v Arsenal (A): Post Match

[The Reverend]

The transfer committee has had a nightmare over the last twelve months and we were short of quality and also experience in the middle of the park today. If you look at the players who made the difference for arsenal today and utd last week though it's obvious that until we match the highest wages we aren't going to consistently compete with the top sides.

[Daniel 7]

Don't want Rodgers sacked. But wouldnt have any issues if her were uppercutted for his purchases.

But were they his purchases? If the rumours are true and he wanted Lovren and Allen, then he deserves a good slap for them. As for the others, who's to say?!

[peekay]

I read somewhere after the Manc defeat that Rodgers has only 5 wins in 26 games against both Manc teams, Arsenal, and Chelsea. I am not sure about how accurate this stat is, but I can recall only 2 wins against Mancs last season, 1 win against Arsenal, and 2 wins against City. And if you consider the fact that Mancs last season were not a top 4 team, the number of victories we have against top 4 teams is low.

I believe Rodgers should be given another season. He has shown that with the right players he can create a system where we defeat the not so good teams day in day out. But he needs to improve against the top 4 teams. In a sense, that can explain our poor performances in Europe. We get found out very easily by tactically astute managers with decent players.

Edit: Looked at fixture results against top 4 teams in the league.

MANCHESTER CITY H D 2-2
ARSENAL H L 0-2
MANCHESTER UNITED H L 1-2
Chelsea A D 1-1
Manchester United A L 1-2
Arsenal A D 2-2
Manchester City A D 2-2
CHELSEA H D 2-2

MANCHESTER UNITED H W 1-0
Arsenal A L 0-2
Manchester City A L 1-2
Chelsea A L 1-2
ARSENAL H W 5-1
Manchester United A W 3-0
MANCHESTER CITY H W 3-2
CHELSEA H L 0-2

Manchester City A L 1-3
CHELSEA H L 1-2
Manchester United A L 0-3
ARSENAL H D 2-2
MANCHESTER CITY H W 2-1
MANCHESTER UNITED H L 1-2
Arsenal A L 1-4

2012-2013 season 0 W 3 L 5 D
2013-2014 season 4 W 4 L 0 D
2014-2015 season 1 W 5 L 1 D

This is just the league. I dont remember us knocking out any of the big teams in the cup competitions also.

[G]

We ran out of steam last season late on, small squad a factor. Bigger squad this season but more games, running out of steam again. These are things the manager is supposed to manage. He's not doing a very good job. Signs were there in the Blackburn game and unfortunately it appears it wasn't just a off day, we've not been at the races in any game since.

[MrMichael]

Too many of the attacking additions have not made any significant contribution at all, that's for sure. Our quality forward threat this season has basically been Sterling, Coutinho and Sturridge if/when ever fit, with occasional contributions from Lallana and Henderson. Markovic, Lambert, Balotelli. Borini have given us so little that our ability to change things in that area when needed is minimal.

In contrast Arsenal have Sanchez, Giroud, Cazorla, Ozil, Ramsey, Walcott, Welbeck, Rosicky... not all of them are amazing but in terms of options they have far more; we have obviously remained lighter than we should have. Our business in that area this summer will be critical.

[Rich]

There are so few goalscorers in the team as well. Not enough real menace and threat even when we're attacking. Last season it didn't matter so much as you had Suarez and Sturridge both scoring bucket fulls, this season the opposition know that a lot of our players aren't particularly deadly - sure Coutinho hit a couple of superb long range goals, Henderson has started to chip in but there's not enough.

[Vermilion]

Ah bollocks! Gutted! Business end of the season and us fading when it matters is becoming a recurring theme, even when we had Suarez.

The biggest games at the most important times are what matter, they are the pressure games, and we're not faring well of late.

[McDermotX]

Billy Liddell @Liddellpool 4m4 minutes ago
Rodgers has revealed that Balotelli told him he was too injured to play against Arsenal after picking up a knock in training before the match

[Tribute]

v Arsenal (A): Post Match

Rodgers has spent big, undoubtedly. Committee or not, he's a part of that process and ultimately seen as culpable if it doesn't work. Allen, Lovren and Lambert are examples of his poor selections, Committee might be more to blame for Balotelli. Either way, another summer and a transfer kitty nowhere near as big as last year (Suarez money) and I don't think we'll see dramatic improvements under that combo of BR +Committee.

Suarez leaving, Gerrard falling by the wayside, Sturridge long-term injuries, newbies not settling in, Mig's awful form early doors, Sterling's recent media storm - there are lots of reasons why we're constantly mis-firing.... However, the time to fix the squad with a combination of proven quality and youth potential was last summer with bigger budgets and that boat has now sailed. I don't know what the end of the season will bring, but the Chav mentality of 'revolving door' managers doesn't appeal and doesn't feel like us. I'd stick with BR and maybe change up some of the scouts/Committee members...

[Bender]

We have possibly one or two more shots at getting back in the top 4 with the current crop of players + new signings before we fall further into the premier league wilderness of mid-table mediocrity,changes need to and have to be made to transfers/scouting and Tactics.

[Icon]

Bit relieved I actually thought this was tomorrow so missed it.

What a load of ****e, but onward and upward.
People calling for 3 new midfielders, two goalscorers, new back line etc.
Apparently we crap money, and how long will that lot take to gel? Another 3 years?

Problem is we had a great run and our perspective got a bit skewed on the way.
We are NOT as big as the other quite yet, but will be.

[RichC]

He'll be gone in the summer IMO and rightly so. He's the manager and the buck stops with him. He has spent a shed load of money and we have regressed.

Who comes in ?

[RichC]

Bit relieved I actually thought this was tomorrow so missed it.

What a load of ****e, but onward and upward.
People calling for 3 new midfielders, two goalscorers, new back line etc.
Apparently we crap money, and how long will that lot take to gel? Another 3 years?

Problem is we had a great run and our perspective got a bit skewed on the way.
We are NOT as big as the other quite yet, but will be.

[Icon]

Who comes in ?

There's nobody....

[RichC]

There's nobody....

Don't be so negative......