Brendan Rodgers

[Slinky Skills]

Depends on the following formula where:

Y = You
X = Outcome

So...

if Y = brainless kneejerk idiot, then X = round about now

if Y = average kneejerker, then X = October

if Y = WUM, then X = round about now

if Y = Tanner, then X = Yesterday

if Y = tabloid journalist, then X = November

if Y = member of the panel on Sky Sports Sunday morning coffee table chat (what is that programme called?), but not a tabloid journalist, then X = December

if Y = reasonably intelligent person looking at the bigger picture, then X = next season

if Y = FSG, then X = end of next season (barring a catastrophe in the meantime)

[dizzycat]

Depends on the following formula where:

Y = You
X = Outcome

So...

if Y = brainless kneejerk idiot, then X = round about now

if Y = average kneejerker, then X = October

if Y = WUM, then X = round about now

if Y = Tanner, then X = Yesterday

if Y = tabloid journalist, then X = November

if Y = member of the panel on Sky Sports Sunday morning coffee table chat (what is that programme called?), but not a tabloid journalist, then X = December

if Y = reasonably intelligent person looking at the bigger picture, then X = next season

if Y = FSG, then X = end of next season (barring a catastrophe in the meantime)

[Vermilion]

Depends on the following formula where:

Y = You
X = Outcome

So...

if Y = brainless kneejerk idiot, then X = round about now

if Y = average kneejerker, then X = October

if Y = WUM, then X = round about now

if Y = Tanner, then X = Yesterday

if Y = tabloid journalist, then X = November

if Y = member of the panel on Sky Sports Sunday morning coffee table chat (what is that programme called?), but not a tabloid journalist, then X = December

if Y = reasonably intelligent person looking at the bigger picture, then X = next season

if Y = FSG, then X = end of next season (barring a catastrophe in the meantime)

And all done without mention of e=mc2.

[G]

This is good. IMO etc etc.

A quick - inarticulate ramble -
I notice most people are primarily concerned with how poorly the defence is functioning.

Whilst I agree that is it functioning poorly, I’m hugely concerned that this is a misguided appropiation of the primary cause of our current malaise. In fact I’d go further and say that I think it’s trying to make us more defensively sound that has put us in this pickle.

I’m worried that Rodgers is going to put too much focus on trying to fix the defence and fear that we’ve already lost a huge amount of ground already by doing just that.

In short – we’re not creating chances, and that is a *MUCH* bigger problem than the fact we can’t defend. We couldn’t defend last year either, yet were one extremely unlucky slip away from winning the league.

All summer we’ve heard “obviously you can’t replace Suarez and you won’t score 101 goals again next year but you can make up that defecit by conceding less at the other end”. Every time I heard this I screamed “no, no, no” to myself.

Stopping the other team from scoring is not equal to scoring a goal yourself. They are far from equal. Without wanting to rehash old discussions – Liverpool are stronger on paper than the vast majority of teams in the Premier League which means increased frequency of discrete probability events which actually count (goals) makes Liverpool *exponentially* more likely to win than they otherwise would be. Not to mention that you only get one point for a draw, not one and a half.

The fact that Rodgers has replaced three members of the defence, and directly come out and said that he intends to make up for the departure of Suarez by being more secure at the back fills me with dread. This is because

a) It’s more important that we’re better in attack (see above)

b) he doesn’t appear to be very good at organizing a defence anyway

c) If you stumble on something that works as well as our tactics/personnel did last season – changing them drastically is very, very dangerous and IMO likely to result in something worse. Most mutations in nature are deleterious because they are starting by mutating something that is already a finely tuned machine. We started against Villa with 6 players who weren’t at the club last season – it’s not surprising we’re not as good. That team was as close to perfect as it’s reasonable to get. Before you point out that the defence was terrible – we won 13 games on the spin.

d) The biggest example isn’t just changing 75% of the defence – it’s also starting some games now with two holding players – Gerrard and Lucas.

I’m despondent because I have a suspiscion that Rodgers is underestimating the value last season of having games that contained crazy amounts of goals. *It’s how we went from 7th to 2nd*. He appears to be trying to fix the defence as if attack and defence exist in isolation from each other. I hope he doesn’t really think that but to some degree it looks like he might.

The new full backs look great individually but they cross the ball all the time. Something Johnson and Flanno rarely did. Similarly they are good at blocking crosees – something I’m not sure I want. I think I’d rather let the other team cross it – because it’s a bit of a rubbish tactic and an easy way to give us the ball back.

I hope I’m wrong that Rodgers is trying to make the team less attacking because that way lies ruin. Beez and Dan on their latest podcast were discussing chance percentages of teams compared with the opposition – for example Stoke have a really high percentage in 68%. But the glaring point often overlooked is that it’s the sample size that matters much more, and (this is the key) – increasing that sample size gives a non linear response in probability. If we make our games tight we won’t be successful in the league. That is unless we somehow overcome this problem with better defensive organizataion than any other team in the league – something I would wager nobody expects to happen any time soon.

