Where do we go from here?

[Ed the Wool]

There's a lot of issues to sort out, and they need sorting out quickly. Interested in what other forumites are thinking.

 

I'd offer the following

 

1) Ballotelli wasn't a bad idea but it's not working for the way we play. Drop Ballotelli and play with Sterling up top with the same midfield that started the second half last night. I think that's got potential, there's a lot more movement and the forward players looked more capable to opening teams up. There was hesitation near goal, but I think that's confidence more than anything else.

 

2) We need new ideas in defence. It's been 3 season and it just isn't working. Get a quality defensive coach in and drill that back four. I don't buy that you can't have a good defence and play football the was Brendan wants to. We're losing goals from corners and free kicks and that can be drilled. The connection with the midfield will come after that, with confidence.

 

3) Change the goal keeping coach. The current one has overseen the decline of Reina and doesn't seem to be instilling the kind of confidence in Mignolet that is needed.

 

4) I'd look to get a new keeper in Jan if there isn't improvement.

 

5) I'd ship out Ballotelli in Jan as well. I was excited when he came but I think he's a distraction we can ill afford.

 

I actually thought we played well in parts last night, and with a bit of luck it'd have been closer, save for the awful defensive mistakes.

 

I could add more but interested in other views.

 

This season still has a long way to go. With some hard decisions we can make it through in the CL and keep on target for top 4 or even better. Although the first half last night hurt a lot, I actually feel a bit better than after QPR. In parts I thought it was a better performance.

[Ed the Wool]

There's a lot of issues to sort out, and they need sorting out quickly. Interested in what other forumites are thinking.

 

I'd offer the following

 

1) Ballotelli wasn't a bad idea but it's not working for the way we play. Drop Ballotelli and play with Sterling up top with the same midfield that started the second half last night. I think that's got potential, there's a lot more movement and the forward players looked more capable to opening teams up. There was hesitation near goal, but I think that's confidence more than anything else.

 

2) We need new ideas in defence. It's been 3 season and it just isn't working. Get a quality defensive coach in and drill that back four. I don't buy that you can't have a good defence and play football the was Brendan wants to. We're losing goals from corners and free kicks and that can be drilled. The connection with the midfield will come after that, with confidence.

 

3) Change the goal keeping coach. The current one has overseen the decline of Reina and doesn't seem to be instilling the kind of confidence in Mignolet that is needed.

 

4) I'd look to get a new keeper in Jan if there isn't improvement.

 

5) I'd ship out Ballotelli in Jan as well. I was excited when he came but I think he's a distraction we can ill afford.

 

I actually thought we played well in parts last night, and with a bit of luck it'd have been closer, save for the awful defensive mistakes.

 

I could add more but interested in other views.

 

This season still has a long way to go. With some hard decisions we can make it through in the CL and keep on target for top 4 or even better. Although the first half last night hurt a lot, I actually feel a bit better than after QPR. In parts I thought it was a better performance.

[Stevie H]

down to the lake i fear.

[cymrococh]

 

This is the road to Hull.

[Ibby]

Get rid of ballotelli in Jan, buy a new keeper get a defensive coach in buy another top striker

 

Not much then

[Hassony]

at least Suarez will back from suspension for this one

[Eiler99]

at least Suarez will back from suspension for this one

 

[Earl Hafler]

We must learn this lesson fast and learn it well.

[Florist Cinema Pond Goal]

Hull H

Swansea H (league cup)

Newcastle A

 

We should be winning the next 3. Then hopefully get Sturridge back for the Real and Chelsea games.

[rednotdead]

There's a lot of issues to sort out, and they need sorting out quickly. Interested in what other forumites are thinking.

 

I'd offer the following

 

1) Ballotelli wasn't a bad idea but it's not working for the way we play. Drop Ballotelli and play with Sterling up top with the same midfield that started the second half last night. I think that's got potential, there's a lot more movement and the forward players looked more capable to opening teams up. There was hesitation near goal, but I think that's confidence more than anything else.

 

2) We need new ideas in defence. It's been 3 season and it just isn't working. Get a quality defensive coach in and drill that back four. I don't buy that you can't have a good defence and play football the was Brendan wants to. We're losing goals from corners and free kicks and that can be drilled. The connection with the midfield will come after that, with confidence.

 

3) Change the goal keeping coach. The current one has overseen the decline of Reina and doesn't seem to be instilling the kind of confidence in Mignolet that is needed.

 

4) I'd look to get a new keeper in Jan if there isn't improvement.

 

5) I'd ship out Ballotelli in Jan as well. I was excited when he came but I think he's a distraction we can ill afford.

 

I actually thought we played well in parts last night, and with a bit of luck it'd have been closer, save for the awful defensive mistakes.

 

I could add more but interested in other views.

