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I thought he was a cunt for constantly being sarcastic and smug with his remarks about how the "big European night at Anfield" turned out, how Rodgers was "surely trying to hold on to only 0-3", etc. I think he even said that Liverpool fans are not leaving the ground before the final whistle because they're delighted to watch a great team play, even if it's the opposition.
I stopped reading your post at this point.
Your loss .. or shortsightedness.
BR: We’ve been a victim in terms of how well we’ve done. Last night was disappointing, but we’ve come a long way and got a long way to go.
Im a bit worried that Mr Rodgers is becoming a bit of a reactive manager and losing track of his ideals.
On sunday the worst player was Enrique.
Lallana and Can were Ok but when Coutinho and Allen came on we improved.
So on Wednesday night Enrique gets the hook and Coutinho and Allen start.
Hes been like this with the defense for a while, just pull the worst player out of the team for the next game, and it isnt a very sound way of building cohesion.
Im fully expecting Johnson and Balotelli to be pulled out of the team on the weekend and Manquillo and Lambert to play. Maybe Can back in for Allen again, after all, he played ok for 15 minutes against Madrid.
Not good.
On sunday the worst player was Enrique.
Lallana and Can were Ok but when Coutinho and Allen came on we improved.
So on Wednesday night Enrique gets the hook and Coutinho and Allen start.
Hes been like this with the defense for a while, just pull the worst player out of the team for the next game, and it isnt a very sound way of building cohesion.
Im fully expecting Johnson and Balotelli to be pulled out of the team on the weekend and Manquillo and Lambert to play. Maybe Can back in for Allen again, after all, he played ok for 15 minutes against Madrid.
Not good.
Apparently Modric has rubbed it in by saying they eased off in the second half to save themselves for the weekend
Great night bar the result. After a few pints in the Harry afterwards it was decided that Mingolet and Johnson are shite, Sterling, Coutinho and Lallana are great and Emre Can is a beast.
I thought Isco was unbelievable. HIs balance and ability on the ball is ridiculous. He simply glides all over the pitch.
Kroos and Modric as a pairing is just ridiculous. We chased shadows for a lot of the game.
A little shout out to Joe Allen. I'm prob a bit biased as I've always been a supporter of his but I thought he did very well. He continually showed for the ball and was willing to receive a pass in tight situations. He pressed them high up the pitch and ran himself into the ground. Glad to have him back.
I thought Isco was unbelievable. HIs balance and ability on the ball is ridiculous. He simply glides all over the pitch.
Kroos and Modric as a pairing is just ridiculous. We chased shadows for a lot of the game.
A little shout out to Joe Allen. I'm prob a bit biased as I've always been a supporter of his but I thought he did very well. He continually showed for the ball and was willing to receive a pass in tight situations. He pressed them high up the pitch and ran himself into the ground. Glad to have him back.
It was quite obvious they did that. The improvement in performance in the second half was more likely down to that than anything else.
He speaks the truth.
I know he speaks the truth.
He's been oddly sloppy of late, giving the ball away at stupid times. Henderson last season set the tone for us in terms of pressing and I wonder whether our inability to press as well this year is due to him not generally playing as well.
Alright, I promised it so here goes...
What's Jordan Henderson's best attribute? His energy and workrate, right? No one's going to argue anything else really are they? He's not a great passer, not a goalscorer, a playmaker, a creative type, a defensive midfielder. He brings enthusiasm, workrate, tenacity, etc. All admirable and required qualities in our side anyway.
First half at home to Real Madrid you absolutely need players like him setting them tempo with regard to pressure. Closing players down. In their face. First 45 don't give them an inch. Work fucking work.
I would have thought that was the bare minimum you'd get from him.
So, anyway, watch this.
First goal. Too slow to get close to Gerrard, and it allows Benzema space in exactly the spot where he wants it to link up with Ronaldo. Pass, pass, pass, pass. 1-0. Watch Henderson again, number 14. Why is he so far right of Gerrard 30 yards from our goal? These are small things sure, but this is the absolute top level we're talking about. You're playing the best side in world football, and you're giving Ronaldo, Benzema, and James space 30 yards from goal to play.
