freds Swansea post match Fred Fred

[chadrtc]

I know why people were moaning, I was myself. I just wasn't jumping around like an idiot wanting him sacked for it. I hoped he'd learn from his mistakes, mistakes he was always going to make being a young and inexperienced manager. It's like signing an unproven talent, flashes of brilliance but inconsistent. You just persist and see if they step up and prove themselves.

And I'm sorry, but I can't accept that after a few games he should be binning off two strikers for Raheem Sterling up top. And as Gerrard was so brilliant at starting the play last season, why would you take him out?

Each striker at the club has had a chance IMO, and when they failed to produce he changed it up. I agree he should've done it sooner. But I think it's crystal clear what this club needs now and I think the transfer committee has to step up. Agreed, Lovren has been ****e.

[danperkins]

Balotelli played lone attacker for Italy and has been amazing. Lambert played lone attacker for So'ton and did a very good job. He clearly doesn't rate Borini and neither do I tbh so forget him.

We were struggling to create chances so it didn't make sense to take Gerrard out and put Lucas in, you just create less. When Rodgers finally did do that, that's exactly what happened. We were appalling going forwards but did scrape some draws against the might of Basel, Ludo and Sunderland. We even went with a 4231 with Gerrard and Lucas but it was too slow and pedestrian, even with Gerrard further forwards. That changed when we went to three defenders and got an extra attacker on the pitch.

On Lovren, I don't think he's the reason we are poor at the back. He's not in the side atm and we don't suddenly look solid. IMO, the signing of Mario was the reason we've been so ****e, and I hate to put it all down to one player. It's not Marios fault, he just doesn't suit our STYLE, which is run and press all over the park and be able to run in behind and stretch teams.

I do agree with Lec when he was saying we could've tried Mario with Markovic or Sterling as a partnership. I don't know why he didn't. Maybe he tried it in training and it didn't come off. I don't see training so I can't be certain.

Your right he played a few times for Italy up top and sometimes for Milan. But Premier league is polar opposite to Serie A. In that system we needed Balotelli to defend from the front and put defenders under pressure by pressing and working... that has never been and will never be his game. I don't why we thought we could change that in his game. Rodgers has well and truly had enough of him in that position. Yeah Mario was a huge part of the reason for us looking so bad up top.

For me it made sense from a defensive stand point to put Lucas in a DM position because he is our only DM and Stevie was leaving so many gaps ahead of our already fragile defence. Stevie creates chances from set pieces, very few from open play and if your looking for him picking a pass from deep to a runner... sure your not going to get that from Balotelli as a lone striker. That formation and the personnel in that formation made no sense to me & clearly didn't work. Rodgers thankfully realised Lucas had to be a main stay & that Baloteli and Lambert cannot function in that system as a lone striker.

Henderson's game has been suffering playing beside Gerrard back there as he has to cover to him. Henderson was putting so much work into babysitting Gerrard at DM, that we haven't seen those lung bursting runs ala last season. His natural game has been completely taken away from him. Since Lucas has come in vs Leicester Henderson has been able to make runs into the area and has got a goal and 3 assists..should be more too. We scarified his natural game to accommodate Gerrard in a deep lying position & in that position beside Stevie he's looked knackered.

Also, Lucas always seems inhibited playing beside Stevie when the two are in a deep role. Without Stevie in that deep lying position we seems more solid in the midfield and the passing and general tempo is so much quicker which is allowing to us counter quicker. Stevie was never the tika taka, short sharp passing type.

Lovren was a huge problem IMO. We have conceded goals without him because we've changed to a new system so it's hard to look at it from a statical point of view. It's an open, attacking formation in which two of our CB's are playing in wider more isolated positions & Skrtel is the central figure. IMO Toure and Sakho have looked uncomfortable and slow to get used to the system & Skrtel is not a leader or an organiser.

With Can coming in at RCB we have looked much better in that last two games. It will take time to get used to that formation and i do think we will improve defensively... once Can is left in there and Lucas is our DM. Two players that are defensively solid and very importantly... good in possession in the deep and dangerous areas. I've been saying that I would like to see Moreno and Manquillo as our wing backs so was delighted that Rodgers got that spot on, both have great engines and both are defenders. Markovic and Henderson did admirable jobs there but it's not their game. I thought last night we looked the most balanced and cohesive we've looked all season.

I'm a firm believer in criticism where criticism is due and credit where credit is due. Rodgers has struggled this season to find a system that suits the players he has. It has taken a lot of game time & trial and error to get to where we are now. People wanted to see an improvement in performance and we've started to get that. With every game in this new formation, hopefully we see us improve attack wise and in defence. Role on Leicester

[BigChief]

Great game and Swansea could have made a fight of it but we quashed them with our best game of the season.

However, Gylfi and Bony did look tired not helped by the clearly unfit Shelvey in midfield and a clearly ageing Britton. With no Gerrard in our midfield to balance out those jaded legs Swansea were screwed before the game even began.

