14/15 Liverpool FC Thread - Luis who?

[Crimey]

First topic message reminder :

Considering how fantastic last year was, this season will be a lot less fun but with a lot less heartbreak at the end.

[lfc91]

Going into this international break thinking that things could have been a hell of a lot worse. Considering how awful we have been for large portions of the season so far, being 1 point outside top 4 and still more than capable of qualifying from our group in the CL is better than what it could have been.

You would hope that with a few players coming back from injury (our star striker being one of them) that we can start to pick up some steam after the break. Rodgers HAS to do something about our defence though, individually there is enough quality in our defenders to not be leaking goals at the rate we are! Our attack looking like it is getting into some sort of rhythm and with Lallana actually starting to perform and DS returning goals shouldn't be a problem, but if your conceding 1/2 every game it will still be very hard to win without that little genius from Uruguay banging in the goals.

All in all I think this break fell at a good time for us, get our players back from injury and work on the defence!(Hopefully sort out our lunatic of a keeper aswell!)

[Hulking_up]

That's if we don't end up picking up more injurys duing the internationals.

[lfc91]

I try not to think about that to be honest!(knowing our luck hendo and sterling will get injured going up for the same ball in an England match...)

[Guest]

Slight improvement at the weekend. As highlighted on MOTD, when we got the ball and broke forward more often than not the ball was then held up and passed around far too much as opposed to being knocked into the middle for the front men to have a pop.

Need a bit more belief going forward and definitely more quality in the passing, but agree that defensively we need a kick up the hole.

[Crimey]

I do think that when Sturridge is back, a 4-3-3 is actually the way to go rather than a diamond with Sturridge and Balotelli. I was impressed with Lallana and think he deserves a run in the team as well and think too much pressure is being put on Sterling to create, especially when he plays centrally so a run out wide with the preferred centre forward should be good.

[Guest]

Hopefully Lallana's improvement will get Lambert firing. I do have the feeling that he's going to be another Robbie Keane (lots of effort but little reward) Hope I'm wrong though and he starts sticking a few in the onion bag.

[Crimey]

To be fair, after playing pretty much constantly for the past ten years can imagine it's been a bit of a shock to his fitness for Rickie Lambert suddenly becoming a bench warmer. Think he's still a good option to have and his happiness to be not necessarily be the main man means he's invaluable, especially when the fixtures start piling up. Think one goal is all he would need to get a bit of confidence, wouldn't say he's been much worse than Balotelli with the limited game time he has had.

[Guest]

His outing at Middlesborough was terrible (something Lambert himself admitted) and I agree with some that lambert seems to be trying too hard (whereas some sayBalotelli isn't trying hard enough - funny old game innit?)

Be nice to have a situation where we are a couple of goals up and can bring on Lambert for the last 20 minutes or so and maybe he can poach one or two. Think he needs an outing at QPR who may be the ideal team for him to finally break his duck...same for Mario.

Now watch us get done 2-0..................

[Hulking_up]

Balotelli is so bad is unbelievable. Cannot understand why Lambert is not being played.

Madrid game is going to be a massacre.

[lfc91]

I'm at a loss as to why no1 has asked Rodgers the direct question of "why do you keep playing ballotelli when he has consistently been the worst player on the pitch" or something to that effect! Think borini is a must for Madrid (never thought I'd be saying that..). If nothing else at least with borini you know he will work his socks off. Lambert to old and slow for a Madrid match..

[Crimey]

I would play without a recognised striker, think it's the best shot we have, to work on the break and attack with pace. Coutinho earned himself a starting spot for me in his cameo, and then I'd have Sterling as a false 9, think it's the best way to line up. I'm fully expecting Balotelli to start though, which is a real shame as I'd love to see Rodgers grow a pair.

[Soldier_Of_Fortune]

Balotelli just doesn't work hard enough to be up top on his own. Think Rodgers intention when he bought him was to be up top with Sturridge. Since Sturridge has been injured, he played him on his own and its not really worked. He should have at least 3 prem goals now not for bad finishing.

I would play him with Sterling just off him up top with Coutinho behind, Henderson + Allen in the middle with Gerrard sitting.

Not going to happen but in my armchair opinion that looks to be the best option, if were trying to get more out of Balo.

[Crimey]

I just think more than anything he needs to be dropped to send him a message. He can't keep putting in substandard performance after substandard performance and expect to start because Sturridge is still injured.

[Soldier_Of_Fortune]

I just think more than anything he needs to be dropped to send him a message. He can't keep putting in substandard performance after substandard performance and expect to start because Sturridge is still injured.

Balo can spark into life and win games and against good opposition by himself. Whereas you sort of know what your getting with Borini, Lambert, etc....

