Liverpool Football Club Thread

[DeNeo]

What an awful season. I almost wish we hadn't gone on that good run - it's the hope that gets you.

There was none of last year's fluidity in our play, apart from the goal, something we've lacked a lot this season. So many times we just look tired or just plain second rate compared to our opponents.

[Oh Danny Boy]

Lovren needs to be sold as soon as possible. Can't deny the best team won, Villa were the best side throughout.

This team is forever in transition but i'd sell Lovren, Balo, Borini, Lambert, Johnson, and what bite the hand off a £50m offer for Sterling. And if Gerrard wasn't leaving I'd let him go. And replace that with two or thee experienced players not more potential.

[glb]

Oh well, still got the exciting run-in for 5th. To be fair, that's about as much as we deserve after the start we had and the complete lack of character we've shown in he last few weeks.

[JamesTW]

Fuck off that is all

[choddo]

Well shitting fuck

[Gabe]

What an awful season. I almost wish we hadn't gone on that good run - it's the hope that gets you.

There was none of last year's fluidity in our play, apart from the goal, something we've lacked a lot this season. So many times we just look tired or just plain second rate compared to our opponents.

I've said a few times that I think this has been a poor season, and I think - like Arsenal last year - winning the FA Cup would have papered over a title challenge that crumbled away (though in fairness we haven't challenged at all this season). We have been playing pretty poorly for the 5-6 weeks now and results have reflected that.

I don't really know what Rodgers was doing with his substitutions, either. Still trying Balotelli alone up top when it just doesn't work? Giving Lambert only 4 minutes when we need a goal? I'm trying to think of anything positive really and coming up pretty empty. I don't think Given had a save in anger to make, did he?

[Azrael]

Shite result from a poor performances. Summer can't come soon enough.

Much like the final v Chelsea under Dalglish an awful decision prevented us taking it to extra time. Then again we didn't deserve to today.

[Baring]

Perfect example of why video replays should be brought in, Mario wasnt offside.

The linesman would still flag though and then what? Go to the video and see he wasn't offside, so give him a head start through on goal?

It was a poor decision but you can't take away the linesman.

[Chewylegs]

Well done Villa, definitely deserved the victory, we were yet again very lacklustre and devoid of ideas.

[dogsout]

I'd rather change the manager than throw half of the squad out. There are good players in this squad that we're not getting performances from, and for the most part they haven't been given a proper chance.

The selection was terrible yet entirely predictable. I knew he'd take Markovic off for a striker at halftime, as if that would solve a single problem.

No lessons have been learned from the bad run at the start of the season. And it seems none were learned from the latest bad run, either.

Markovic at wing-back, Can at full-back, Gerrard on the pitch, the detestable hit and hope policy that our creators have taken to this season. There's so much bad stuff to talk about, and it can't just be put down to individuals not performing.

Villa played well and were worthy victors.

[Azrael]

Getting rid of Rodgers would be the worst thing to do. Thinking otherwise is getting close to RAWK-levels of silliness.

[Gabe]

The system was a mess today, it robbed Coutinho - who has been our best player for a while now - of space and support, it left Balotelli isolated on his own (again), relied too much on Sterling doing something (and he was poor - again - today) and it's sad to see Gerrard so peripheral these days. Trying to fit Can into every defensive position is such a waste, too, something I've said too often this season.

It's actually concerning how rough Henderson has looked in the last few weeks, too. He's been totally different from last season, looks a shadow of that player.

[Stig]

The linesman would still flag though and then what? Go to the video and see he wasn't offside, so give him a head start through on goal?

It was a poor decision but you can't take away the linesman.

You give the goal

[gospvg]

That was very poor, BR changed formations so many times during the game & none of them worked. Why bring Johnson on and not another striker to attack up front with Balotelli?

Giving Lambert a few minutes at the end was pointless. We have too many players who play for themselves and not for the team. All taking chances 20/30 yards out instead of passing or crossing to a player in a better position.

BR has signed a total of 24 players for £211 Million & only a handful of them have been decent. I'm not sure who makes the decisions on transfers but in the summer we need another GK, RB, CB, LB & two more strikers (assuming Balotelli, Lambert & Borini are sold).

We spent a lot of money in the summer & all but Emre Can have been crap.

[Baring]

You give the goal

But he flagged around the 18 yard box and the whistle went. I don't think video decisions of offsides like that would work.

[SaintM]

You give the goal

So even though the defence pretty much pulled up because the ref blew, you think it the goal should stand if the ref subsequently decided (via a voice in his ear) that it wasn't an offside.

How can a whistle be undone?

[Adrock]

Today's system after half time was exactly the same as what got the club into trouble earlier in the season.

Can has to be frustrated with not getting into the midfield ahead of Gerrard or Allen. Surely he deserves a chance there simply for the fact nobody has been in the kind of form that would demand their inclusion.

[Stig]

So even though the defence pretty much pulled up because the ref blew, you think it the goal should stand if the ref subsequently decided (via a voice in his ear) that it wasn't an offside.

How can a whistle be undone?

Ah well I didn't know that, didn't get a replay of it on the bug screen.

[Baring]

So even though the defence pretty much pulled up because the ref blew, you think it the goal should stand if the ref subsequently decided (via a voice in his ear) that it wasn't an offside.

How can a whistle be undone?

