post match - Swansea

[Woland]

Skrtel is mad frustrating. He's the best tackler there, he's quick he wins headers, but then he just does really stupid shit all the time.

It would be the equivalent of working in an office, getting everything done great, helping the business grow, but once a day getting up and throwing a photocopier out of the window or having a crap in the watercooler.

 

[Mystic]

Joe Allen looked really fast yesterday and kept beating players, that's what surprised me!

 

[Frogfish]

Superglue Ming (5) - for Christ Sake come the hell off of your line !
Johnson (6.5) - a little rusty but still a good return and going forward showed what we have been missing with Cisshoko.
Agger (5) - I don't know why he was pulled and not Skrtel, who seemed far worse to me, that would also have Toure on his stronger right as the RCB rather than 2 CBs who both prefer the right. That said Agger was not much better and can't complain at being yanked off.
Skrtel (4) - See above. When he has a bad game he has a real stinker and special mention has to be made of his distribution. Inconsistency is his middle name though.
Flanno (5) - one of his worst performances since making the team. Still, he was not much worse than average although his passing and distribution were shite.
Gerrard (6) - I thought he was playing well up until our second went in. Then he was all over the place and making rash moves forward, I'm sure he thought it was going to be a stroll from then on. Note again his superb passing from the back setting up our forwards though - this is a key element in the speed of some of our attacks.
Coutinho (7) - slow to get started but I though he did very well hounding opposition players in possession. Not his best game but still he panics the opposition when he is dictating the play from behind SSS.
Henderson (8) - another one who was off the boil for most of the first half. The second half Rodgers must have said something because he came alive and his determination was infectious. A superb first goal and it was great to see him in the 6 yd box to finish off the second.
Sterling (8) - I was disappointed to see him leave the field even if he was a little quiet at the time. A simply sublime pass for the first and when in possession he often looked the most dangerous, in a creative sense, of our attack.
Suarez (5.5) - badly off his game at the moment. He looked tired and lacking in confidence and aggression. Half the time instead of tacking defenders on and getting into better more dangerous positions before shooting he would just have a go at the first half opportunity. Desperately needs a goal to revive confidence.
Sturridge (9) - he might not be the ultimate 'defend from the front' striker but here is a guy dripping the confidence Suarez is lacking. Back to form after the awful showing v. Arsenal in the FAC.

Allen (8) - thought he was great from the moment he came on. I was surprised at Sterling being withdrawn but Rodgers got it spot on and Allen made all the difference in wresting back control of the midfield. Difficult to drop him on that form and I'd start him for Suarez against Southampton where control of the MF is more important. Bring Luis on for Sturridge / Sterling after 60 mins.
Toure (6) - I don't like him playing at LCB and he is a far better and more confident player at RCB. It seems to me the nervousness in the defence at that time affected him also.
Rodgers (8) - has to be given credit for the substitutions and the way the team keeps coming back in the face of adversity.

 

[Mystic]

A 5 for Suarez? Jesus Frog.

 

[Woland]

I thought Flan was the only decent defender. Defo a 7 for him.
Coutinho was wank. Why did Sterling come off? He was wicked.

 

[Hyena]

I have to admit that when sterling went off for Lucas lite I was thoroughly perplexed.
But then told myself Rodgers knows best and true enough I have the tactical knowledge of a drunken ox. It worked great.

 

[tony]

I thought Flan was the only decent defender. Defo a 7 for him.
Coutinho was wank. Why did Sterling come off? He was wicked.

And why oh why did Moses come on - you couldn't find a less committed footballer if you tried - just what we needed at the time

 

[Modo]

And why oh why did Moses come on - you couldn't find a less committed footballer if you tried - just what we needed at the time

I think it's more to do with us not having any other options on the bench.

 

[nealmac]

He should (Skrtel) and it was (Suarez).

A yellow card for shirt pulling?

