Liverpool Thread: Road to thinking we might get top 4, only to feel stupid at the end of the season

by **Crimey** Wed 05 Jun 2013, 2:52 pm

First topic message reminder :

Transfer ins:
Kolo Toure (free transfer from Manchester City)

Transfers out:
Danny Wilson (free to Hearts)
Jamie Carragher (free to Sky)
Peter Gulacsi (free to Salzburg)

by Guest Thu 27 Mar 2014, 10:39 am

It's a testament to how Liverpool have played this season that teams are going to come and park the bus rather than risk shipping three or four goals.

It was another game where we seemed a tad too anxious and our normal flowing play suffered as a result. However, better to play like that and survive against Sunderland than get punished by City or Chelsea.

Think a half time herbal tea might be in order for the rest of the season though.

by Guest Thu 27 Mar 2014, 10:44 am

One thought from last night is that we definitely need a left winger....everything was down the right hand side last night and with attacking threat down the other flank we'd be pretty lethal.

Konaplayanka would have been a decent signing but seems he wants to enjoy the London nightlife as opposed to Friday night in Liverpool

by lfc91 Thu 27 Mar 2014, 11:11 am

Can definatley see a few changes being made for sunday! Would love to see sterling come in for allen but that may not be plausible depending on what system we play on sunday.

by Guest Thu 27 Mar 2014, 12:56 pm

The best thing is that we do indeed have options. We can play Allen and look to be more defensively minded whilst maintaining that attacking threat or have Sterling in and look to beat the living daylights out of teams.

My best moment last night was Suarez's pass to Sterling that he chased into the corner, kept in play and then Suarez picked up with a view to still trying to create something. Thought it demonstrated our desire to keep working and supporting each other.

by lfc91 Thu 27 Mar 2014, 1:14 pm

Surely lucas is fit enough to play if we want to be more defensive! Cant think of any area that allen is better than lucas?

by nasisillmatic Thu 27 Mar 2014, 1:29 pm

lfc91 wrote:Surely lucas is fit enough to play if we want to be more defensive! Cant think of any area that allen is better than lucas?

Not giving away dangerous free kicks? Ha.

by lfc91 Thu 27 Mar 2014, 2:53 pm

Think allens constant giving away of possession is at least as bad as that! The man cant pass or hold off anyone due to his very small frame!

by liverbnz Thu 27 Mar 2014, 6:53 pm

'Allens constant giving away of possession'

Allen vs Sunderland. 55 passes made out of 59 attempted. 22 out of 22 in final 3rd.

by lfc91 Thu 27 Mar 2014, 7:59 pm

Still have a few glaring misplaced passes stuck in my mind from last night! I assume you couldnt find stats for times he was disposed/overran the ball/took a poor touch which lead to loss of the ball?

by **Crimey** Thu 27 Mar 2014, 8:06 pm

I still don't like Allen, and expected Lucas to come in for him when he was fit, unfortunately that hasn't been in the case.

by lfc91 Thu 27 Mar 2014, 9:00 pm

Maybe lucas isnt quite back to full fitness crimey, only thing i can think of. I actually think if allen had cost say 8 million i would be nowhere near as critical of him. Ultimately i think its the higher the pricetag the higher the expectation, and for 20 million he has failed quite miserably IMO.

by **hampo17** Fri 28 Mar 2014, 8:49 am

I think you're right lfc, the price tag is why a number of fans have gotten on his back quickly. However he is young, it's his first time at a big club and I'm prepared to give him time.

Not so long ago people said the same things about Henderson and he's been superb this season.

by lfc91 Fri 28 Mar 2014, 9:53 am

To be fair hampo i was one of the fans who was anti-rodgers! So clearly i am a man who is blessed with neither patience or foresight! Like you say, Plenty of time for him to prove me and others wrong.

by Guest Fri 28 Mar 2014, 10:19 am

I think that somewhere earlier in this thread I said I thought that getting the best out of Allen might be a step too far from Rodgers given his successes with Henderson and, to a degree, Downing. However, in the past three games, Allen has had some of his best games in a Liverpool shirt and I'm beginning to wonder if there isn't anything Rodgers can't do....I've also noticed less hugging and grabbing from Skyrtel.

Rodgers' vision clearly didn't include the likes of Kuyt, Adam and Carroll and, let's be honest, he seems to have been vindicated in those decisions. The Carroll one was something he got a lot of stick for but he's stuck to his guns over it and so far been proved right. I thought Carroll should have been given the opportunity to try and adapt to Rodgers' new style of play and felt Brendan was a bit harsh in shipping Carroll out but at the end of the day it looks like he's made the right decision.

