[thelfcway]

10 reasons Brendan Rodgers should be sacked (or at least face HEAVY criticism)

1) Failure to finish in the Top Four To not finish in the Top Four this year is a catastrophe. Manchester United are laughing. They have literally walked into that fourth spot. I said a few months back, failure to get into the top four will put either Liverpool or United back a few years. It will be almost impossible for Rodgers to lure the big players to Anfield with no Champions League football on offer. That's what the big players want, to be on the big stage. And that's what the fans want. We love those famous Champions League nights. If United had finished in 5th or 6th, they'd still have the money and the manager to go out and attract big players, just look at Di Maria and Falcao last year. Liverpool however, under Brendan Rodgers and FSG, do not have that confidence/ability. Finishing outside the Top Four this season was a disaster, and sadly we'll now see the consequences, unless the owners act fast. 2) European Performances The club's performances in Europe this year were woeful. It was embarrassing. This was where Rodgers was shown to be out of his depth most. I was seriously disappointed by his lack of understanding of what it means to play in Europe, and how you should set up your team on those big European nights. We've all seen the squad line-ups that he thought was acceptable. Leaving Gerrard out, dropping Sakho, not playing Coutinho, Can, Moreno, Lallana, Markovic, on that must win game at home against Basel… What was he thinking? But perhaps the worst thing, after getting knocked out of the Champions League (in a group we easily should have finished second in) was to then slump out of the Europa League in the manner that we did. A tournament that offered another doorway back into the Champions League, if our top four hopes crumbled. It was a terrible year in Europe, and certainly not Liverpool FC standards. 3) Mishandling of players, Sterling, Sakho etc. This is for those that say Brendan Rodgers is good with the players. If he's so good, why did Luis Suarez want to join Arsenal and play under Arsene Wenger? And if he's so good, why is Sterling desperate to leave now? Both of those things say a lot, but it's the way he treats the players that infuriates me. Players don't know where they're standing with Brendan Rodgers. How many times have we seen a player, like Sakho for instance, play a good game, and then be dropped for the next one? Moreno was dropped a few times this year, so too was Manquillo (who I thought looked alright and was at least learning with each game.) Can you imagine how frustrating that must be? Football players want to play football. It's as simple as that. And if you'd played one of your better games, and then been dropped, you'd lose all enthusiasm and respect for the manager. OK, maybe not the first time, but the second time, and the third time… You'd be saying 'what do I have to do to just get a place in this starting 11?' I agree that players should have to work for that spot, but Rodgers for me takes the piss. He takes that philosophy way too far. One more thing to say on this one. I thought his handling of Sakho was appalling. I don't agree with players storming out of the dressing room and driving home if they've not been picked, but dropping him for the next few weeks as punishment was a disgrace. And blaming it on injury? Come on. We’re not that gullible. He's our best defender. He left his boyhood club to come and live in a foreign country. He worked hard, and then he's dropped in the Merseyside Derby, for Skrtel, Lovren and Kolo. That's not on. To add further insult, he then has to sit and watch PSG beat Chelsea in the Champions League, Paris rocking. I feel sorry for the player. Well, all of them really. Borini went to Sunderland and played OK (he’s not Liverpool quality) but he came back, wanting to give his Anfield career another shot. And we’ve seen none of him. You think that’s good handling of a player? A player who will have mates in this team, watching the manager treat them like that. 4) Failure to replace Suarez Perhaps Brendan Rodger's biggest mistake was never replacing Luis Suarez. The guy who got us second place. Did he really think the combined efforts of Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli would bring in the 31 goals Luis Suarez scored in 1 year? No chance. Balotelli has been awful. And Rickie Lambert, yes, was bought as a plan B, but we've hardly seen him play. So why buy him? Nobody expected Sturridge's injuries to keep him out most of the year, but it still isn't good enough that we didn't have another proven striker out on the pitch. I'm 90% sure that when Suarez said he wanted to go to Barcelona, the club did everything they could to get Alexis in return. But whilst Wenger went to Brazil to have face to face talks with Alexis, Rodgers went on holiday. And it wasn't just losing out on Alexis (who would have changed our season) it was not going after players like Diego Costa, Mandzukic, Tevez… who for a different manager in charge, someone like Ancelotti perhaps, might have came. I'm not making out that a better manager would have been able to get whoever they wanted at the click of his fingers, but thinking Lambert and Balotelli were going to fill the big Luis Suarez shaped gap was appalling. 5) Attitude In his first year in charge, I was in full support to see this new guy come in that had done well with Swansea, and was playing exciting football. I was made up the club went for him. But after a few weeks, I started to get pissed off with the same words coming out of his mouth every post match interview. If we got beat, 'we shown great character' if the players underperformed 'we've got some great technicians here' it was the same words, all of the time. And two years later, we're still hearing the same sentences. Another thing is that he hasn't learnt from his mistakes, and it’s down to his attitude. As fans, we never see the whole picture, so we don't know what's going on behind the scenes. But one thing has been crystal clear in his 3 years in charge. Our defence has not improved. And it's painstakingly obvious that we need some help in the form of a defensive coach. But will he have one? Nope. Carragher should never have left. He should have stayed one more year, playing now and then, helping the younger lads develop. And it would have been nice to see him stay on as our defensive coach. But what happened? He couldn't wait to get away. Klopp replied to an interviewer the other day 'una cerveza por favor' when asked 'are you learning Spanish?' Those words would never have came out of Brendan's mouth. He'd have said something about great character. 6) Lack of identity Almost every great team has a way of playing, and it looked last year like we'd finally hacked into something. It was full on kamikaze, but it was winning the team vital points. But this year, we’ve gone back to year one, perhaps even further. There's been no solid line-up. No real identity to our play. No ‘pass and move.’ No serious set play attacks. No possession play. Nothing. It's like we just think playing football is 11 guys going on a field and kicking a ball. You can't have that. I was glad to see Brendan go back to the 3 at the back, with the two wing backs. But he hasn't even discovered a back 5 that works. Every weekend it's 'oh I'll try Markovic again. This week Ibe, Erm.. Henderson?' It really has been a trial and error season, and you can't do that at Liverpool Football Club. Not in your third year. 7) Lost the fans Where's the serious Brendan Rodgers song? Where's the Kop gone? Why do I see more people moaning now about the Anfield atmosphere than 3 or 4 years ago? Is it my fault? Fans like me that want the best, and expect the best? Nah. We're the ones that keep the club ticking. Liverpool FC wouldn't be where it is now, still in competition with that top 4/5/6 if it wasn't for the fans and their fight. Liverpool fans expect the best. Always. And it's what we deserve. So when you see your team struggling to beat Ludogorets in the Champions League, after being out of the bleeding competition for so long, of course you're going to be pissed off. And when you're struggling week in week out to beat lower league teams, and when you get knocked out the cup by Aston Villa, and have to take god knows how many penalties against Middlesbrough… The list goes on. Quite simply, the fans are fed up. Fed up of Rodger's mind games. Fed up of his ramblings. I realised the other day, that I've never in all my life as a Liverpool fan seen the fans as divided as now, over Brendan Rodgers. And if that's not a sign that something is wrong, then I don't know what is. 8) Signings in general They haven't been good enough. For every good one, we've had 4/5 poor ones. And expensive ones at that. Whether that's Rodgers or whether that's FSG, I think the club need to come out and say. If the owners decide to stand by Rodgers next year, then the fans need to know who is signing who. Is it the transfer committee? Was it them that paid that much for Joe Allen? Was it them that signed players like Aspas, and that guy I can't even remember the name of. Alberto? And Lambert? And Balotelli? And our worst signing this year, a player that has well and truly underperformed, Lovren? Who's signing was he exactly? I don't trust Brendan Rodgers with more money to spend in the summer, because as a whole they've not been good enough. They've not been Liverpool quality, and they’re the reason we’ve not finished in the top four this year. It all comes back to Rodgers. 9) Klopp/Ancelotti are available This is the big one for me. Because if managers of these standards weren't available, I'd be less wanting to swap manager (although I still would.) Both of these managers, Klopp and Ancelotti, are known throughout football as excellent managers. Look at their honours. Look at what they've done/won. Klopp for me is the better option. His character (shudders at the use of the word) his charm, and his love for his fans sets him above Ancelotti. He’s worked wonders at Dortmund. And for those that say 'look at where they finished this year!' please just stop reading. If you're going to judge the man on one league season, in which his best players had all been swallowed by Bayern, and his other superstar, Reus, was out injured... I think if you put Brendan Rodgers in that situation, they'd have finished a whole lot lower. Ancelotti is World Class, and Madrid are crazy for letting him go. If Klopp won't come, Ancelotti is next on the list. If neither of them, Bielsa/de Boer. All better options than Rodgers in my opinion. All better options for the future of this club. 10) 3 Years is a Long Time When I hear people talking about Rodgers, you'd think they were talking about Hodgson. 'He needs more time...' But, it's been 3 years… Seriously. 3 years. How long should we give a guy that is taking the club backwards? I see no progress here. I was argued with the other day with this 'a few years ago we had Poulsen and Spearing in the midfield' to which my response was 'any decent manager would have gotten rid of those two players.' (For the record, I liked Spearing, and would have liked to have seen him given more game time before selling. And Poulsen? He was bloody awful, but he went on to win the league with Ajax.) In today's day and age, in this modern game, 3 years is a VERY long time for a manager to be given. And if they've won nothing in that time, and regressed as much as we have after a good year, their job should seriously be called into question. The top clubs should set their managers targets every season. And FSG would have said to Rodgers this year ‘we want to see the club stay in that top four.’ We haven't, he hasn't, and the end of year review should take serious note of that. - - - The worrying thing for next year is that Carragher has gone, and now Gerrard. Two captains (more or less) gone, and Henderson looking the likely player to take the armband. Is he captains material? I don't think so. This summer will be one of the most important in the club's history. Get it wrong, and it could be disastrous. This is a team of youngsters, and if performances like the one at Stoke are anything to go off, it looks like Brendan has lost the team. So we've got no leaders, just fingers pointing everywhere. Would a new manager coming in solve all of that? Not all of it. But the right guy can unite the team again, get them fighting, digging in for victories. We've never seen that under Rodgers. We've never totally controlled a game. I know a lot of people that put last year's excellent season down to Rodgers, but just look at how many goals we conceded. Last year was all down to Luis Suarez's personal ambition to get noticed by Barcelona again. And the fans? They need uniting too, just as much. Someone like Klopp would do exactly that. You want proof? Just look at the Dortmund fans and their love for the guy. Look at his leaving ceremony. I didn't write this just to moan about Brendan Rodgers. I have nothing against the guy, I just think it's the right time for him to move on. I think it's best for everyone involved. If FSG decide to give him another year and nothing improves, they'll be forced to replace him, and it will have been another year of disappointment for the fans. And if they do decide to stick with him (when all the polls around the internet show huge amounts of favour in sacking him) and next year is as bad as this, the fans will turn on the owners. Liverpool fans want owners that listen. It's as simple as that. FSG need to either stick with the guy and be honest with us about money/signings/ambitions, or sack him now and bring someone new in, someone exciting, someone that will get the Kop roaring again (Klopp.) But above all, just give us honesty. We, the fans, that make this club so great, deserve that. I seen a picture the other day, from the post-match interview after that humiliating defeat at Stoke, and Rodgers looked broken. He had that Dalglish pre-sacking look in his eyes. A look of sadness, of sorrow, and regret. It wasn’t a nice thing to see. Nobody wants the club to be in the situation it is now. No fan loves seeing a guy, whose heart is in the right place, fail. Rodgers has done his best, he’s gave it his all, but sadly I don’t think it’s worked out. If he leaves the club I’ll support the guy and wish him well for the future. I’m sure he’ll be successful elsewhere. If he stays I’ll support my team, and I’ll again wish him well. After all, he could still get it right... But whatever happens, we should always be respectful towards a guy that tried his best to make Liverpool FC successful again. I hope in this writing I haven’t been too harsh. These are my opinions. Please respect them as I respect yours.