Do me a favour.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

And why oh why did Moses come on - you couldn't find a less committed footballer if you tried - just what we needed at the time

I'm probably one of his biggest critics but to be fair to him, if you look at the clip I posted on Allen's game, Moses actually did make 2 good runs into the box for tap-ins (if he could score them that is; he seems a bit challenged in that department). Gerrard and Allen passed up opportunities to set him up, but at least he made himself useful and got into the box to pose a threat. All I could ask for really.

I loved how he went wild and celebrated like Alan Pardew after Henderson scored our winner - in an alternate world. He's the Benitez of football players when it comes to celebrating a team mate's goal it seems.

 

[mark1975]

A 5 for Suarez? Jesus Frog.

5 for Flan aswell, who singlehandedly hounded everyone on the pitch to see out the result. I thought he had a great game. Mental ratings..

 

[Woland]

How come Toure looked ace when we got him but now every time he goes near the ball I fully expect him to pick it and run for a touchdown or shove it up his top and hide in the stands or eat it or something?

 

[Modo]

I'm probably one of his biggest critics but to be fair to him, if you look at the clip I posted on Allen's game, Moses actually did make 2 good runs into the box for tap-ins (if he could score them that is; he seems a bit challenged in that department). Gerrard and Allen passed up opportunities to set him up, but at least he made himself useful and got into the box to pose a threat. All I could ask you really.

I loved how he went wild and celebrated like Alan Pardew after Henderson scored our winner - in an alternate world. He's the Benitez of football players when it comes to celebrating a team mate's goal it seems.

Yep. Thought it was a bit strange as well. Looked like he couldn't be arsed.

 

[Modo]

How come Toure looked ace when we got him but now every time he goes near the ball I fully expect him to pick it and run for a touchdown or shove it up his top and hide in the stands or eat it or something?

The scary part is that Ryan predicted this.

 

[mark1975]

How come Toure looked ace when we got him but now every time he goes near the ball I fully expect him to pick it and run for a touchdown or shove it up his top and hide in the stands or eat it or something?

Common theme, all our defenders do. So either they're all shit, or there's an issue with our setup/coaching.

 

[Frogfish]

A 5 for Suarez? Jesus Frog.

I've given him another 0.5 just for you, and that's a Suarez 5.5, not that of a mere mortal 😉 Seriously I thought we was waaay off his game despite one or two great passes to Stugs. He just looked .. hmm knackered I guess is the best way to describe it !

 

[Woland]

We defo need a new defensive coach, we have been shite at the back....but.... and I'm no expert or anything.... but most of the things that are costing us are ridiculous fuck ups. Own goals, shit clearances, stupid fouls... Not exactly tactical probs. I mean if your players are dickheads can they be effectively coached? If they need Carra stood next to them simply to remember they're sentient then they should be melted down for glue.

 

[mark1975]

The scary part is that Ryan predicted this.

No, Ryan said he's shit and a terrible player, so did Oncy and a few others. He's clearly not, but he's obviously lacking in confidence, like most of our defenders. There has to be a point where we stop asking why individual players in the same area of the team are consistently making mistakes, and start asking what is wrong with the approach. You don't go from being a big player with two top sides, winning titles, to looking like a rabbit in the headlights everytime you get the ball. The same can be said of Skrtel, Johnson, Agger, Cissokho, Kelly and even Sakho at times this season. It's a recurrent theme, he looked great when he first came into the side, then as time as wore on, he's become a victim of the same symptoms as the rest. So...

 

[Frogfish]

A yellow card for shirt pulling?

Do me a favour.

Yes, it it is an offence you know and in fact refs regularly give yellows for shirt-pulling - just not often in the box. It's been coming, I'm surprised it hasn't been given before now.

 

[nealmac]

Yes, it it is an offence you know and in fact refs regularly give yellows for shirt-pulling - just not often in the box. It's been coming, I'm surprised it hasn't been given before now.

Not every foul is a yellow card. And shirt pulling certainly isn't.

