Real Madrid - Pride In Defeat

Before the game all the talk was about team selection, rumours on the internet were confirmed when the team was announced with Gerrard, Balotelli, Johnson, Henderson, Lovren, Coutinho and Sterling all dropped from the starting eleven.  If all these players were rested for a game of this magnitude ahead of the Chelsea game in the league on Saturday it looked like Rodgers had given up against Madrid and totally disrespected the supporters who had travelled, at great expense, to support the team.  It was also a big risk if we were to go down heavily in Madrid and still didn't get a good result at the weekend you could see Rodgers coming under pressure form the owners, the support as well as from the players.  I don't think its acceptable for a Liverpool manager to concede defeat before a game, ever, under any circumstances, but Rodgers claimed in an interview before the game that this is not what he had done he "fielded a strong team" full of internationals that was capable of getting a result, a big risk from Rodgers especially as one or two are starting to question him.

We lost the game 1-0 to a Benzema goal following a cross from the impressive Marcelo and Madrid deserved to win, they put us under pressure for periods of the game and forced a couple of decent saves out of Mignolet, who had a good game.  But Madrid are the best team in the world at the minute and there was no shame for Liverpool in this result with many of the replacement players doing very, very well.  

Manquillo came in at right back and was very good, put under pressure all game by Isco and Marcello he more than held his own and found time to join Liverpool attacks giving an outlet on the right hand side an impressive performance.  Toure was the other defender who came in and to be honest showed how bad Lovren is a solid, strong performance against the most dangerous forward line in the world.

In midfield Lucas did what he normally does, win tackles and break up play and pass the ball safely but Can was exceptional he covered lots of ground got in the faces of Madrid and passed the ball very well also making several aggressive forward runs with the ball I was very impressed, Markovic was another who came in to the team and I thought he also had a good game running with the ball well and helping out in the right back area when needed, he couldn't create anything but still looked bright.

In the striker role Borini ran himself to a stand still for the team, he also couldn't create anything but his performance was a positive as was that of the whole team.  This was a good performance and Rodgers has got some selection headaches ahead of the game at the weekend.

The team played very well, we played with high energy and tempo for the whole game, we pressurised Madrid well and they didn't like it and when we got the ball we passed it well showing good composure on the ball, we did get forward especially for periods in the second half and we did force Madrid in to defending well.  Varane and Ramos at the heart of the Madrid defence were excellent, if the Madrid defence was as weak as we were told before the game we would have got a result, but it wasn't true at times they were   imperious and kept Liverpool at mostly arms length.

We lost the game yes, but this was a huge improvement from the performance levels we have been seeing recently, really huge.  All of the players who came in to the team impressed, they have given Rodgers a big problem ahead of the weekend, one of those good problems, the reason we bought all those players, the reason we improved our squad and this is the first time he has genuinely had this kind of problem, its a good problem to have but it still needs solving.  If he gets it right this could be the turning point in our season we are looking for and his big gamble payed off if he doesn't and we struggle to qualify from the group of the Champions League and our league form doesn't improve Rodgers will have questions to answer.

In Madrid the supporters also hit top form, despite the changes to the team they could be heard loud and proud before during and after the game, this is the type of support the team needs, we don't always agree with the team selection, the team doesn't always play well and we can't win every game but we must support the team and manager.

Well done everybody in Madrid, we lost but its perhaps the most positive i have felt after a defeat ever, so lets keep that level of performance both on and off the field and take our team forward

@lfclumo

 

 

Gerrard - To sign or not to sign

Should our Captain and club legend Gerrard be given a new contract keeping him at our club beyond the end of the season or has the time come to allow him to leave.  For me it depends on many questions that need to be answered.

Firstly and perhaps most importantly, does he want to stay? I'm sure he does, but is he prepared to miss out on playing time? Is he prepared to spend time on the bench possibly being used as an impact sub?  I think it's time for Gerrard to consider these options, if he chooses to remain at Liverpool he may have to take a step back and have a look at his role going in to the future.  He still has the ability but can he do it for ninety minutes, twice a week, I doubt it.

Do the club want him? Almost certainly, but I believe that they also see a change in role for him, certainly in his time spent on the pitch, he simply cant go on for ever, nobody can and I think with this in mind FSG may be looking to cut his wages possibly hugely.  I can see the argument, less importance to the team equals less money, Gerrard cant have as much influence on the pitch as he once did so does he deserve the same money as he was earning in his pomp?  Probably not but this is going to be hard for hime to take, many mistake salary with standing and he will perhaps feel he deserves more for his loyalty and deserved standing within the club.