Rodgers has certainly made a believer out of me.

by TRUSSMAN66 Fri 28 Mar 2014, 10:52 am

Excellent Coach and excellent football...........Shame Suarez, Sturridge and Sterling have to dive around all the time...

But two or three signings and the premiership is definitely on for next year...If you don't turn Chelsea and City over this year that is !!

Think you can beat us but Chelsea are harder to break down and you will need to beat them..

by Soldier_Of_Fortune Fri 28 Mar 2014, 11:09 am

lfc91 wrote:Maybe lucas isnt quite back to full fitness crimey, only thing i can think of. I actually think if allen had cost say 8 million i would be nowhere near as critical of him. Ultimately i think its the higher the pricetag the higher the expectation, and for 20 million he has failed quite miserably IMO.

Allen did not cost anywhere near £20mill

And I thought Allen done quite well the other day. I think his poor form at the beginning of his Liverpool career is starting to give him a bad rep.

I didn't see him get disposed more then any other Liverpool player

by Guest Fri 28 Mar 2014, 11:22 am

Still not confident that Allen would suit the demands of playing against the best that City and Chelsea have to offer but then again, if we want to succeed, he's got to prove that he IS worthy of being on the same pitch as them. He's certainly improved but I could seen Toure in full flow running right over him.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Fri 28 Mar 2014, 11:30 am

They'll have to widen the corridors at Anfield if Liverpool win the league to fit Rodgers's ego in

by Guest Fri 28 Mar 2014, 11:32 am

Olly wrote:They'll have to widen the corridors at Anfield if Liverpool win the league to fit Rodgers's ego in

If they win, I'm sure they'll do it gladly...might also be the final push to getting Anfield expanded.

However, if we do win the league and Rodgers gets a big head you won't be able to say it's undeserved (you probably will but you'd all be wrong!)

by ONETWOFOREVER Fri 28 Mar 2014, 12:06 pm

Message to ALL Liverpool fans.

wind you're necks in

You aint won anything yet and if you don't win the league this season YOU WILL NEVER WIN IT!

Just thought I would bring you back to reality.

by lfc91 Fri 28 Mar 2014, 12:42 pm

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:Message to ALL Liverpool fans.

wind you're necks in

You aint won anything yet and if you don't win the league this season YOU WILL NEVER WIN IT!

Just thought I would bring you back to reality.

Better posting those comments on the actual LFC website, the fans there tend to be much more deluded, where as ive found the liverpool fans on this board to be more realistic.

by liverbnz Fri 28 Mar 2014, 1:17 pm

lfc91 wrote:Still have a few glaring misplaced passes stuck in my mind from last night! I assume you couldnt find stats for times he was disposed/overran the ball/took a poor touch which lead to loss of the ball?

They would mostly be included in there but Losses of Possession (this is mainly from dribbles or poor touches) for Allen vs Sunderland = 0

For info, source is fourfourtwo StatsZone

by liverbnz Fri 28 Mar 2014, 1:33 pm

DAVE667 wrote:Still not confident that Allen would suit the demands of playing against the best that City and Chelsea have to offer but then again, if we want to succeed, he's got to prove that he IS worthy of being on the same pitch as them. He's certainly improved but I could seen Toure in full flow running right over him.

Have a look at his performance vs Man City in the 2-2 draw August 2012. The video is on 101greatgoals I'm sure. Basically dominates the City midfield overpowering Yaya at one stage!

He's never going to win POTY awards but what he does, he does it very well. Offers himself for a pass, moves it on, presses, has good awareness of what's around him and can tackle. He had a poor 2nd half of last season but then he was carrying a shoulder injury for most of it. He was excellent in our demolition of Spurs and again in our loss to City. So he can hold it with the big boys when he wants to. He's just not going to do anything flashy or memorable so that people talk about him afterwards.

by Soldier_Of_Fortune Fri 28 Mar 2014, 2:18 pm

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:Message to ALL Liverpool fans.

wind you're necks in

You aint won anything yet and if you don't win the league this season YOU WILL NEVER WIN IT!

Just thought I would bring you back to reality.

Oh dear.................you know what will happen now.

by Guest Fri 28 Mar 2014, 2:44 pm

liverbnz wrote:
DAVE667 wrote:Still not confident that Allen would suit the demands of playing against the best that City and Chelsea have to offer but then again, if we want to succeed, he's got to prove that he IS worthy of being on the same pitch as them. He's certainly improved but I could seen Toure in full flow running right over him.

