Topic: Hull City 1 - Liverpool 0

[Miltonred]

with Suarez in the side me Uncle Eddie could have got us a top 4 finish....and he's been dead for 10 years

 
Maybe we should give Luis a call, ask him to come back as player manager? Though he might say no to that since its fairly clear he already did that last season.

[Peabee]

He's been here 3 years. 6 transfer windows. He built this fucking squad! If it's that shit it's his fault. You get that free pass in your first season as it's not your really your squad yet but he can't hide behind not having the players in his third fucking year.

I've been behind Rodgers, but it's looking like he just ain't that good.  I think you're right, it's hiding behind players.  This was Hull, not Chelsea or Arsenal.  Does anyone honestly believe our squad is worse than Hull?  I don't.   I think our manager may be out of his depth.

[doles83]

Whoa, whoa whoa. With the way Mignolet has been playing since that New Years ball dropped he is the ONE player at this club that was previously under heavy fire that deserves none.

Honestly at this stage if all clubs in world football had to start over and do a draft, the only ones I'd want to keep at Liverpool are Simon Mignolet, Martin Skrtel and Phillipe Coutinho

You think skrtel should be the spine of the side? A 30 year old who has been here 5 years and hasn't  developed into any sort of leader. He never attacks the ball and his style of defending has always been open to question. As for mig, you're defending him on the basis of a few months... Ye he's been better but I'm talking about having a fixed, reliable spine to the side...  He hasn't established himself and there's definitely still questions. For example when rafa came in...he signed reina and converted carra to cb.... Start of a rock solid spine with quality,reliability and leadership in abundance

[Bunter]

How many pathetically abject performances is that now in the last month or so? How is the manager STILL not getting players up for it or realising the same things are going wrong!?

Seems a lot have lost patience with him.

[Fordy]

I've been behind Rodgers, but it's looking like he just ain't that good.  I think you're right, it's hiding behind players.  This was Hull, not Chelsea or Arsenal.  Does anyone honestly believe our squad is worse than Hull?  I don't.   I think our manager may be out of his depth.

Let's put it this way - it's 1 point from 2 matches. 2 matches against WBA and Hull. Next up QPR

[LiverBirdKop]

We'll twat QPR.

[mattD]

I don't want Brendan gone. I really don't.

I am devastated. He is a good man with the very best of intentions for the club and he gets it. It's not his personality I'm supporting him for, but last year in particular. I always said I would back him in times of trouble.

There's major issues with the transfer recruitment of which he also needs to take responsibility for, but I've seen plenty of evidence that with the right players, he has taken them to new heights and can get them to perform beyond the call of duty. Sadly, there's not enough good enough players in Liverpool.

It's very depressing, and whatever happens to him whether it's at Liverpool or anywhere, I will always back him. I will never forget the thrill of last seasons football and if Liverpool lose him, then he's another clubs gain. It's so so so sad that in today's footballing world, the arrogant aloof players with no regard for the club get away scot free while the manager - the man who puts his blood, sweat and tears into the club - is told to fuck off from the players with vitriol and anger that is not seen towards players or senior management, which perhaps it should be directed at first and foremost.

It's what football has become today sadly and it's guy wrenching. It consumerist culture gone mad with no loyalty or any virtue left with fans or club. 

[doles83]

Mate, it is a cliche that has been accepted as a fact for a long, long while. Ever since the Italian media declared him as a talent of Messi proportions, the myth has continued. I have watched footie games with commentaries from different countries, and all keep repeating it like zombies. Even if the guy is having a terrible, terrible game.

Having Raiola as your agent, and Italian media as your supporter, it seems, you are guaranteed to be a millionaire footballer even if you are totally crap. But people get fooled, when I was writing here that it is a bad move, there were a lot of people on here saying that I am blind who cannot see a talent And the same people are now calling Balotelli names. It is not his fault that he is crap, but professionals like Rodgers and the transfer committee should know better.

