Liverpool Football Club Thread

[ryodi]

Came for a corner into traffic and only managed a feeble punch that went straight to a Norwich player who lifted it over him into the goal. A bit like Calamity James in his prime.

[Sng]

And to think we traded in Reina for this.

[Stig]

Coutinho looks like he's had enough of this shit.

Haven't we all? Can't even beat Norwich at home. Rubbish.

[dogsout]

Why is the defence sitting 15 yards inside their own half? And why has he gone 3v1 back there against a team parking the bus?

[Guest]

I'd say it may be time up for Rodgers.

[ryodi]

Carlisle in midweek then Villa next Saturday. Not beating Norwich at home is bad but if we can't comfortably beat those two sides Rodgers should be sacked. The team was a little bit more coherent today than against United but there was still acres of space between the midfield and attack, Milner and Sturridge were guilty of some very poor diving and if Coutinho had scored with his chance late on it would have been harsh on Norwich. And as always, Mignolet was rubbish.

[Istanbul]

He's got to go. Boos from The Kop today, the tide of discontent is getting stronger. Should have went at the end of last season.

[rjpageuk]

First time I have been to Anfield for a few years and what a disappointing result .

I didnt hear any boos from the kop but it was frustrating. Can seemed so reluctant to push forward and there was so much space ahead of him all game long.

Ings must have played himself into contention with that performance and it was nice to see sturridge back. Most good things we did came through moreno so I am sure he will stay in the team too.

Milner was very poor today I didn't think he had that kind of performance in him everything he tried today went wrong.

[Azrael]

This draw feels more of a loss than the United result.

I'm in the Rodgers out camp now I think. I have no confidence in him anymore. Not sure who could replace him though, can't see Klopp choosing us.

Lucien Favre is available and would be a good option. Brought the title to Zurich after a 20+ year wait, guided Hertha to a top 4 finish without much of a budget and did well for the most part with Monchengladbach

[SMD]

Great ambition.

[dizogg]

Yeah I've never been in the "Rodgers out" camp and i think there is some quality management skills in there somewhere... But it's getting to the point where you have to wonder where we are going with him? If you look at your first team and bench today now Sturridge is back it's really pretty good, much better than any other team outside the top 4 imo, but it's not showing on the pitch. If it stays like this he has to go in January... Provided we can secure a good replacement.

[JohnnyNolan]

There's no point in showing Rodgers the door unless we have a good replacement lined up.

Personally I'm losing faith in him to turn things around. Too early to pull the plug now, but if it hasn't turned around by Christmas then we need to be sorting out his replacement, be that during the season or for next season.

[Gabe]

So I missed another cracking game today then, huh? At least Ings got off the mark, so that's something. But another Mignolet error I read on BBC, was it a bad one or not totally his fault?

[Shevchenko]

Carragher is right. You either should have shown him the door last season and get someone else in to spend the money or just give him till xmas.

There's no point getting rid of him after 6 games.

But I am not sure what the target is for Liverpool owners. Even fourth place will be a big ask. I know in terms of transfer fees you spent a lot in recent years. But when it comes to wages you just can't compete with City, Man Utd and Chelsea. I have not included Arsenal in that because they have Wenger and London factor. The owners need to state their ambition.

But I can understand the frustration about the quality of football being played and most likely another manager can get more out of these players.

[dogsout]

I feel like he's had every chance to succeed and he's ballsing it up for himself. We're obviously asking a bit much, expecting that he compete with clubs that can simply attract and hold onto better players, but he's had enough money to be doing better than he is. That's the job, isn't it? We can't spend what they can, so we need to be smarter, and we need to spend better. It wasn't a lack of money that made him think it would be a good idea to go into the season playing 4-3-3 without any proper wide players bar Ibe. Similarly, it wasn't a lack of money that has made him flip between formations in the way that he has. He has been making baffling decisions for a long stretch now and, what's worse, he's repeated some of them many times.

Once again he's brought in some good players but he hasn't got the right mix - there's no balance. Too many will have to play out of position because we're overloaded in some positions and completely devoid of options in others.

The current state of our central midfield is enough on its own to make me want him sacked immediately. It's ridiculous that he's brought in Milner and just given him a guaranteed place in CM. What does he bring other than commitment

[Doomguy]

Little stat I was unaware of.

