The manager - where are you at?

[EwarWoo]

I'd imagine most people are a little repetitive but it only becomes an issue if you disagree with the post.

It only becomes and issue if you're depressing people.

"Who that cunt. Trying to make everyone happy the ****ing cunt. ****ing happy go lucky ******* spreading his happiness and positiveness."

Doesn't work does it? That's not cliquey, it's just how it is.

[The Birdman]

Carragher and Neville both raved about Lovren last season and both said he'd be a perfect signing for us.
Tbf those 2 know more than enough about defending.

FWIW (and I'll admit to be biased as I don't rate Skrtel and never have done) I can't remember any centre back who looked comfortable alongside Skrtel, Sakho, Toure and Lovren all defend like a they are a bag of nerves when they play alongside him.
That can't be a coincidence surely?

The fact that Rodgers threw all his right sided centre back eggs in the Skrtel basket will be to undoing of him imo.
Lovren can play right side, Toure can play right side, Ilori is a promising young right sided centre back, Wisdom a promising young right sided centre back yet whoever is picked has to play left side to accommodate Skrtel on the right hand side.

It's mental and baffling to think that Martin Skrtel is out 1st choice defender and everyone has to fit in around him

[The_weatherman]

Southamptons style last season was similar to Brendans possession based ideal not last seasons but his general preferred "death by football" system

They scored 54 goals and conceded 46 last season

This season they have scored 25 and conceded 6 using a more direct style

Last season we were much more direct ourselves we pressed high and looked to turn possession quickly and attack, rather than the slow methodical build up play we see now

That system suited us like it now suits Southampton

Yeah, but maybe using a holding midfielder properly you need to be compact and play with a direct style? Not saying we couldn't do with booting Lovren, I just think we can do a little better with what we've got with some change in setup.

[The_weatherman]

Carragher and Neville both raved about Lovren last season and both said he'd be a perfect signing for us.
Tbf those 2 know more than enough about defending.

FWIW (and I'll admit to be biased as I don't rate Skrtel and never have done) I can't remember any centre back who looked comfortable alongside Skrtel, Sakho, Toure and Lovren all defend like a they are a bag of nerves when they play alongside him.
That can't be a coincidence surely?

The fact that Rodgers threw all his right sided centre back eggs in the Skrtel basket will be to undoing of him imo.
Lovren can play right side, Toure can play right side, Ilori is a promising young right sided centre back, Wisdom a promising young right sided centre back yet whoever is picked has to play left side to accommodate Skrtel on the right hand side.

It's mental and baffling to think that Martin Skrtel is out 1st choice defender and everyone has to fit in around him

I'd have thought Lovren and Sakho would be worth a shot.

[red g]

dress him up as a clown with big feet and a squirty flower?

Should try that with Mignolet to

[Rich]

One of my biggest issues is with this quote from Rodgers in the summer:

“I think he’s a really commanding centre-half,” said Rodgers, on the official club website. “I’ve said since we lost Jamie Carragher that we needed that leadership. He’s a player that gives us that.

“He’s very strong, very commanding, but he can play. I’ve been really impressed with him.

“I watched him at Lyon, he came into the Premier League with Southampton and I know their players thought he was a big driving force for them and kept them defensively solid.

“He had a really good World Cup. I think he’s a player that can still improve, still develop as he’s in his mid-20s. He’s someone I’m really looking forward to working with.”

Which is at odds with what we are seeing and what the man himself said, that we hadn't been a leader before.

And yet through all this, Skrtel, who turns 30 in a couple of weeks, has over 250 appearance for the Reds, captains his national team and has amassed in total 70 international caps doesn't seem to have the requirement of being the defensive leader, nor does he have the pressure heaped on him as being "our defensive leader".

Look at Lovren's playing history and he's not actually played that many top class games (Lyon + Southampton + LFC + Internationals comes to under 150 games).

[Fierce]

I may have been guilty of going overboard, I'll try to adjust, but I agree about the clique, nothing serious but get the feeling as well, maybe inevitable amongst the most active posters who maybe meet each other. I try to constructive most of time but I have been very frustrated and it really gets on nerves when other posters insinuate that me, and others, are not really fans just followers or that we are kneejerk or whatever.

What if Rodgers loses every game now until christmas, would it not have been better to replace him now then? Will I be called kneejerk then? I call it as I see it, and I don't he can turn it around so should be sacked.

That is my feeling, I think he lost his bearings, he can't find them and I think we may only pick up a three to five points over the next five games or so at best.

If Rodgers turns things around I'll happily eat my own words.

But can't you see that saying "If we lose the next game or play badly, he has to go" might be inflammatory? You're seemingly disregarding our best finish in 20 years and writing off the person that got us there. What, in your opinion would he have had to have done to earn the chance to put things right?

And (this could apply to all you RODGERS IS **** posters) it is blindingly obvious to even the most stupid of people that the reason we didn't win the league is because our SQUAD wasn't good enough. We needed to buy a significant amount of players to fix that.

It's sad that Rodgers isn't allowed any leeway to put things right

[tanner]

This always happens when things go bad We start to fight each other

[red g]

maybe thats why lambert and lallana are not playing so much the , brendans pissed off with them for telling him Lovren was good

[tanner]

It only becomes and issue if you're depressing people.

"Who that cunt. Trying to make everyone happy the ****ing cunt. ****ing happy go lucky ******* spreading his happiness and positiveness."

Doesn't work does it? That's not cliquey, it's just how it is.

Ban Rodgers then

[The Birdman]

While I'm on the bat****crazy stuff.
How can Emre Can play like he did away to Real Madrid then home to Chelsea and not start a game since when we've been weak and inept in midfield all season.

[Lecter]

Yeah, but maybe using a holding midfielder properly you need to be compact and play with a direct style? Not saying we couldn't do with booting Lovren, I just think we can do a little better with what we've got with some change in setup.

In terms of holding midfielders dont think it matters either way what system

If they are good and the players behind them are good then you will be more compact

Think you have to realise that the 3 or 4 players in the back diamond (Keeper, 2 centrebacks and holding player) have to be good, you can maybe get away with 1 alright / ok but generally they have to be very good in their specific roles

I dont think we have 1 of those 4 who are any good

[Daniel 7]

Agree totally with that post Tanner. Spot on mate

The tanner/sarb clique powering its way through the forum again

[Lecter]

I'd have thought Lovren and Sakho would be worth a shot.

I'd give Sakho a go

Lovren I wouldnt let near the side

Think he is absolutely terrible and I dont think its just down to Skrtel

In fact the bulk of his errors (Lovrens) have been down his own side

[Lecter]

While I'm on the bat****crazy stuff.
How can Emre Can play like he did away to Real Madrid then home to Chelsea and not start a game since when we've been weak and inept in midfield all season.

No idea, one of the many mysteries I have at the minute

Alongside how Glen Johnson gets near a Premier League teamsheet, how Lovren hasnt been permanently dropped

I'd also add why did he drop Lallana after he did well in a few games and why he persists with only 1 up top