drove the others on. Sturridge and his intelligent movement will be a massive boon to the team on its own never mind his finishing. He has the potential to make all the difference, hopefully he can stay fit.

[Darkon]

What a dud that performance was last night. There were a few encouraging moments, but overall it was disappointing not getting a point from that. Basel is a good team, have shown that in the past handfull of seasons, but we should be able to go down there and get points out of it.

The attack still needs to gel, to much misunderstanding and far to few players making runs in the box early enough. We are lacking the presence of a second striker to make runs of Balotelli when he holds up the ball, and it's just to slow at the moment.

Also Skrtel How that guy is still with us is a mystery to me, been dreadfull for years (a bit harsh perhaps), and basically only had one good season (last season), and there he still cost a bunch of goals. Dare I say if he hadn't scored as many as he did, it wouldn't have been a good season for him?

Hopefully we can work Lovren and Sakho together soon, or even give Kolo a run of games. I don't think anyone can ever really get a good partnership going with someone so eradict as Skrtel.

Hopefully Sturridge is back soon to give some presence in the box!

It was all for nothing I guess, someone won the 'Week Holiday Price'

[Kenneth]

They're not the same side that they were over the past few years. Lost their manager, lost players, they're a distinctly mediocre team.

[Bender]

They're not the same side that they were over the past few years. Lost their manager, lost players, their a distinctly mediocre team.

Stilll they managed to get in behind our defense too many times and Embolo had a couple of free runs on goal,