In general though, it is best to avoid Serie A as a footballing market. The presidents are crazy, they manage to sell absolute dross for top dollars. How on earth a limited player like Kolarov could cost 16 million pounds? Or Aquilani? Or Balotelli? I know there is a huge competition in the market, but there are cheap leagues like the Dutch league, and there are expensive leagues like the English, Italian and Portuguese leagues. No matter who you buy, in the latter leagues, they sell it for really really high price.

Couldn't agree  more. He's one of the greatest con artists in the history of sport. He's actually never done anything to show that at any point he'll be a reliable, quality, consistent goalscorer... His reputation is beyond belief and has been perpetuated by the brain dead media

[rawcusk8]

We'll twat QPR.

It's been so long, i've forgotten what a twat is.

[bodhisattva]

Im a fan of the manager but he has to have some responsibility in whats happened with our striking options this season.

They had plenty of time to find suitable players we ended up with probably the most unsuitable players for the way he likes to play that we
could have got, he has to take a lot of the blame for that.

Nobody could imagine Sturridge would miss so many games but we all knew his injury record.

In hindsight we probably would have been better served playing Borini as our main striker after the Sturridge injury despite his limitations, he has good movement, works hard for the team and does get into some good goalscoring positions, if he'd started all the games Sturridge was injured for i think he'd have got more goals than Sterling has managed, and even though he's not good enough for what we need i think he'd be our top goalscorer had that happened.

[The Infamous_LFC]

It's been so long, i've forgotten what a twat is.

[john_mac]

ahh well, this gaff??

[alvaro]

We were basically shit with 4 at the back, we switched to 3 at the back and we were good again so why are we back to 4 defenders? It makes no fucking sense at all.
3-4-3 and Sterling up front. Sure we may miss a few chances but at least it will give us a chance and it will provide us something to build from. Now its just utter crap. I really dont know what the fuck Rodgers is doing. We need to get our shit together and get some wins because we are now fighting for an Europa League spot.

Its really hard to look up to next season without major changes and Im afraid that has to include the manager. We gave him a fair chance and I defended him to dead during November but we really are going nowhere.

Rodgers clearly said that if you spend 100 million pounds on transfers you should challenge for the league on August, you cant backpedal now and say fifth is par or something. Im sorry, its just not acceptable. If this club has any real intention of actually challenging for major honous first we need a guy that can compete with the best and there are not one but two clearly better managers in the market. We need to be ruthless here.

[macca888]

We'll twat QPR.

We'd be hard pushed to fucking twat Queen Of The South at this rate.

[jckliew]

There's absolutely no nous in midfield in breaking down packed defences.
Apart from Cout, no one seems to have any keys.
On top of that No Goals from midfielders.

How much is the Hull team worth?

[alvaro]

Its not about losing to Hull City, every top team loses to relegation fodder now and then. If we play 3 at the back and Sterling misses two sitters and we lose then we bemoan our lack of natural goalscorers and look forward to the next season. If we play the formation that saw us in relegation form after Sturrdige got injured then we are looking at more deeper and structural problems.

[LiverBirdKop]

It's been so long, i've forgotten what a twat is.

Google "LFC CEO".

[Twitter.com]

We were basically shit with 4 at the back, we switched to 3 at the back and we were good again so why are we back to 4 defenders? It makes no fucking sense at all.
3-4-3 and Sterling up front. Sure we may miss a few chances but at least it will give us a chance and it will provide us something to build from. Now its just utter crap. I really dont know what the fuck Rodgers is doing. We need to get our shit together and get some wins because we are now fighting for an Europa League spot.

Its really hard to look up to next season without major changes and Im afraid that has to include the manager. We gave him a fair chance and I defended him to dead during November but we really are going nowhere.

Rodgers clearly said that if you spend 100 million pounds on transfers you should challenge for the league on August, you cant backpedal now and say fifth is par or something. Im sorry, its just not acceptable. If this club has any real intention of actually challenging for major honous first we need a guy that can compete with the best and there are not one but two clearly better managers in the market. We need to be ruthless here.

If Arsenal wins the FA Cup, then 7th gets Europa.

