We have accumulated 6 points from a possible 18. How is this "not that bad"? Out only win thus far was against West Brom at home and let's not forget that we could easily have gone behind a couple of time before scoring. Sure it's early days but if you can recall, it's often been said that our title challenge ends by Christmas which indicates that we are perennial slow starters, hence it's important for us to rack up some points early.

I do have faith but mine is over the course of a long time, or I wouldn't have made it through the Souness era. It doesn't however mean I wont call it like I see it. I am not the type to wait for something bad to happen before crying over it which is why I keep reiterating that certain things need to be changed now or we are looking at dark time indeed.

Stating the obvious. I'm more concerned about not qualifying for Europe

Please check your facts before posting. Torres is Atletico through and through.

Also your take on Rafa is very very surface.

Back to Blackpool. Our defending is shambolic. Still think it's all peaches and cream?

Johnson looks sharp? I really wonder which game you're watching. His defending has been appalling. He has been absent at the back and when he was there he gave away a clear penalty. Our flanks are opening up as wide as a cheap hooker. Poulsen is a virtual spectator. He should be expected to provide cover on either flank when the fullbacks push up.

It seems Roy Hodgson's good home record is limited only to Craven Cottage. Make no mistake. If we lose in this manner, it will be a tragedy of epic proportions.

This is a new low for us. Our worst start to the league in almost half a century. Blackpool's third away win to our none-existent first. Not exactly the type of momentum we want to carry to Goodison for the Merseyside derby. I expected trying times last season but even I didn't expect us to be playing such piss poor football. Don't mistake our domination in the second half as Hodgson suddenly going on the attack. It was Blackpool who were content on sitting back and having us work after going two goals in front.

So Digilife, still feel like laughing at the mancs for dropping two points against Sunderland. I never condoned taking the piss out of the opposition. I prefer to focus on our team and celebrate our victories. You and your predictions carry very absolutely no credibility at all and I do honestly wonder if you do analyze the game at all.

For some reason our fullbacks were tucked in too tight and got exposed whenever Blackpool played the wings. The high crossfield passes left our back four perplexed. I've not seen such bad defending from us ever, even under Souness. I don't know if the defenders were playing under instructions, but why they preferred to stand off players allowing time on the ball is beyond me. Aside from DJ Campbell, they weren't particularly quick or skilled. I'm baffled. We were so exposed at the back and Poulsen may as well have been cutting the grass. Our forward line was decent but I'm wondering why Mereiles was made to start on the right and Kuyt on the left. Seems Hodgson likes to play them out of position as well.

I hope the eternal optimists are beginning to realize the severity of our situation now. I sense this because there are no more, "how can you criticize the team and still call yourself a fan", type questions and statements. We are a club in crisis in almost every aspect to do come to terms with it.

I said this last season and I'll say it again. Not many have been put to the test by having to support a team in decline. You will now be tested because I don't think our predicament is going to change anytime soon, and I hope you pass with flying colours. Once again, see you on the other side of the storm.

Managers and players come and go but the club remains. If ever there is a manager or player who isn't right for the club, as the saying goes, no player (or manager) is bigger than the club.

Whatever you all do, I hope you behave with some class in the face of gloating mancs. It's much harder to lose with dignity but you need to be proud to be a fan of Liverpool Football Club. Don't be jelous or angry that the team lost. Be proud of the fan that you are, one that stays by the club through good and especially bad times. Your rival supporting friends have not experienced that yet because it's been all good but their time will come. Now, continue to stand proud. "walk on, walk on, with hope in your hearts".

Amidst the negativity, let me try to unearth some positives though it may be like finding a needle in a haystack.

1) Ian Holloway had a good time realising his dream of managing a club at Anfield.
"To see the best striker in the world limp off after a few minutes I can't tell you what that did for us", he said. "His mere presence is awesome so to see him come off played into our hands and helped us. (Managing at Anfield) is one of the dreams I've had for years. When the fans were singing You'll Never Walk Alone - it's my dad's favourite song but he's no longer with me - I was singing myself and it was a bit emotional. This is a fantastic moment for Blackpool".

2) Teamwork
I actually think we did pretty well going forward this time. There was some good understanding between the players going forward. It was our defence that was appalling. We were standing off players, giving them room to play the ball.

Errr... not much more to add unfortunately.