What are the options open to him?  He can of course stay at Liverpool he will of course be offered some sort of contract extension, I believe it will be a one year extension with a reduced salary, but he can sign it and stay.  He has the option of joining another club in the Premier League, it is rumoured that Manchester City would be interested in signing him as a replacement for Lampard and i'm sure plenty of other premier league clubs would like to have him in their squads even if only to say that he played for them.  I can't see him playing for another team, I cant imagine him running out against us or hearing other supporters sing his name and i really don't think he would consider this option he does have a love for our club and a loyalty to the supporters.  Can he join another club in Europe?  Yes he can, but can he join one with a high enough standing in the game, one where he can win something, possibly, he has a big enough name but will he get a regular first team start in such a team, at Bayern or Madrid or Barcelona I doubt it so he may as well stop where he is rather than rot on the bench at another club.  Leaving the third and most possible option, America.  New York are also rumoured to be interested.  He undoubtably would be an important player for them and they could and would pay the money he is used to.  New York would allow him to extend his career and earning potential for a few more years and I think would be an attractive place to work and live.  I think this is a viable option.

I had hoped that Gerrard would see out his career at Liverpool and I would hate to see him leave to join one of our competitors either in this country or abroad.  But, if we cant give him what he wants then New York seems to be a viable option, but whatever he chooses he has earned our thanks, support and best wishes and in any case he has a job to do over the next few months, we still need our captain.

@lfclumo 

We Are Liverpool

Tomorrow night Liverpool travel to Madrid, to play Real, the Champions of Europe in their own back yard and for the first time in my life I can't see a way how we can win.  There was a time, not so long ago, when no matter who we were playing there was always a chance, we always travelled with hope in our hearts, after all we are Liverpool.

We are Liverpool, five times champions, one of the biggest teams on the continent.  We have the best supporters in the world, worth a goal in any situation, we have more European experience than any other club in the country, we have quality players, we have a never say die attitude, we are never beaten, the games never over, just ask Milan.  We are Liverpool 

So with all of this why am I pessimistic ahead of Tuesdays game?  To be honest I think the club have forgotten, not that they are Liverpool I think they are more than aware, the shirt is heavy and it's weighing some down, more that we have forgotten how to be Liverpool.  I would like to see players play the game with style and confidence, arrogance even, no matter who you put front of them we can score, we can win, We are Liverpool.  The manager needs to empower the team to play confident attacking football, we seem more concerned about the opposition than about what we are doing, we need to turn the tables, let's make them worry about us, we are Liverpool.  One or two individuals need reminding that at Liverpool we fight, heads down isn't acceptable if you make a mistake or are having a poor game you lift your head up stick your chest out and get on with it, you tough it out as an individual and a team because, we are Liverpool.  When things aren't going well, if we fall behind we don't go into our shells we fight harder until the very last kick, until the referee blows the final whistle because we are Liverpool and we as supporters make sure this happens, we sing, we shout, we scream we don't accept second best we given the players the confidence and the support they need even when things aren't going well to look teams like Madrid in the eyes and say we are Liverpool and we are coming for you.

The red shirts were designed to make us look like giants and for decades we have strode around Europe playing like giants sometimes on paper outclassed but we always remembered who we are, we are Liverpool and we will find a way, just show one sign of weakness, one chink in the armour and we will be all over it.  So don't be afraid, support the team, empower the team and maybe just maybe we will remember that we are Liverpool, the best football team in the land. 

@lfclumo

Match Review - Newcastle United

I'm very down about the performance of the team and the results that the performances are leading to, I seem to be writing the same think after most games, Im hearing other people saying the same things on podcasts about our club and seeing other people write about the same things in blogs, fanzines and in the mainstream media everybody is saying the same but our club, players and management can't see it or will not do anything about it, it is quickly getting to the stage where it has cost us our season and before long it will start costing people their future at our club and their jobs, it has to, I don't want to challenge the managers position but if he continues with his head in the sand and not doing anything about our current predicament then we have to at least ask the question what he is doing?

