Match Day Thread Blackburn v Liverpool FA CUP

Oh I agree. As I've said, I was as disappointed as anybody.
Because I was away over Easter I don't even know what was written on here, but I thought the usual media vultures talk of "crisis" is a little premature.
If we had a more potent strike force the Arsenal game could have turned out quite different, and this is what's been bothering me all season. I know all about the arguments about building from a strong defence, but when they have an off day you're screwed if you can't put it away at the other end.

They were poor performances and poor results, but against teams like them it could have happened at any time. I think talks of crisis really need to be put on hold until we see how well we bounce back.

And we desperately need another striker.

 

This year is our year.

 

We got the job done and are in the Semis, nothing more to discuss lets turn Villa over and march on.

 

Two semis sounds like rodgers needs some Viagra

 

He won't if we win the Cup.

 

We must not underrate Villa under Tim Sherwood. However, I think he's more concerned about staying up than the FA cup.
Would not mind causing an upset.

 

As you'll be aware, I have some mobility problems at the moment, so It's not easy for me to get to the Grange for the game. I didn't see the Arsenal game and only the highlights last night. My reporter mate said that in the Arsenal game, you didn't see what was coming for around half an hour. Good goal by Coutinho, though

 

I hate the media, but in a lot of ways the last two League games do represent a crisis of sorts. Key games that have all but eliminated our chances of a top four finish and which makes it harder to recruit the kinds of players needed to close the gap on the best. Perhaps crisis is pushing it, but defining, key, pivotal etc... they certainly were!

 

I think perhaps I'm not putting my point across well enough. What I'm trying to say is that we were always likely to come a cropper in this way, largely because we have no fire-power, imo.
So, frustrating and disappointing though it is, it isn't that much of a shock. No crisis for me, just a reminder that we still have a way to go.

 

Yes I get what you are saying. I like you, was under no illusion before the season started, tipped us to finish about 5th or 6th with no Suarez. However, there is a big difference between having hope, like we did a couple of weeks ago, and the stark reality of the situation we are really in. That is why I can totally understand the fallout, after all, what is football without debate, without dissecting the squad, the manager, the League, signings etc...? the reason football is so popular is not just because of the 38 games of a League season, its all the in betweens, all year round, the arguing at work, in the pub etc... I think no matter what position you take as a fan, there is always something to discuss, even though I knew we would struggle this season, I hoped I was wrong, I hoped that Rodgers would prove me wrong, that the squad was better than I gave them credit for, so even though we have done what I expected, there is still a lot to be disappointed in as you say.

 

I always expected us to miss Suarez, but I thought Sturridge might step up a notch being the main man, so I was reasonably optimistic at the start of the season, if I'm honest. Unfortunately, when he was out for a long time it became clear that we had nobody to step in, and his stuttering performances since his recovery mean we've had a rather toothless attack all season. As I said earlier, a strong defence is good, but you win games by scoring goals not just by keeping them out.
That's why despite our weaknesses we came within a midge's of the title last year- and this time, despite our stronger defence we need a miracle to get top 4.

 

In some ways we have been unlucky with the Sturridge injuries, but in another way we are victims of failing to bring in the right kind of players. What I mean to say is, you either compound bad luck, or negate it to some extent, we have compounded it by the additions we brought in. Even the very best managers have done this though, Mourinho last season failed big time by not bringing in a top striker, Wenger has failed for a few seasons to address their defensive cover and add some steel. The difference is the best see their errror's and fix them, as I said before the season I knew Chelsea would win the League, because they addressed all their weaknesses very early doors!!

In some ways this is why I have little confidence in BR; the squad is no better than when he took over, and we find ourselves yet again needing to bring in the right players to improve us, yet going on BR's transfer record, I don't hold out much hope that he is the man to identify those players?

 

in fairness to rodgers the squad is a bit better than when he took over...

c'mon it is.

 

We'll have to see.
In some ways, Suarez's great season last year was detrimental to our long-term plans- in that it made it seem like we were further on than we actually are, and that's part of the reason that the first 11, (as opposed to the squad generally) has not improved significantly.

I'm just not sure whether or not the blame lies solely with Rodgers. We've tried for several years to attract top-level players and failed. We really have to face up to the fact that we're not currently attractive enough to the very best- especially in an era when every 20 year old with a modicum of talent thinks they deserve to be in the CL.

Rodgers is a young manager, and bound to make mistakes, the acid test is if he can learn from them and build on what he learns.
If the club weren't prepared to be patient and follow that route then they should have gone for a more established, experienced man. They've made their choice, and I think we have to stick with him for a little longer and see where we're going. If we change, then I fear we're back to square one.
I'm (just about) old enough to see us coming from the 2nd division to being the top club side in the world, then slipping back to where we are now. I'm prepared to show a little more patience because I think the right young manager has more chance of building a long term future for the club than a fly-by-night experienced one who considers himself past building something and wants to walk into a trophy-winning set-up.
We only have to step back and look at the other clubs around us to see that there is no guaranteed winning formula- even with City-style megabucks.

