Burnely (H) understrength,not firing went behind,showed heart, won post match thread

[Lecter]

We won but it sure was ugly

First half I thought we were dreadful, lacked fight and bottle, didnt compete, and couldnt even string passes together. Its not as if Burnley sat deep and defended either, they pushed up from the get go holding a high line and had a real go at us

Second half was very scrappy and we did actually compete for some tackles, to me though it says it all that the player we have with the most grit and bottle is Lucas

[Maxiedge]

I said it in the game, I think we need to find the balance between patient build-up and the energetic pressing we display against the better sides.

I think the players can take the managers words too literally when he talks about being patient and keeping possession. You still need to be quick on your feet and in your mind to retain possession. Even just taking the free kicks quickly and keeping the ball moving. One thing every team hates playing against is speed; speed of thought and speed of movement. We should never take this out of our game even against lesser opposition.

I think we've really let ourselves down against the lower teams as they all have mistakes in them but we're not pushing them enough and asking enough questions and the sad part is that we're capable of doing so but seem to play within ourselves. Again, for me this is part of finding the balance.

[dizzycat]

I pretty much agree with that, we appear to be just going through the motions against some teams and it's not really good enough. City game does have a different complection now with those points in the bag. If we get something there we have a real chance of pushing on for the next games as we'll be heading into form again.

[PTP]

We won but it sure was ugly

First half I thought we were dreadful, lacked fight and bottle, didnt compete, and couldnt even string passes together. Its not as if Burnley sat deep and defended either, they pushed up from the get go holding a high line and had a real go at us

Second half was very scrappy and we did actually compete for some tackles, to me though it says it all that the player we have with the most grit and bottle is Lucas

Yeah the first half was disgraceful - no spirit/fight/leadership/direction in the team - it was horrendous. I'd say Lallana is always trying and Can to be fair does try but just sometimes looks horrendous, but he doesn't hide.

But you are right - Lucas was the main one with any bottle, almost class/composure about him.

all this points to things we already know - we lack a strong spine, we lack leadership and we lack quality players who have desire/will to win regardless of who we play/how much they earn and we lack a quality squad.

I said it after the Leicester performance - over the years players like hyypia/carragher/hamann/gerrard/suarez/mascherano etc etc etc (I know this list can go back a lot further) just wouldn't have allowed that Leicester performance or the first half performance yesterday to happen.

But..... we did dig deep, we got the result and I hope those players take some confidence/bottle from it because it is much needed.

[Lecter]

Yeah the first half was disgraceful - no spirit/fight/leadership/direction in the team - it was horrendous. I'd say Lallana is always trying and Can to be fair does try but just sometimes looks horrendous, but he doesn't hide.

But you are right - Lucas was the main one with any bottle, almost class/composure about him.

all this points to things we already know - we lack a strong spine, we lack leadership and we lack quality players who have desire/will to win regardless of who we play/how much they earn and we lack a quality squad.

I said it after the Leicester performance - over the years players like hyypia/carragher/hamann/gerrard/suarez/mascherano etc etc etc (I know this list can go back a lot further) just wouldn't have allowed that Leicester performance or the first half performance yesterday to happen.

But..... we did dig deep, we got the result and I hope those players take some confidence/bottle from it because it is much needed.

I was talking to the bloke at the match yesterday and he was ripping into Rodgers for getting rid of all the strong personalities

Hes right, whether that was by design or just sheer accident all the leaders and strong personalities left under Rodgers and he signed in general mentally and physically weak players

[Buzzo]

Yeah we look easily bullied against the journeymen pros.

Put the likes of Ozil etc, in front of us and we will run them off the ball. But hard football with a bit of gamesmanship and we look a bit powderpuff.

Lets be honest, Jordan, Emre, Adam, Roberto, Gini and Phil, with their nice hair and nivea skin creams are not likely to terrify anyone. We need to sign someone who is a cunt that everyone hates, but we love, and who eats nivea skin cream for lunch.

[PTP]

I was talking to the bloke at the match yesterday and he was ripping into Rodgers for getting rid of all the strong personalities

Hes right, whether that was by design or just sheer accident all the leaders and strong personalities left under Rodgers and he signed in general mentally and physically weak players

Yup - I remember under houllier and benitez, it felt like all we signed were captains(talking our main signings not every signing as every club signs ****e at some stage), be it at previous club or international level and then players who cleary where captain material if they hadn't been previously (Alonso/reina?).....added to the fact we had two 'born' captains in gerrard and carragher

who are our 'captains' here?

Lallana captained Southampton - I actually can see why, when you watch him he is one of the few players geeing up people.

Henderson, don't know if he captained sunderland - for me he's captain by default in the sense that he's a paper captain....model pro, conducts himself way, looks presentable etc. I've nothing against him, i'm just not sure he's a great captain and when you look down the list of Liverpool captains, well he's way down

Milner - again not sure if he's captained anywhere else? - he also like Henderson is an experienced model pro so makes it as a safe/easy pick as a captain.

Anyone else?

Did lovren captain Southampton at all?
Klavan captain national side?

[BobTheCharmer]

Yeah we look easily bullied against the journeymen pros.

Put the likes of Ozil etc, in front of us and we will run them off the ball. But hard football with a bit of gamesmanship and we look a bit powderpuff.

Lets be honest, Jordan, Emre, Adam, Roberto, Gini and Phil, with their nice hair and nivea skin creams are not likely to terrify anyone. We need to sign someone who is a cunt that everyone hates, but we love, and who eats nivea skin cream for lunch.

Yeah bunch of face creme wearing pussies.

Hard as **** cb and a dirty midfield cruncher required.

[PTP]

Here we go - I've only gone back as far as Ron Yeats for now

Ron Yeats
1961-1970
Tommy Smith
1970-1973
Emlyn Hughes
1973-1979
Kenny Dalglish
1978-1978
Phil Thompson
1979-1981
Graeme Souness
1982-1984
Phil Neal
1984-1985
Alan Hansen
1985-1988
Ronnie Whelan
1988-1989
Alan Hansen
1989-1990
Ronnie Whelan*/ Glenn Hysén
1990-1991
Mark Wright
1991-1993
Ian Rush
1993-1996
John Barnes
1996-1997
Paul Ince
1997-1999
Jamie Redknapp
1999-2002
Sami Hyypia / Robbie Fowler*
2000-2001*
Sami Hyypia
2002-2003
Steven Gerrard
2003-2015
Jordan Henderson*
2015-*


I'm not criticizing Henderson here btw - but it's probably him and Redknapp as arguably the least 'influential' or inspiring players.

[labourRed]

Our corners yesterday were diabolical... we're rarely good at them but this was a new level of ****ness. Probably due to Coutinho being so poor but there's no excuse for that level in fairness.

[PTP]

yeah in the first half we had about three or four corners in a row from the same corner and every one kinda got clipped to the near post and dealt with

[Fosterbloke]

I like Can's cuntish antics in midfield. If he can improve his tactical nous then he'll develop into a fine player.

[PTP]

I think he needs to sharpen up his brain a bit - that may come with a bit of experience - to me he looks like he wants to rush around and be everywhere but hes not quite that good or quick

an obvious comment but he'd benefit greatly playing alongside two or three better players.

[Buzzo]

I think he needs to sharpen up his brain a bit - that may come with a bit of experience - to me he looks like he wants to rush around and be everywhere but hes not quite that good or quick

an obvious comment but he'd benefit greatly playing alongside two or three better players.

We should totally sign these guys.

[dww]

I think he'll develop if given more opportunities in the deep lying role. Henderson took a while to adapt.