I'm equally, if not more, worried of our midfield's defensive performance. Toure, Fernando and Nasri weaved through us all night unperturbed
The bashing of our new defence by some is somewhat unfair. BR needs to settle on a back 4 and let them play a run of games. However, I don't think the issues of last season have been addressed because once again the defence is exposed by poor midfield cover. Gerrard for all his plus points,is not a DM and doesn't have the defensive nous to be in the right position at the right time. Compare him to mascherano in WC and you'll see what a great D M is worth. In saying that I don't think fernando for city looked that great either but he has a more established defence behind him
Last night was very interesting on a number of fronts and asks even more questions than provides answers. However, at this stage in the season I think that is a good thing. As I said above, I have no idea what our best side will look like or how the nature of the game can be changed by the introduction of 'units or individuals. But from our 2 games the big question for me is how and why do we lose our defensive composure? For long periods we matched in our defensive shape and security and probably provided more in attack than they did. The first goal was a mistake from a débutante. It was one of those things. The second however came as a result of us losing our defensive shape and I don't know why. The third I find inexplicable and unacceptable. In attack, we showed loads of potential but we insisted on trying to play 'killer' balls on the edge of the box. To be fair many of their attacks foundered for the same reasons. I just want to know why we seem to have abandoned our shoot on sight policy.
Coutinho is not good enough on the wing, especially ahead of new boy Moreno, who looked good and bad, but it was his first game. A midfield of Gerrard, Henderson and Allen is just terrible, I actually think utd have a better midfield than us. We should have shut up shop at 1-0, when we were getting dominated, instead of letting in 3, making us worse than last season. We have a complete lack of confidence going into a game against a buoyant Tottenham next week and 6 points is a lot to make up this early.
Think you worked even harder than usual on your negativity. BTW even QPR have a better midfield than United.
Nor I, dave. We pretty much bossed the first half without looking that threatening on goal. We were unlucky to concede prior to half time and didn't deserve to go in a goal down. A view shared by two BS (Scouse) who watched the game with me. 2nd half was City's and they ultimately deserved the 3 points. We will get better and we'll do the spuds next Sunday
We missed Suarez last night (who wouldn't). I can see why we've bought Balotelli. City were comfortable for the most part against our attacks. The only purple patch that we enjoyed was when Lambert came on......and then City threw another man in midfield to stifle it. I thought our performance lacked a few things; movement up front and subsequently a real threat up front for most of the game. To be fair, City's defence was pretty good but I also thought that we were pretty static! Our defence was pretty well analysed by the pundits last night but I'll put that down to being a new back four.....Moreno showed glimpses of what he could be but what a baptism of fire for his first game!! Poor lad!! And once again, our midfield shape is wrong, wrong, wrong. This I put down to tactics, perhaps because of the players available to us, perhaps because Rodgers actually believes it works. Against lesser teams we'll get away with it but I don't like it, I never have. How many teams can afford to give away the space we do when we lose possession in the middle of the park, we have to address this quickly. We cannot afford a soft belly without the rampant attack that we enjoyed last year. By the way, I thought City were very good last night and on that form, they'll be champions for me. So my above critique needs to be put into that context. We won't be the only team that they swipe aside at home (or away) this year.
Overall I'm not too concerned with this result. One of the toughest fixtures we'll have this season and there was plenty of cause for optimism. Moreno, minor mind-fart aside, looked decent, as did Markovic. We still have Manquillo and Balotelli and Lallana to come into the team, too. The season's a marathon not a sprint. Providing we beat the lower table teams we'll be pushing for top 4 again this season. Still think Man City and Chelsea are by far the best squads in the league and it's pretty much a two-horse race for the title. I'm just going to concentrate on watching our team evolve and I'm going to enjoy having European nights back at Anfield! COYR!
Don't mean to be so negative, but I thought we looked hopeless last night. Our dominance in the first half an hour was like Arsenal, a lot of the ball, but doing nothing with it.
