v Arsenal (A): Post Match

[chadrtc]

Cj and Camel Boy

[cream]

We don't have the quality they have, they're a better side than us and it showed today. A top striker, three midfielders, a CB, a goalie and a RB and we should be ok.

[Muddled]

Lovren and Toure when we play Blackburn? Yay!

[DannyMan2006]

I don't see the point in changing manager. The squad is what it is and I'm not sure many could do better with it. With no CL I can't see us brining in stars and it looks like we are gonna be stuck in that rung below the top 4 for the foreseeable.

Had we built on last season I really think this summer was when we would've kicked on as we'd have shown we had the continuity to compete in the CL year after year. Now I think we will be struggling to keep our better players and we'll become the new Arsenal, albeit one that doesn't make the top 4 to attract enough players to keep our heads above water.

[Bender]

[Shaggy]

Left ourselves too much to do with the dire start. No margin for error. Disaster really.

That sort of tonking has been coming.

[BobTheCharmer]

Right, let's go back to four at the back for the remainder of this season. Johnson at right back, moreno left. Lovren and sakho in the middle. Get balotelli up front with sterling.

[ChrisDR1968]

I don't see the point in changing manager. The squad is what it is and I'm not sure many could do better with it. With no CL I can't see us brining in stars and it looks like we are gonna be stuck in that rung below the top 4 for the foreseeable.

Had we built on last season I really think this summer was when we would've kicked on as we'd have shown we had the continuity to compete in the CL year after year. Now I think we will be struggling to keep our better players and we'll become the new Arsenal, albeit one that doesn't make the top 4 to attract enough players to keep our heads above water.

If that's the case then Rodgers will definitely get canned by FSG at the end of next season. Their whole business plan for the club is to be in the top 4 consistently.

[Shaggy]

3-0 at City
3-0 at United
4-1 at Arsenal

****in hell

[Big-Red-Ed]

Can't see why the manager is getting stick today. Ridiculous really.

[h7k]

He's the manager and the buck stops with him. He has spent a shed load of money and we have regressed.

I couldn't argue with you on this bit.

[Rigadon]

Embarrassing result. Top four is well and truly over.

Playing Sterling as a lone striker is wrong. Playing Sterling as a RWB is wrong.

If we can't beat the teams in third and fourth place (one point from a possible 12), we don't deserve to be in the top four.

[Bender]

Rodgers: "Very difficult now (to finish top 4). We needed something out of that game."
We were too negative. We put ourselves under pressure (first 10 minutes).Very disappointing.
BR:I thought Raheem was outstanding today.
Squawka Football @Squawka 1m1 minute ago
Raheem Sterling's game by numbers vs Arsenal:

0 key passes
0 shots on target
0 assists
0 tackles won
0 interceptions

[MrMichael]

Right, let's go back to four at the back for the remainder of this season. Johnson at right back, moreno left. Lovren and sakho in the middle. Get balotelli up front with sterling.

What, are we trying to make sure we finish outside the UEFA cup places then?

Balotelli ahead of Sturridge? Johnson and Lovren.... ever?

[DannyMan2006]

Left ourselves too much to do with the dire start. No margin for error. Disaster really.

That sort of tonking has been coming.

Bottom line is we are just not good enough. We create chances in the main, but we just don't take them. No wonder Rodgers has been pushing a half fit Sturridge to play, and no wonder he stuck with the useless Balotelli for so long.

We've looked at our best with the triumvirate of Couts, Lallana & Sterling, but even then we were relying on being rock solid at the back. The wheels have come off in the last two games and we've been schooled by two teams who gobble up their chances whilst we miss them.

That said, Skrtel was a massive loss today and Lucas was clearly not ready to play ninety minutes from the start. Arsenal pressed us hard at times today and when they did our passing and tempo wasn't up to scratch, just like last week tbh, so maybe blaming it all on Toure & Lucas wouldn't be fair. Swansea hinted we needed to change the system, Man Utd made it more convincing, Arsenal have blown the 343 experiment to pieces. We've been figured out at the wrong moment and it was the protege of Rodgers that showed everyone the way, it wasn't rocket science.