[thelfcway]

Getting it right.

After 7 competitive games, in which we've had 3 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw (which we went on to win on penalties, just about...) you'd have to say Liverpool aren't looking that good at the moment. But, it's a new squad, there are a lot of fresh faces and these things take time. Can Rodgers get it right? Of course he can. My main reason for writing this blog is to question our summer signings, and see if there were any better options out there. The man above, Balotelli, has had an up and down start. In his first game against Spurs he looked good, combined well with Sturridge and Sterling, and even though he didn't get on the score sheet, made what looked like an immediate impact. Since then, he's scored against Ludogorets and laboured his way through the games at West Ham and 30+ minutes against Boro. He's had an 'alright' start. The thing that's most been impressive is how welcome he feels here, that's something we can work on. Lambert on the other hand has had a relatively poor start, which I'm sure he himself knows. But coming to Liverpool and putting on that red shirt always has a bigger impact on the players than they think. It's a massive task, and it takes time getting your head around. Balotelli has been given more of a chance to settle in, but Lambert has to improve when he's on the pitch. His runs have to be more creative, he has to hold up the ball better. Markovic played OK against Middlesbrough the other night. He kept control of the ball and always tried to run at their back four. The thing he could have done better was his decision making in the final third. When he had a chance to shoot, he passed, when he passed, he should have shot. It's the classic trait of a winger and something he'll be working on. Lallana looked knackered when we first seen him, but it was purely his fitness and the other night I thought he looked fantastic. The guy didn't stop running, him and Manquillo. 90th minute, and we're seeing them sprint back, side by side with the attacker, doing their job. I've been impressed with Adam and think he'll be a huge player for us. Javi has settled in well also. He was taken off against West Ham, but through no fault of his own. The quality is there. It's just taking time to get right. These are new faces, playing in front of a new crowd, and we're very demanding as supporters. We love seeing immediate impact. A goal in front of the Kop on your debut, Liverpool fans love that. But it doesn't always happen and we should remember that. We sold Suarez and essentially replaced him with Balotelli, Lambert and Borini. All of these players are very different to Luis. This transition period we're in is about finding a new way to play. Balotelli and Lambert are your classic tall striker that just wants to get in the box. Borini gets back to help out, but his quality just isn't there yet. Luis would run all day. And that's the only thing I'm worried about with this squad. We've lost that huge amount of work rate. It's a real shame that we couldn't lure Alexis Sanchez to Anfield. He's the type of player that works for the team, every second he's on the pitch. He's made a good start at Arsenal, but he would have been a star here. Rakitic too, is another player I feel we missed out on. Even though we have a lot of midfielders, when we're playing with Gerrard, Lucas and Allen, it's all just a bit too defensive. Rakitic can sit deep, but then turn, and drive at the defence. It's a shame, but it's over, we didn't sign them. Given time, Rodgers can get this right. Like he's said just yesterday, it's a new squad, and it's about that time when they need to gel. Everything he sees wrong in a game he'll be working on in training. People need to see that Brendan is constantly working. He wants to succeed here (he already has...) and he'll keep working hard until he gets what he wants. The best thing the players can do is to listen to every word he says, and work for him, and for the fans. Everton at the weekend. Hopefully, 3 points. Hopefully, Sturridge is back.

[thelfcway]

Premier League Predictions:

I made these predictions just before the league started, and 2 gameweeks in, maybe things are starting to look a little different.

You'd have to say so far, that Chelsea and City are looking the stronger teams, but in football, anything can happen. With Giroud looking like he'll be out for some time, Arsenal already have a big problem to deal with. Wenger has been playing Alexis out of position, Wilshere hasn't looked great, and Ramsey has had to save them twice. If he gets injured again, they're screwed. In saying that, I still think they're in with a chance at the title. We'll just have to see how it all goes. United have started worse than I thought, Spurs have looked good, Everton have played well but slipped up at the back. Whatever happens, it's great to have the Premier League back. Top goalscorer? Definitely Diego Costa.

[thelfcway]

A rainy night in Manchester.

That result was a little harsh last night. Nicking a goal back made it a bit better, but 3 goals to City was an overstatement. Especially when for huge majorities of the game, Liverpool had controlled. In saying that, City probably were the better team and as a whole deserved to win. They didn't do much, they didn't particularly play well, but as is always important in football, they took their chances. Dzeko was poor. Yaya Toure hardly got on the ball, Silva and Nasri didn't do an awful lot. But Jovetic was on target, and he won City the 3 points. As for Liverpool, there were a few things to be impressed with and a few disappointments. Moreno had a good debut, apart from the mistake. I think he'll be a great signing for us, and from what I've been told, we've got a solid LB for the next 4/5 years. Hopefully the injury he got won't be anything serious, if it is, we have Enrique. Johnson wasn't at his best again and he too picked up an injury. If he's out for a week or two, at least it will give a chance to Manquillo or Flanagan to come back into the team. Not many Liverpool fans are complaining about that. Sturridge looked a bit lost up top. I hate to say it (and I'm sick of hearing the commentators say his name, already) but we missed someone in the final third last night. Coutinho wasn't at his strongest, and I thought we could have possibly started with Markovic in the side. The Serbian looked good when he came on and our attacks seemed that little bit more deadly. If we hadn't have conceded that silly third goal, and had had better luck with our fitness, we might have picked something up from this game. But that's football. City were more deadly, they won the game. I wasn't too disappointed with the result. Liverpool lost this game last year, and still finished second in the Premier League. It's other games we need to improve in. I think we gave City a bit more of a challenge last year, but the stakes were higher, it wasn't the second game of the season, and both sides were fitter. All in all, a mixed performance, but one that I'd rather get out of the way now. Rodgers will see the areas that need tweaking, we have Mario to come into this side, as well as starts for Markovic and Lallana, I think we'll be alright. Big game against Spurs coming up, 3 points would be nice.

