Err this is still our best points tally for the start to a season for awhile. In any case, did you really expect a title challenge this season?

Firstly, it's one defeat. If a game was based on one bad defeat, Arsenal would have been out of the race after they lost to Villa.

Secondly, what are players supposed to say to the media? My club isn't good enough? Context.

People are quick to blame Aspas when the chief in midfield, our captain, Stevie Gerrard was woeful. His decision making was terrible. Couldn't control the tempo to save his life.

As expected, the midfield gets overun in the second half. Gerrard's concentration level is questionable the very least and Lucas runs out of steam. Compounded by the absence of an advanced playmaker to link up play as well as the lack of width to stretch Southampton.

recall suso, loan sterling..  henderson should play AM i remember he feed Sturridge much

That's how i saw it too. Aspas did a lot leg work in the first half. Yeah he's built like a teenage boy but his constant movement and pressing kept pressure on Soto. But i think BR wanted some width because we had none from the fullbacks and Moses was isolated without support. I think Aspas was the only player dispensable at that time. There was no way BR would remove either Gerrard or Lucas. One is the captain, the other is the only reliable tackler in midfield. It's a crappy situation.

It's one of those days we show too much respect for a Soton team. They choose to be adventurous and we choose to be cautious. They played really well. Hope they can do the damage to our rivals now while we focus on ourselves.

I sense that only an emphatic win against Black Cats will satisfy all of us.

A very good analysis bro. We shouldn't have that inferior attitude in Anfield. That strategy and mentality was all wrong.

Sure hope it's only said in a jest.

It's is more than ever at the moment, now after this defeat, Rodgers needs fans understanding & absolute support & encouragement. It is thru trials we learn shortcomings & work around it

#supportRodgers

Funny thing is most posters figured we added to squad depth before the season began. In addition to Alberto, Sakho, Toure, Aspas, Ilori, we have Jordan Ibe promoted to the first team. We lost Downing and loaned out Borrini. Won't mention Mignolet coz Pepe left. Also, Spearing and Carroll were already out on loan. In a sense we did add to squad depth but not in the area I'm most concerned about, central midfield and in particular a deep lying midfielder to challenge Lucas for a starting berth.

I don't think the issue was about squad depth as much as it was about wrong tactics and underperforming players.mi mean people talk about Sterling but Gerrard and Sturridge were equally unimpressive. It wasn't that we didn't have cover for Johnson as we had Wisdom and Kelly on the bench.

Aspas: boss, I sense that the mentality of the team is wrong. They are not fighting hard enough to win
BR: then go out and talk to dailymail about our championship potential. Let them believe. More interviews more coverage. They will buy it into their mind

poor Mr. Bean. Strategy that backfire, not once but twice.

BR put out a strong team against notts and the result was we had so many players injured.

I would hate for that to happen again which is why I am pessimistic on wednesday's game

I was referring to the timing of substitutions.Kenny and rafa never made substitutions at half time whenever we were struggling to score.
They usually leave it up to 80 minutes played by which any changes are rendered ineffective.It was especially worse in rafa's last season and used to frustrate the hell out of me.

If you noticed over the years managers like ferguson and mourinho used to make big changes at half time or at 60 minutes whenever things weren't going in their way.

Possibly more to do with the possibility of injury. I mean we lost Toure, Cissokho and Allen to injury in the tie against Notts County. A title challenge is more important than a league cup win, King Kenny found that out and Rodgers can ill afford to falter further at this juncture of the league competition. I reckon he'll rest some key players. Losing to the mancs in the league cup at Old Trafford isn't the worst thing that could happen and I'd like to see some of the young uns get a competitive game under their belt. Would like to see Ibe and Alberto given a go. The former in particular has looked impressive for the U-21s.

Bill shankly said the league is our bread and butter.
which means league cup is biscuit.

The prize money for league cup is 100k which I doubt is enough to cover suarez one week wages.

so does this mean we should sack BR?

Lets do a summary of BR's transfer success with regards to getting into first team.

Mignolet- success
Toure-success
aspas-failure so far
alberto-no significant game time
sakho-success
cissokho-injured
coutinho-success
sturridge-success
illori-not played yet

That's more than 50% success rate with potential for further improvements.

Compare with kenny
enrique-success
downing-failure
henderson-failure
adam -failure
doni-failure

that's only a 20% success rate.If you think henderson is a success it still gives you a max of 40% success rate which is less than br.I have excluded their first transfer windows as they are still new to the job.