[Guest]

You could tell Rodgers (and everyone else) thought the QPR game would be something of a walkover...get a the win and increase the goal difference without having our "big" players running themselves into the ground. Get Gerrard up front to create a few chances for Mario (whose split with his fiancée is clearly affecting him) and give Cam the chance to show what he can do as a DM. Shame no-one told Rangers...

Yet again, a "smaller team with nothing to lose" has gone at us like a bull in a china shop and (nearly) caused the upset (which on the first half performance would have been wholly justified). You know when Bobby Zamora is running the show that you've had a f*cking awful day at the office. Total lack of communication at the back, Lovren is becoming a passenger and Skyrtel can't keep pulling his nuts out of the fire all season. Lovren seems terrified of having the ball at the minute and the number of times he and the keeper passed it back and forth between themselves was laughable.

We need a defender who is comfortable on the ball and doesn't, like Lovren did, lose his mind, charge up the pitch and then lose possession and position...f*ck me, it was like watching David Luiz at times. Don't know how much Carragher is being paid to be a SKY pundit but we should double it and get him back as a defensive coach asap.

Better second half performance with the introduction of Coutinho (Rodgers clearly wanting to keep him safe for Wednesday but was forced to use him) and Allen but again, despite the attacking threat there's no end product from Balotelli.

Still despite all this negativity, the worst we can end up (after tonight's match) is sixth which really only goes to show how p!ss poor everyone else has been so far but I fear for us on Wednesday

[Soldier_Of_Fortune]

.....but I fear for us on Wednesday

Same.....am going aswell so I get to witness it in person. Ronaldo already has 15 goals in 8 games in La Liga.

[Crimey]

I just think more than anything he needs to be dropped to send him a message. He can't keep putting in substandard performance after substandard performance and expect to start because Sturridge is still injured.

Balo can spark into life and win games and against good opposition by himself. Whereas you sort of know what your getting with Borini, Lambert, etc....

I've said I'd drop Balotelli for Coutinho, play Sterling as a false 9. Think he's intelligent enough of a footballer to do that. As much as I keep hearing about this special talent Balotelli is, I have yet to see it. In defence of Lambert, he has actually been a better forward in the Premier League than Balotelli ever has been. He's clearly struggling with the change in role to a substitute role. I still think in his cameo roles and when he started against West Brom he has played better than Balotelli. I think Lambert is better at bringing others into play than Balotelli.

[Guest]

.....but I fear for us on Wednesday

 Same.....am going aswell so I get to witness it in person. Ronaldo already has 15 goals in 8 games in La Liga.

Fear not, Bale looks to be out so that only leaves Ronaldo, James, Kroos...oh f*ck!!!!!!!!

[lfc91]

I just think more than anything he needs to be dropped to send him a message. He can't keep putting in substandard performance after substandard performance and expect to start because Sturridge is still injured.

Balo can spark into life and win games and against good opposition by himself. Whereas you sort of know what your getting with Borini, Lambert, etc....

That's the thing though, how many shots is he going to need/waste to get this moment of magic? I would rather have a striker who will work hard, bring other players in and PASS THE BALL when other players are making overlapping runs outside him. This cut in and shot at every opportunity isn't working, he's just not at the required level ATM, and a few games out away from the spotlight could be just what he needs.

Would happily start any of the previously mentioned players over him, but no doubt we will be subjected to another 90 mins of ballotelli and his moments of magic...

[Soldier_Of_Fortune]

He's got to get one sooner or later!

[Guest]

I'd happily have that moment on Wednesday night

[Crimey]

Carragher has said the same thing about dropping Balotelli and playing Sterling as the forward as well apparently.

[Soldier_Of_Fortune]

Carragher has said the same thing about dropping Balotelli and playing Sterling as the forward as well apparently.

Seem quite happy with yourself there Crimey

[Guest]

When Sterling had his off the field troubles last year (with ex girlfriends/court cases etc) Rodgers took him out of the firing line and starting line-up to get his sh*t together.

Just thinking that there's something more wrong with Mario than just struggling to get to grips with the game (which hasn't changed on iota since he last played in the Premier League). I said before that he's pining over the lovely F@nny that he's recently split from and I think it would be of benefit for him to be given time off to get his head together.

I appreciate that Mario is best kept where you can keep an eye on him as a couple of weeks away from the team could see him getting into more trouble than having him mooching around the pitch would cause.

[lfc91]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/oct/24/brendan-rodgers-rules-out-defensive-coach-liverpool

What's everyone think of this? Is he just being stubborn by not bringing in a specialist coach for the area that has been a recurring problem throughout his tenure at the club? Or can he actually sort out the problem himself?

