Defending a lead !

If if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if if...

But but but but but but but but but but but but but but...

Forget it lads. We're movin forwards

I'll have them eggs scrambled on toast ta

 

And yous can't make an omelette without breakin a few eggs

 

The slip wasn't the issue. It was the naivety of Brendan - all we needed was a draw. So approaching HT, why the hell did we have practically 9-10 men in Chelsea's half and Stevie as the last man, with no cover?

 

Bcos you'd convincingly beat City the week before iirc? And you were on the crest of a winning streak, confidence was high as was the euphoria with where the season was heading. Agree with what you're saying to an extent but given the circumstances, it was that sentiment in the players on the pitch as much as the man on the sidelines that led to the fck up.

 

It's the managers job to prepare the team tactically and mentally. He was responsible for having such a high line and no cover for Gerrard.

 

I think of it as hindsight. The reason I mentioned the city game and the winning run of games is bcos I'd like to see how many times the exact same or similar thing had happened in those? But you won those so nobody picked up on it or questioned it. Had gerrard not slipped and you'd drawn the game nobody would have questioned it either.

 

True and prior to the Chelsea game, I would have said I wanted us to attack like we normally do and not play for a draw.

But what became painfully evident is that Chelsea were there for the draw. They played a weakened side, sat very deep and started time wasting from the off. Rodgers should have recognised this and shown better in-game management, and not over committed.

But it was 0-0, approaching HT, no pressure for us to score - there is no excuse for us to have practically 9-10 men in Chelsea's half with Gerrard as last man. Maybe if it was the last 5 mins of a game and we HAD to score, then I would understand.

 

i said it about 50 times in the week before said game... take the draw.

it was niave, poor management on field and off.

46th minutes ffs...

 

also had carra been there it would not have happened.

cbs out as full backs and gerrard looking at johnson 40 yards away running forward for pass... lets ball under foot as he was not paying attention but ba was and pressing.

gerrard:
a) should have never been in that position on 46mins
b) should have known ba was pressing all game.
c) should have minded the ball and just knocked it back to CB.

rodgers:
a) should have not sent them out frantic to win. you could tell after 20mins it was panic stations even at 0-0
b) should have passed instructions to change shape and narrow in the side. there was no reason to be throwing guys against an 8 man attack
c) should have instructed team to run direct at cheslea. run not pass. go for frees and pens.
d) at 40mins should have been instructing sneior players to pull in tight and see out half.


both men imo got what the deserved

 

Chelsea loves to spoil peoples party, again I am not sure Gerrard was 100% fit for that game. Brendan Rodgers was scared of dropping him.

 

Brendan Rodgers cannot win ugly 1:0 or protect two goal leads.