 

This season still has a long way to go. With some hard decisions we can make it through in the CL and keep on target for top 4 or even better. Although the first half last night hurt a lot, I actually feel a bit better than after QPR. In parts I thought it was a better performance.

 

Good post

Can't see 2 or 3 happening unfortunately.

[Gerrardrules]

Balotelli was a bad idea. You just have to look at his stats.

Stats are not always a fair judgement but in this case they definately are.

 

we have to replace Mignolet as well. I hope it will be done next window but we might have to save the money for our other problems.

 

A striker is a must.

[rednotdead]

It would also be sensible to rest Gerrard for this one now that Can and Allen are back.

[Ed the Wool]

Good post

Can't see 2 or 3 happening unfortunately.

 

They're the two big ones for me. We can change those now, mid season. I don't see changes those as being seen as a weakness for the manager, on the contrary I think it'd be a strength.

[Hassony]

Get rid of ballotelli in Jan, buy a new keeper get a defensive coach in buy another top striker

 

Not much then

 

we had all summer to buy a top striker and we messed that up, what makes you think we will be able to that in January?

 

maybe Napoli will be happy to swap Borini and Balotelli for Higuine and Callejon

[Flasher]

Lambert & Borini treated like dogs. Hasn't worked without them, they deserve a crack.

 

Balotelli doesn't work unless he's with Sturridge I suspect. That said, this in itself might be a problem for us. Not sure we can do two up top when Suarez isn't one of them

[Hassony]

Lambert & Borini treated like dogs. Hasn't worked without them, they deserve a crack.

 

 

 

No they don't, they're both s****

 

I like how we were setup in the second half, would rather try that than play with a lone striker

[Flasher]

No they don't, they're both s****

 

I like how we were setup in the second half, would rather try that than play with a lone striker

 

Too much pressure on Sterling doing that. He's not a lone striker either, which is what he was doing last night 2nd half.

 

Borini and Lambert will work. We need work rate and movement right now. I'd start one of them

[yellow jumper]

my worry is he'lll lose or relent to a section of support who care most about nineteenth century football values.

[Nerik]

Reina was in decline well before Rodgers arrived.

[Molby]

down to the lake i fear.

 

the words are coming out all weird

 

also get rid of Mignolet before we do anything else

I think I actually hate him

 

having said that, I think I may have a problem with Belgians...except Tintin, Belgos and Ayeline

[Hassony]

Reina was in decline well before Rodgers arrived.

 

His last season with us was much better than what Mignolet is showing at the moment

[matlfc]

Drop gerrard

Kill Glen Johnson

[Cam]

2) We need new ideas in defence. It's been 3 season and it just isn't working. Get a quality defensive coach in and drill that back four. I don't buy that you can't have a good defence and play football the was Brendan wants to. We're losing goals from corners and free kicks and that can be drilled. The connection with the midfield will come after that, with confidence.

I largely agree. We need fullbacks that can contribute to the attack and be an outlet (last season showed that as does the fact the we actual miss the horrific Johnson simply because he's usually ten yards further forward than Manquillo or Flanagan). However, they also need to be strong defensively. The centrebacks need to just be two lunatics who are will to take off an opponent's head to clear the ball. We don't need two softarses who want to play like Beckenbauer; just lump the ball clear. This is particularly true when we're using Gerrard so deeply. Christ, even a Ruddock would improve us at the moment.

 

And then there's Mignolet and his distribution. What's the point if he's only going to chip it 10 yards out of his area (ostensibly to our fullback but invariably ending up as lost possession). Lump it or give it to Gerrard. Yesterday Johnson was bombing forward in space but Mignolet can't throw it more than three feet so clung onto the ball like he was 3-0 up and time-wasting.

[The_Adder]

This is what I'd do:

 

Mignolet

 

Manqullio - Lovren - Sakho - Moreno

 

Can/Allen - Gerrard - Henderson

 

Lallana - Sterling - Coutinho

 

Get Flanno back in when fit, sign Victor Valdes if at all possible.

 

When Sturridge gets back go back to playing a diamond with him and Sterling up top with with Coutinho or Lallana in the hole.

 

Balotelli as a bench option from now on, the role Rickey Lambert was bought for, he was bad idea from the start, couldn't think of a worst fitting player for our fast paced system than him in world football, maybe Dean Windass.

 

Both Johnson and Srktel out the 11, I'd bomb Lovren too if we had anyone else to come in, but at least he has the excuse of being new.

 

Sign that Berahino lad in January, if we actually have any money left.

 

Some players have got away with being too s*** for too long and we as a club have been too s*** in the transfer market for too long and it needs sorting out big time.

[Mikael Akerfeldt]

The back four are getting ZERO protection. Gerrard either plays higher up the pitch or not at all, he's becoming a passenger in that deep midfield role.