[thelfcway]

The Signing of Balotelli

All in all, I'm happy with the signing of Mario Balotelli. We needed a goalscorer, a big name, someone with experience. And we got all that for as little as £16m. If Borini goes, even cheaper. My one concern with the signing, is with Mario's loyalty. This is a player that has been very outspoken about wanting to come and play again in the Premier League, and I wonder if he was bothered what team it was for. Arsenal were reportedly interested, I just hope he actually picked us over them. I also mention loyalty, due to the fact that he once played for Inter, then switched to AC. That's obviously the Serie A equivalent to joining Everton from Liverpool, Chelsea from Arsenal etc. It's not the nicest thing for a player to do, but then I guess you can't hold grudges forever. There's been a lot of talk about us replacing one nutter with another. I honestly don't think Mario is that bad... The newspapers love a good story. I've watched plenty of interviews, and in each one he seems rather quiet. I think we created this personality for him, and he couldn't give a damn whether we think it's true or not. He once said that he doesn't celebrate his goals, because that's what he's paid to do. That's the kind of guy Mario is. If we also look at his previous managers, we've had 2 big hotheads. Mourinho is all about Jose, nothing else will do. And Mancini was just as bad. Rodgers has an ego, but it's a private one, and I believe he'll work on Mario in the same way he did Raheem. I can see this signing being a success. Mario will score goals. He knows this is his last major chance, and unlike Carroll, he won't waste it. I think we have ourselves a player. If Balotelli was ever misunderstood, he's now at a place that will understand him and give him the support he needs. He has a family, and we'll show him exactly what that means. And if it doesn't work out? Well, we'll move on, like we've done time and time again. Liverpool isn't about one player, it's a team. Welcome Mario.

[thelfcway]

Who Liverpool could sell in the Summer.

Watching 20 minutes of Liverpool's game against Chelsea last week, I noticed how there are still some serious gaps in strength within our squad. I began to pick out the names of several players, who I think are under performing, or to put it cruelly, simply not good enough. Here they are.

Glen Johnson The type of player that has one good game, followed by 3 poor ones. Occasionally good at going forward, but incredibly slow at getting back (when it matters, since he is a defender.) I've just never rated the England RB, and if a good enough offer came in I'd sell up. Kelly will be returning from injury next year, as well as Flanagan, plus Wisdom has shown a lot of potential in that position or in CB. £10-12m. Stewart Downing Again, picking on the right, Stewart has improved this year, and I've been happy to see the player putting in some good performances and working his way back onto the team sheet. But would Stewart Downing make it into Barcelona's squad? Or Borussia Dortmund's? Or Basel's? I just think if Liverpool are looking to break into that top European stature of club, then you can't have just good players in the squad, they all need to be great. Sorry Stewart, but I think you'll find more success elsewhere. £5-6m. Pepe Reina This one I'm sure will kick up a storm, but in my whole honest opinion, Pepe worries me each game. A football team begins at the back, meaning you need a good, strong and confident keeper, behind a line of 4 interactive and intelligent defenders. Do Liverpool have that? I'm not sure. That's why I'd say enough is enough and look for a new keeper in the summer. Again, I love the man, but his performances have dipped in the last 2 years, and I'd buy a new keeper now for the next few. £8-12m. Martin Skrtel He's been on the sidelines a lot this year, and it's for the simple fact that he isn't as good as Carra. What happened? I'm not sure. Last year him and Agger were without doubt the best two CB's in the PL, this year, they have both been extremely wobbly. I'd consider giving the Slovakian another chance, but he's had quite a few this year, and done nothing to convince me with each one. The only thing I would say is don't let him go too cheap. £6m minimum. Jonjo Shelvey I don't really want Liverpool to sell Jonjo, but his attitude needs to change. You can't sulk in a team like Liverpool FC. If you don't make the squad, get on with it. Work hard in training and make sure when you're given that chance to go out there, you give 100%. If he doesn't do that, he'll be out. Rodgers won't stand for it. I rate him highly so if the club were set on selling I'd say £8-10m minimum. Talent. Jay Spearing Again, it would have been nice to see Jay given a chance, but I don't think he's part of Brendan's plans, so if a bid came in for him, possibly Bolton, I'd take it. £3-5m. Andy Carroll Same as Jay, I don't think he'll be given a chance (Suarez ban or not). His performances have improved at West Ham and he is looking a lot fitter, but if he came back I'd be worried he'd get fed up being benched, and would start with the laziness again and late nights. Nolan seems to be good for him. Perhaps bring them both back (Nolan to his hometown). If not, £15m minimum. I should just point out that Luis Suarez was on this list before he decided to accept the ban and look to put it all behind him. I've defended the man since Liverpool bought him. Even before he was a Liverpool player I defended him during the World Cup. The press have been out to get him, and all that's done in the past has made me support him more. But the biting incident for me was a step too far. I began to think if a big enough bid came in, Liverpool should consider. This decision came through watching Borussia thrash Madrid on Wednesday night. There are replacements out there, but the trouble is attracting those replacements. Nonetheless, in hearing Suarez's comments after accepting the ban, I decided to stick by our number 7, accept his apology, and look to the future. He's a fantastic player, who Liverpool are extremely lucky to have. He could definitely get a place in Barcelona/Madrid's squad. And that's the point exactly. He's hated, all over (apparently) so if Liverpool did decide to sell, who would buy him? Probably everyone. And for that reason, Liverpool should stick by him, if he decides to stay. So that's a possible £55m if all of the above go for the minimum price. Plus the £15m we're still owed by Chelsea, and the new TV money, and the £40m the owners said they would give Rodgers this summer. With that £100m (approx. after tax etc) Liverpool would need to buy 2 new CB's, a GK, and a winger/striker. Probably both. Who can they look at? Here are just a few names of players I've had my eye on in the last year: Kelvin Wilson CB Celtic Impressive during Celtic's Champions League games this year, he would be a good addition to the squad, and could possibly be bought as cheap as £1-2m, depending on whether Lennon was having a good day or not. He's 27, but could be bought as a replacement for Carra, with Swansea's Ashley Williams coming in for Skrtel. Takashi Inui CM/LW Frankfurt I've seen this player a couple of times now, and each performance he has impressed me. Looks like the Japanese version of David Silva. No surprise to see Arsenal are monitoring him as well. Possibly price tag of £5-6m? Well worth it. Check him out. Mohamed Salah Winger Basel For anyone that's watched Basel in the Europa League this year, you will have noticed straight away how this guy plays like Suarez. Spurs are monitoring him, Liverpool should be buying him, now. Only 20 years of age, a huge amount of potential, and could be bought for possibly £6-10m. Would work well with Suarez, Coutinho and Assaidi. Michel Vorm GK Swansea I like Vorm, and if Reina was to leave I'd see him as a possible replacement. Could be bought for less than what we get for Reina, meaning a profit, for a better, more confident GK. £8m perhaps? Depends on Laudrup. Another GK Liverpool could buy would be Reading's Alex McCarthy, who we are all familiar with. I watched him in the next game against Southampton, and he was just as good, despite letting 2 goals in. Could be a cheap buy. Liverpool missed out on Butland. Rodrigo CF Benfica If you don't know this striker, look him up now. Huge talent, one of the future stars of International football. I've watched him a few times with Spain's U21s and he has been phonomenal each performance. Takes the ball, and runs at the defenders like Torres used to. If Suarez went, I would buy this striker straight away. If he'd come. £15m? Possibly more. That's all I've got for now. This was a big post. Good luck to Liverpool today, who will be playing their first game without Suarez. Oh and by the way, I've decided to watch Liverpool again. Thanks for reading.

