Brendan Rodgers

[Norbs]

Irony. From the man having a tantrum about the managers ego because a player slipped over. You should show a bit of respect to the man who's got us in the title race not be hammering him because we lost one football match via a fluke.

Where were your "lets play for a draw" posts before the game? Link us up.

You're right, it is disrespectful of me

[Mostar]

That's Spurslike, Sarb.

Brendan had a massive chance to show he wants to win the league over wanting to prove himself this weekend and he faltered. We may still win the league, I hope we do, but he needs to mature

Sorry Norbs but I disagree.

In hindsight everything is always 20/20 but I cannot say that BR deserves much or any blame for what happened yesterday.

He had to work with that he had at his disposal and he knew that with shaky defense that we have at the moment, he just could not invite Chelsea to keep the possession and bring the ball too much into our half as we could collapse at any time (e.g. Kalas header for example)

In fairness, imo it wasn't Jose genius tactics that decided the match or BR wanting to prove he is a better tactican than Mourinho by attacking when 1 point yesterday would have been enough, but one mistake, one slip, that was completely outside his control or his tactical choices.

[Exiled_red]

OK. Brendan was really naive yesterday, he took his eye off what was needed which was a draw. He won't be remembered for Kevin Keeganesque tactics but he would be for winning the league.

He's not tactically inept but we all knew what Chelsea would do and only had to match their negativity.

I'm really annoyed that he got played.

Rant over

I mentioned this a couple of times in various places I think this is one of the times were Brendan's inexperience has caught up with him. And while we play some great football and while I do feel that trying to play that way is admirable I also feel that it is a little naïve. I think after playing in Europe a bit we may have to hold back a little more, and tailor our game to the opposition a little at times.

[baitman]

so then, when does the manager of the year get voted for and announced.

[Sarb]

I'm not sure mate, Brendan himself has said he went for the win and knows no other way.

We had (have) such a massive chance to make history this season but I can't help but think Brendan's ego may end up being what derailed the title bid.

Brendan's so-called ego is the thing that gave us the chance lof actually winning the title. Its certainly not us spending loads of money etc

[Gibbo]

We should have parked the bus, the ball will have just sat in the centre circle then.

[baitman]

We should have parked the bus, the ball will have just sat in the centre circle then.

it would have been like a shootie

[cream]

Or we should have ha a couple players behind Gerrard just in case he slipped, an maybe a couple of players behind them just in case they slipped. Hope Brendan learns from this but somehow I don't think his ego will allow it.

[Norbs]

Sorry Norbs but I disagree.

In hindsight everything is always 20/20 but I cannot say that BR deserves much or any blame for what happened yesterday.

He had to work with that he had at his disposal and he knew that with shaky defense that we have at the moment, he just could not invite Chelsea to keep the possession and bring the ball too much into our half as we could collapse at any time (e.g. Kalas header for example)

In fairness, imo it wasn't Jose genius tactics that decided the match or BR wanting to prove he is a better tactican than Mourinho by attacking when 1 point yesterday would have been enough, but one mistake, one slip, that was completely outside his control or his tactical choices.

For starters we could've started with Agger over Sakho, the former being much better at holding on to the ball. Our players who seemed to have the largest percentage of possession were also the least effective - Coutinho and Sterling. No fault of theirs, they werejust confronted hy a wall of defenders. They thrive on space but were afforded none. We did nothing to draw Chelsea out of their own half and so their presence was negated.

It wasn't one slip. It wasn't Gerrard. Gerrard was the last man because we were playing an aggressive attacking game and playing in to their hands. We just didn't need to press so high

[Vermilion]

Or we should have ha a couple players behind Gerrard just in case he slipped, an maybe a couple of players behind them just in case they slipped. Hope Brendan learns from this but somehow I don't think his ego will allow it.

[Sarb]

Norbs think you are well wrong. You are criticising a manager for playing in a way he believes works and it does in that it allowed us to win 11 on the bounce and give some importance to yesterday's game .

The players panicked a bit yesterday. If it wasnt for Rodgers we wouldnt be in this position. Bizarre view really but each to their own

[Muddled]

I don't think it's bizarre. I can completely see the view various posters have with regards to us being more reserved, but I don't agree. Sure, our back line could have been deeper, but Chelsea were so defensive, we naturally pushed out to compress the play. Our defenders always 'split' and Gerrard has always filled in to start our attacking phase. Our players could not have been anywhere else on the pitch, it is just very unfortunate.

I completely agree that the players panicked. Gerrard's head clearly went and he was hell-bent on putting his error right. Johnson ran out of ideas and we just rushed our final ball and had speculative efforts or tried to play the percentages by getting the ball into the box. This will be a learning curve for Rodgers, but it will also be a lesson to our very young players.

[Norbs]

Mudds, you're absolutely right about what happened once we went behind. There was no way back from there on. IMO, there was no way we would score against them from the start though. Better teams have tried and failed. Mourinho respected how attacking we were but knew exactly how to counter it

[Norbs]

Or we should have ha a couple players behind Gerrard just in case he slipped, an maybe a couple of players behind them just in case they slipped

Like Chelsea did

[baitman]

that chelsea game will be used by many teams as a training video for years to come.
not that they were amazing, but they are well drilled and hard to break down.
we will see this more and more as other teams in the league will adopt this and so will a few in europe too.
we need to be better prepared to try and unlock these two banks of four. high balls and shots from outside the box are very uncertain to say the least.