Topic: Round the Consistently Inconsistent Round Table - QPR 0 - 3 Liverpool

[StevenLFC]

Well, in a busy period, with the manager safely tucked up in bed with a Lemsip, with some of the players feeling less than 100% and playing a side supposedly fitting for their life, that couldn't have gone any better. We did what we've failed to do so often this season, we killed the game early when we were dominating. It meant the second half was pretty much a walk in the park, allowing the players to conserve some energy.


QPR's ageing centre backs didn't stand a chance against Suarez, he was simply too good for them. Pretty much everybody on the pitch in a black (not red!) shirt  had a very solid game, the only negative was seeing Enrique go off with what looked to be a hamstring injury.


So a simple question to start the ball rolling on the round table:


Why can't we do that every week?!?

[Aristotle]

Why can't we do that every week?!?

The club in after Hicks and Gillett can be described in one word.

Schiz·o·phre·ni·a: A mentality or approach characterized by inconsistent or contradictory elements.

The game was as good as you'd like. We were potent, Suarez was clinical and decisive and we scored from a corner! This is the type of stuff that's been missing for far too long. Never really got out of second gear. We could've stepped it up and gone for double digits. But I suppose in a sense that's a good thing, as Rodgers has made a real thing out of it keeping the team fit and with a game in 3 days I suppose it's a good thing that we haven't over-exhausted the squad for no real reason.

Biggest downeside is Enrique who according to twitter has a rupture in his hamstring, which is really bad news. So hopefully we can see Wisdom back and Johnson in left back in his absence.


As for Carragher over Coates. I refuse to even talk about it and in a manner of sheer and utter denial I'm going to go with it being football's equivelant of teabagging Redknapp rather than boosting his ego.

[royhendo]

Goals.

We played not unlike that 2nd half at White Hart Lane to no avail - that's just it - it's not the style that's quite so inconsistent, it's the finishing. Once the goals went in, they were gone, and to an amazing extent.

We know where the problems lie, and we'll only address a few of them in January, but they'll hopefully help us kill sides off early more regularly. Control and proper squad depth will take longer.

Was glad they took the foot off the gas.

[Corkboy]

The last game I did match comms on, I remarked at the paucity of the opposition (in that case Fulham) and the fact that while you can only beat what's put in front of you, it really does matter what's put in front of you. If your opponents are going to give you not a yard of space, or two but five, can I hear six yards of space, then it makes it easier. I hate to be the killjoy here but QPR's first half performance was a disgrace. Occasionally effortful with the ball but mostly not without, they declined to pay any serious sort of lip service to pressing or harrying. I would like to think that we are good enough to take advantage of such largesse and so it proved but I wouldn't be in any hurry to call it a new dawn.

[BazC]

That was a decent win. Given the quality of the opposition we went into the game expecting a win and win we did. They were shockingly bad but at the same time we've come across such instances before and either failed to score all together or draw the match out and wait too long before killing them off. To get it done in 20mins or so was great.

Of course the problems were still there, namely our midfield. The amount of space in the middle of the park we left would, as it has been this season, have been a boon to any half decent side. It didnt matter yesterday but then it is and will be a problem for us in the future. I don't know how Rodgers solves this problem. Maybe he doesnt see it as one;  we're used to locking down midfield with the likes of Alonso and Mascherano but that was a less open style of football. In a more open style of football perhaps its inevitable that there's space for the opposition during counter attacks. For that not to be a problem I think you need more intelligence in the middle of the park than we currently have.

[Cpt_Reina]

Im with corkboy on this one. It's hard to know what to take away from this game given how utterly terribly QPR were in that first period.

We had the game won before 30min were up and never even did that much to get to that stage. Once it was won we were never going to play to any sort of a level coming off the busy schedule, and knowing we were playing again on Wednesday. It made for a bit of a non-event.

If we can have a few more of these sort of non-events I'll be very happy.

