Brendan Rodgers

[Sarb]

I think that's his idea (to control the middle of the park). We simply don't have the technical ability to do that at the moment.

Well I think to get Coutinho central you need one if not two top quality sitting midfielders. I dont think he thinks that though.

[Fredo]

Well I think to get Coutinho central you need one if not two top quality sitting midfielders. I dont think he thinks that though.

We need one, not necessarily two. But a high quality one. It's a difficult system to implement.

[Sarb]

Yet you probably criticised Rafa for being too negative... he built a team though that didn't half control the midfield. Gerrard, Alonso and Mascherano :drool:

Edit: I agree though (on the wanting to control the midfield bit). I actually think when we have everyone fit we'll be alright defensively, and that just leaves sorting out the midfield.

It is a balance though isnt it, Reece. Our midfield under Rafa was immense. One of the best in Europe. I think Rodgers needs at least one top quality holding midfielder and it would take the team up a level. I think the defence are too exposed under the way we play. Some of the positions our CBs play in also worry me that it is a set up issue

[Fredo]

You mean, the way our centre backs split to take up the width of the pitch? There's nothing wrong doing that, but obviously it requires the right personnel to play it. Rodgers is anything but a pragmatic, so that shows. I like him for that though.

[Sarb]

I have no issue with centre backs splitting. But Toure the right CB regularly covers the left back slot. I dont get that

[Fredo]

I have no issue with centre backs splitting. But Toure the right CB regularly covers the left back slot. I dont get that

He's been playing left CB lately.

[Sarb]

He's been playing left CB lately.

Maybe. Sure I have seen him do it from right sided too

[RichC]

Nice to see we've made genuine progress vs. this time last season.

Manc's are 18 points worse off

[The_weatherman]

To be fair, Tottenham and Arsenal have also improved, I think we'll end up sixth this season due to our limited squad.

[meffin]

Interesting that we have conceded the same amount of goals.. no improvements despite several new players, but also not getting worse as it has felt at times.

The whole improvement have been in our attacking, with an extra 18 goals.

We REALLY need to tighten up at the back and we will be a force again.

[Darkon]

It would really help us to be able to get some consistency at the back soon. We have had to many injuries; Enrique, Flannagan, Kelly, Sakho, Agger and Johnson have all been in/out of the team. Coupled with a new goalie, and I'm almost delighted we havn't let in more than we have.

And the same can be said about the midfield protecting the defence. Not really been conistent as well.

I think we will get there when we have some stability!

[The_weatherman]

Interesting that we have conceded the same amount of goals.. no improvements despite several new players, but also not getting worse as it has felt at times.

The whole improvement have been in our attacking, with an extra 18 goals.

We REALLY need to tighten up at the back and we will be a force again.

Didn't we concede much more in the first half of the season though?

[Alex]

Were 4th! Some people I read and hear talk are making it sound like were in a relegation scrap

Bunch of hysterical *******s

[The_weatherman]

If this was aimed at me Alex I think I was only pointing out that in our first 22 games we conceded 28 goals last season but in our last 16 games we conceded 15.

Fourth place is by no means guaranteed and given our squad and the squads around us, I think we'll probably not finish fourth even though it will be close.

I really, really hope we do and if we don't I wont call for Rodgers' head who is doing a good job.

[breffniboy]

I assumed that, with it being so obvious to practically everyone, we'd be in like a shot for a defensive midfielder this window but all I hear is that we're chasing pacy wingers/attackers and almost worse, getting stood up by them for sexier clubs as soon as they flash their knickers.

I have huge admiration for Rogers as a character and for his footballing philosophy - and on the whole he has been doing a pretty good job - but it's becoming apparent that he's a romantic that's overly focused on attacking; the consistent, glaring problems in the back four and the area immediately in front of it are simply not being properly addressed, either on the training ground, and currently as it stands, in the transfer market.

This is our best chance in years to secure a Champions League slot but we are hamstringing ourselves through what appears to be a combination of misaligned priorities in the transfer market on the part of the manager, and perhaps a degree of over-pragmatism on the part of the owners when it comes to taking a little more financial risk.

If we mess up this window we could be mighty sorry come May. To me, even with a fully-fit squad, our deficiencies are protrusive and I'll be aghast if we don't do something before the end of the window to address them directly.