He can say what he wants but it doesnt mean you like seeing it Cole not getting the ball when given to him, Jose holding it back, time wasting on goal kicks throw ins etc. Anyway im not going through it all, it was as always the result that matters and we lost! The End
Rodgers just told it as it happened in a pretty calm manner We've faced a parked bus every other week since last summer, it's not really a concern next season or next week even - you just did it with much better players and we made a huge error to gift you the goal that won the match. If Rodgers had it to do over again I don't think he'd change a single thing other than telling Gerrard don't miscontrol the ball then slip.
Liverpool and Rodgers got there tactics all wrong, as Rodgers should have changed things after 15 mins of the first half. You could see very early on what Chelsea where planning to do, playing a 631 formation when they didn't have the ball. A formation that is very difficult to crack, especially when the players using it are all top class international players. Liverpool needed to add more width into there play, they needed to have a winger or one of there fullbacks hugging each touch line, to spread the play out more which would have left more gaps in Chelsea's defensive unit. They needed to use players in there side that could play accurate cross field passes to there wingers on the touch line, so they could move the play across the field quickly. In the first half Chelsea would have probably been able to cope with this, as they'd have enough energy to keep getting across the pitch to close the wingers down, but come the 2nd half they'd have been out on there feet, as defending against a side that can switch the play well is very tiring. We used to use these tactics very well when we had the likes of Scholes and Beckham in our side, as they where capable of pinging 40 yard balls from one side to the other with perfect accuracy. This is why we got so many late goals, as sides would be at there most voulnerable towards the end of the 90, having had to spend the whole game closing us down. Rodgers instead just allowed his Liverpool side to try and pass through the eye of a needle for the whole game, something they where never going to be able to do, against a side as strong as Chelsea. Constantly playing through the middle made it a lot less tiring for Chelsea's defence too, as there players could pretty much stand in the same area for most of the game, so they still had plenty left in the tank for the 2nd half. It was a very naive tactical performance from Brendan Rodgers if you ask me. It was just staggering that he couldn't see what everyone else could. I personally don't like to watch what I would call 'anti football' though in truth sides can play any way they want to play, and if Chelsea choose to play that way then that is down to them. And as Jamie Carragher has pointed out Liverpool used to do it all the time, especially in the 70s and 80s when they had most of there success, so they really can't complain
Rodgers did nowt wrong. His tactics had nothing to do with the goal that won the match, it was just a flukey accident. The match ended with Gerrard's mistake. after that tactics were irrelevant as Chelsea would never be drawn out.
Carragher: 'Let's not forget that in the seventies and eighties when Liverpool went away they'd go there and do a job to try and get a 0-0. At times they'd play it back to Ray Clemence and slow the game down.' Liverpool Villa and Forest dominated the most boring negative era of European Cup football. 1-0s v Real, Bruges, Hamburg, Malmo and Bayern when Italian and Spanish football was in crisis.
He had no plan B to counter what Mourinho was doing. Mourinho knew how Rodgers would set up, so he played a system that involved packing the middle of the park, with only Schurrle and Salah in wide areas to defend those positions, as Cole and Azpilicueta tucked into make 4 centre backs. Chelsea where also very narrow infront of that with Mikel, Lampard and Matic all sat infront of the 4 centre halfs. Rodgers needed to change things, as his usual system of playing quick passes through the middle was never going to work against a side as good as Chelsea who where set up the way they where. He didn't change anything, because he probably didn't know how to. He has one way of playing, and if that doesn't work he is clueless
You'd never hear a fan of one of the big clubs hoping to lose a game just to inconvenience their neighbours. #higherexpectations
There is no plan B to counter a side packed with top players playing 6 at the back and 10 behind the ball. You can only hope to score from a long range shot, a corner, or hope a mistake is made. We tried everything over the 90 minutes - the bus was too big and there were no holes in it.
Brenda has called Jose to make amends, cap in hand. Credit to Jose's old tea boy: he knows who is boss still http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-called-congratulate-Chelsea-Anfield-win.html