[The 5th Benitle]

We can't do that every week because sadly we don't play QPR every week. I like QPR, I like Tony Fernandes but Hughes and Joorabchian have destroyed the club with their signings. Too many average players on fat wages who don't give a fuck. The only ones who do are the more limited players like Hill, Derry and Mackie who earn a pittance compared to some of the Hughes (and indeed Warnock, in the case of SWP) signings.
 
Redknapp has understood this to an extent, although SWP getting picked over Hoilett is baffling. But let's be honest, they were inept and so all we needed to do was kill them off quickly and then coast. In that respect job done. We have a big game on Wednesday, and conserved energy in the second half - I don't really understand what we gained however by leaving Suarez and Gerrard on for 90 minutes, Gerrard in particular. Perfect opportunity to give him a rest for 45 minutes. As for Suarez, well QPR played the second half with no striker after Cisse was hooked, perhaps we should have followed suit and had none on the pitch 
 
Suarez first was just sheer class. Clint Hill is the identikit perfect defender for him, it was a foregone conclusion as soon as he got one on one with him, but still, what skill. Poor defending to allow Danny the time and space to pick his spot - it reminded me hugely of a goal that end last season when we allowed Djib to do the same.
 
Difficult to say how good we were but I was delighted with Henderson in particular, Johnson and of course Suarez. The rest were good bar Raheem who had a poor game back at Loftus Road. Not concerned though, he's a kid, probably tried too hard and Onuoha was one of QPR's better players on the day, shackling him well. Downing...was fine but I was disappointed, if there was ever a game he could have taken by the scruff of the neck (like he did against Fulham) it was this one. He appeared content to stay in the shadows however, bar one superb strike which was blocked.

[John C]

If I’m completely honest, I was surprised how easy it was for us in the first half, like him or loathe him Redknapp is a better manager than that and having seen Villa & Stoke get at us he failed to motivate his team in any way that was threatening. Its as much an indication of how hard a task Redknapp has as its is about what we are capable of.
Being demoralised early on by one of the most exciting players we’ve had ever didn’t help them – Suarez is simply a wizard and the superfluous accolades he’s receiving from the media just goes to show how admired he is albeit through bitter eyes and gritted teeth.

Although we can’t play a team much lower than QPR, and the win is against just another team below us we must take the positives from it, Firstly because I was genuinely fearful about our consistency and that Redknapp would ensure we wouldn’t find our rhythm , and secondly because we did what we’ve craved us to do for years – finish a team off.
Inevitably QPR were tighter and expended far more energy in the second half but the game was in the bag for a welcome change, that’s just about as much as we can ask for, except perhaps one or two more enjoyable goals for the fun of it.

Enrique also had another great game, he has less panache and skill than Glen Johnson but you know he’ll fight for every ball with every sinew in his body. Lets hope he’s back soon to support our run-in.
Downing did OK, Henderson was energetic considering he’d been ill, Allen more pleasing on the eye and committed less errors than before his short spell on the bench. Its excellent to see SG lifted his game again – I still think he needs managing though and I feel that midfield needs more to it.

I don’t want to be negative about Sterling but the more he plays the more evident what age he is. More options in the NY will be welcome.

One of the funniest moments was after 80 mins or so when Carra stood up and had a word in Pascoe’s ear, next thing he’s trotting on – I’m sure he told him to hook someone so he could get a game.

Can we do that every week?
Well, we didn’t capitulate and we didn’t concede, but we’ve proved that we can’t do it every week and we’ll need the additions in January to give us more attacking thrust.
We need to control the midfield for longer periods of the game and I’m not sure if our current options offer the assurance that we will.
We really need Lucas to regain his form.
We need more threat from the left as Sterling is not the same player who attacked the opposition for fun in the sunshine of August & September.

I love away wins but it needs cautious optimism, I’m not sure whose arse will be twitching the most at 7.45 tomorrow night.

[The 5th Benitle]

like him or loathe him Redknapp is a better manager than that

Is he really though mate? I see people on here complaining that Brendan 'has no Plan B' but I've never been aware of 'Arry having one.