[thelfcway]

10 game ban.

What a joke.

[markmckenny]

[thelfcway]

THELFCWAY Update

I've stopped watching Liverpool play. For the moment at least. Why? Exhaustion I guess. Let me explain. The last 3-4 years have been a roller coaster. Benitez left at the correct time (he had to go after that game he took Torres off and Gerrard looked so confused..) only for Hodgson to come in and mess the entire squad up. Then the King returned, and made things better for a while, but his last few months in charge were appalling. And then Rodgers took over, and since then we've been making progress, but it's been slow and inconsistent. For the first time in ages I felt like we were making progress in January. The signing of Sturridge was something we'd needed for a long time and suddenly the side looked like a real threat again. But then we went and lost at Oldham, got beat at home by West Brom and got knocked out of the Europa League. But none of this compared to losing at St. Mary's. Rodgers got a lot of things wrong that day, and as I sat in-front of the screen, taking my frustration out on my nails, I had one thought, is it really all worth it? That's where I'm at, and until I'm out of that state of mind I won't be writing about Liverpool FC. It's a real disappointment, I feel awful but this is something I have to go through and it means I won't be watching Liverpool for the next few weeks. I've already sat out the Aston Villa game, and will not be watching this weekend's game against West Ham. But please know that my thoughts are with the 96 and their families, and that I hope Liverpool can get the win for them. That's all I have to say right now. I'm still watching football, and still enjoying it, but for the moment, me and Liverpool FC are two separate things. Best of luck to the team and the manager, I hope they can give a strong finish between now and the end of the season. YNWA.

[thelfcway]

Daniel Sturridge Print, T-Shirt and iPhone cases, Available here: http://society6.com/MarkMcKenny/Daniel-Sturridge-Liverpool-FC-Football-Print_Print Also check out http://www.etsy.com/shop/markmckenny for more of my prints.

[thelfcway]

Tactical Analysis: Tottenham (H)

Carragher 500

After that impressive win at Wigan last weekend, Liverpool were gifted with the return of Daniel Sturridge who was fit enough to play again. Pepe Reina was ruled out with a calf injury, so in stepped Brad Jones, whilst Jamie Carragher made his 500th league appearance for the club. After his impressive start since signing in January, Coutinho was also given a place, keeping Jordan Henderson on the bench. Sturridge playing his role

Daniel Sturridge didn't have his best game yesterday, but we can see here the immediate difference he makes to this Liverpool side. The Reds now have three or four men in the attack, compared to the one or two they had when it was just Suarez up front. He didn't play his best, but he still put in a good shift, and helped the side for 88 minutes. Great to see Coutinho bursting forward in support as well. Poor decisioning from Michael Oliver

It happened all game. The referee hardly got a single thing right yesterday. Seen here is a clear clean challenge for the ball from Agger, but Dembele (who is already on his way down) gets a free-kick and Bale is able to test Jones. A poor decision, and not the last. Liverpool's number one

A lot of people were critical of Brad Jones' performance, but I thought he had a great game. Coming in for the injured Pepe Reina is never easy, especially against a side like Spurs, and seen here is a free-kick that Jones could only push wide, which unsettled a lot of Liverpool fans. A normal ball, when hit normally, will fly like the above, which is exactly what Jones is expecting it to do. But then we all know, that Gareth Bale's free-kicks (like Ronaldo's) are not normal, and nine out of ten goalkeepers would have done exactly the same thing as Jones, or worse. I really cannot fault the Aussie's performance yesterday. Down the left

Coutinho was excellent yesterday, and this through ball that he plays for Enrique (who then set up the goal) was outstanding. What an impact he's made since joining in January; him and Sturridge. Is a belief in Brendan starting to pay off? Penalty?

