Let's get the 'proud' thing out of the way first. NO, I'm not proud but I was pleased to see a Liverpool side who defended in an organised way and kept the opposition at bay. There was a cost to the tactics employed and it was clear to see that we were nearly toothless up front. Secondly, let's get the what Rodgers did or did not say thing out of the way. Personally, I really don't care what statements he gives to the media. I'm more concerned with th players and tactics he chooses for individual games. Defensively, he made the right changes for the side last night. If that upsets some players or the media or whoever then tuff! Yes we did still lose the game but we made a far better fist of defending and looked more confident at the back than we have for the rest of the season. I'm really not bothered if Rodgers refers to a player as being dropped or rested or whatever. If the changes work then al well and good. I must admit I shuddered when I heard Toure's name but he played really well and demonstrated all of the qualities that we could expect from a Liverpool defender. You can't blame Borini for our lack of a cutting edge. Both he and Markovic tried their best. Had Balotelli come on then I doubt that he could have changed anything - he just isn't a lone striker! However, for me, Sterling is becoming a pale imitation of his last season's performances. Lallana has not got the creative ability of Coutinho but he put in his best shift in a Liverpool shirt both going forward and covering-back. So we lost a game that I thought we would do well to draw. That certainly does not make me happy or proud but I respect the effort that those players put in last night.
I think Sterling's form has dipped due to him being stuck out on the wing now - it's not good for his game. He's much better when playing on the left wing as an inside forward, or centrally at the tip of the diamond. The same applies to Markovic - his best position is not out on the wing, and getting chalk on his boots.
I'm proud that the players were fighting for their shirt. I'm proud that we gave them a game. I'm proud of the way we nullified Ronaldo. I'm proud that we are in the competition that puts us in a position of sharing a pitch with Real Madrid. I'm proud of the fans who travelled and represented all of us who couldn't be there. It's often said, it's not a badge, it's a family crest. If that's true, then do some of you only have pride in your family members when they win, but switch it off when they lose? Would you tell your son who's just lost a game he played well in, 'I respect you, but I'm not proud of you' ? I know I wouldn't.
"I'm proud that we gave them a game." No problems with the main contents except for the above. Let's not go overboard: We never gave them a game. They toyed with us and never got out of second gear. They had complete control of the game. You felt they woudl have scored if they had been forced to score more. People are going overboard on a match that everyone had given up and for which there was no pressure to win or draw as there had been so little expectation except to keep the score down. I wish people will stop going overboard on their praise for a match we have lost and move forward.
I'm under no illusion that the Madrid players came off saying 'that was a hard game' - but we frustrated them which is another way of 'giving them a game'. If we hadn't, the scoreline would have been embarrassing - and it wasn't. I don't think I'm going overboard even if you do, I'm just enjoying us being in a competition we've been out of for too long, looking for positives rather than negatives, and I refuse to default to moan mode like some of our fans!
So in summary, you guys were happy for Rodgers to "park the bus" Toshack was right, something is wrong......
Happy isn't the right word. We were not happy about having to park the bus but we'd have been less happy with losing 6-0. We are pleased with the spirit and fight the players showed, not so much the result since we lost. This is twice I've answered you with this today, quit attempting to wum
Haha it's funny how some people criticise Rodgers for being too attacking and not changing the set up. So he decides to go for something a little more cautious, and solid against the in form team in the world with the best attack and now he's still being criticised. (Aimed at rival fans and media) Amazing that
When he named the team I immediately thought " Is this BR going....... pragmatic?" and for the most part it worked and there was at least a bit of will and graft. Players lost the ball and get this fellas/ladies...... they ****ing ran to try and win it back! I know that is all minimum requirements but I thought this is a ****ing wake-up call for the first teamers. Doesn't matter who you are or what you have done, you aren't performing, you get dropped. Anyone with instagram there is a RICH comment from Lovren's wife at the bernabeu stating, with kid at the window, " Why doesn't daddy play????"........ well dear, he has been ****ing gash. I liked it, I found it funny how Linekar and the like were all hammering BR but did this "2nd string" not perform better than the first team players?