I think the term 'play to the whistle' would have to go out of the window lol

[The Fox]

Up till 4am last night, felt horrid this morning but nothing a crappy Maccy Dees didn't sort out. The stadium is very impressive, I've been before for a Foo Fighters gig but never a football game. We're sat right near the top but it doesn't matter cause the view is great. PA guy is pretty rubbish tbh, seems to be stumbling over his own words and the music.

I just wondered as I frigging hate the place and the PA and the music and generally the whole thing really!

[Stig]

Why do you hate it? I think is really impressive. When your squeezed in on crappy seats at Anfield, you really appreciate all the space you get at Wembley. I imagine the Emirates is very simular to Wembley?

[The Fox]

I just think the whole experience is pretty shite really. Very, very corporate-centric. Naff growly PA, too much music, pretty crap atmosphere. The final will be even worse seeing as half the ground is taken up by people who don't give a shit who wins.

[dogsout]

Getting rid of Rodgers would be the worst thing to do. Thinking otherwise is getting close to RAWK-levels of silliness.

Well, RAWK is very pro-Rodgers so it's odd you say that. I expect I'd have been banned had I made that post on there. I'm not saying we should sack him, but something's got to give. We've got to stop wasting money on players that the manager can't utilise. Can at full-back? Gerrard starting and then lasting 90 minutes? Balotelli for Markovic? So much stupid shit and the fact that he's repeating mistakes made earlier this season only makes it worse. Where is the philosophy he speaks of? We don't control the ball and we don't control the space.

I don't see the point in casting out players that we've just bought, for massive losses, so that more money can be spent on different players. It's not sustainable. Either the transfer committee are buying the wrong players or our manager isn't coaching them well enough. Being in transition doesn't only extend to the manager and back-room staff.

Balotelli hasn't been utilised properly at all. Do you think it was smart to buy him and expect him to change his whole game in order to fit into what the manager wants and expects? That's beyond stupid. Either he wasn't properly scouted, was not wanted by the manager but was bought anyway, or Brendan doesn't know what the hell he wants or expects.

I could go on and on about some of the decisions that have been made this season but I'll leave it alone for fear of turning it into another for/against the manager argument. I'll say this much: I like Brendan. I hope he succeeds. I'm disappointed with his performance this season in terms of team selection, team shape, tactical adjustments, and utilisation of personnel. I'm not talking about results in terms of league position or the appalling CL campaign. I just think this squad is talented enough to be playing much better than they have been, and I see little evidence of any long-term plan or philosophy.

[Petrousgyre]

Come season end, Rodgers will get to pull his own name out of an envelope.

[DeNeo]

It feels similar to Kenny's full season after his interim appointment. Some great performances, some not so great performances, and the nagging feeling that the manager has reached a ceiling in what he's able to do.

The owners were ruthless at the end of that season. I wonder, with the likes of Klopp and Benitez available, if they'll be as ruthless if we finish 5th.

[Stig]

If we want to win the league I don't think Rafa is an option. He's very good in the cups and whilst it's nice to win any silverware we can the league is the one thing we all want to most.

The decision to not get a proper replacement for Suarez hurt us more than anything. Sturridges injuries obviously were an unforseen problem too. We finished 2 points off the league title, we needed to build on that team and put more efforts into getting a proper Suarez replacement and then bolstering in a few key places. Instead we bought an aged striker who doesn't get any game time anyway, Balotelli who was never as good as some people would make you belive and a load of young players who have been thrown in at the deep end and expected to fit right in. We can talk about wage demands all day long but if the option is a world class player or 3 "potentials" I'd take world class every day. We got a lot for Suarez, why couldn't that money have been used for transfer fees and wages? Are we really to believe we couldn't have got Moreno, Can and Markovic and then a top top/world class player with the Suarez money plus transfer money set aside.

[DeNeo]

But then it comes back to dogsout's point - is the manager utilising them in a way that gets the best out of them? If we have this transfer committee, where Rodgers doesn't necessarily choose all the players we buy, then he needs to work with what he's got.

Suarez is a massive miss. Sturridge getting injured cost us this season too. But the squad as a whole is definitely better than a lot of performances this season would suggest.

[Adrock]

Finding a Suarez replacement was always going to be impossible, a player with his qualities doesn't come along often and not at the money the club wish to spend.

I agree entirely with what dogsout is saying. I think this season has tested Rodgers massively and I think he has begun to question his own philosophy. In my opinion he gets one more season to see what he can do with the squad he has assembled but it's increasingly apparent he is a bit lost.

Of course Klopp is available right now so if the club believe Rodgers is a dead end they need to get a move on. I think they'll be inclined to be patient though.

[joe bazooka]

I think Gerrard leaving will be like a new signing. I think he has a negative impact. Jesus chirst, get to the final for Gerrard, fuck that. Him announcing he was leaving and all that bullshit. I think Rodgers has probably struggled dealing with him more than anything.

Sterling can go too. Need some power in the team. Not just runners.

[gospvg]

So how does the transfer policy work? Is it a committee like mention earlier & does BR get final approval or a veto?

Because after spending £211 Million on 20+ players from the list above only Sturridge, Coutinho, Mignolet, Sakho (this season) & Can have been decent the rest are all average or just plain crap. Approx a 1 in 5 player transfer has been a success.