Brendan Rodgers

[Exiled_red]

A central midfield pairing which for some reason we undervalue the importance, 'decent' midfielders won't cut it at the top end. This are of the field has been a sharp decline in quality for us since the days of Alonso and Mash, not to mention Hamann.

Coutinho is not a central midfielder he plays off the main striker(s), Henderson and/or Milner are very far from being described as top class centre mids. For where we want to be or expect to be we need far better central midfielders than Milner and Henderson.

For years I keep on reading about the need for world class strikers and defenders but the central midfield importance is forever overlooked and our fans seem comfortable with the mediocrity that we have there, amazing.

I think that both Henderson and Milner are underestimated in terms of the level they are at, the problem for me is I don't think that they necessarily work as a pair in terms of getting the best out of both of them. I see a Gerrard-Lampard situation where we will spend ages trying to get a system where the two of them to work together and get the most out of them

[The Birdman]

I don't think 4-3-3 suits us either. I'd be looking at a 4-4-2 diamond.

It should but we don't quite have the players to make it work.
Play Coutinho wide left in the 3 and we need Moreno to provide the width from LB.
Do that and whoever plays as our LCB get's exposed.
Play Gomez as the LB and we don't have any width meaning we're more predictable in attack but defensively more solid.

Everything else fits, a deep sitter in MF (take your pick from Can/Lucas/Milner/Allen)
Width from right FB with Clyne.
Firmino or Lalanna to drift out to in from the right leaving the space for Clyne.
Focal point in attack in Benteke, runners from deep with Hendo/Milner or the Brazil boys if central.
Other attacking options in Ings/Origi/Ibe as and when required.

As for the last couple of years with the exception of Sakho who is the best of a bad bunch none of our CB's can defend 1v1 so we're compensating whichever way Rodgers twists.

[The Birdman]

The only reason why Lovren will be played vs United instead of Sakho... is that Sakho is nowhere near match fit. Even then I'd probaly still play Sakho. Not a hope in the world would I play Lallana. Sure Lallana is injured at moment & his fitness is questionable in general... never mind after an injury.

IMO Van Gaal has United solid and workmanlike, they do press very well to be fair. That's what I worry about, we do seem to struggle vs teams that press us high.

One of the reasons for signing Benteke is to miss out the press and play into him.
Surely to god we'll look to isolate Benteke against Blind???

[Mark79]

If fenway really rated Jürgen klopp he would be our manager now. If you look at their record in baseball they are not shy in firing managers and bringing new ones in quickly if things aren't working.

They like klopp but maybe they don't like him enough.

On the other hand, maybe they do like him enough.

So much that they were prepared to let him take his sabitcal because they think it's worth waiting a little longer to get their top choice.

Who knows?

[Exiled_red]

It should but we don't quite have the players to make it work.
Play Coutinho wide left in the 3 and we need Moreno to provide the width from LB.
Do that and whoever plays as our LCB get's exposed.
Play Gomez as the LB and we don't have any width meaning we're more predictable in attack but defensively more solid.

Everything else fits, a deep sitter in MF (take your pick from Can/Lucas/Milner/Allen)
Width from right FB with Clyne.
Firmino or Lalanna to drift out to in from the right leaving the space for Clyne.
Focal point in attack in Benteke, runners from deep with Hendo/Milner or the Brazil boys if central.
Other attacking options in Ings/Origi/Ibe as and when required.

As for the last couple of years with the exception of Sakho who is the best of a bad bunch none of our CB's can defend 1v1 so we're compensating whichever way Rodgers twists.

I think if you rely on your full backs for width the you have to have a dedicated out and out DM which with our squad can only be Lucas. And I am still not sure that we have enough back there with any of the centre backs we have. An attacking left back means that Lovren can't play as he would be horribly exposed. If this is a system we are wanting to play then surely we needed to sign a CB or a Mascherano type DM in the summer.

[kemm1]

I think that both Henderson and Milner are underestimated in terms of the level they are at, the problem for me is I don't think that they necessarily work as a pair in terms of getting the best out of both of them. I see a Gerrard-Lampard situation where we will spend ages trying to get a system where the two of them to work together and get the most out of them

I see your point but I fundamentally disagree I don't rate them nowhere near as highly as you do especially Hendo.

[Exiled_red]

One of the reasons for signing Benteke is to miss out the press and play into him.
Surely to god we'll look to isolate Benteke against Blind???

Based on how we have played so far with Benteke isolated, Man Utd can let him win all the balls in the air (as long as they aren't headers on goal), because they will win all the second balls as we have no-one to pick them up.

[kemm1]

Based on how we have played so far with Benteke isolated, Man Utd can let him win all the balls in the air (as long as they aren't headers on goal), because they will win all the second balls as we have no-one to pick them up.

Which also makes his signing alongside Firmino all the more confusing, how did/does Rodgers think those two would complement each other? Then with all the other players in the team, don't know how and where Benteke fits in. I understand Firmino but not Benteke.

[badpiggy]

IMO, I just don't think he's at that high level standard.

Fair enough As a matter of interest, I cant wait to see how Bilic gets on. I think he has a certain something that could see him go on to big things.

[Muddled]

I heard some chat around Billic and how his tactics will see West Ham win more on the road than they will at home. They would have posed a threat without the assists we gifted them yesterday.

As Gee has mentioned, a Manchester United defeat this afternoon will soften the blow.

[peekay]

Yes we lost Suarez, so you go to the market and find a player that is similar in his traits.

Easier said than done mate

I honestly dont think there is anyone (other than Messi and Ronaldo) who is similar in traits to what they offer on the pitch to Suarez.

Hindsight is wonderful, but we blew the chance to win the league when we sold him. We should have offered him 250k-300K and done whatever is needed to keep him here. Even with his 4 month ban, I think we would have qualified for CL last season with Suarez back from November.

[Roboklopp]

Tevez, Sanchez & mebbe even aguero are Suarez-lite.


Thing that winds me up more is Scum are proper average yet we persist with our clueless dirge ball & fail to put the pressure on them. Only a matter of time until they become a top side again with all the £s they bukake all over the place.

[The_weatherman]

Tevez, Sanchez & mebbe even aguero are Suarez-lite.


Thing that winds me up more is Scum are proper average yet we persist with our clueless dirge ball & fail to put the pressure on them. Only a matter of time until they become a top side again with all the £s they bukake all over the place.

Didn't work for us though, it's no use without coherent strategy.

[Roboklopp]

They have more £s to spunk about. Easier to get quality. All relative though, they're a few notches above us even though they're relatively wank- we should be taking advantage of their lack of quality, not wishing we were as good as them.

[The_weatherman]

Oh and about Rodgers getting the whole season would be stupid IMO, it's should be dependant on results and take the whole of 2015 into account, like how he's addressed issues from last season etc. If we see no improvement he should go IMO.