Have a look at his performance vs Man City in the 2-2 draw August 2012. The video is on 101greatgoals I'm sure. Basically dominates the City midfield overpowering Yaya at one stage!

He's never going to win POTY awards but what he does, he does it very well. Offers himself for a pass, moves it on, presses, has good awareness of what's around him and can tackle. He had a poor 2nd half of last season but then he was carrying a shoulder injury for most of it. He was excellent in our demolition of Spurs and again in our loss to City. So he can hold it with the big boys when he wants to. He's just not going to do anything flashy or memorable so that people talk about him afterwards.

Depends what version of Toure turns up really. Not denigrating Allen as such (I do feel he's come on leaps and bounds) but I still feel that when Yaya is making those marauding runs, if there's a player you'd instantly want making the challenge, Joe Allen's name wouldn't be top of the list.

When he's breaking up play and disrupting the opposition, he's very good but I'd like to see a few more attack minded passes from him as time goes on. I appreciate that's probably not the strongest part of his game, but if he's to move forward as a player, I think it's the next logical progression and hope Rodgers can get him to work on it.

by mystiroakey Fri 28 Mar 2014, 2:47 pm

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:Message to ALL Liverpool fans.

wind you're necks in

You aint won anything yet and if you don't win the league this season YOU WILL NEVER WIN IT!

Just thought I would bring you back to reality.

ermmm - painters in are they mate? Liverpool Thread: Road to thinking we might get top 4, only to feel stupid at the end of the season - Page 15 3559488474

by Guest Fri 28 Mar 2014, 3:20 pm

Yeah, he's having his house changed from Old Trafford Red to Etihad Blue!!!!!!!!!

by Soldier_Of_Fortune Sat 29 Mar 2014, 9:06 pm

The title race is technically in our hands now. Win all games and we win the league. Simples Laugh

by mystiroakey Sat 29 Mar 2014, 9:10 pm

same with citeh though

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat 29 Mar 2014, 9:23 pm

Soldier_Of_Fortune wrote:The title race is technically in our hands now. Win all games and we win the league. Simples

Yet, yet not completely out of the realms of possibility with your remaining fixtures...

by **Crimey** Sat 29 Mar 2014, 9:28 pm

I can seriously see us messing up against Spurs tomorrow, a lot of nerves at Sunderland, so probably even worse at Tottenham. I would start Sterling because Tottenham's centre halves are fairly slow so he will trouble them more than Coutinho will. I'm not sure I'd start diamond but might as well stick with the winning formula I suppose.

by Guest Sat 29 Mar 2014, 9:37 pm

I've had a bad feeling all week Crimey. I can see us losing a game we shouldn't. Hope I'm wrong.

by Guest Sat 29 Mar 2014, 9:40 pm

It's make or break for Spurs, can't afford to slip up anymore. They know Arsenal dropped points & will know the result of Everton @ Fulham. Sherwood will have them playing this like a cup final, so it should be right. I reckon a score draw.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat 29 Mar 2014, 9:41 pm

FreekShow wrote:I've had a bad feeling all week Crimey. I can see us losing a game we shouldn't. Hope I'm wrong.

If you would kindly make that game happen when you visit Carra Rd I'd be very very grateful

by Guest Sat 29 Mar 2014, 9:43 pm

Olly wrote:
FreekShow wrote:I've had a bad feeling all week Crimey. I can see us losing a game we shouldn't. Hope I'm wrong.

If you would kindly make that game happen when you visit Carra Rd I'd be very very grateful

For all them good tips you have blessed me with Olly (we'll forget the Wolf today) consider it a done deal Hug

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat 29 Mar 2014, 9:45 pm

FreekShow wrote:
Olly wrote:
FreekShow wrote:I've had a bad feeling all week Crimey. I can see us losing a game we shouldn't. Hope I'm wrong.

If you would kindly make that game happen when you visit Carra Rd I'd be very very grateful

For all them good tips you have blessed me with Olly (we'll forget the Wolf today) consider it a done deal

I'm not sure I could handle that rat faced f*cker scoring another hat trick against us, as much as I enjoy watching him play. Plus my distain for Rodgers and its a miracle I actually want Loserpool Rolling Eyes

to win the league

Mainly for Stevie G. God I love that bloke

by **Crimey** Fri 04 Apr 2014, 8:20 am

If I was Rodgers I'd drop Gerrard for West Ham, play Lucas instead. I'd rather we had him on the bench for West Ham and not suspended for Manchester City.

by Hulking_up Fri 04 Apr 2014, 8:39 am

I thought the slate was wiped clean after the spurs game and that's why he was subbed then?

by **Crimey** Fri 04 Apr 2014, 8:41 am

I thought it was the 12th? I could be wrong.

by Hulking_up Fri 04 Apr 2014, 9:18 am

I don't know.
The commentators were making a point about him not getting booked when he came off against spurs.

by Soldier_Of_Fortune Fri 04 Apr 2014, 10:40 am

Think cut off is the 13/04

Gerrard has managed not to get himself booked so far.