[Kopenhagen]

With Glen Johnson ahead of him in the pecking order, I'd give him a leave pass for the greenery.

Seriously though, I can't understand how the kid hasn't been given a consistent run in our team, given the way we've been playing. When he does play, he's usually hooked at half time, not to mention being played out of position most the year. Honestly think there's a player in there.

He's the "easy sub." I still think he's a fantastic prospect - vision, pace (apparently Sturridge, I think, said he's the fastest at the club), nice touch, tactically astute - and would give him a go centrally with a partner (ideally Sterling) during this goal drought. The season's over now, what's the harm?

[jckliew]

If Arsenal wins the FA Cup, then 7th gets Europa.

Looking like we need other top teams to do the job for us. Albeit for fodder

[alvaro]

If Arsenal wins the FA Cup, then 7th gets Europa.

If, if they dont Aston Villa gets it. Thereby we are fighting for an Europa League spot. Spurs are 7 goals away and the Saints only one point behind with better GD. The players need to stop their bullshit and make sure we get that spot and they shoudnt think they are too good for the Europa when they can barely handle Ludogorets and were beaten by Basle and Beşiktaş.

edit: Spurs are only 4 goals away.

[Fordy]

We'll twat QPR.

2 matches and 0 goals but we will twat QPR?

We could be still playing now and we wouldn't of scored.

[OOS]

Bit shit, aren't we at the moment. Can't see this season getting any better, hopefully grind out some wins and we regroup in the summer.

[Kopenhagen]

2 matches and 0 goals but we will twat QPR?

We could be still playing now and we wouldn't of scored.

At home and after Newcastle, I reckon they're the worst side in the league. Suspect we'll win but nothing is for certain. Possibly another 0-0.

[creed111]

You think skrtel should be the spine of the side? A 30 year old who has been here 5 years and hasn't  developed into any sort of leader. He never attacks the ball and his style of defending has always been open to question. As for mig, you're defending him on the basis of a few months... Ye he's been better but I'm talking about having a fixed, reliable spine to the side...  He hasn't established himself and there's definitely still questions. For example when rafa came in...he signed reina and converted carra to cb.... Start of a rock solid spine with quality,reliability and leadership in abundance

No, I'm just saying on a day like today, the few players who have not only played well, but played with passion don't need to be lumped into our (me included) mindless blabbering and vitriol. Save that for our physios and lunch ladies like Bayern might do

[Durlmints]

2 matches and 0 goals but we will twat QPR?

We could be still playing now and we wouldn't of scored.

Nah we'll win 2-0 and get told everything is fine and dandy at the club.

[Fordy]

At home and after Newcastle, I reckon they're the worst side in the league. Suspect we'll win but nothing is for certain. Possibly another 0-0.

If QPR lose then they're as good as down. QPR will give it everything.

Normally it would be easy but we're so poor at the moment that QPR will be confident going into this.

[Kopenhagen]

Nah we'll win 2-0 and get told everything is fine and dandy at the club.

  Let's win the Wenger Cup.

If QPR lose then they're as good as down. QPR will give it everything.

Normally it would be easy but we're so poor at the moment that QPR will be confident going into this.

Still think we'll have enough, unless Lovren decides to make Bobby Zamora look like Zlatan again. (Very possible.)

[Fordy]

Nah we'll win 2-0 and get told everything is fine and dandy at the club.

Yeah more than likely.

[Durlmints]

Let's win the Wenger Cup.

"If United lose these two games and this one here, and lose to Arsenal, and we win the rest of ours like last year..."

[LiverBirdKop]

2 matches and 0 goals but we will twat QPR?

We could be still playing now and we wouldn't of scored.

Where's your sense of adventure?

[Keita Success]

Well, that was a pile of wank.

[Alonso_The_Assassin]

He's the "easy sub." I still think he's a fantastic prospect - vision, pace (apparently Sturridge, I think, said he's the fastest at the club), nice touch, tactically astute - and would give him a go centrally with a partner (ideally Sterling) during this goal drought. The season's over now, what's the harm?

No harm whatsoever. Give the kid a license.