[John C]

Is he really though mate? I see people on here complaining that Brendan 'has no Plan B' but I've never been aware of 'Arry having one.

I think he knows football sufficiently to expose a weakness, ours is glaring currently and he failed to consider it never mind capitalise on it. Of course he hasn't got his own players yet but if he really does come in for Cole then he'll be madder than I've ever thought.

[n00bert]

A couple of things about this match.

First, and since I get this so spectacularly wrong so often I should gloat, I called the cakewalk. QPR have been absolutely horrible and it showed.

Second, I think that at times we were pretty poor - whether this was a result of going 3-0 up in 30 minutes and then taking our foot off the gas or something else I'm not sure. What do I mean by poor? Ok so I think we did surrender possession a little cheaply especially in the second half. It helped that QPR surrendered it almost immediately so there was no threat but there was a bit of a worry at times about our inability to move the ball out of the back four quickly.

I thought that Henderson did quite well in the first half but Gerrard was obviously better at the front of the three midfielders. He was (and I hate to use the word) 'dynamic' - moved the ball quickly and intelligently, tried to tackle from the front and got himself into some half decent goalscoring positions. It is clear in my mind that this is where HE wants to play and where he thinks that we will get the best out of him - and I agree. Nothing against Henderson but he lacks that bite and that natural athleticism that Gerrard has.

We just played with much more tempo when he was moved further up and it's clear that while we would lose his ability to distribute from deep, we would definitely benefit more from his contributions up front. If Henderson or Shelvey wants to play in this role they are going to have to play with a bit more fire in their belly and they need to be a bit mroe incisive. It's probably why I'd prefer Suso in that role more at the moment because I think he has the right qualities to split the defence albeit being a little lightweight and a soft touch tackling wise.

Sterling was pretty poor IMO, but as long as he remains a kid I'll give him the odd pass. Lad needs to bulk up a little bit and learn to make better decisions but I'm sure it's difficult with Suarez screaming in your ear all game

I'm not having a whinge but I don't want the scoreline to gloss over whatever mistakes we made and where we were poor and/or where we can improve.

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

Why can't we do that every week?  In many ways we do.  We started similarly against Villa but failed to convert any of the chances we created.  The difference this time around was that we took our chances and we had the run of the ball around their goal and put ourselves into a strong position.

People seem to be obsessed that Villa have shown every manager a blueprint by which they can guarantee to beat us.  That is to wilfully forget that the Villa opener should have been saved and was totally against the run of play.  If we can tweak our finishing and Pepe can improve his work then we are 2-0 and cruising in that Villa game too.

That is not to say that we don't remain vulnerable to teams that break on us, or to strong leggy midfielders running through our midfield and at our defence. The thing is though that vulnerability was there against QPR as well with Mbia getting far too many shooting chances for my liking.

The point I am trying to make is that I don't think we are that inconsistent in our performance levels it is simply the results that are inconsistent and the reasons for that are that we are not clinical enough up front yet and we are defensively frail.  That means our results depend hugely on whether we take our chances early on and hence get a grip on the game.  When we do we tend to go on to win handsomely. When we don't then we are not really equipped to grind out a result by guaranteeing a clean sheet and nicking one late on.

I cannot see the defensive frailty being addressed in this window as in some ways it is inherent in the system but if we add striking options then at least we should increase our chances of scoring early and then throttling the opposition.  Options from the bench should improve our chances of scoring late goals to rescue games too.

[Dr_Evil]

I think he knows football sufficiently to expose a weakness, ours is glaring currently and he failed to consider it never mind capitalise on it. Of course he hasn't got his own players yet but if he really does come in for Cole then he'll be madder than I've ever thought.