Morning after the night before... Forgive me if don't share the pessimism expressed by some... Moreno, apart from that moment in the first half was very impressive, even with a twisted ankle still had the speed and guile to keep one of the fastest wingers in the PL in check, esp. when down to 10 men, the lad will only improve/be better when up to the speed of the game in this league. Markovic looked impressive when he came on... Sterling for the first 60mins had their defence in all sorts of trouble. I was impressed with Allen, did a shift defensively and tried to link up play up top.. Wasn't Hendo's best game nor Ford's but they are after all Human, **** happens, they'll be OK! Also, just in case people forgot, we played away, against the Champions, in their first home game of the season, a team that's been together for two seasons+ with only one new addition. We're still beding in new players, Chelsea apart (and even they may struggle), City will rip most sides to shreds at home (most prob. away too) Some have said our defence didn't play well... yes and no.. We did restrict them to just 3 shots on target... BUT they scored with those chances.. (very clinical) However, to restrict them to 3 shots on target, at home, the team as a whole must of done a reasonable job? Individual errors cost the first goal and Mingolet's positioning is questionable for the 3rd.. Lallana should be available (at least make the bench) for the Spurs game, which will mean more competition for places, meaning the starters will need to perform in order to the stay in the team! Balotelli should be available and to be honest, if fit, I'd play, he'll take some of the attention away from Sturridge, Sturridge needs a bit more space to work in, right now, 1 up front against 2 defenders, its quite easy for the opposition. To finish, Johnson didn't play great but I don't like the **** being thrown at him, people rejoicing at the injury of one of our own players, WTF is that all about? #glasshalffull
This is a good assessment. I am critical of yesterdays performance BUT it has to be in context of who we played. Right now, there's time to get things sorted but we have to do exactly that. If we can fight for top 4 (third and fourth really as i agree with your comment on City and Chelsea) we'll be good for next year. ( players is a lot to bed in....just ask Spurs!)
For everyone defending Johnson: It takes some skill (or none whatsoever) when you consider our left back last night was a debutant, playing on the side where City were primarily targeting, was found out of position a lot, made one horrible error and still wasn't the worst player on the field. Perhaps I have joined the scapegoat Johnson bandwagon, it is so easy to join in when so many others have vilified him, but whenever I see him play these days, all I see is this: https://vine.co/v/MlA0gpMVjL7 I don't agree with rejoicing in his injury though. It shouldn't be injury that forces him out of the team, it should be BR making the hard decision.
We have bought full backs to get rid of Johnson imo - it is very difficult to go and stick out a back 4 of: Manquillo Skrtel Lovren Moreno against the champions at their gaff just 2 games in. There can't be too many changes at one time. If Flanno was fit then I think he would have played.
LT, City targeted the left side because we were fielding a débutante and because they suspected the cover in front of him! Now I accept that Johnson does not appear to be as good an attacking FB as he once was but you have to accept that the rest of the team show faith in him and that must surely tell us something about him and the alternatives that we have.
In retrospect you're right. It wasn't right for me to "rejoice" in his injury. Although that is maybe not the best description. Relief that he won't be playing next game is better than happy he's physically damaged and for the following reasons. He's given up, settled in and is seeing out his highly paid contract. Now that's our tough luck as we gave him that contract. Doesn't stop my hatred that he is sticking two fingers up at everyone with every half assed, couldn't give a **** performance. Up until this window he had to be played. Enrique is either always injured or recovering from injury so Flannagan was on the other side, Kelly was injured or recovering from injury and cissoko was ****. And three at the back was iffy when tried. This season has seen two new players come in but Enrique has been slow yet again recovering from injury and Flannagan is injured. Back to Johnson being only choice on paper. As has been said, in theory you don't want to change all but one of the back four. Can't think of a coach that would. Now Rodgers hand will be forced and Manquillo will have to be played...hopefully he plays well enough that Rodgers can relax and bench Johnson permanently. The only issue now is Moreno (who by the way, one game in, struggled on with his injury knowing there was no one to replace him......just pointing out what commitment looks like ......) is likely out as well. How close to a return are Flannagan and Enrique? Another match with an unsettled back four though.
Like I said, I'm not sure he is as bad as many think he is and the scapegoat bandwagon is a convenient way to overstate his mistakes while ignoring any positives. However, I may be uncertain as to how bad he actually is, but I am certain that he is not good. Certainly not good enough for us. As m_s_g said, BR couldn't change too much of his back four at once, especially against City. If Manquillo had played instead of Johnson and the scoreline was the same, BR would have been criticised. I hope this was the only reason Johnson was playing last night.
I agree with you regarding Manquillo, it would not have been fair to play the 2 new boys and BR would have taken heavy flak. How long do we have to wait for either Flanno or Enrique to become available again?
I share the positive feeling about Moreno, Allen and Lovren and think we can take a lot of positives from last night. Markovic and Lambert made really good impacts from the bench to. City are a very strong team who get at us and mistakes were made. The whole season will not be like that. This was just one game, who many expected us to loose. I see no need to loose any confidence. Lallana will be back next week, and Balotelli eligible.
Just finished watching it. Game went pretty much as I expected but could have been very different if we had taken one of our early opportunities. Glen Johnson...what a ****! Again!!! Half hearted effort it clear on the goal line (it was level with your head FFS), didn't track back after HE lost the ball (criminal for a defender) and then WALKED off injured when we had no sub's left! Only way you should go off injured when there are no sub's left is on a stretcher!!! Skrtel and Moreno both got injured afterwards but both carried on for the good of the team making Glen look a even bigger ****! PS... Not read any other comments PPS... Not going to either PPPS... Off to Legoland now