Liverpool have failed to score more than 1 goal in their last 18 games

Surely a sky sports stat fuck up? that's woeful if true.

Edit:

Yeh sky sports including friendlies I assume which would add up to 18.

You do have to go back as far as February to see a liverpool result where they scored more than two goals which is fucked up.

[Shevchenko]

I feel like he's had every chance to succeed and he's ballsing it up for himself. We're obviously asking a bit much, expecting that he compete with clubs that can simply attract and hold onto better players, but he's had enough money to be doing better than he is. That's the job, isn't it? We can't spend what they can, so we need to be smarter, and we need to spend better. It wasn't a lack of money that made him think it would be a good idea to go into the season playing 4-3-3 without any proper wide players bar Ibe. Similarly, it wasn't a lack of money that has made him flip between formations in the way that he has. He has been making baffling decisions for a long stretch now and, what's worse, he's repeated some of them many times.

Once again he's brought in some good players but he hasn't got the right mix - there's no balance. Too many will have to play out of position because we're overloaded in some positions and completely devoid of options in others.

The current state of our central midfield is enough on its own to make me want him sacked immediately. It's ridiculous that he's brought in Milner and just given him a guaranteed place in CM. What does he bring other than commitment

I agree about the Milner part. Why not give Emre Can a chance in midfield rather than shifting him around everywhere?

Milner is a hard working player. But he's not going to control the midfield or play passes through. In a home game when you are on the front foot then you will need a lot more than Lucas and Milner. One of them is fine, but they need someone with a bit ambition when it comes to passing alongside them.

[Commander Jameson]

Who on earth counts friendlies in stats like these? Didn't we beat QPR 2-1 and Newcastle 2-0 within the last 15 league games?

[Doomguy]

Who on earth counts friendlies in stats like these? Didn't we beat QPR 2-1 and Newcastle 2-0 within the last 15 league games?

Jamie Carragher said it on Sky Sports.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/watch-jamie-carragher-questions-logic-10096444

They put it as a stat.

[dogsout]

I feel like he's had every chance to succeed and he's ballsing it up for himself. We're obviously asking a bit much, expecting that he compete with clubs that can simply attract and hold onto better players, but he's had enough money to be doing better than he is. That's the job, isn't it? We can't spend what they can, so we need to be smarter, and we need to spend better. It wasn't a lack of money that made him think it would be a good idea to go into the season playing 4-3-3 without any proper wide players bar Ibe. Similarly, it wasn't a lack of money that has made him flip between formations in the way that he has. He has been making baffling decisions for a long stretch now and, what's worse, he's repeated some of them many times.

Once again he's brought in some good players but he hasn't got the right mix - there's no balance. Too many will have to play out of position because we're overloaded in some positions and completely devoid of options in others.

The current state of our central midfield is enough on its own to make me want him sacked immediately. It's ridiculous that he's brought in Milner and just given him a guaranteed place in CM. What does he bring to the position other than commitment and stamina? I don't see the fabled quality so many gushed about. I think we should be using him as a utility player, predominantly on the wing from the bench, just like he was used at City. The Gerrard of last season was still head and shoulders above what we've seen from Milner so far.

I've already gone mental in here at his refusal to use Gerrard properly so I won't bore you all with another rant about it now. Let's just say it was handled abysmally and move on.

Even with everyone fit, he's gone for a midfield of energetic all-rounders. We don't boss games because we have no brain in midfield. I'd personally like to see Phil pushed back and played next to a proper destroyer type midfielder. But that's just me being pragmatic looking at the squad as it is now. The obvious answer to the problem would have been to buy a proper deep-lying playmaker, instead of spunking £50m on #10s when we already had Coutinho and Steven fucking Gerrard to play in that position. And then go for an athletic tackling machine to compliment him.

Which brings me to my final point: he hasn't targeted players that compliment each other. A tricky little shite like Phil needs pacey runners, stretching defences and, you know, actually moving about. Benteke also needs guys that will run off him. So he sticks in two more tentative, creative types that also want people running ahead of them so that they can take extra touches instead. He's stripped away the pace until we're too slow to break effectively or to even crudely make space for each other.

Not even touching the defence. What's the point? I'll be here forever.

I think he's put himself in a position where he can almost pick a balanced team in about 5 formations. He still can't decide on a style of play, and now we're flitting between ideas from game to game. I had hoped that the introduction of the medium block was a sign he'd learned some lessons, but it looks more and more like last season with each passing game.

