You can see in the first half BR called Lucas twice to give some instruction. To me it's the case of Lucas still not yet familiar with his new role in AM.

just a crazy suggestion

we should bring in Benitez as a DEF Head Coach...haha like this show on American Football where Denzel Washington was brought in with another coach to play together.

Remember the Titans

This Thursday...work your mojo on ManCity

in carrol and downing we trust!

omg who slipped this time?

i think skrtel is to be blame this game. his positioning on the last goal was totally

Personally, I'm disappointed we let a 3 goal lead slip but I'm still proud of what the team has achieved this season. Now some may lead you to believe that this means I don't see the need for improvements but I can assure you that's far from the truth. You can give someone a pat on the back and ask more of him.

Rafa is a perfectionist but in my opinion, he is guilty of micromanaging. Players are like chess pieces to him (quite literally since he doesn't really talk to them unless he is giving them instructions). Brendan is the opposite in that he allows players to express themselves. The truth always lies someone in the middle but if I had to pick one approach, I'd opt for the way we are currently playing. We play as though we fear no one and Anfield has once again become a fortress. Rafa would get it right against the big sides in Europe and then slip up at home against the likes of Reading and Hull.

We do indeed need to improve defensively but more importantly, we need to be smarter about when to attack and when to defend. You simply cannot sustain dominance over another team for the full 90. At some point, they are going to catch their breath and mount a counter offensive. It is during these times that we need to get men back and frustrate them to take the wind out of their sails. I think it's as simple as this. In the times we've given up goals, it's either down to a defensive error, or when the opposing team were enjoying a 15-20 minute spell of rejuvenation.

Day dream of Mancity win against Villa, but in the last match, Carrol scored the only goal of the match, WH won 0-1.
Then Liv win 1-0 against Newcastle.

That bolded statement is very true. Better defensive organization is needed and it has to be done as a unit. Also, I thought BR overloaded on attack too much last night. Yeah, he might be chasing after the 10 goals or what not but letting both full backs push up so much was a gamble too risky in my opinion, especially when Pulis exploited it and sent pacey players on both flanks. Add the fact that Gerrard doesn't cover as much ground as quickly as he did years back and the defence looks absolutely clueless on how to deal with quick counter attacks. And we've been exploited the same way on many occasions during the past 2 seasons that BR has been in charge. BR should take this match as a harsh lesson. Sometimes, he needs to realize that the team needs a breather themselves and gotta slow down the game and hold the ball. Preserve the lead. "Death by football"

This post has been edited by 8sg9ft: May 6 2014, 02:18 PM

I like you!

but we did fall to hull

ok, agree on the score about having players express themselves (BR ) but we need a tight rein. Fergie was able to exploit the league ruthlessly because he knew how to play it like champions. How often ManU would seize all the point at the death of the game. (jokes are made of the famous fergie time). Partly may there is some truth but it all boils down to patience. holding fort after nicking a goal, and blitzing them when opponents are tired towards the end.

This season we always score early (stats proved that) & we piled on it. it's probably excellent given that a match is won by scoring & scoring more we did. we score a lot vs they (opponents) could score (more).

The league is a long haul. perhaps in the last 2-3 games we are now seeing the 'stretched' liverpoolfc. We weren't really tested (physically) the whole season in the way where we we have tough mid week games hence coming to the crucial ending week(s) there seem to be lack of 'energy' in a players reserve (not bench reserve)

We tried hard to play fast 90minutes agasint chelsea. god knows how hard we tried to pound. IN every difficult match, the post matches is and can be mentally draining. just look at galactic real madrid's post CL bayern massacre. Against "a shouldn't be too difficult game" but they drew and drew indeed.

Brendan is quite an idealist, I won't hold it against him. He has brought back believe into liverpoolfc. Honestly i don't want him to be too (or overly) pragmatic on his approach to his players on how they are set forth. But we need to be able to shift gears in the game. There is not one game we 'toyed' with opponents. Blitz opponents we did, on almost all our wins. But shifting to sitting back for a while & conserving energy to hit opponents again (as you also mention)

This is where perhaps that's why andrea pirlo is viewed legendary in his role. he leads & he influence the tempo of the team. Gerrard can learn from him given the years has wilted his bravado runs.

I viewed it that Liverpoolfc season has played exactly how the comics that depicted gerrards childhood's influence (the great roy of rovers). idealistically

another thing to note, tony pulis has not lost at HOME against us in the bpl. for all his time of long ball and long throw ins at stoke. now hes doing wonders for saving palace from the drop. ugh. another bogey team, or rather MANAGER to get past by ! props to him. he should be manager of the year.

Got CL, 2nd place, not bad for a season we expected to be 4th and everyone else expected us to be 7th. Buy big in the summer, overhaul the defence and we should be challenging the title every season.

It is understandable to chase after 9 goals feast, take risk when 0-0, 1-0, 3-0 time, but not when 3-1 when left about 10 mins+ to play.

Gerrard is very good is spraying passes, assist in attack, but slow in cover ground, closing down opponent, this is one of weak area that Liv conceding plenty of goals.
You need someone fast to closing down opponent and great reader of the game.
Hamann type of player to protect the backfour is sorely missed.

The team is not good enough to clinch any title with the mindset always try to outscoring opponent, and conceded plenty of goals.
In the history of league even cup, the team manage to clinch trophy always have good defensive record, and one of least conceded goals team.

Know how to score, also need to know how to protect the lead, if not, always nail biting, nervy toward end of the match (happened so many times) that defenders all in chaotic situation.

No point criticizing our defence because the reason why we conceded so much goals is down to the shape we play and the risk we take. And least you forget, it's precisely the same reason how we managed to pull that 11-game winning streak.

Ask yourself this, where were our midfield when we conceded those goals? Why were our defenders left to fend for themselves, especially against the fresh legs of the CP players? We do miss Hendo's engine, unfortunately. And tbh, I thought Skrtel, Sakho and Johnson did reasonably well right up to that 80-minute mark. It's not a question of personnel, but a question of mentality and tactics.

Anyway, no use crying over spilled milk. Make no mistake about it, we will go into the Newcastle match in celebratory mood. While the players have to gather their focus again and win the final match, whether we finish 1st or 2nd should be irrelevant. The fact is, the players and manager have restored out pride and belief again.

For that alone, their efforts should be applauded and celebrated.

That can't be right. We haven't won 1-0 since the start of the season.

Or Mascherano. He will chase you until he knock you off the ball.

that being said will brendan pull gerrard aside? hamann sat back and only ventured for free kicks & corners (if at all)

granted he (gerrard) is still feels the need to go upfield. even at 1-3?

How do you coach the captain?




in the end, i said deep inside i wish for an istanbul miracle.

MCity fall to aston villa? MCity fall to west ham?

everyone mentioned its merely a minor speed bump for them

This post has been edited by koolspyda: May 6 2014, 02:41 PM

I think some1 post here or in /k/ that his friend is bookie lai d n his friend said liverpool last 3 match is lost draw lost...

Hmmm... I got bad feeling bout this...

I find it odd that some are saying we aren't deserving of the title or we aren't championship material when we're still in second place. We aren't a perfect team but we're certainly title contenders. If we do win it, everyone will attribute it to the fact we've taken the game to teams the whole season.

Don't say like that lah...we're currently first!

Unfortunately, we have overused the mojo. Not supposed to be challenging for title but we are there now. No more mojo left I am afraid. No timeline for the comeback as well