After scoring, Liverpool were the stronger side, and could easily have gone 2-nil up or been awarded a penalty. Yes, Suarez should probably cut the ball back to Sturridge, but if Coutinho wasn't being held back, he might have gotten onto the cross. Parker stamp

After a tussle near the halfway line, Scott Parker (feet tangled) clearly stamps out at Luis Suarez. Dembele, who had nothing to do with the incident, rushes towards the referee to complain. Spurs were looking for a reason to get Suarez sent off, dirty tactics from AVB. And then another cheap free-kick

Gerrard clearly wins the header, but the referee (who has the clearest view) awards a free-kick. It happened time and time again yesterday, I don't know how Liverpool won the game with such poor refereeing.

Michael Oliver then allows Bale to come back onto the pitch (after receiving head treatment) and jump straight back into the action. I've never seen anything like it. The Welshman, within the space of a minute sets up the equaliser, and it was 1-1 at HT. Second half, nothing changes

The second Tottenham goal, Bale goes down clutching his face, free-kick awarded. Who knows what for? And then... 1-2 Spurs

People have talked about how Spurs gifted Liverpool the equaliser, thus allowing them to get back into the game, but if Johnson hadn't clumsily fallen over, Vertonghen would never have been allowed to get his shot off. Great finish from the Belgian, but poor defending from the Liverpool RB, who also didn't jump for the first Spurs goal. Not his greatest game in a Liverpool shirt; his defending is woeful at times. If I'm being super critical, perhaps Jones might be a little closer to his line. Liverpool equalise

Downing still had to run for it. He still had to put the keeper under pressure. And he still had to finish. All of which, he done expertly. A fantastic goal for the midfielder; his second in two. What progress he's made since having his name written down in an envelope. Liverpool were right back in the game. Number 24

There was a gap in the midfield, and Dembele and Parker were exploiting it. Spurs could have easily gone 3-1 up, but Downing grabbing the equaliser, and Rodgers bringing on Joe Allen made all the difference. Now Liverpool had 3 men in the midfield, and were able to take control and push forward again. Coutinho had played well up until that point, but it was a smart move from manager Rodgers. Laurel and Hardy

This was embarrassing, for Dembele especially. The ball goes out of play, Dembele kicks out at Suarez, who retaliates and tries his best to joke it off, but the Belgian midfielder isn't laughing. He swipes out at Luis, then looks towards the referee, trying to get the Uruguayan booked. Anyone who hates Suarez is scared of him. Dembele looked an idiot yesterday, and continued this argument even after the final whistle. And the penalty

Clear decision. The only thing Michael Oliver got right yesterday. A crazy kick from Assou-Ekotto, the defender who only plays football for money. Well he lost Tottenham all 3 points yesterday, after Gerrard dispatched the ball to Lloris' left and won Liverpool the game. A fantastic victory, which...

...puts Liverpool above Everton. Now how good does that look? Conclusion A great result for the Reds. To come back from a goal behind and win it with such style shows real character, and a commitment to not give in. It was a turning point for the club. A few months ago, the Reds probably would have lost that. Rodgers' signings are making all the difference, and things are looking up. Well played Reds, now onto the next one: Southampton (A).

[thelfcway]

March 2013, #30 Suso. The third and possible last of the series. I felt with each one my shading and simplicity got a little better, which is something I found important. But I now want to focus on something else. A nice way to end the series, a future star of Liverpool FC! Jesús Joaquín Fernández Sáez de la Torre, or Suso for short. Hope to see a lot more of him next season!

[thelfcway]

Match Preview: Wigan (A)

After the disappointment that was Liverpool being knocked out of the Europa League, The Reds have had a long time to recover and should subsequently be up for this game at the DW Stadium. The Latics have found an improved run of form in their last few games, but if Liverpool are serious about a high finish, then 3 points is a must. Striker Daniel Sturridge will be assessed ahead of the game, whilst the Brazilian Coutinho, who looked lively against Swansea, could start again. Suarez is expected to start, after again reiterating his desire to stay on at Merseyside next season, whilst Lucas, Allen and Gerrard could all control the midfield. Winger Assaidi, is expected to be given a place on the bench. Key Wigan men to look out for are the midfielder James McCarthur and striker Arouna Kone. Both players have been prolific for Wigan this season, with the latter scoring 6 in his last 6 games. Close attention should be given to these players, as well as Jordi Gomez, if the Catalan starts. It will be an interesting game that will probably decipher where Liverpool finish this year. A draw or a loss for the Reds and top 5 will be out of reach. But Wigan also need the points to push on for a relegation survival. It will be a game won by the manager's tactics and the players desire. Either way, I just hope it isn't another 0-0 draw like last year (in which Charlie Adam missed a penalty, and Dalglish's downfall probably began.) Liverpool's last starting 11 (League): Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Enrique, Lucas, Gerrard (C), Downing, Coutinho, Suarez, Sturridge. Who I'd start v Wigan: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Enrique, Lucas, Gerrard (C), Henderson, Coutinho, Suarez, Sturridge. (Subs: Jones, Wisdom, Skrtel, Allen, Shelvey, Assaidi, Downing) NOTE: If Sturridge isn't fit, play Lucas and Allen in the middle, and perhaps swap Henderson for Downing.