In short: I await rescue.

Edit: ham-fistedly posting on phone, hence spectacular half double post.

[Gabe]

A midfield of Lucas and Milner at home versus Norwich. That probably sums up about where we are these days. Every team is going to fancy their chances against us with that duo.

Edit: I'm still waiting to understand what Firmino was bought for, as in what role Rodgers had in mind (ha, as if he had a plan!)

I've reverted to apathy these days. I've missed the last 2 games (today and Thursday) and that's unheard of for me. A part of that is because we don't really have anybody that has a connection to the club left (I realise that's a bit silly, but there you go), obviously we have struggled to play decent football too. I don't honestly know if Rodgers can ever fix a mess that is, in large part, his own making. If he went, why would any top-class manager want to come? Would FSG be prepared to bankroll another transition (something we seem to have been in for about 5 years now)?

What is there to look forward to, exactly?

[Shevchenko]

What you describing is basically someone like Gundogan. I know it might have been a long shot, but his agents were touting him around to clubs before he signed his contract in the summer. A lot of teams were put off with his wage demands and fitness concerns. But he seems to be doing well currently. That is the sort of transfer perhaps Liverpool should be after.

A lot of teams were put off by Suarez before he joined Liverpool due to his temperament because he definitely had the talent to succeed anywhere. Obviously there is a time when a risky transfer won't work like Balotelli. But these are the type of signings that excite fans the most when they do work.

You were linked with Illarrmendi also for most of the summer. Another player who would have been a good signing.

[JamesTW]

That was more like it, shitload of chances like the good days but in the circumstances the results not good enough, were not likely to go up in the table with the games we have, Rodgers Will go

[V3zna]

Text from Rob Guttman on TAW Facebook site:

I can't remember being so encouraged by so many cameos yet despairing at the overall performance and result. The horrible realisation is that Anfield now expects this. This pattern is now a very sustained one. A battling character win vs Man city 6 months ago and a brief cut loose vs Swansea last December aside we haven't been sent home happy from our home in well over a year.

I was made up with Sturridge. Really encouraged by Ings' energy and zip. Firmino looked bright and a real talent at last. Sahko was largely imperious and Moreno arguably man of the match.

Things to cling to, but the manager is no longer one of them. I'd like to see the owners show decisive leadership and not repeat the Hodgson fiasco. There's a salvageable season here. Be bold, be fair, be kind to a lost leader too, but most of all let us at least have Anfield and some hope back.

[ryodi]

Nothing is going to change with Mignolet. Rodges continues to defend him presumably for the same reason he persists with Lovren.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/sep/21/premier-league-10-talking-points-weekend-action

Rodgers went to great lengths to absolve the Belgium international of blame on Sunday. “I think there were other factors for the goal,” he said. “Every keeper you bring in is there to challenge the keeper. I have [dropped Mignolet] before. I will do it again if I feel I need to make changes, whether goalkeeper or outfield. But for their goal, there were other elements involved.”

I'd say his feeble attempt at a punch was the main reason they scored. Other factors might be that the defenders live in hope that he'll get it right. And Mignolet himself says he won't change his approach.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/sep/21/simon-mignolet-liverpool-norwich-mistake

“I came for the ball, it was a whipped-in cross, and I tried to get a fist to it,” said the goalkeeper. “It’s one of those that comes out, they picked up the second ball and scored from it. It’s always disappointing to concede from a set piece, especially as we’ve been working hard on defending them this week.

I expect Villa to be pinging crosses in towards him next week because he always has an error in him and it's usually costly.

[Istanbul]

Love this photo:

[Chooch]

Football is so ridiculous these days. Official coffee.

[Istanbul]

Football is so ridiculous these days. Official coffee.

Not as funny as Nivea For Men...Official Grooming Supplier for Liverpool FC.

Woof.

[angel]

i hate that advert. men, here is your cream. i really dont want to be anywhere near skyrtels cream, thanks all the same.

also, mars, official snack food of the england team. why not go the whole hog and have hamlet, the official cigar of the england team. theyre equally performance enhancing.

[Azrael]

Lewandowski scored 5 goals in 9 minutes. Same amount of goals Liverpool have scored this season. Maeks u fink

Nice goal from Balotelli tonight for Milan.