Is he myth of Redknap exposed? Besides his reputation as a wheeler dealer in the transfer market, surely Harry's appeal to QPR (and England for that matter) was based on his ability to get the most out of players? The 'arm round the shoulder, all in this together approach'? He has taken the QPR job and withing weeks, days even, has said that the players are a disgrace and the owner has had his pants pulled down - is that psycology/motivation or is he saying that he simply cannot do it with this groupof players...which, is it not, is why he is there in the first place? That's not to say that I don't agree with him - QPR players in general were a disgrace...Cissé, SWP and many others anonymous. But where was the Churcillian spirit instilled by our window loving friend?

In terms of our performance, I thought it was ok...but as ever, the next game is the importnat one as it will show (against a manager that does seem to inspire some sort of fortitude from lesser players) whether we have learnt lessons from Villa and Stoke. I still think that the Villa game was the most disappointing result this season so far....you would take a chinning against a motivated, hungry and very fit Stoke aside at the Britannia...but a few good results might help dispel the memory.

[LucasLeiva]

I wish we could play that team every week, but unfortunately not every team is as poor as the relegation-bound QPR team that we just dismantled.

A couple of positives: a clean sheet, our main striker (or only striker for now) scored 2 good goals, Gerrard had another decent game, Allen was very good but didn't need to do much, Henderson showed the fight and desire that we want to see from more of our players.

Read earlier that Jordan Henderson was on his sick bed on Saturday night and somewhere even said he was quarantined from the rest of the squad so to come out the next day and give a great performance is showing unbelievable character. I'm one of the few that hasn't lost hope of him succeeding here yet and this might have pulled a few more people into his camp.

We need to start keeping clean sheets more this season, we've leaked far too many goals and we conceded 6 against Stoke and Villa which is unacceptable.

Think we should line up the same against Sunderland providing no one else falls ill, hope to see Rodgers back on the touchline, if not Colin can continue his 100% record 

[1892tillforever]

Was genuinely shocked by how bad QPR were. I fully expected them to have a go at the very least but in that first half they turned in one of the most gutless, pathetic home performances I have seen in a long time. They should be utterly ashamed of themselves but there are too many players in the modern era with this shit mentality. Unfortunately for QPR, Mark Hughes brought in an entire squad of them!

For our part, we dismantled them as we should so that was positive. Although we clearly dropped the pace in the second half, I was worried to see huge amounts of space appear in front of our back 4. It happens every time an opposition team actually has a go and is something that really needs to be addressed. While QPR could have played till today and not scored, less appalling opposition will (and already have) take advantage. When teams 'show up' against us, we look very brittle. Hopefully, Rodgers will make the necessary changes to combat this obvious problem.

[Garcepticon]

QPR 29th Sunderland 1st - a very short gap.

What do people think of the rotation and resting- in game /between games?

Personally I think we could have been more compact in midfied so we didnt have to do so many recovery runs. Having said that we conserved energy, as mentioned by others, well in game by staying in 2nd gear

[helmboy_nige]

Why can't we do this every week?

I'd argue we do (at least in most matches) but we fail to consistently put the ball in the back of the net.  the number of games we have come out of the blocks on fire has been very high.  It's just that in the case of Villa at home we didn't take our early chances.  There's a definite confidence issue with the players that seems to hit them once we are a third of the way through and haven't scored.

Yes QPR were awful, but so were Villa for the opening 20-30 mins and we failed to do what was needed there.

Anyway, a good performance against a poor side, but things could have been different had we not scored so early.  Whole team did well, but special mention has to go to Henderson and (of course) Suarez.

Need to finish this christmas period on a big high now with a win against Sunderland.

[Timbo's Goals]

Why can't we do that every week?  In many ways we do.  We started similarly against Villa but failed to convert any of the chances we created.  The difference this time around was that we took our chances and we had the run of the ball around their goal and put ourselves into a strong position.

People seem to be obsessed that Villa have shown every manager a blueprint by which they can guarantee to beat us.  That is to wilfully forget that the Villa opener should have been saved and was totally against the run of play.  If we can tweak our finishing and Pepe can improve his work then we are 2-0 and cruising in that Villa game too.