Now I am no Premiership manager but I have been watching football long enough to form my own opinions. One may argue that as fans, we don't see the whole picture and it's a fair comment but I think that some things are just that obvious. We were getting raped on the flanks last night and Hodgson did nothing to address this the entire game. If this were last season, we'd see Mascherano scampering across either flank, providing cover for our fullbacks but Poulsen really hit the nail on the head when he said he was still a little off the pace because he literally was. He provided little cover and was reduced to nothing more than an extra body. By the time Poulsen was taken off and Mereiles had dropped further back the game was already practically over.

I don't actually have much complaint starting Carragher on the left. Sure he never really had pace but he played in that position when Houllier was in charge and I can't imagine who else would have filled in. Heaven forbid that Hodgson would have opted for Skrtel or Poulsen to play in that position. I am pleasantly surprised that Blackpool looked enterprising and played the ball to feet for much of the game, instead of adopting long ball tactics and this exposed that fact that not only are our defenders weak in the air (bar Kyrgiakos), but we can't defend against players running at us either. Again, I can't imagine Agger not starting when he's fit again and he is the quickest of our centrebacks and has better ball control and passing range. I think an Agger and Kyrgiakos complement each other well actually. We are still however, crying out for a decent defensive midfielder and I wonder how little Jay Spearing would do. He has the same boundless energy and enthusiasm Mascherano has.

I honestly don't see how Spearing can be any worse than Poulsen. Sure it's early days but the Dane has done little to show that he will eventually come to terms with the pace of the Premiership. Spearing on the other hand it eager to impress and is no stranger to first team action, and he has the stamina required to cover either flank should he be required to. I reckon he should be given a chance.

Whole season long we've been struggling and allowing the opposition space on the flanks and this is especially discerning. We may as well play Johnson on the wing and Kuyt at rightback since the former is piss poor at defending. His man marking is appalling and is says a lot when your England international gets beat by a former factory worker.

The magnitude of the defeat to Blackpool is further magnified by the fact that they have conceded the most goals away from home. Whilst we struggled to lose 2-1 (as funny as it sounds), Chelsea and Arsenal twatted them 6-0, and 4-0 respectively. We could easily have lost by a bigger margin has they been more clinical in front of goal. While we were working hard to conjure up half chances, Blackpool created some really dangerous opportunities. The gulf in performance between us and the rest of the "top four" is huge and this is evident in the point difference.

Not only are we giving goals away like trick or treat snacks during Halloween, we have been struggling to score. How many goals have we scored from open play this season? Our goal against Blackpool was a result of a dodgy free kick. I still have to idea why it was awarded to us. At least Hodgson's Fulham could defend even if they were blunt in comparison up front. We can't seem to get things right in either end of the pitch. We are where we belong and that's a hard fact to accept.

On a side note, here are pictures of protests organised by the SOS prior to and after the match. Hope RBS says no to refinancing.


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Promote Sammy Lee? As much as I love him, no thanks. Heck of a job he did at Bolton.

Skrtel has pace? Dude, he turns like a truck

That is debatable because if memory serves me, Agger does a pretty good job at marking Drogba who is one of the strongest forwards you'll come up against. Agger has a better footballing brain. He is also quicker and has the composure to play with the ball at his feet. He doesn't boot balls aimlessly up the park. Also, please consider that we do not have a natural left footed player to take free kicks in dangerous areas. We got a couple of them against Blackpool and each time, Gerrard was the only player on the ball. No prizes for guessing that Stevie was going to play a cross and not take a shot on goal.

You meant Houllier of course and Evans before him?

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Oct 5 2010, 12:00 AM

Mike, Xabi's fee was used to finance Aquilani and not the debt?

Miketee ler bro

Mike, I'd much rather have Gravesen and Carsley in midfield than Lucas and Poulsen. We'd have some spare change as well

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Oct 5 2010, 12:20 AM

It's the lesser of two evils. I'd like to think that we will stave off relegation even if we are docked points

Yes it could and that would be the catalyst for the arrival of more Koncheskys and Poulsens. The lowest point in the club's history since we were in the 2nd division.

Going to stray for a bit. I'm thrilled that we're finally having a quality discussion again on this thread. Too many one liners have plagued it off late and finally, we get some decent posts. Keep it up lads!