So, eight games in and we are 3 points behind one of the favourites for a top 4 finish in Arsenal, but also 5 behind spurs, Everton, Tottenham, and west ham. (4 behind Fulham). Are we improving, or is it just that we are now playing supposedly 'weaker' teams? We've now taken 7 points from the last 9 available, but more importantly for me, have had 2 consecutive clean sheets (league). Thoughts?
Defensively, as a whole that is, we are a disaster waiting to happen. Don't know how we have kept 2 clean sheets. Up front, Sterling is looking good and will get better, Suarez scores great goals, but can't score. I love seeing all the youth play, but I am quite worried with our lack of goals, structure and desire to get the ****ing ball back in the 7 seconds bullshit that was planned.
Progress without a doubt! I think people look into too much, you only have to look at our performances vs Man Utd and Man City to see that we can challenge the other big teams, we are playing positive football and everyone is still learning a new system, we are going to get bad performances here and there and with that we will get question marks regarding our progress, but i like what we're doing at the moment and am optimistic!
Working progress. Eight games and three/four months is no time at all. Especially considering we've played Man Utd, Arsenal and Man City already and no recognised striker!!! Patience
I agree we do look dodgy at the back (not seen today's game), but surely clean sheets will improve confidence. From what I've seen, our defensive problems, and many of the goals we've conceded have come from trying to over play from the back, and until we are totally comfortable with BR's system we are going to get these problems. My old manager used to say 'if you ain't sure, fookin hoof it, they can't score if it's in the river'. Wish we would do this sometimes!
Again, I agree. Not having a go, trying to take the positives. I think we are going the right way, and given time Rodgers will be a great manager for us.
I used to get told "if in doubt, hoof it out", I prefer mine . Its not just overplaying it, we get hit on the counter attack like Terry hitting players wives.
You've played three poor teams to be fair, two of which are at home. Let's see if its still only five points tomorrow
And that quote right there is the problem with English football. Emphasis on winning at a young age, rather than trying to develop skill. If, at a young age you try and pass the ball out from the back you'll occasionally lose the ball and teams may score, but in doing so you learn and get better and better. Kicking the ball out may stop the opposition scoring from that attack, but it won't help you build and possible score yourself. Kids shouldn't play competitive football until at least 12 or 13 as it gives you a chance at a young age to try and develop skills without the pressure on having to win games etc. Anyway, rant over - think we are progressing. As said above, new manager, few months/games in and we're slowly putting BR's ideas into practice. Can't wait to see next season and the one after once he's had time and transfer windows to get everything his way.
We are getting clean sheets whilst missing a key part of our defensive structure in Lucas. If we can still progress and show determination, commitment and various other power words up until January, get Lucas fully fit by then by easing him back, buy a recognised goal scorer I think we could have a half decent season (in comparison to the last 3 years)
I agree that the youth will be inconsistent but i don't think we are going to get as many bad performances as you think, i believe our best performances have been against City and United and i think our worst was against Arsenal and i also believe that was our only really bad performance in the league so far, i think people look at the result against West Brom but up until Aggers sending off we were the better team, i admit we were a shambles when down to 10 men! ... Even today against Reading it wasn't a great performance by any means but it wasn't a bad one, its what the best teams do on a regular basis winning when not at their best but we did enough what was required and it won't be a game thats remembered but it also won't be a game thats remembered for the wrong things which is always good ... Our performances against Stoke and Reading were very similar but they weren't bad performances... We'll be fine
It's both, we are making progress, but a good team would have torn us apart at the back today. The passing is getting crisper, and movement is fluid, but sometimes we just lose our heads and it all falls apart.
Lol yes, because LFC problem over last 3 years is (& it happened today) we DO hoof it 1-0 up. And no disrespect but against teams we've dominated! You're right! Up until age 12 there should be points scored for possession. But screw that; how about we use some of this huge PL TV rights money to steal 1000 of the 30000 Spanish youth coaches? Eh? Cheap at half the price me thinks.
Noble. Serious question (dislike of owners, set up aside) do you like the "idea" of what you see? There a glimpse of a great team here...I know, I know we've been here before but I see hope....
The signs are good but I wouldn't say that we've progressed just yet. As disappointing as our lack of goals is, it is to be expected, and the fact the we're creating chances to mess up shows that it is something that can be solved in january (if our transfer policy and scouting improves, but that's a different story altogether). As Noblelox says, a better team would have scored past us today so I'm still not satisfied with our defending. Throughout the ups and downs of the recent years you could generally count on our defence being solid, but at the moment I'm always expecting at least one glaring error at the back per game.
I'm not sure we have improved to be honest. Not much... We started the season pretty smartly- but a few bad results (worse than perhaps we deserved) and we got in a slump... we are coming out of that slump now but I don't think there is a lot better now than our earliest games. I think Reading we deserved to win against and get three points- there are games this season we've played better but been denied due to poor finishing, and a lapse or two at the back. Take WBA. We played much better against them- but due to a few unfortunate decisions that game was highly stacked against us. I'm not giving up, or saying we won't improve- but after a little slump- we're about back where we started from. I think our proximity to Arsenal is a black mark against them- not a sign of glory days from us. Happy we won, and it was a decent performance- but I don't think we're out of the fire yet. There are some more difficult days ahead before we can say we've improved.