That is not to say that we don't remain vulnerable to teams that break on us, or to strong leggy midfielders running through our midfield and at our defence. The thing is though that vulnerability was there against QPR as well with Mbia getting far too many shooting chances for my liking.

The point I am trying to make is that I don't think we are that inconsistent in our performance levels it is simply the results that are inconsistent and the reasons for that are that we are not clinical enough up front yet and we are defensively frail.  That means our results depend hugely on whether we take our chances early on and hence get a grip on the game.  When we do we tend to go on to win handsomely. When we don't then we are not really equipped to grind out a result by guaranteeing a clean sheet and nicking one late on.

I cannot see the defensive frailty being addressed in this window as in some ways it is inherent in the system but if we add striking options then at least we should increase our chances of scoring early and then throttling the opposition.  Options from the bench should improve our chances of scoring late goals to rescue games too.

I actually wrote that. Well, okay, I didn't but I might have done if DVD hadn't already.

 

[John C]

I wouldn't say people have that obsession VdM, and I'm not sure Villa were the blueprint. I think there's just a concern at the moment that working hard against us nullifies us.

[Twelfth Man]

We play well against teams at the bottom which fail to press the midfield. Everyone knows your supposed to press the Liverpool midfield into mistakes, QPR couldn't be arsed, so we passed it all around them. Also going back to the Villa game and not getting an early goal. Why are we so reliant on getting one? A strategy so reliant on scoring early does not strike me as that prudent.

I see a pattern emerging, we can dispatch the teams in the bottom half of the table which allow our midfield time and space on the ball, teams that themselves like to play it in the ground. We need to start putting in performances like QPR (1st half) against teams that press, are physical as well as teams in the top half of the table which tend to have these qualities.

[woof]

Goals.

We played not unlike that 2nd half at White Hart Lane to no avail - that's just it - it's not the style that's quite so inconsistent, it's the finishing. Once the goals went in, they were gone, and to an amazing extent.

We know where the problems lie, and we'll only address a few of them in January, but they'll hopefully help us kill sides off early more regularly. Control and proper squad depth will take longer.

Was glad they took the foot off the gas.

Seconded.

Not rocket science. We approach every game under BR almost the same way. When you score a goal after passing so well, you gain confidence. That was the QPR game. When you allow your opposition to score after passing and playing so well, you lose confidence. And that's an illness on the pitch you do not want because it spreads like a virus

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

John and 12th Knight.  QPR did press us, just not well enough, or looking at it another way our passing and movement was crisp and accurate and we evaded their pressing.  We have done this against top teams too, against both Manchester sides I thought we did it for long periods. 

The better sides will generally be better at preventing us playing our passing game but the hope is that as Rodgers gets more time then we will also get better at passing our way out of trouble. 

People are suggesting that by pressing our midfield we can be stopped.  It is not necessarily true, it just means that our own passing has to be sharper and if it is we take their midfield out of the game.

This to me is Rodgers' philosophy, he wants the opposition to press us, the key is that we have to get so that we are good enough to deal with it.

[b_joseph]

Why can't we do that every week?!?


Because we arent quite as good as we showed vs Fulham and QPR...and arent quite as bad as we showed vs Stoke. There are maybe 2-3 teams in this league that can be relied upon to put together consistent performances and when you watch those teams play, even though dont come anywhere close to replicating their better performances week to week.

The majority of our games, in terms of performance and not goals, have been like that this season. Ofcourse the goals cloud judgement and when we struggle to score, often folks will come out and talk about how the players showed no effort or how the Manager is inept. When in reality, you just need to break the deadlock, avoid giving up a goal in the next 10 minutes and then you can build from there.
Easy to say but for us, difficult to achieve.

[Not funny reecehenebry]

John and 12th Knight.  QPR did press us, just not well enough, or looking at it another way our passing and movement was crisp and accurate and we evaded their pressing.  We have done this against top teams too, against both Manchester sides I thought we did it for long periods. 