People talking about our striking debacle. I think there's a more important question to ask and that's our formation.

Why have we reverted to a back four again? How many points have we picked up in this formation? I'd say less than 20. That in itself is quite damning.

[MolbyLovesGravlax]

My worry is Rodgers has been given assurances already that he is manager next season no matter what and the return to the failed multiple times system, as outlined in his dossier and attempted, before being abandoned, at the start of every season is just Rodgers getting a head start on attempt number whatever to make it work.
So essentially this is preseason and then we buy to fit the 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 again this summer.
Problem is the players aren't stupid, they understand how shit we were at the start of the season, suddenly going back to it after we had some success after abandoning it results in the timid unsure performances we are seeing again.
I have never pushed for Rodgers to leave, but if the grand plan is to simply try and force a failed plan again, when our only good football each season of the Rodgers reign has happened after we have abandoned it, then we may as well sack him now because we will be in a year, or less, anyway.

[sideshowme]

we weren't THAT bad.  that run by johnson was a real rolling-back-the-years moment (i thought it was moreno at first on my terrible stream - i didn't think glenson could run that fast).

also, that henderson effort was, in isolation, a real thing of beauty.  a perfect pass, a smart piece of improvisation and a shot arrowing towards the corner, and a nimble dive from an ancient keeper.  but as it was our only shot of note in the entire game, the moment won't get the appreciation it deserves.

fourth is looking a little more unlikely now, but there is no way on earth rodgers is losing his job this summer or even next most likely, barring a major catastrophe like a bottom half finish or something.

[ThePeetmix]

we weren't THAT bad.  that run by johnson was a real rolling-back-the-years moment (i thought it was moreno at first on my terrible stream - i didn't think glenson could run that fast).

First half we weren't that bad.
Second half we were DEFINITELY that bad. That Henderson chance was by a mile the closest we came to scoring.

[kcbworth]

Why do we go through these runs? Rafa's final season, Kenny's final season, now this season.

Doesn't make any sense to me

It's almost like everyone involved is complicit in it

[sempi]

My worry is Rodgers has been given assurances already that he is manager next season no matter what and the return to the failed multiple times system, as outlined in his dossier and attempted, before being abandoned, at the start of every season is just Rodgers getting a head start on attempt number whatever to make it work.
So essentially this is preseason and then we buy to fit the 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 again this summer.
Problem is the players aren't stupid, they understand how shit we were at the start of the season, suddenly going back to it after we had some success after abandoning it results in the timid unsure performances we are seeing again.
I have never pushed for Rodgers to leave, but if the grand plan is to simply try and force a failed plan again, when our only good football each season of the Rodgers reign has happened after we have abandoned it, then we may as well sack him now because we will be in a year, or less, anyway.

If the committee continues to foist players on him, rather discuss who would best fit the system, then the merry go round will continue.

[keyo]

Regardless, if Rodgers was responsible then we shouldn't let him touch transfers. Same with the committee. Whatever it is we can still make the changes to ensure we don't waste as much money again.

O

unfortunately, this is a SIGNIFICANT part of the job remit - for Rodgers and the Committee.  Unfortunately, I think we have gotten bogged down with the argument about how the system works, why we ended up with the players we did, who is responsible, etc.  The reality is, we have performed poorly for 2/3 of the season.  Not just failed to score, but performed poorly AND failed to score enough goals.  The players we have in the squad have not performed well as a group.  In a game, this happens.  During a down turn in form this happens.  Over a season, you then draw broader conclusions.  Firstly, whether the players are good enough.  Secondly, whether the manager has got enough out of the players.  Thirdly, if the players not good enough then how did we end up with a squad that is not good enough.

To move on and be perform better you have to identify what you have been good at, and build on it.  You have also to work out what you are not good at, and compensate for it or work on it so it does not impact.  And you have to identify mistakes, remove them, and then take actions to ensure the likelihood of those errors occurring again is lowered.

[Mamadou]

i'm afraid that last season "success" came too early for Rodgers, obviously he wasn't ready for that