Second goal. This is the one that kills me. Watch it from any angle you like, but my preference is the replayed angle on 59 seconds. Ball gets cleared. Watch Henderson. Walking, walking, walking, walking, walking, just keep watching, he doesn't break from a walk once. Get out and close them down you lazy fuck. Gerrard and a few others are only marginally better, but at least they attempt to close space. Henderson watches as the best footballer on earth turns, plays, and runs goalward on the edge of his fucking box. Right in front of him. 1-0, 30 mins gone, we're still in the game, you're in the side Jordan because of your workrate, and you're walking. Not for a second, but for the entire portion of that goal. The second that ball goes wide to Kroos he has to be thinking what's my role now. He doesn't. He ballwatches, it sails over his head, he's still standing still. 2-0.
The third goal. Have a look at Jordan Henderson's contribution for this goal. He's marking Benzema from the front when the ball goes in. Then watch. standing, turning, standing, standing, standing, arm up, offside? No Jordan, it's 3-0. The lights are out.
If you're not gonna be proactive, then react to the danger. The ball is bouncing in the box in front of you. React. Move. He stands completely still.
Fine lines you might say, nitpicking too I guess, but as I say - this is the Champions League against the best side in it, and if you're in the side for your pressure and workrate and your actual contribution for all 3 goals conceded is to stand still, or walk, then what the fuck are you contributing?
1st goal, Hendo is supposed to be stationed on the right of Gerrard, he comes over in time to get in close proximity to Ronaldo. I don't see any problem with Hendo's play here. For me the main problem is this:
While Hendo and Gerrard are challenging Ronaldo and Skrtel is watching Benzema, James is a clear outlet who doesn't have anybody near him. One of Moreno or Allen have to be right in front of him, but they are both watching from some distance. Giving him too much respect. If you watch the video, you can see Lovren making a couple of quick steps forward just as Ronaldo is about to release the pass into James (which is why he cannot reach the subsequent pass over his head) – Lovren's thinking is, you have to close down the space here, put more pressure on Ronaldo. But he is the only one making that run forward, his teammates are just standing there and watching, not trying to challenge James in any way or even get into position where they could challenge. So once again, the problem arises from the mismatch between Lovren pro-active style of defending and the more reactive or passive style of most of his teammates.
On 2nd goal, it looks like all of our players are in slow motion, including Hendo. I think it's not from lack of desire, but because mentally they are not able to cope with Madrid's speed of thought and execution. They are gripped by fear of losing their position or being made look foolish, so they all just doing the bare minimum – holding their position and allowing Madrid players to weave their webs around them. This is the point in the match where the gulf in class was the most evident. Our players are surprised by Madrid's speed of play, they are unsure where to run so they just behave more conservatively. We need a few more lessons like this to get up to speed at this level – and see which of our players are capable of reaching this level and which aren't.
3rd goal has nothing to do with Hendo. Mostly Ming's fault.
While Hendo and Gerrard are challenging Ronaldo and Skrtel is watching Benzema, James is a clear outlet who doesn't have anybody near him. One of Moreno or Allen have to be right in front of him, but they are both watching from some distance. Giving him too much respect. If you watch the video, you can see Lovren making a couple of quick steps forward just as Ronaldo is about to release the pass into James (which is why he cannot reach the subsequent pass over his head) – Lovren's thinking is, you have to close down the space here, put more pressure on Ronaldo. But he is the only one making that run forward, his teammates are just standing there and watching, not trying to challenge James in any way or even get into position where they could challenge. So once again, the problem arises from the mismatch between Lovren pro-active style of defending and the more reactive or passive style of most of his teammates.
On 2nd goal, it looks like all of our players are in slow motion, including Hendo. I think it's not from lack of desire, but because mentally they are not able to cope with Madrid's speed of thought and execution. They are gripped by fear of losing their position or being made look foolish, so they all just doing the bare minimum – holding their position and allowing Madrid players to weave their webs around them. This is the point in the match where the gulf in class was the most evident. Our players are surprised by Madrid's speed of play, they are unsure where to run so they just behave more conservatively. We need a few more lessons like this to get up to speed at this level – and see which of our players are capable of reaching this level and which aren't.
3rd goal has nothing to do with Hendo. Mostly Ming's fault.
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