Nobody is extrapolating anything, merely pointing out some concerns that have become increasingly apparent and recently without the two results that would have continued papering over the cracks.
I don't disagree about the turnaround in results when certain players recover, that's almost a given thank god, but it's a discussion that's interesting particularly if we're not resigning ourselves to another 7th place finish. It's one thing to grind out results out of pragmatism when the need arises but when it becomes an increasingly-ineffective pattern with tactical flaws, then questions will be asked.
We're 5 games into the season, though. It's a bit hard to ascribe a trend as a "pattern".
Even when we were scraping 3 points, it was more a feeling of relief and "we can't get away with those shit second half performances for much longer". Is it just down to injury? Or fitness? Or mentality? Or the manager's battle between philosophy and results? Or the scouting committee's decision-making in the summer?
You get results for all sorts of reasons in football. You're not always going to play well and win. It happens. As I said, let's make it to January before we decide what "pattern" the team is taking. It's too early to be making those calls. I've been coaching a long time, and if there ever was an example of not panicking early into the season for me, it's the team that went an entire season undefeated and drew only two games. They played like crap in every game, but because we had a brilliant keeper, one good central defender, and three great forwards of varying types, we were able to get wins we didn't deserve. Conversely, the most technical team I ever coached never managed higher than 5th in the table. At some point, it's not about how you play, it's about whether you can get the results over the long term. We all know Rodgers' vision of the game. But if he gets us comfortably into the top four, with a lot of performances like Villa, United and Swansea, and the odd Southampton, nobody would be right to complain. Over 38 games, your ability to win is tested severely, and how you win becomes less important. We are polar opposites in our opinion of Rodgers, I think. But we probably both agree that it's better to win with skill and possession. Rodgers believes that too. But his neck is on the line if he doesn't get results, regardless of how well we play. So if we end up having a few dodgy games in the first set of 10, but we get the points regardless, then Rodgers will take it. He's not a stupid manager.
As for the insinuation I've just lurked for months waiting for an opportunity to throw a few digs Rodgers way because he wasn't my first choice for manager, you couldn't be more wrong. In more ways than one but I'm not going into that here.
I didn't insinuate that at all, mate. I referred more to the result and the manner of the performance. We're all disappointed in it, but it's also not a reason to start extrapolating how the rest of the season will go. That's what I meant. The result allowed people to make their criticisms. I don't know you, so it's none of my business why you have or haven't posted. Whatever work or other reason has kept you quiet, it's your own reason and it was a genuine reason for not posting. That's good enough for me. I don't think you were lurking and waiting. But for you and a few others, I think the Southampton performance and result gave an opportunity to air grievances and suspicions, with reference to the previous 2-3 games as corroboration. My point is that we can't tell anything until later on in the season. If we are playing the same way and losing games, I will be just as critical as you are. But let's wait and see.