 

[mark1975]

We defo need a new defensive coach, we have been shite at the back....but.... and I'm no expert or anything.... but most of the things that are costing us are ridiculous fuck ups. Own goals, shit clearances, stupid fouls... Not exactly tactical probs. I mean if your players are dickheads can they be effectively coached? If they need Carra stood next to them simply to remember they're sentient then they should be melted down for glue.

Much of which is our own doing though, thanks to our focus on keeping possession at the back, we invite pressure and orchestrate our own fuck ups. I do think we need to buy, but lets face it, we spent heavily on the backline in 2013 and currently have nothing to show for it. A centre back who's been crocked for months and a lad who can't get a game.

 

[Mystic]

I've given him another 0.5 just for you, and that's a Suarez 5.5, not that of a mere mortal 😉 Seriously I thought we was waaay off his game despite one or two great passes to Stugs. He just looked .. hmm knackered I guess is the best way to describe it !

He got an assist, arguably two, and he was a menace all game and created loads. Not his best game, but he was still great, solid 7, easily.

 

[Frogfish]

5 for Flan aswell, who singlehandedly hounded everyone on the pitch to see out the result. I thought he had a great game. Mental ratings..

Flanno constantly gave the ball away and made poor decisions after a bright start. Even poor throw-ins FFS. He most certainly did not have a 'great game' at all though it seems you give extra points for being vocal. Loved your ratings too ... oh sorry, well if you had bothered to post any that is.

 

[Woland]

It's quite scary how much better we look with Sterling there. Not saying he's in the same class as Suarez or Sturridge but he's getting there. He scares the shit out of defences with his pace and opens up the space that SAS thrive off. I know we scored and won after he went off but I don't understand the substitution. Coutinho was having a mare. Again.

 

[Frogfish]

Not every foul is a yellow card. And shirt pulling certainly isn't.

Did I say it was ? No I fucking didn't.

Oh FFS - open your eyes. Don't you see yellows given every week when a winger runs past someone and they pull his shirt to hold him back. Yes, you do.

 

[Frogfish]

He got an assist, arguably two, and he was a menace all game and created loads. Not his best game, but he was still great, solid 7, easily.

I guess I just expect more from him than most ... him being a freak of footballing nature.

 

[Modo]

No, Ryan said he's shit and a terrible player, so did Oncy and a few others. He's clearly not, but he's obviously lacking in confidence, like most our defenders. There has to be a point where we stop asking why individual players in the same area of the team are consistently making mistakes, and start asking what is wrong with the approach. You don't go from being a big player with two top sides, winning titles, to looking like a rabbit in the headlights everytime you get the ball. The same can be said of Skrtel, Johnson, Agger, Cissokho, Kelly and even Sakho at times this season. It's a recurrent theme, he looked great when he first came into the side, then as time as wore on, he's become a victim of the same symptoms as the rest. So...

I seem to recall Ryan starting off by saying that he's shit, but after a positive start by Touré he changed it to "he'll turn shit by the end of the season".

 

[nealmac]

Did I say it was ? No I fucking didn't.

Oh FFS - open your eyes. Don't you see yellows given every week when a winger runs past someone and they pull his shirt to hold him back. Yes, you do.

You said, "He should (Skrtel) and it was (Suarez)"

 

[Mystic]

I guess I just expect more from him than most ... him being a freak of footballing nature.

Yeh, that's fair enough, we really need to get him scoring again with some big matches coming up!

 

[Mystic]

It's quite scary how much better we look with Sterling there. Not saying he's in the same class as Suarez or Sturridge but he's getting there. He scares the shit out of defences with his pace and opens up the space that SAS thrive off. I know we scored and won after he went off but I don't understand the substitution. Coutinho was having a mare. Again.

Sterlings fantastic, but I think it was the right substitution, he'd started waning in the second half after a terrific first half, and having Coutinho there helped us control the game, which we did at the end.