[thelfcway]

Tactical Analysis: Swansea (H)

The Return of Sturridge

I think we can all safely say that Liverpool missed Daniel Sturridge in their last two games. Against West Brom, Liverpool still managed to create a huge amount of chances on goal, but in Zenit Suarez looked lost upfront on his own. Daniel was back, as was the Brazilian Philippe Coutinho who was making his first full Liverpool debut out on the left. A strong line-up from the home side, a weakened one from the visitors. Liverpool's Bright Start

Liverpool made an extremely bright start to the game. Coutinho looked lively out on the left, and the whole team kept possession well. The Reds created a number of chances, but this one in the 22nd minute was the closest they got. Circled is Sturridge, who's movement to get in-front of the defender was superb. Unfortunately, the header went over the bar, but it was great speed and determination from the youngster, who looks hungry to score goals.

Penalty Decisions

How this wasn't a penalty I'll never know. There is clear contact on Sturridge, who went tumbling over due to the force. The ball was always under his control, Howard Webb just didn't want to give it.

And then this one, which he still didn't want to give. Luckily the linesman flagged, and Webb reluctantly pointed to the spot. Gerrard stepped up and put Liverpool ahead 1-0. You couldn't help but think it should be 2/3. Doubting Downing

I thought overall Liverpool played excellently in the first half, and could easily have gone in leading 4-0. The only player I thought might have put a little bit more effort in was Stewart Downing. The isn't a brilliant screenshot to make my point with, but I think a winger should be wanting to get down that line as often as possible. Many times yesterday Stewart looked reluctant to run on, and it caused confusion between him and Johnson. Still, the LM was playing out of position yesterday and still had a great game. What an improvement the fans and manager have seen in him lately. The Dominant Second-Half

If it wasn't for Enrique's goal, this would easily be my favourite from yesterday. Look at Coutinho here, telling Suarez exactly where to play the ball. 16 seconds after the restart and Liverpool were 2-0 ahead, after the power from Philippe's shot beat goalkeeper Vorm.* *(The Brazilian played brilliantly yesterday, and was probably my MOTM. After scoring his first goal for LFC, he attempted a Cruyff flick which narrowly missed, and then helped set up the third. A dream full start for the number 10, who looks to be bursting with confidence.)

And the fun didn't stop there. Liverpool were ruthless in their attack yesterday. Circled here are 7 Liverpool players in the Swansea half, showing just how much they were enjoying themselves and wanted to go on to score more. Goal of the Season?

What an magnificent goal from Liverpool. In true Tiki-Taka style, and excellently converted. Look the way the players pass it around, drawing the Swansea defence in and creating space for Luis Suarez on the edge of the box. A fabulous goal, and an easy contender for Goal of the Season. This is why Enrique was missed.

It's also interesting that even if Sturridge doesn't play the ball into Enrique, he has 2 men to aim for on the far side. This style of play can have so many advantages if executed properly, and it's what Barcelona have been doing for years. The Wonderkid

And the introduction of Henderson created chance after chance for striker Daniel Sturridge. This ball he played through to him was world class, and shows just how much this kid has grown in confidence. No way would he have attempted this last year. Home and Dry

The hard work paid off as Liverpool were awarded another penalty for this hand ball from Routledge. Again, Howard Webb didn't want to give it, but the linesman flagged, and Sturridge (given the ball from Gerrard) put Liverpool ahead 5-0 and the final nail in the coffin for Swansea. Conclusion

A stunning performance, and one to put a smile on the fans faces again. The best thing Liverpool can do now, is follow that with a 3-0+ win on Thursday. Unfortunately, they'll be without Sturridge and Coutinho. Should they do that, I'm sure we'll hear a few more people singing 'There's only one Brendan Rodgers' from the Kop. These things take time. I'm sure Brendan knows that. Well played Reds, probably our best game of the season.

[thelfcway]

Should LFC ban Twitter?

Simple enough question; should Liverpool FC put a ban on their players using Twitter and other Social Networking sites? Should the manager/coaching staff have a say in what the players do outside of the club? And, should they even care? My answer would be yes to all three; and here's why. Just days ago Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey reacted badly to a few 'fans' tweets after the West Brom game. Manager Brendan Rodgers had played the England U21 in an advanced role that night, and the Romford-born midfielder admittedly didn't have his best game in a Liverpool shirt. This led to some 'keyboard warriors' as he went on to call them, tweeting the England International with abuse. Jonjo's reaction (clearly annoyed) can be seen below:

I also raise this question just two days after one of Liverpool's youngest squad members, Raheem Sterling, decided to quit the social networking site. 'I'm out' he's said. 'Me and Twitter are finished, I won't be back on there.' He says he now wants to focus on his career a bit more, and try and be a bit more professional. So the question is, does a footballer need Twitter? In fact, why does anybody need Twitter? I myself use the site regularly, and have done since around 2009/10. Since joining I've gone on to post over 7000 tweets, most of them about football.. I use the website mainly to keep in touch with friends and meet other Liverpool fans, but I also use it to find out the latest news, and to promote websites such as the one you're reading from now. But why would a footballer use Twitter? You'd think the 40k+ a week would be enough to keep them busy? And them keeping in touch with friends, can't they call them? Text/E-mail? But the players also use twitter to promote websites and charities, like Daniel Agger who owns The Agger Foundation. There's also a Steven Gerrard fan account, doing a similar thing. But are the players themselves actually using the account? It looks as if Agger is, and we all know that Suso and Enrique do, the pictures they post tell us that.

