Brendan Rodgers

[cream]

We haven't been in the CL for ages, we've really struggled this season, got battered vs QPR (regardless of the result) struggled home to Hull and played atrocious away to Newcastle yet fans moan because we went away to Madrid with a game plan to keep it tight.

You know, reigning CL holders Madrid, battered Barcelona the other week Madrid, the ones with Ronaldo, James, Bale, Kroos, Isco, Modric and Benzema?
The team averaging 4 goals a game for god knows how long?

But that's right, just because we're lfc we should go there, be open and get battered.

Just look at Arsenal's 2 matches v Anderlecht to see what happens when you play open in Europe and Arsenal have been in the CL for 15 consecutive years, their manager is vastly experienced but they get spanked (performance wise), twice.

Well said.

Brendan has learnt how to play in the CL, take that as progress.

[DannyMan2006]

Cheers.

The tabloids, whilst not entirely correct, have hit on the point that the big names will be seething from missing out on the chance to play in one of the greatest stadiums in the world. FWIW, recent performances of some players have been poor and they deserve a kick up the arse. I'm pretty sure that Rodgers also included a couple that deserved to play (Sterling mainly) in his list of exclusions in order to mask issues with other players and I'm not sure this will go down well among the players.

This could go two ways, and there is the potential that it could backfire on him. I'm starting to wonder if Gerrard is going to create a mini-rebellion over this and his contract talks. I don't think there's quite such a love for each other (him and BR) than there was a year or so ago. The next week or so will be interesting to watch on and off the field.

Begs the question though whether the players are misunderstanding instructions or not carrying out instructions during games as yesterday's lineup was organised, hard working and seemed to remain focused.

I don't think we have a group of players who would undermine the manager because they weren't picked. Further more, I don't think we have any players who can throw their hat in and say they've performed to their expected level. Not one. We've had a few who have played well in some games. That's it.

Hopefully we will get to a cup final this year. And if we do I will be hoping that a number of players will have shown enough to have warranted a strong case to start. But so far this season, that hasn't been the case. There isn't one player in our squad who I would moan about them being dropped for any particular game. Obviously it's different when quite a few of them are left out, but on an individual basis, I see it as a group of players not performing.

[ChrisDR1968]

I actually think it shows we have a pretty good squad in terms of depth. The only game we've played reasonably well in recently was the Capital One cup tie against Swansea and that was a game the so-called second string players played in.

Where we're lacking right now is in having three useless strikers who don't score goals and not having a faster and fitter version of Lucas to protect the back four who can regularly play the full 90 minutes.

[Lecter]

Where we're lacking right now is in having three useless strikers who don't score goals and not having a faster and fitter version of Lucas to protect the back four who can regularly play the full 90 minutes.

Personally I think there is far more wrong with us than just that

[Bender]

Personally I think there is far more wrong with us than just that

Problem for BR is his pressing/High intensity game has gone out of the window with Suarez leaving,and he is now stuck with players and a system they either don't like or understand.

[Lecter]

Problem for BR is his pressing/High intensity game has gone out of the window with Suarez leaving,and he is now stuck with players and a system they either don't like or understand.

The high pressing & intensity has vanished yes, some of that is down to Suarez leaving some down to a change in formation and system imo

I still think the system is a massive problem, it means we dont press as high and leaves the lone forward very isolated, when we break there is acres of space between the midfield and the forward look at how many times Markovic & Can carried the ball 30-40 yards last night

Despite the fact our only strikers fit are generally goalshy its not as if we are creating chance after chance and they are fluffing them

Hull, Madrid (both games) and Newcastle we have hardly created much in the way of chances

[jw54]

I'm bemused by a lot of posts on here. Two seasons ago BR was under fire for his 'death by football' possession tactics that didn't suit the players we had. So he changed to play to the strengths of the players we had resulting in totally unexpected league position. This season we have not had the two lynch pins of that system so he's changed the system again to what he thinks should work. However it hasn't for some reason unknown to us who don't have 24/7 access to what goes on behind the scenes. Last night a lot of our so called first choice were left on the bench, the same players that have consistently underperformed so far and been roundly criticised on this forum and what happens.? BR is slated for picking other players and waving a 'white flag', yet whilst the performance was nothing to get over excited about it was an improvement on much we have seen this season. The guy can't win!


Posted from Est1892.co.uk App for Android

[cream]

I'm bemused by a lot of posts on here. Two seasons ago BR was under fire for his 'death by football' possession tactics that didn't suit the players we had. So he changed to play to the strengths of the players we had resulting in totally unexpected league position. This season we have not had the two lynch pins of that system so he's changed the system again to what he thinks should work. However it hasn't for some reason unknown to us who don't have 24/7 access to what goes on behind the scenes. Last night a lot of our so called first choice were left on the bench, the same players that have consistently underperformed so far and been roundly criticised on this forum and what happens.? BR is slated for picking other players and waving a 'white flag', yet whilst the performance was nothing to get over excited about it was an improvement on much we have seen this season. The guy can't win!


Posted from Est1892.co.uk App for Android

Welcome to est

[fah-q]

I don't think we have enough character in our squad to start a mini-revolt. We're far too meek.

[BigChief]

I'm bemused by a lot of posts on here. Two seasons ago BR was under fire for his 'death by football' possession tactics that didn't suit the players we had. So he changed to play to the strengths of the players we had resulting in totally unexpected league position. This season we have not had the two lynch pins of that system so he's changed the system again to what he thinks should work. However it hasn't for some reason unknown to us who don't have 24/7 access to what goes on behind the scenes. Last night a lot of our so called first choice were left on the bench, the same players that have consistently underperformed so far and been roundly criticised on this forum and what happens.? BR is slated for picking other players and waving a 'white flag', yet whilst the performance was nothing to get over excited about it was an improvement on much we have seen this season. The guy can't win!


Posted from Est1892.co.uk App for Android

Haha, great first post. But if you want to keep that sensible approach I suggest you don't engage...don't en.g.a.g.e.

[ronanm]

I'm bemused by a lot of posts on here. Two seasons ago BR was under fire for his 'death by football' possession tactics that didn't suit the players we had. So he changed to play to the strengths of the players we had resulting in totally unexpected league position. This season we have not had the two lynch pins of that system so he's changed the system again to what he thinks should work. However it hasn't for some reason unknown to us who don't have 24/7 access to what goes on behind the scenes. Last night a lot of our so called first choice were left on the bench, the same players that have consistently underperformed so far and been roundly criticised on this forum and what happens.? BR is slated for picking other players and waving a 'white flag', yet whilst the performance was nothing to get over excited about it was an improvement on much we have seen this season. The guy can't win!


Posted from Est1892.co.uk App for Android

That's the problem

[jw54]

been reading posts, laughing, crying and biting my lip for two years so I thought it time to dip my tow in the water


Posted from Est1892.co.uk App for Android

[jw54]

toe!!! bloody predictive text.


Posted from Est1892.co.uk App for Android

[baitman]

I don't think we have enough character in our squad to start a mini-revolt. We're far too meek.

say it like it is, they are so spineless you could beat most of them to death with raspberry jelly.

[ChrisDR1968]

Personally I think there is far more wrong with us than just that

If by that you mean the way Rodgers has abandoned the diamond formation and the fast attacking play of last season and gone back to stodgy crappy sideways football I agree with you.

Getting the right strikers in to replace the three goalless amigos will hopefully change the way Rodgers sets the team up and we might get back to that great footy we saw in 2013/14.