I too think we should have defended the first goal better. We played the first half like it was a friendly, imo. That's as much down to self-belief as tactics. Either way it's BR's responsibility to sort it out. We have to wait to see if he learns from these things before we slate him too much. To me, he does seem to be learning- I don't remember our previous managers being willing to make tactical changes as early in the game as he does. I think that shows a willingness to admit he's started out wrong and to try and put it right, and not stubbornly stick to his original plan. The real test is over the season.
Can agree, tactical mistakes are always made and corrected in games, most don't require substitutions and go unnoticed too. Instructions to the players though.? We should have been using a half press in the first 20 break up their possession and prevent momentum, this sort of thing disrupts teams playing at home that are looking for an early goal. Instead we had Suarez chasing down passes to De Gea. As soon as the ball crossed the half way line we should have pressed in concert as United are not great at ball retention under pressure, but we didn't we gave up yards and tried to sit off. Pressed in 1s and 2s but never a concerted team effort We kept giving it to Suarez who laid it off to a runner, a runner going nowhere, this was the pattern of our first half attacks. Totally ineffective and playing to their strengths. 2nd Half, like it or not United conceded space and suffered as a result as we did in the first half. Their own 2nd goal had done as much to push them back as we did. it allowed us to bring in the midfield, Gerrard got a nose bleed after taking the shot Sturrige scored via from being that high up the pitch
"Aggression isn't about having a 6ft 3ins player in the middle of the field who is going to drive you forward, aggression is in the mind," says Rodgers. "We have Steven Gerrard, who is one of the best examples of that in this country over the last 10 years. We have that aggression but it is not about what size you are, it is about the fight which is in there. I know he threw Gerrard in there but anyone else see this as him covering for Allen?
Unfortunately, we'll have to be patient. When Rodgers was appointed in the summer, we all knew this was gonna be one hell of a job to rebuild our famous club. I've got faith that he'll turn it around once he gets the players he needs to fit his system. Put it this way would you rather have King Kenny still in charge?
Anyone notice for most of the first 60 we had no one in the centre of the pitch linking up the defence to the midfield? And the resulting 50 yard gaps between 2 players. what the fk was that about? We stretched ourselves, not United
I will agree he has made mistakes, but everyone does, he should have played Hendo and not Allen, IMO we shudda been 4231 not 4141 where we always seem to struggle when he play that formation What I will say is this whether BR is a success will depend on whether he leans from his mistakes, I think he will, I remember Rafa being a massive rotater of the team in his 1st 2 yrs,he was in the job , this got less over time I want BR to pick the 11 on form and ability, not on who is favourites are
massively agree with this, that lad is a bargain. Would give us more heavyweight options in midfield. That Bellhanda will be snapped up on the cheap by someone too, someone like that would give us some width.
We lost to the mancs at OT just like most teams do. I honestly think if we went for it all guns blazing we would of got thumped. Would you have all been saying "ahh well so what if utd put 6 past us at least he went for it" if that did happen? No
If any team deserved to win then the right team won, however, we could have got a draw had sturridge had a little more luck/composure (or whatever you wanna call). We were dead amd buried in the first half but if come the end you believe we were well beaten then i am not sure i believe you watched the second half (or you are clueless).
We were outplayed in the first half and should of been buried due to how the team was set up to play (e.g. tactics), we only began to play when we changed tactics. You can't give Utd a 2-0 lead at OT. We got exactly what we deserved from the match. If you disagree with any of this then I'm afraid that I'm not the clueless one
I said of the two teams the right team won. I also said we were dead and buried in the first half. Also i did not say we didnt get what we deserved.ALL I said (and I stand by it) is by the final whistle we were not 'well beaten' because we DID have a very credable chance to equalise. I admit had we equalised Utd could have te-asserted themselves and played like they did in the first half.
We've had worse performances than the first half yesterday (The Chelsea match until Suso came on springs to mind). Though I did feel the BR missed a trick not playing Hendo instead of Allen. I remember him specifically saying that he picked Hendo vs Swansea with the intention of having him sit on Leon Britton, and I figured he'd do the same against Carrick. I still don't think we have the players to pull off a defensive set up like the 1st half yesterday successfully, but I can understand why he did it.
I agree with this. Massive overreaction by OP. We got beat by an odd goal at OT - call the Echo!! FFS
I think Rodgers missed a trick on Sunday. He should have played Sturridge from the start because we all knew that suarez was going to get all the attention of the defenders. He should have set out a team to attack and play to Liverpool's strength. Playing defensively would always have played into United's hands. Considering the gap, no one expected Liverpool to go and win at OT. So he had nothing to lose. As for Liverpool winning the second half, I think Ferguson is playing a psychological game here. It may be in his interest for Liverpool to be confident and get points from the likes of City and Chelsea. I have no doubt that if the game was in the balance United would have thrown the kitchen sink and very likely be able to score another, like they have done countless times this season. They just defended because they didn't need to score.