I would rather he'd start then Lucas

by TRUSSMAN66 Fri 04 Apr 2014, 10:58 am

Only thing worse than a gloating Utd fan is a gloating Liverpool fan....

Come on West Ham.....Make sure you don't tackle Sturridge, Suarez, Sterling or Gerrard in the box......kick them around and see If you can get a point.....

by Roller_Coaster Fri 04 Apr 2014, 11:57 am

If (rhetorical!) Gerrard is one of your best 11, bl00dy start him. West Ham ain't the place to go and start tinkering in the final stretch.

by Soldier_Of_Fortune Fri 04 Apr 2014, 11:59 am

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Only thing worse than a gloating Utd fan is a gloating Liverpool fan....

Come on West Ham.....Make sure you don't tackle Sturridge, Suarez, Sterling or Gerrard in the box......kick them around and see If you can get a point.....

Yer thats right, fly in and over commit in challenges. It will be easier to pick them apart.

Lets hope Southampton keep up there good record against City recently.

by nasisillmatic Fri 04 Apr 2014, 1:20 pm

Rodgers in a no win situation with Gerrard this weekend. Play him and he gets booked - people will question. Don't play him and we struggle in midfield - people will moan.

I'd be inclined to leave him on the bench, and if we struggle, bring him on half time.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Fri 04 Apr 2014, 1:40 pm

Roller_Coaster wrote:If (rhetorical!) Gerrard is one of your best 11, bl00dy start him. West Ham ain't the place to go and start tinkering in the final stretch.

Exactly keep up your momentum, why change anything.

Gerrard should be disciplined enough to not get a yellow

by Guest Fri 04 Apr 2014, 1:51 pm

No doubt with Allardyce still desperate for Ferguson to love him, he'll ensure West Ham do everything to ensure that they scupper Liverpool's chances of winning.

We're at the stage now where it's not rivals for the titles who we should worry about but those teams something to fight for, or even worse, nothing to lose, who could trip us up.

I'm hoping though that we have a good day and don't fall prey to any lapses in concentration or godawful flukes. Got a lot of time for Carroll after his stint is Anfield and, even towards the end, I thought Downing showed some real fighting spirit, but I do hope they have absolute stinker against us.

by **Crimey** Fri 04 Apr 2014, 6:55 pm

The problem is when playing in that deep position, he is far more likely to get a booking, I'd keep him on the bench, bring him on if there is trouble. Losing him for the City game would be a blow, I think Lucas is good enough to stand in for him.

by Guest Fri 04 Apr 2014, 7:29 pm

Stands to reason (I suppose) that if we adopt a more attacking approach and spend our time in West ham's half, Gerrard is less likely to be embroiled in anything that could lead to him picking up a yellow card. However, I will say this, the spirit of the team is such at the moment that even if he did, God Forbid, pick up a ban, I can see us still pushing on and winning these games. Lest we forget, Gerrard was out when we beat Spurs to a pulp and the team started pushing on and the likes of Henderson really shone for us. Rodgers' ethos has been to give the youngsters a chance to prove they're worthy of the shirt and they haven't let us down.

Don't get me wrong, Gerrard's influence can't be underestimated in any way, shape or form, but if we're to be a team that challenges for the title consistently over the next few years we have to come to terms with playing without him. He won't be here forever and it's to be hoped that he also instilled a winners attitude in his team mates.

I want teams to breath a sigh of relief when one of our players is subbed only for them to think "Oh f##k" in the next breath when they see who's replacing them.

by TheCultOfPersonality Fri 04 Apr 2014, 7:33 pm

I don't think we can risk leaving Gerrard out of the starting 11. Gerrard is an integral part of the team and needs to start, West Ham have won their last two (I think?) so have momentum on their side. Gerrards a smart man, im sure he knows the position he's in and will be careful buts its easier said than done. If, and thats a big if we are in a comfortable position at the 60-70 min mark, Rodgers will take him off such like he did against Spurs.

I would however drop drop one of Coutinho or Sterling again for Lucas, most likely Raheem. I think we'll have the majority of possession so Coutinho would be better suited.

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