With our season coming to and end I have already started looking to the next, this itself is sad but with this always going to be a transitional season I am trying to shake myself out of this malaise and find the positives in what is Brendan Rodgers first season. There have been moments this season where it seems we are heading in the right direction only for us to take a huge step backwards again. Our team has a knack of being up for and performing against the top teams even though the results have not gone our way this season, however put a so called lower team in front of this Liverpool side and all the aggresion pace and determination disappears. Is this the key to us progressing? The core of our team is still good and adding to that with quality should mean that we can progress quite quickly if we can sort out the problem of motivation for every single game, players need to start playing for the shirt regardless of the opposition. Sturridge has surprised most with his quality, we all knew he had pace and liked a shot but not many were expecting the quality of his all round play. Gerrard has adapted to his new role and has been a key player for us again, Suarez of course needs no discussion. Coutinho looks promising as do a lot of the young lads like Suso and Sterling, we look around the squad and the future looks good. Can Rodgers bring in the right players and move us into contenders again? Ask this question and a multitude of answers will be offered. Is a successfull team full of stars or is it it down to the mentality of the players? The Summer will be full of speculation and fans will be screaming for a big signing, get the right player in and all our hopes and dreams of challenging for titles will be once again realised. But will they? Unless Rodgers can get his ethos into the current group of players adding 1 or 2 talented stars will not make a huge difference. Until the core idea that Rodgers has is working we will not be successfull as I said earlier the players need to play for the shirt and go out onto that Anfield turf and fight for every moment only then will we be the Liverpool of old.
There's definitely some weight to that What will it make to improve the attitude when playing v teams in games not fancied. Is it because we think we'll win that we don't, I am hoping not? Is it because we are expected to win? - I hope this is not the case as it is a big problem if it is. Expectation should be handled by the players surely. It's not as if they are expected to win the league after all but it seems every time we are expected to get a result we don't, when all the talk is about how bad we've been they go out and win. As for the games v top teams I suspect there is a lot of our players wanting to prove to themselves they are good enough to stick it to them, if I were to see the same level of passion and commitment as we've shown v United, or shows in the last 10 minutes in a lot of games we were losing and the battling qualities shown v Spurs and Arsenal, I'd be happy even if we lost as I was when we lost to United and drew with City and Arsenal though it has to be said, City were not that great.
I think we are improving against the lower sides - we've been smashing them recently and we're winning at home again...
There was an improvment over a period and then it was back to square one against Southampton and it wasn't a good performance, why? If we lose but play well and just get unluck that's something that just happens but when Southampton play us of the park we have to at least consider why?
I didn't see the match, so can't really comment but it is a shocking result, particularly as I understand that they could and should have scored more
Proven, consistent quality in midfield needed and another centre back of Agger's quality. Then we can buy more potential. Progress would be a higher league finish!
It would depend on what you define as progress, as to whether you would view this season as a success or not for Liverpool. My opinion, is that you're playing attacking, attractive football & are now easier on the eye than you've been since the days of Houllier. So that would have to be viewed as progression. However, results wise you're about where you were last season, due largely to inconsistency of performance & defensive weakness. I think if you're to move from being an attractive 'also ran' to a genuine contender, then Rodgers needs to adapt his tactics to suit the opponent & the circumstances. Sometimes you have to set up not to lose, rather than going for the jugular. Sometimes you have to 'win ugly', if you're going to compete with the best. I think Rodgers ego might hold him back in this regard, as he shows no signs of a man who's prepared to sacrifice his chosen 'style' under any circumstances, this could prove to be his achilles heel as a manager imo.
I don't watch you enough to give a in depth response but my opinion is that when I have watched you play your defence looked FAR stronger last season which was probably down to Steve Clarke. Gerrard has looked like age has caught up with him but seems to have improved since Lucas came back. Your signings have been hit nd miss although Sturridge and Coutinho look decent enough. In terms of overall improvement- last season you reach two finals and won one of them, although your league position was great at least you had the cup runs as an excuse. This season you've been average with glimpses of being good. I actually think you would have improved more had KK stayed in charge rather than bringing in PR Rodgers
prog·ress (prgrs, -rs, prgrs) n. 1. Movement, as toward a goal; advance. 2. Development or growth: students who show progress. 3. Steady improvement, as of a society or civilization: a believer in human progress. See Synonyms at development. 4. A ceremonial journey made by a sovereign through his or her realm. Didn't read the OP but not hard to tell what the subject is from the title. Hope this helps.
I think we will be much better next season with Eriksen and Neymar in the side. Just need to sort that defence out and then next year will be ours... Sorry Mr Gonzo
On a serious note, seeing as I didn't adhere to the requests of serious posts. Last season we reached 2 cup finals, winning one. We had half an OK season before hitting relegation form. This season we have so far maintained decent-ish form, improving slightly as it goes along with the usual **** up. So there is plenty more progress to be made. Progress is hard to be measured by cup runs, you can be top of the league and exit in the early rounds or win a cup and be relegated (Birmingham, Portsmouth). Progress can also be deceiving. Did Newcastle really progress last season judging by their form this season? Or did they just simply overachieve? Has Suarez peaked? Will he have a season as good as this again? I'd like to think that if he doesn't, our squad/team will improve and what his hard work has provided us this season will be spread out among other players next season. But he will probably be our biggest provider for the next 4-5 seasons if he were to stay that long.