Again against Newcastle we only played one up front, the wrong formation, I know I'm not a professional coach and Rodgers knows more than me but everything points to two up being the better option, all our strikers stats show they are better with a partner all our midfielders are better through central positions rather than stuck put wide with the possible exception of Lallana (making me ask the question are we just playing this formation to justify buying Lallana for such a huge sum, one mistake covered by another?).  We all can see that as soon as we get a second striker on the field the team look more of a threat, you can tell the crowd come alive and the stats prove it, we win games and score goals with two strikers we don't with one.  We must at least ask the question why we are continually playing a formation that doesn't work when we have the ability and players to play one that does.

Again against Newcastle we conceded a goal from shambolic, lazy defending with an individual error and again we have to say that this has been going on for to long, we can all see it, we must ask the question why nothing is getting done about, again everybody can see the problems they have been there for over a year and almost everybody has made the suggestion about bringing in help, a defensive coach, but the people at the club can't see it or again won't do anything about it so we see a young defender making the same mistake over and over again, it's not good enough, this mistake from the same player has already cost us a goal this season a possible four points lost already from just this mistake from this player and he is one of the better ones.

Gerrard appears to be getting played in almost every game for the full ninety minutes, now against Newcastle he was probably our best player but we must ask the question how to best use him, he has been poor this season and again we are just burying our heads, doing nothing about a serious problem and hoping for the best.  Sterling is in a poor run of form over the last few games, he needs a rest, we all know it, so why is he not getting one? We bought a squad to allow us to rest players why are we not doing it?

We are not, as a club, criticising the form or abilities of any of the new signings, almost without exception they appear to be terrible and we need to ask why, why have we spent 20 million on a defender who looks out of his depth, is he that bad? How can we help him improve? Why aren't we doing it? In Balotelli, Markovic, Lambert and Borini we have around £50 million pound of striker (yes Markovic is a striker we need to ask why he isn't used in this position) we are a quarter of the way through the league season and they don't have a league goal or assist between them, four strikers 49 million pounds and nothing, why? absolutely terrible at least ask the questions Why? Are they good enough? Are we buying the right type of player? How can we help them? 

Against Newcastle we looked slow, lethargic without ideas, we had plenty of the ball but it was at the back in front of the defence, sideways and backwards passing, no penetration absolutely non, in the entire game I can't remember a single chance.  We handled Newcastle relatively well at the back but occasionally an individual error would lead to a period of panic and eventually the goal came from one such error.  I believe the way we played and it's not the first time we have been this bad this season is becoming the norm and is caused by us not asking or certainly not finding the answers to the questions above, we have no confidence, the majority of the team is out of form and we look to be totally out of ideas on and off the pitch.

As supporters I believe we have a right to ask the questions and even criticise in fact I think it is a necessity that we do so, but our primary role is to support the team, the manager and the individual players, ask the questions but don't destroy players or the teams confidence our primary role is to do the opposite and that's support, lift them, help them achieve, we are all disappointed, angry even at what's happening on the field but all we can do is support our team.

@lfclumo

Player Profile - Martin Skrtel

   

       

       

Martin Skrtel is a Slovakian national born on 15th December 1984, he is currently the captain of the Slovakian national team and has been named Slovakian player of the year four times.  He joined Liverpool from Zenit Saint Petersburg in January 2008 when manager Rafa Bentley paid £6.5 million for his services.

Skrtel made his debut against non league Havent & Waterlooville in the FA Cup and looked very nervous, he gave away a corner that saw Liverpool fall a goal behind and also in a mix up and scramble that saw them concede a second goal, Liverpool did go on and win the game but many supporters were left unsure about their new centre half, but a string of solid league performances including being voted man of the match against Chelsea and Everton soon put minds at rest.  Apart from injuries Skrtel has been a regular starter for Liverpool ever since and on 10th April 2012 he captained Liverpool for the first time leading the team to a 3-2 victory over Blackburn Rovers.

Skrtel has proved his ability to several managers and has always been picked as a regular starter, solid strong and aggressive he remains an important part of the Liverpool defence.  Skrtel has developed himself into a real goal scoring threat especially from set plays where his movement and power in the air can cause any team problems.

Several times during his time with the club he has been linked with moves away from Liverpool, often to top European Clubs but has never left, either through choice or through managers refusing to let him go.  He is now one of the clubs longest serving players and is as such is highly respected.  Recently Skrtel along with the rest of the Liverpool defence have come in for criticism following a string of poor performances causing the team to concede a high number of goals but in general this is down to formations and an attacking style leaving defenders exposed and under pressure rather than poor performances from defenders.  Skrtel is the managers preferred option on the right side of defence and he obviously believes that his experience and ability can once again see Liverpool through.

@lfclumo