The Liverpool FC Thread XII

The main thing is that after 9 games and missing our two stand out players from last season, we're not miles off the pace (for finishing top 4 and in our CL group).

It's not like we've had an easy start to the season. We've only really got Chelsea and Man Utd from the top teams left to play.

The main thing is that after 9 games and missing our two stand out players from last season, we're not miles off the pace (for finishing top 4 and in our CL group).

It's not like we've had an easy start to the season. We've only really got Chelsea and Man Utd from the top teams left to play.

He missed chances against West Ham and Villa both. It's more than just that - it's that Sturridge has an incredibly positive effect on our build up play whereas Balotelli is not only a passenger, but he's an outright detriment. He breaks down almost every attack.

So with Sturridge in the team, we'd both finish off more chances and we'd create more. He might even improve Balotelli's performance. We've been average in some games and poor in some games. But we also haven't got the goals that our pressure has deserved. On the basis of the last 25 minutes, no-one could begrudge us a win today, we also deserved the points against Everton (where Balo missed a few easy chances) and Villa (again Balo, not the sole culprit I guess but one of them). I'd also have bet that with Sturridge in the team, we'd have made it from 2-1 down to 3-2 up against West Ham, but that's not really the point. We've dropped points in 5 games, three of them can be put directly at the play/**** finishing of Balotelli. Another was against the champions and another is a close one to call. Sturridge is both as good as we say he is, and is good enough to take Balo's place in the team and fire us to the top four.

What is the most annoying thing about today is that Coutinho came on last week and won us the game, then in midweek he was one of only two players that looked good against Madrid, and he didn't play the game. But Rodgers thought it right to play Lallana and Sterling, both who didn't have that extra energy/spark today, instead of him. And Joe Allen, for ****'s sake. Very, very poor management to keep Coutinho out of the team.

True, we haven't even got out of first gear yet, so still being on pace is a godsend. But then neither have Arsenal. And you'd expect United to only get better but tomorrow will be a good indication of whereabouts they are.

Look on the bright side, Liverpool finally kept a clean sheet.

Only because Hull settled for a goalless draw and weren't really arsed to play.

I pretty much agree with this, but you have kinda been getting a lot of last minute winners in recent weeks. Can't rely on that EVERY game. Coutinho should have started and you shouldn't have been chasing 0-0 at 75 mins.

Lambert must be pretty sad with Balo starting over him.

Haha you actually think Kroos might have picked Liverpool over Real Madrid/staying at Bayern Munich?

There are plenty of conversations in football and no doubt someone spoke to his agent and heard he wasn't interested or we heard his wage demands and didn't follow up.

Wtf? The contract situation makes every difference. If a player only has 1 year left on his contract and can leave on a free the following summer, his value dramatically drops compared to a player who still has 3+ years to run.

If Kroos still had 2-5 years left on his contract, Bayern wouldn't have sold unless it was 30-40mil+

Thought you guys would be inoculated from frustration with team selection after Rafa and his rotation.

Liverpool fans forget this because they have a cult following of him and Queen Jenny due to their past glories.

He was a frustrating manager with his team selections and his substitutions were terrible

Good at parking a bus though. Fitted Chelsea for big games.

True, we haven't even got out of first gear yet, so still being on pace is a godsend. But then neither have Arsenal. And you'd expect United to only get better but tomorrow will be a good indication of whereabouts they are.

Can't see us winning tomorrow. Not sure if LVG knows what defensive training is. It's strange, because our defenders individually are better than the dutch but they did ok...

He also has a fixation with RVP who starts every game despite being totally ****/tired.

We've also got points we didn't deserve, against QPR and Soton.

It's harsh to criticise him for every miss, the sitters yes but as soon as you start blaming him for missing every odd chance you're into that scapegoat territory. Sturridge isn't some infallible striker, you have that game against Arsenal in the FA Cup last year here he missed around 3/4 sitters? And in games where he'd have an off game Suarez would step up, we won;t have that anymore.

Goals have dried up all over the shop. We were scoring from so many set-pieces last year but that's not happening anymore. When talking about goal threats the onus is on the striker which is why Balo should take the most blame, but everyone bar Sterling hasn't been good enough in that aspect.

There was a quote somewhere iirc before the season started about replacing Suarez's goals with more then one player chipping in and it just hasn't happened.

Perplexed that he didn't start, we were at home to Hull and he played it way too safe.

Rodger's knew what he was buying with Balotelli and it's pretty much exactly what we got. I've been bloody disappointed with Balo this season but Rodger's comes in at a close second.

I pretty much agree with this, but you have kinda been getting a lot of last minute winners in recent weeks. Can't rely on that EVERY game. Coutinho should have started and you shouldn't have been chasing 0-0 at 75 mins.

Lambert must be pretty sad with Balo starting over him.

Yeah it's not as if he won the Champions League, the FA Cup, then took us to another Champions League final and built our best team in years. He might have rotated but he tended to get results. It's the same when people bring up zonal marking and try and use it as a stick to beat him with, even though we were consistently in the top 2/3 in terms of least goals conceded.

Only against QPR in the league?

Lambert was poor really until today, he'll get his chance now

Lúcio constantly gassing cos he's watched Lambert from league 2, mentions it on TSR at least 3 times a day. Stop gassing bruv.

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