It's a coping mechanism. If you expect things to turn sour then it's easier to swallow when it happens. If you end up winning, well you just join the party. I'm not the most optimistic person, but i think it's a bit crazy to not give your team a chance to win.

In regards to Mata, If he's available at the right price and fond with the idea of coming to LFC, it would be madness to turn him down. He's miles ahead of Coutinho in terms of development. You be getting someone whose productivity has been nothing but quality last couple of seasons and only just entering pinnacle stage of his career.

/coping mechansm engaged
But it's a pipe dream. Will not happen.


This post has been edited by hfi: Sep 21 2013, 11:53 AM

Here's the deal. If you the manager and you want the players to break into top 4 and win whatever there is to win, how do you mentally prepare for it? I think realistically, a team like ours will need to overachieve to meet this objective. For this to happen, you really need to embed a superior complex into the team. If you set the standard for 4th then coming short of meeting that aim gets you no where. But if you set the bar so high as to finish first then coming of short should in theory put you in top 4 finish.

For some reason, people find this a bit bizarre, and that's probably because we have been underachieving for so long that we've probably adapted an inferior complex. But the manager cannot afford to dwell on it. It doesn't matter if the team isn't good enough. What matters is that he needs them to believe that they are worthy of being in top 4.

Everyone should watch this video before tonight's game. At times, it's easy to forget why you love this club so much. This video, at least for me, rekindle that fire.

I don't do predictions but I hope he scores the winner.

Cmon save the bickering for after the match. Lets show a bit solidarity. If its not for each other, then do it for Aspas.

It's the new guy syndrome i think. They want to be all endearing but sometimes I think the club's PR likes to spin things. I don't normally pay attention to any of the interviews unless it comes from the manager or the captain.

Haha. Aspas starts. Yes!!

It's going to be 3-5-2 by the looks of it.

This post has been edited by hfi: Sep 21 2013, 09:25 PM

Toure, Agger and Skrtel as the 3 CBs. Sakho and Hendo as wingbacks i think.

Actually that doesn't look balance at all haha. The midfield trio of Lucas, Hendo and Gerrard flanked by Sakho and Moses. And the 2 strikers.

The wide attacking players are not getting enough support from the fullbacks. They always ended up getting 2 v 1. I think our best penetration comes centrally from Aspas movement. He's having a good game so far.

Was a mistake to take off Aspas. He gave movement in front of the midfield. Now there's hardly any movement anywhere.

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.

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.

Was too late by then. He can't really put Aspas back in haha.

I think his tactical decisions needs improving. So far from what i've seen his subs have been mostly reactive. Sterling was brought in due to the lack of width but surely he would have seen that coming. And then he realized Moses got more and more isolated so he brought in Enrique to support him. Finally he brought in Alberto because he realized there was just no link up play ahead of the midfield - so essentially he was trying to undo his first sub lol. So yeah, most of those subs were mere attempts to bandage his wounded team.

The problem is not average players. The problem is getting the average players to perform at their maximum level. I don't think neither Lucas nor Gerrard have performed anywhere near their optimal level. It may due to them having played one too many games or perhaps the partnership is just not working right. It can be a number of reasons. But BR needs to find out how to get the most out of his players.

Yeah that too. But they do look lethargic, especially in the 2nd half. I've read that BR purposely set up the midfield somewhat deep in the past few games but i can't recall the exact reason why.

No need to look far. Some of our own players played their part in ousting Rafa. Maybe that's why BR is afraid to even sub Gerrard, let alone dropping him for much needed rest.