[Maxiedge]

Hmmmm, I thought we played much better than usual but still some major worrying signs. Don't want to sound like a party pooper but our issues are far from fixed. The way we caved in after our second really hammers the point for me.

Lallana, couthinho and sterling are really the only quality players we have so as long as the balls in their half of the pitch, we should be fine

If we can get through Leicester at home and pick up the 3 points, that could be the turning point in getting back confidence throughout the side.

[dww]

2nd win the the league in 5attempts and people who were calling for rodgers to be sacked a couple of weeks ago are creaming themselves? Anyway, a long way to go.

I think people are excited because from the United game forward we have found a way to play (even without any forwards the manager trusts) which is exciting to watch and beginning to get results. It's not just rediscovering form but the manner in which we are playing, which people thought was gone that is exciting. There is obviously a lot of work still to do but I don't see why people should not be happy to see this revival getting started (everyone certainly bitched enough when things were not so good).

[RichC]

I think people are excited because from the United game forward we have found a way to play (even without any forwards the manager trusts) which is exciting to watch and beginning to get results. It's not just rediscovering form but the manner in which we are playing, which people thought was gone that is exciting. There is obviously a lot of work still to do but I don't see why people should not be happy to see this revival getting started (everyone certainly bitched enough when things were not so good).

Indeed

[breffniboy]

My heart is in my mouth every time the ball goes near Sakho. I can't decide if he reminds me more of an oil derrick or a supermarket trolley with one bockety wheel. Whatever he is, he should stay to **** away from backheels and the like, he'll tourniquet himself in his own legs or something.

[RedReet]

A decent performance, against a pretty ordinary Swansea.

.

A bit harsh. Swansea were on the back of two decent wins, had one of the best defences in the league and were above us in the table. We on the other hand, despite playing a bit better recently, were still struggling to get points on the board and the manager was under an immense amount of pressure.

4-1 actually flattered Swansea and considering you predicted 1-1, surely a 4-1 rout is slightly better than 'decent'?

[RedReet]

I think people are excited because from the United game forward we have found a way to play (even without any forwards the manager trusts) which is exciting to watch and beginning to get results. It's not just rediscovering form but the manner in which we are playing, which people thought was gone that is exciting. There is obviously a lot of work still to do but I don't see why people should not be happy to see this revival getting started (everyone certainly bitched enough when things were not so good).

The improvement was there to be seen and we didn't get our just rewards against Arsenal and United, so despite not playing as well against Burnley it was important to get the 3 points, as we were always likely to kick on from there.

I'll be very surprised if we don't see a similar performance against Leicester.

[Vermilion]

I agree, we didn't give Swansea a chance to be anything but ordinary, they had far to much to worry about stopping us scoring! effected their whole shape and discipline, when they tried to be offensive we closed down far better than we have at the start of the season, forcing them into missed passes and mistakes generally.

Not perfect by any means, but some of our players are now playing nearer the level we know they are capable of, if the rest do likewise, we wont be too far off 4th. imo.

[I, Ravel Morrison]

A most satisfying win. It brought back some of the ol' 2013-14 match feeling for me.

Both keepers' kicking

[DannyMan2006]

The improvement was there to be seen and we didn't get our just rewards against Arsenal and United, so despite not playing as well against Burnley it was important to get the 3 points, as we were always likely to kick on from there.

I'll be very surprised if we don't see a similar performance against Leicester.

Leicester will run more than Swansea but have less quality. They've had 29 hours extra rest leading up to the game so I'm very thankful we're having two home games on the spin as it will balance it out a little bit. Hopefully we have the energy levels to press high again and get the result.

[RedReet]

Leicester will run more than Swansea but have less quality. They've had 29 hours extra rest leading up to the game so I'm very thankful we're having two home games on the spin as it will balance it out a little bit. Hopefully we have the energy levels to press high again and get the result.

I'd fancy us at home to anybody on NYD, but we should stuff Leicester.


Obviously not much time to recover, but I'm sure a few of the more fatigued players will know they'll possibly get a rest on FA Cup weekend.

Plus a lot of last night’s team haven't played much this season, so compared to Leicester who I assume haven't rotated as much as us this season, we could be a bit fresher.

Raheem would be my main concern and maybe Lucas and Henderson.

[ChesterDave]

My heart is in my mouth every time the ball goes near Sakho. I can't decide if he reminds me more of an oil derrick or a supermarket trolley with one bockety wheel. Whatever he is, he should stay to **** away from backheels and the like, he'll tourniquet himself in his own legs or something.

He is an accident waiting to happen. I thought the little kid that was mascot was better with the ball at his feet

[alonso14]

What a result. Amazing to see the team do everything well, defending attacking pressing we're all brilliant.

Just nice to see us play like that again and get 3 points.