 

Stuttering Sturridge

I think that when we are ever that close to a title we should win it. It was self inflicted in my view and when that happens it can have future consequences on morale. This may be harsh but we lost the title more than City won it. It was a collapse of nerve on our part. Not to revisit those painful events but Rodgers needed to calm the players and have a clear strategy. He was misguided in trying to beat Chelsea when one point was enough. And all we needed was to get 3 points from Palace. But it is all water under the bridge.

The effect of having come close on the next season has always been bad. In the past we have taken a few years to get back in contention again, with a different manager and with different players. That is why I think that Rodgers has had his chance and we should have someone else have a go.

 

lets look seriously.

reina was mugged off... some defend that to the hilt. I think it was poor management at best
Mingolet is average
Jones is still here (god)

Johnson is done.. yay.. he was done when rodgers arrived but gave a bit of service when actually bothered and fit
Wisdom has been brought through... to be sold probably but none the less
Flanagan was given another go.. and proved to be average rather than league 1 which is something

Enrique injury ends his lfc career. can't blame rodgers par se
Moreno is worst defender i've seen positionally. he is a trier.

Toure was brought i nto replace carraghers experience.. has done a bit at times, is very rusty. He is a decent guy and good squad man though... carragher had to retire sometime!
Lovern was bought to sell agger. Agger's back and knee was ****ed c'mon lads they were. Lovern is awful
Sahko was bought. good player, very inconsistent o nthe ball and injury prone but very good defender
skertl is still there
coates was sent on loan and got injured...

Dalglish/hodgson handed rodgers **** all in defense. the only bone of contention i have is reina.

Rodgers bought sahko, but then again lovern.... he got shut of robinson and kelly and with respect both were right calls.

midfield:

Gerrard
Maxi
henderson
downing
spearing
lucas
Adam
Sterling
shelvey.

rodgers has:

made henderson our captain in waiting and an england regulat
Sold downing (useless) shelvey (nutter) spearing (journeyman) Adam (journeyman) maxi (he was done)

He bought allen... ffs.. and can... and markovic.

Gerrard is retiring.

SO our CMs are

Lucas who'd got injured and has just gone.
Henderson
Can whos a decent talent with potential no question. I like him especially at 10mil
allen (average)

we have

markovic
lallana (average, no pace, no physicality)
sterling
ibe (hwo he gave debut to)
COUTINHO (one bright spot)

despite it not being impressive at all its not worse for usre and bar gerrard its prob better

Up fornt:

Rodgers was handed

Suarez
Kuyt
Bellamy
Carroll

He sold all of them

bellamy was past it
kuyt was just about past it
Carrol was an injury prone donkey
suarez was always going and 75mil is amazing fee

rodgers as bought... poorly

balotelli
lambert
borini

strurrdige (made of glass)

so the reality is Rodgers was handed a right dogs dinner which was aging and he's done a lot of hard work.. LEts give credit to it.

but.... the reality is as i've said 1000 times is the buys have been **** so while its a btter squad it is not by much... and the evidence of lack of goals this year points squarely to that front line being weak as a new boarn kitten

Next man has to buy real talent.

 

Yes, I do agree that when you take on a young and upcoming manager you are going to get some errors along the way. I do think Rodgers has done some good things; the major issue I have though is that his transfer record is woeful at best, and how do we close the gap if that record continues? I would have a lot more confidence, if I thought he could get the right players in, sadly in our transfer model, it is imperative that don't waste millions, something he did last summer.

 

We challenged for the title whilst he was "given a go", mainly on the wrong side too

 

so no credit can go to the other 10 player son the pitch while or defence leaked goals left and right then.... SURRREEEE

sterling, coutinho sturridge, suarez, henderson and even gerrard had nothign t odo with over 100 goals propelling us up the tbale.

no it was the average full back who filled in cos enrique got injured

 

i think most of us must feel somewhat similar. We can look as i did today at the squad he inherited and see a lot of aging and no longer good players and see rodgers has done a decent job promoting youth and restructuring but the fact is Rodgers has made his won bed with the god awful strikers he has bought and average enough attacking midfielders too.

LFC have done well with Can in a 3 at the back shoring up and its propelled us from midtbale at best up to 5th with an excellent run where most games were the odd goal. we've not seen great goal scoring or free flowing football really since suarez left... not really. Our defence... much maligned rightly has kept us in it while our forwards have lacked punch.

Rodgers signed all of our forwards, developed or bought all of our attacking midfield too. really our team is rodgers, only a couple of players survive now for a long while and those are gerrard who is toast, johnson whos injury coincided with our improved form, skertl hwo has done bette rin a back 3 and henderson who's proven Rodgers wrong... add lucas who's broken down and has been very unlucky in rodger's time to that....

The team as it stands... and it is RESPECTABLE (5th, semi final, league cup plus semi of FA cup) .... is where rodgers has brought it but now rodgers has to strip out the muck he bought and change it.

this is where the question to my mind is yes... faith in him picking the right players.... I agree we cannot continue to spend shedloads and get it wrong.