Surely if he could solve it himself he would have done it by now?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

He can't sort the issue out none of his teams have defended well. He's being a stubborn arrogant....well he's being himself

[lfc91]

Was my thinking too olly, was just looking for a few different opinions because I tend to be quite irrational when it comes to issues involving Liverpool!

[lfc91]

Pathetic. Can't break down hull at home points to a serious problem. The Italian clown with another poor performance, culminating in missing a sitter in the last minute. Rodgers pride seems to be costing us points/performances. If this form continues and we crash out of the champions league there will surely start to be question marks over whether or not Rodgers is up to the job.

May well owe a few friends of mine apologies for arguing so profusely that we weren't a 1 man team...

[Guest]

Come on man, Arsenal struggled to beat Sunderland and it's only thanks to the generosity of Mannone that the scoreline looked halfway respectable. Hull's 3rd string keeper played a f*cking blinder at the weekend and on any other day it's a relatively easy win for the Reds.

Seen a slight improvement in our performance overall and anyone criticizing Mario needs to jump off the bandwagon of irrational hate. The lad put a decent shift in at the weekend and supposedly better strikers didn't fare much better than he did for their respective teams.

Need to beat Newcastle at the weekend to remain in contention though.

Agree with the general sentiment that the defence needs looking at...maybe that Dr Steve Peters needs to start earning his f*cking money

[Stella]

Missing Sturridge nearly as much as Suarez. I'm not gonna get on Balotelli's back, but all this 'he put in a shift' is twaddle. He may have on Saturday, but he doesn't always, and tbh, he should be, considering he's not scoring.

[Guest]

It's not twaddle at all. He's been guilty of coasting in a number of games and people naturally assume that's what he does all the time, but there are a fair few Liverpool players who need to have a word with themselves after the weekend (the normally reliable Henderson who resorted to embarrassing diving is certainly one of them)

When Balotelli has a dry spell that rivals Torres' at Chelsea, then I'll start to panic.

We're still joint fifth on goal difference and I'm certain Southampton and West Ham won't keep up their good run in much the same way we can't keep up this run of mediocrity

[Stella]

The over the top praise he's getting for working hard is too much, imo. He should be doing that every game, damn, he's not good enough not to. Look at Suarez. A natural Footballer if there ever was one, who scored goals to match. He though would put it in for the team at the same time. Sulking isn't what Balotelli should be doing. More of the same like on Saturday, then I may start praising him as well. He'll no doubt score soon, but he has never been prolific. Maybe the return of Sturridge may see a decent partnership?

[Guest]

Don't think he's suited to the loan striker role. The game v Spurs saw the best of him and I think he'll form a decent partnership with Sturridge especially with Sterling Coutinho and Lallana proving the service they need (hopefully). Failing that, Rodgers needs to try two up top in Sturridge's absence. Hell, I'd even try it for the return against Real

[Crimey]

I just think he needs to be dropped because it sends the totally wrong message to the rest of the squad that a player putting in poor performance after poor performance and hasn't scored a goal apart from a scrappy goal against one of the worst teams in the Champions League still plays week in week out. He's harming the team. The problem is that because the media has jumped on this now, it's being viewed as jumping on the bandwagon rather than watching a footballer who is petulant and worst of all not actually good at what he is supposed to be good at doing. I think he needs to be dropped for the team and his own sake, otherwise he's just going to keep on embarrassing himself.

I've seen a lot saying he's not good as a lone striker, but to be fair, the Tottenham game he wasn't particularly fantastic. He was okay, I assumed that was rustiness and unfamiliarity but he didn't put in a performance anything over a 6 out of 10. For me his biggest problems aren't going to just go away. He's got awful movement, he drops deeper without having the link up play or pace to get back up top to justify it like Sturridge can or Suarez could and if things don't go his way, he sulks. I'm just so desperate for him to leave the club at this point. It might be early, but I didn't want him in the first place and unfortunately I've been proven totally right and I'll be disappointed if this keeps up most of the season if he isn't sold at the end of it.

I do feel like Rodgers is showing a lot of his worst qualities this year, he's being incredibly stubborn about certain things and it's going to harm the team. He needs to sort out the defence, particularly at set pieces. Yet he's putting his head in the sand and refusing to acknowledge that it's a problem this season and is a recurring feature of his tenure because he hasn't appointed anybody who can actually sort this out. Throwing money at the problem simply isn't the solution, I said that when Sakho was bought and when Lovren was bought. I also do think he HAD to drop Balotelli for the Hull game and it's only because he was being stubborn that he didn't. The performance at Madrid, not the shirt-swapping, for me meant he simply had to be dropped.