The Danish defender too received some criticism on Monday night, but managed to handle it a little better:

Which I guess is my point exactly. Some players can handle the criticism, whilst others can't. So is it up to the club to step in and ban all the players from using it? If we're totally honest, football players don't need to be able to talk to the fans directly. Whilst I like the idea (and think somehow it makes you feel more part of the game) I see things like the above, and I realise that it's not helping. Off-field comments are starting appearing on-field. If Liverpool did try and tackle the problem they certainly wouldn't be the first. Simon Grayson did it with Leeds a few years ago, whilst Tony Pulis spoke about it only a few months ago. Whatever way you look at it, these footballers are professional athletes, and all talking should be done on the pitch. If they're still desperate to have a little chat, use the club's website. I hope something changes, because in my opinion what's put in those 140 characters is having too big an impact on the club. Like any youngsters with access to the internet, it needs to be moderated and the fans especially can learn a thing or two from all of this. Haven't you ever heard that bad criticism can only ever be de-constructive? Now more than ever the club and the fans need to stick together, because if we don't get a grip, and it will only get worse. Liverpool FC might not necessarily need to ban Twitter, but I think some educating on the subject might help. What Raheem did yesterday in quitting was a great thing, and a huge step in the right direction, and I hope now to see more Liverpool players doing a similar thing. In fact, what Sterling did reminded me of a certain little Argentinian, who also made a decision to knuckle down and get on with his career, and that man was Leo Messi. One of the most professional football players to ever grace the game. I'd like to wish the best of luck to Rodgers and the team before they take on Swansea at Anfield today. I hope Liverpool get the win, and I hope it manages to turns things around a bit. But more than most, I hope the club are looking at this what I'd call problem, and something is done about it. YNWA, good luck boys.

[thelfcway]

The Bad Got Worse

Liverpool's week got even more disappointing last night as they were beaten 2-0 again, this time away from home. After a miserable Monday night on Anfield, the Reds travelled to Russia to play Spalletti's Zenit St. Petersburg, and after conceding 2 cheap goals, have left themselves with a mountain to climb if they're to stay in the Europa League. The result against West Brom was not as bad as it looked. Liverpool did dominate the game for 80 minutes, but Clarke's tactics won again, and the Baggies got all 3 points. Had Gerrard scored the penalty, Liverpool would surely have gone on to win, but the nerves of missing it got to the players and Lukaku was there to pick up the pieces. 2 goals in the space of 10 minutes, game over, Anfield felt sick. A few days later and a chance to put it right; but it wasn't to be. A terrible performance, from nearly all involved; one of the worst I've seen this season. Again, the Reds had chances to kill the game, but fluffed them all, and Zenit took advantage. When striker Daniel Sturridge joined Liverpool in January there was an immediate change in the style of play. His ability to stay up top with speed and skill allowed Suarez to drop back and link up with the midfielders. With them both in the squad, Liverpool look a powerful force going forward, but without Daniel, it's the Liverpool of old. The team that need a striker. Rodgers appeared to have no game plan last night and it was the second time since taking over that I've been left feeling annoyed and disappointed. Fielding the squad he did wasn't such a bad choice, but when cracks start to show you have to fix them immediately. A good manager isn't afraid to takes risks, and the Brendan of old grew into that reputation, as a man who was going to do things his way. But recently he's been very quiet, and his decision-making often baffling. I won't go into names as to who had a bad game because quite honestly, the whole team did. The signs were there first half, that something wasn't right, and the weaker players should have been subbed. I felt Brendan was happy with a draw, and when Liverpool went 2-nil down him bringing on Lucas more than confirmed that they went there to play it save. When honestly, like all games, it was there to be won. I'm really disappointed in the result and I just hope the Reds can turn things around. The last thing I want is for the manager to be sacked, and I've not seen anything which suggests it's going to go that way. But Brendan needs to get a grip, and his post-match press conferences become more honest. Against West Brom, you can say the team played well, but not last night. Sort it out Brendan, sort it out Sturridge.

[thelfcway]

Match Preview: Zenit (A) (Europa League)

At an earlier kick-off of 5pm, Liverpool take on Russian side Zenit St. Petersburg, a club who in recent weeks have been making headlines for all the wrong reasons. The Reds (going into this game after the home loss to West Brom) need to bounce back, and a win in Russia might be just what the side needs to calm the fans, who have been unsettled in recent weeks. Rodgers again has a choice of who to play upfront. Striker Daniel Sturridge and the number 10 Coutinho are both club-tied so have stayed at home, but the rest of the squad have flown and a strong line-up is expected. Borini could return to the starting 11, alongside the likes of Suso and Allen. Enrique/Johnson could be dropped to the bench to make way for Andre Wisdom, whilst Jones might be picked in favour of Reina. Rodgers has plenty to choose from, but he must get it right. Zenit (managed by Luciano Spalleti) haven't played a competitive game since before Christmas, but are still a dangerous side. Brazilian striker Hulk is the main threat, as well as midfielders Witsel and Danny who need marking closely. The Zenit defence will also be hard to break down, so Liverpool must attack with force and conviction. It will be a difficult game and my only hope is that it isn't ruined by racism. The Russian side hit the news in December after a fan group called for 'non-white and gay players to be excluded from the team.' Liverpool have travelled with a full squad and should any of the players be subjected to racial abuse they should all walk off together. Racism in football isn't going to go away, and teams like Liverpool need to make a stand. As I said, I just hope it doesn't come to that. Good luck to Rodgers and good luck to the players. With Top 4 looking miles away again, extra emphasis should be put on this tournament. After all, it is still Europe, and a chance to show that Liverpool still mean business. Liverpool's last starting 11: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Enrique, Lucas, Gerrard (C), Henderson, Downing, Suarez, Shelvey. Who I'd start against Zenit: Jones, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Enrique, Lucas, Gerrard (C), Henderson, Suso, Suarez, Borini. (Subs: Reina, Wisdom, Skrtel, Shelvey, Allen, Downing, Sterling)