In short – forget the defence. Focus on why we’re not creating chances. That is a much, much, much, much, bigger problem.

I’m pretty certain John Henry will not be happy with a team that keeps games really tight, and fails to deliver. Come on Brendan – embrace the madness. (It’s not actually madness – but cold, hard logic).

http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sbjpn3

[Fierce]

That's really good

[Red_Polo]

(Waits to get shot down)

Ronanm is right, we're a point worse off by equivalent fixtures. See my sig for updates

[Roboklopp]

It is interesting aye & defo has merit. However, we cannot underestimate the dramatic effect Suarez had on the potency of that attack:

[Roboklopp]

How come we've played -4 games on that sig?

[Red_Polo]

How come we've played -4 games on that sig?

Not sure if serious

[Liverpool]

I think we're struggling with second season syndrome, teams have realised how to play against us. You can press us and put the defence/Gerrard under pressure, or even park the bus and watch us struggle to break it down.

Too many new players not clicking so we should hopefully get stronger in the new year, we've lost the zip of last season and instead see pointless sideways and backwards passing like Rodgers first season.

We definitely overachieved last season which doesn't help for comparsion. Top 4 and out the group and ill be made up

[Roboklopp]

Not sure if serious

Am always most serious. :seriouslookinsmilie:

[Roboklopp]

I think we're struggling with second season syndrome, teams have realised how to play against us. You can press us and put the defence/Gerrard under pressure, or even park the bus and watch us struggle to break it down.

Too many new players not clicking so we should hopefully get stronger in the new year, we've lost the zip of last season and instead see pointless sideways and backwards passing like Rodgers first season.

We definitely overachieved last season which doesn't help for comparsion. Top 4 and out the group and ill be made up

It's a bit late to be suffering from second season syndrome in the third season of Brendon's tenure.

[Red_Polo]

Am always most serious. :seriouslookinsmilie:

I genuinely feel if I explain this you are going to rinse me for it

It's the points difference to last season based on the same number of games having been played. Or at least should be if I've not been too beveraged to bodge a calculation at some point!

[Roboklopp]

I was taking the piss soz, thought I'd made that clear.


However I'm in no position to be laughing at you cos the cat has jumped on my back & is tickling my earholes with his whiskers.

[Shaggy]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/sep/22/brendan-rodgers-liverpool-form-weight-jersey?CMP=twt_gu

Brendan Rodgers blames poor Liverpool form on ‘weight of the jersey’

• Liverpool manager: ‘People don’t understand the pressure’
• Jordan Rossiter and Sheyi Ojo could play in Capital One Cup

Brendan Rodgers has identified formation changes and the “weight of the jersey” on Liverpool’s summer signings as the causes of the team’s early troubles, conceding he must find a settled system to rectify the problem. Liverpool host Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday with the manager considering debuts for the 17-year-olds Jordan Rossiter and Sheyi Ojo while he rests Steven Gerrard from a midfield hit by injury. Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho could join Joe Allen and Emre Can on the sidelines with respective hip and groin problems with the Merseyside derby against Everton awaiting on Saturday.

Rodgers is also prepared to give his preferred midfield diamond a rest against the Championship side having admitted his available players were unsuitable for the system that started at West Ham United on Saturday, when Liverpool suffered their third league defeat in five Premier League matches.

“Our passing disappointed me,” the Liverpool manager said. “We played more long passes than West Ham and that is something you have not seen from us in over the two years. We need to get back to doing what we do best. I look at the movement patterns in our team, our pressing in those patterns of pressure and, given the injuries, I need to retain a system for a longer period.

“The 4-4-2 diamond worked really well but it worked well with certain players and not at the weekend. Until I get all the players back that I know are multifunctional players, I’ll look at the strength of the players we do have fit. Hopefully that gives them confidence. Confidence has not been affected so far but if you don’t win games for too long it can be.”

Liverpool signed nine players in the summer and Rodgers believes the eight involved in his first-team squad (Divock Origi was loaned back to Lille) need time to adapt: “We’ve conceded eight goals and the majority of those could have been avoided but what people probably don’t get is the pressure of playing for such a big club. The weight of the jersey here is heavy for most players. Once you adapt to playing for Liverpool you become clearer in your thinking.”

Gerrard is likely to be rested after playing three games past week and struggling in the third against West Ham, although the fitness doubt over Henderson has further stretched Rodgers’ midfield options. Rossiter and Ojo trained with the squad on Monday and Rodgers said: “A number of the young boys are training with us and working with us. These kids need a chance and if that comes tomorrow night we hope they can take it.”