[Guest]

Our striking options outside of Mario are limited. Lambert is in even worse form but he's a "nice bloke" so is he the man to lead the line? Really no idea if Borini is the answer either as I've seen precious little of him and Sterling as a "false 9" probably isn't the answer either. Much like Balotelli's initial signing, his inclusion is the starting 11 is because he's the least worst option.

Maybe Rodgers IS trying to prove that he can get a decent game out of Mario (at the risk of looking like a woman who thinks she can tame "bad boy") and burying his head in the sand over our defensive weaknesses or maybe the rebuilding process is going to take longer than expected or that we'd hoped. I'm sure most of us thought that even without Suarez, the essence of last season's play would remain and the new boys would slot in nicely and we'd march on towards the title or a comfortable top four slot again but if anything, it's not just Balotelli that's causing the team to take a few steps back.

It's OK blaming Rodgers for not securing a defensive leader but the fact is that even if you identified an ideal target, the vast majority are already happy in teams that don't want to let them go or will only sell them for crazy money and Liverpool still do not have enough lure to snag the very best players....yet!

[lfc91]

Yes he did work slightly harder against hull, but he brought FA else to the team! He's not scoring goals and he's missing easy chances when they do come along. For the most part this season when he's on the pitch not only is he adding nothing, his presence is actually detrimental to our attacking play. Also I echo what's been said above RE Rodgers simply being to stubborn to drop him.

The defence issues seem likely to continue as he is unable to admit it is a problem.

We actually deserved the 3 points on Saturday without a doubt, but considering we took 3 points from QPR we didn't deserve I can't really complain. It is football after all, things don't always go how they should have.

[lfc91]

Also as Dave says, this poor run we are on has to end sometime!!

[Guest]

We're next for you at St. James', would be typical for us to get Balotelli off the mark. Your defensive worries at set pieces won't be an issue because we have no decent delivery, haven't scored from a corner in about five years & we don't have any physical presence up front really, just some pace. We go into the game off the back of two wins, but I think you will just shade it.

[Crimey]

Lambert has actually been more successful in the Premier League than Balotelli ever has been for Manchester City or Liverpool, he's more proven as a Premier League talent than Balotelli is and I would honestly rather start him, not because he's a "nice guy" or because he's a Liverpool supporter but because I honestly believe he'd do a better job, especially since his link up play is his biggest strength, unlike Balotelli he's very good at bringing others into the game.

I don't want Rodgers to start throwing money at more defenders, it's coaching that is the problem, he needs to hire a defensive coach, who focuses on defending at set pieces mainly because clearly Rodgers and his current team aren't good enough at it or don't spend enough time on it. Hiring a dedicated defensive coach would certainly help in that regard. Playing a settled back five and focusing more on good defensive work in training would help massively in that regard.

[Guest]

Having watched Lambert in his start and captaincy in the Carling Cup, I'd be loathe to suggest he's an improvement over Mario. Whilst he admitted he was below par, it doesn't detract from the fact that he was a bloody liability at times and was rightly substituted.

[lfc91]

More of a liability than ballotelli?!?! I think not. The point above regarding link up play is also bang on in my opinion. At least he will try and bring team mates in as opposed to mario who is - cut in, shoot, miss/hit a defender, then repeat.

[Guest]

Never mind fellas, tomorrow is the dawn of the Liverpool revival against Swansea.

Lambert starts, sets up Sterling to score after lovely work from Coutinho. One of the youngsters has another glory night and then Super Mario comes off the bench to round off a great night for the Reds with an absolutely blistering strike.

Or maybe it's something different...but I'd prefer my first choice

[lfc91]

True, could debate this all day and night but unless BR is secretly a 606v2 fan who is reading the Liverpool thread for tips, then very little will come of our discussion!

Would love a win and a clean sheet tomorrow but I understand that is probably overly optimistic..

[Guest]

True, could debate this all day and night but unless BR is secretly a 606v2 fan who is reading the Liverpool thread for tips, then very little will come of our discussion!

Would love a win and a clean sheet tomorrow but I understand that is probably overly optimistic..

He wouldn't even have to do that, he could listen to the post match punditry on SKY or MOTD for some valid/sensible opinions on how to fix the problems

[Kenny]

Hi folks , hopefully now i'm back on here our season will pick up a bit

[westisbest]

After tomorrow

[Guest]

No, the return to last season's blistering form can start against Villa thank you very much indeed

[westisbest]

If only this game was at Anfield again

[liverbnz]

Every time Villa have beaten Liverpool in the league at Anfield, Liverpool have won at Villa Park. Liverpool have also never beaten Paul Lambert at Anfield, but have won all their away games (Carrow Road and Villa Park).

So a continuation of those trends would be nice!

[westisbest]

Not to confident with us beating anyone at the moment.

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