The better sides will generally be better at preventing us playing our passing game but the hope is that as Rodgers gets more time then we will also get better at passing our way out of trouble. 

People are suggesting that by pressing our midfield we can be stopped.  It is not necessarily true, it just means that our own passing has to be sharper and if it is we take their midfield out of the game.

This to me is Rodgers' philosophy, he wants the opposition to press us, the key is that we have to get so that we are good enough to deal with it.

Stoke pressed us lad, QPR didn't bother their hole against us. You are seeing things if you think otherwise.

Also some press us and some don't. We have struggled against both types. Villa, Stoke, two different styles.

[b_joseph]

Stoke pressed us lad, QPR didn't bother their hole against us. You are seeing things if you think otherwise.

Also some press us and some don't. We have struggled against both types. Villa, Stoke, two different styles.

The Stoke pressing became an issue when we gave up the goals...when they came to our place and pressed us, even though we didnt score, we dominated the ball and controlled the game.
We can deal with the pressing until we get hit with a goal...as soon as we get hit with a goal, a team that presses us will absolutely bully us into submission ( West Ham 1st half and Stoke the other night ).

But none of this is a surprise...if we didnt have those issues, then we'd be near the top of the table. But we all know what we are trying to achieve in terms of style and substance will take some time, so there will be ebbs and flows throughout this season.
I'll give credit to our guys for bouncing bck properly when they have come off a really tough result and not allowed themselves to wallow in self pity.

[Twelfth Man]

John and 12th Knight.  QPR did press us, just not well enough, or looking at it another way our passing and movement was crisp and accurate and we evaded their pressing.  We have done this against top teams too, against both Manchester sides I thought we did it for long periods. 

The better sides will generally be better at preventing us playing our passing game but the hope is that as Rodgers gets more time then we will also get better at passing our way out of trouble. 

People are suggesting that by pressing our midfield we can be stopped.  It is not necessarily true, it just means that our own passing has to be sharper and if it is we take their midfield out of the game.

This to me is Rodgers' philosophy, he wants the opposition to press us, the key is that we have to get so that we are good enough to deal with it.

This is spot on. Just not sure the current personnel can really do it for long spells against physical and better sides. I agree though we have in patches done this against good teams like United and City, we like to play against teams that try to come at us rather than just sit-back and defend and hit on the counter, generally mid-table teams. The Southampton 1st half is the benchmark for me, want to see that replicated against physical and pressing teams.

[didi shamone]

Is he really though mate? I see people on here complaining that Brendan 'has no Plan B' but I've never been aware of 'Arry having one.

Can you have a plan B if you can't read or write.

I don't actually think we were that good against QPR. We've played much better this season and lost I reckon. Suarez was however clinical and that sucked the life out of a mentally fragile team. The same could easily have happened in the Villa game had we taken a chance early on. Looking at the players individually there was only one stand out performer, a few good ones and a few poor ones. Raheem is struggling at the moment and new recruits will give him some much needed rest.
What did we learn?. Nothing really, although Henderson made a big shout for a starting berth in the next game if he's over the ebola virus. Sunderland will be a bigger test for sure.

[ahfolk79]

One thing that's been bothering me: we've heard all this bollocks about keep Henderson quarantined and about Pascoe not being allowed into the dressing room at half time. But at the end of the first half the lads are heading down the tunnel and there's Pascoe standing greeting every one of them, slaps on the back, high fives etc. If he's the sick man of Africa then surely he shouldn't be anywhere near the players? I'm no doctor but I thought that sort of virus is spread by physical contact. Makes me wonder (again) what mr Iqbal actually does.

[rafathegaffa83]

We can't do that every week because sadly we don't play QPR every week. I like QPR, I like Tony Fernandes but Hughes and Joorabchian have destroyed the club with their signings. Too many average players on fat wages who don't give a fuck. The only ones who do are the more limited players like Hill, Derry and Mackie who earn a pittance compared to some of the Hughes (and indeed Warnock, in the case of SWP) signings.

Definitely. I don't think we've played against a team so defensively open as QPR this season. There seems to be no game plan or cohesiveness with that side and I'm glad we took advantage of it. Henderson was magnificent, as was Suarez and Johnson. We took our foot of the pedal with Sunderland in mind and didn't get burned for it. A better unified team would have come at us with more application and desire in the second half.

[MHLC]

I actually wrote that. Well, okay, I didn't but I might have done if DVD hadn't already.

 

In response to the initial question of why cant we do it every week? If you look at the two recent games against  Fulham and QPR neither side put any pressure on us at all. We had all the time in the world to pass the ball and it's rare you get that luxury in the PL. QPR were woeful in every department with only Tarrabt resembling a professional footballer. Redknapp has no hope of keeping them up if that's the level of performance he gets from his players.

That's not to take anything away from us though. The players did what was required, had the game closed out inside 27 minutes and kept a clean sheet. Not to be sniffed at given the disruption caused by illness.

Here's another question - does Suarez get an assist for his 2nd goal!?!

[Timbo's Goals]

In response to the initial question of why cant we do it every week? If you look at the two recent games against  Fulham and QPR neither side put any pressure on us at all. We had all the time in the world to pass the ball and it's rare you get that luxury in the PL. QPR were woeful in every department with only Tarrabt resembling a professional footballer. Redknapp has no hope of keeping them up if that's the level of performance he gets from his players.

That's not to take anything away from us though. The players did what was required, had the game closed out inside 27 minutes and kept a clean sheet. Not to be sniffed at given the disruption caused by illness.

Here's another question - does Suarez get an assist for his 2nd goal!?!

I was thinking that about Tarrabt and near fell out my chair when they said he'd been overlooked for Morrocco. I'd love him here. Second half I thought Derry for all his ordinariness showed a great attitude and appetite and gave them a platform to at least look like a football team of sorts. Why Redknappp never had him on from the start is puzzling. I guess he thought Cisse's pace might undo us. Lucky nobody told him eh. beforehand.

[b_joseph]

Here's another question - does Suarez get an assist for his 2nd goal!?!

I think it goes down as a successful dribble, a misplaced pass...an interception and a goal. And an aerial duel won to set Downing free.

More than what most players do in 90 minutes.

[MHLC]

I guess he thought Cisse's pace might undo us. Lucky nobody told him eh. beforehand.

My abiding memory of Djibril (apart from the shocking haircuts and endless offsides) will always be him punting the ball down the line on the right wing at Anfield and trying to outrun the defender,  only to see the ball fly out of play across the byline. You're not the smartest of footballers if you cant even make use of your primary weapon of pace!

 Fair do's though, Rafa was playing him out of position.

I think it goes down as a successful dribble, a misplaced pass...an interception and a goal. And an aerial duel won to set Downing free.

More than what most players do in 90 minutes.

[Hank Scorpio]

Goals.

I was thinking earlier that part of Rodgers plan is to start us scoring on a regular basis.  It has definitely been an issue for us in recent seasons and I do believe that it can become a bit of a vicious circle where goals can become more and more difficult to come by.  We have shown in recent years that we can be up there with the best defences in the league but not with the highest scorers.  That kind of relates to the players you have at your disposal but is also linked to your system and style.  Benitez managed 77 goals in 08/09.  That was by far his best.  But the team was built from the defence up and that's always where our strength remained.

I wonder if Rodgers is working 'backwards'.  Get the side scoring.  Give them that feel for getting goals and build the team around that.  Football is hugely psychological.  At the moment we are on the way to scoring 60+.  That's pretty good given it's Rodgers first season.

[steveeastend]

To me it was very important to see the togetherness still there and everybody willing to work for each other (again) as there is no other way to make it work at the moment.

Our passing game gets better and better which is pretty amazing considering the limitations of some players. Our flaws were still visible though, the gaps in midfield when defending still way too big and some players struggling for different reasons physically.

The january window couldn´t come at a better point in time. The new players will refresh the squad and offer more competition for the ones around and I am positive for the upcoming games although I am little worried on the ManU away game. We have to improve our defending as a unit there, that´s for sure.

Good win and glad to see the togetherness of the squad and their believe in the methods of the manager.

[OperationIvy]

..

Why can't we do that every week?!?

simples, because we cant play QPR every week.

Look at the teams we have beaten. Its basically a list of the crapest teams in the EPL.

Consistency is not the problem. You are asking the wrong question. IT should be "why cant we beat teams in the the top half of the league?"

[B0151?]

we must be doing something right if teams play arguably their worst football of the season against us (qpr, fulham, norwich) . not saying they aren't shite like, but doesn't mean we can't take positives. think it shows an early goal against teams that are on a bad run is so vital.

it helps to score early against anyone obviously. and if we manage to score early in most games we'll win i think. stoke the early goal wasn't really a reflection as it was so early, but i mean in other games where we've got off to a flyer but fail to put it in the net.

having said that, qpr were absolutely woeful in the first half. our goals were good though.

[DanA]

I think we are consistent in that it's the same sorts of teams and tactics causing us problems and the same tactics we're putting to the sword. We're pretty good against teams that concede possession, drop back and defend deep and we've look decent (though lacked cutting edge) against top teams who fight for control/possession. But the midtable teams who aren't worried about possession, that press hard and make fast counter attacks. They really are causing us major headaches.

QPR was another team that conceded possession and let us play through the middle instead getting men behind the ball. As with Norwich and Fulham it didn't work out well for them. 30 minutes in we were able to put the cue in the rack and call it a day.

Henderson I thought was immense
Suarez ridiculously good early

With really no poor performers.

I think the big question from this game is do we play Henderson ahead of Shelvey? Henderson's probably got less goals in him but defensively I thought his work rate (despite sickness) was brilliant and something we've not got from Shelvey. IMO Henderson is also a lot better at keeping possession and delivering the ball in to dangerous areas too.  For me it's an easy choice. I think Henderson should be chosen for the time being well before Shelvey. And I think this will be even more so the case if we sign Sturridge.

The big worry to come out of the game is Enrique. I think that's his second hamstring injury for the season which doesn't bode well for the rest of the season. It looks like Downing will be shifting to LB for the time being which is a shame because I think he's looked really good of late on the right wing. Not a lot of option unless we bring someone else. Johnson LB, Wisdom RB the only real alternative. Hopefully we can find someone though.  I think if we can find a quality 30 y/o LB on the cheap to play for a year or two until Robinson is ready, that'd be ideal. 

[royhendo]

I reckon that's about right Hank. By necessity of course, but it's the quickest way to implement it. Phaseofplay has cemented my belief that we're that DM role away from it being right. But that'll take time. Once we do the balance should flow from there.

[No666]

I was thinking earlier that part of Rodgers plan is to start us scoring on a regular basis.  It has definitely been an issue for us in recent seasons and I do believe that it can become a bit of a vicious circle where goals can become more and more difficult to come by.  We have shown in recent years that we can be up there with the best defences in the league but not with the highest scorers.  That kind of relates to the players you have at your disposal but is also linked to your system and style.  Benitez managed 77 goals in 08/09.  That was by far his best.  But the team was built from the defence up and that's always where our strength remained.

I wonder if Rodgers is working 'backwards'.  Get the side scoring.  Give them that feel for getting goals and build the team around that.  Football is hugely psychological.  At the moment we are on the way to scoring 60+.  That's pretty good given it's Rodgers first season.

That's a nice assessment on many levels. But where does that leave our last-day summer transfer shenanigans? Even if we forget the Dempsey power-play, we supposedly quibbled over a £15m assessment of Sturridge. Effectively, we said half-a-season's worth of goals and familiarity with the team and style of play was not worth the expenditure of £3m. If we're building from the front, that's a decision of the most remarkable stupidity. A total lack of coherence between transfer dealings and manager's vision.