“Demands of the Job: Part Deux”
When Roy Hodgson welcomed Manchester United to Anfield in the 5th game of his tenure we spent the first 45 minutes defending with 10 men.
There was no attempt whatsoever to play the ball out from the back, and even in what looked like a policy of “clear the lines hoofball” there was little attempt to clear it to a red shirt upfield.
We went in 0-1 at half-time, and it could have been a lot worse…. 14 minutes into the 2nd half it was. We started as we’d left off and were 0-2 down.
Then something remarkable happened…
… we decided we’d had enough of that crap…
… we went at them, they made mistakes, and on 60 minutes we won a penalty which Stevie G scored, then he added a 2nd 6 minutes later.
United were rattled, their back 4 were looking shaky and making mistakes and their midfield looked all at sea.
Unfortunately, after clawing our way back into the game, we eased off a bit, and couldn’t finish them off… instead Berbatov finished us off by completing his hattrick with the winner on 84 minutes.
Now some people would look at that game and see a dominant, title-contending Manchester United that simply showed its strength by scoring more goals than they conceded, or more simply… winning.
Me… I saw a Man Utd that aren’t as good as their full-court press would have you believe, and have both midfielders and defensive players that either aren’t as good as they used to be, or aren’t as good as their reputations. (in spite of them losing the title only on goal difference.)
So I was more than a bit annoyed at the way we approached this first half, whether it was under direction, or the result of under-performing players, the result was the same… and almost carbon copy approach to this game as we took at home under Hodgson.
And as impressive as their strikeforce is, hence the belief some have in caution being the bets approach, their midfield and defense, just isn’t all that great.
Now that’s not to suggest that Man Utd players are shit… that’s going to an extreme about 5000 miles down the road from what I’m suggesting… which is that they are simply not as great and unbeatable as is widely suggested or accepted.
… but… Great or Shite, simply good or not so much…
…Go to Old Trafford with the intention of defending for 45 minutes and trying to get to half-time 0-0 and… while that will occasionally work for a few teams… 9 times out of 10… you are basically fucked from the off.
I don’t have a particularly big problem with the players selected for Sunday’s game. It wouldn’t have been my selection, but there was an argument for it.
I don’t have a problem with the overall idea, when we face the big teams, of keeping it tight, playing it out from the back and maintaining possession…
… but I have no idea if that was the instruction our players had been given… coz a few looked like they were trying to do that, but other just didn’t.
…and nor did those players look like they were looking to play it out and break fast.
Our approach just seemed completely disjointed…
… but ultimately it led to us defending in our own half for 45 minutes, barely getting the ball across the half-way line and even when we did, it was largely in the shape of a long ball to a player who had 3 defenders on him, with no one breaking forward in support, and going in at half-time 2-0 down.
I don’t know if Brendan got it badly wrong, or his players just let him down. (there were 3 or 4 sub-par performances to point to and that’s never gonna help.)
Either way, it wasn’t an acceptable Liverpool approach/performance against Man United…
… just like that game under Hodgson.
A lot has been said about Raheem Sterling’s selection. To be honest I wouldn’t have picked him for this match, I’d have had him on the bench.
But then again, the idea of isolating Raheem Sterling to attack Fabio one-on-one, wasn’t an entirely bad idea.
Unfortunately, in hindsight, Fabio had Raheem in his back pocket from the off.
Luis Suarez can handle Vidic and get the better of him.
Luis Suarez can handle Rio Ferdinand and get the better of him.
Luis Suarez can handle Patrice Evra and get the better of him.
Put the lad up against any two of the above three and he can even get the better of them occasionally…
… but all 3 at the same time (and with little support from midfield or his wide men)… they had him in their collective back pocket for 45 minutes.
There has been a fair bit of criticism of Downing for not trying to get past Patrice Evra.
It’s a fair comment… Evra was constantly showing him the wing, and Downing seemingly refused to go there…
… but was that coz he’s a pussy, coz he’d been told not to, or coz no one else was breaking forward, so even if he had gone there, there was no one to cross to?
(yeah, I know, its coz he’s a pussy, 
but I’m trying to be objective)
I said to my mates before the game, we should go with a 4-4-2 (which could have morphed back and forward between that and a 4-4-1-1 or a 4-3-2-1) with Sturridge and Luis up top and one midfielder breaking into that support role.
They wouldn’t have expected us to do that.
We could have nullified their “not that impressive” midfield and put their “frankly less than impressive back four” under some real pressure… (you know, like we did in the 2nd half.)
The saddest thing about Sunday… is simply that it confirmed to all and sundry that United are dominant and favorites for the title
… when it could have showed everyone just how truly unimpressive they really are.
The 2nd saddest thing is that it confirmed for many that we truly are nothing but a mid-table team right now…
… when it could have showed that there really is some promise in what Brendan Rodgers is trying to do… and by association… in the decisions that the Owners made last summer.
To be clear… in my opinion… in all honesty… it showed both.
…The first half showed everything that is wrong with the club.
…The second half showed the promise.
Now then… a bit of housekeeping…
Dear Mr. Sturridge,
I’m writing this letter to let you know that I was a bit of a cunt a few weeks ago. It wasn’t that I thought you were shite or “not good enough for the Liverpool shirt” but I also wasn’t convinced that you were what we needed.
Boy, have you proved me wrong in your first two outings. And I’m holding my hand up to say “you’ve converted me” and “keep it up lad”.
I don’t know if I owe you a formal apology, as such, coz its only two games and not full outings at that, but I did find an easy recipe for “crow in plum sauce” and I must say it was more than palatable.
Cheers
Aitch
(It needed to be said… )
It is massively early to comprehensively judge Sturridge on only 2 halves… (look at the difference between Allen in September and Allen now?) but fuck me if I’m not impressed with the way this lad has applied himself.
Not just his goals… I’m talking about the way he’s looking for channels to run into, dropping back to receive the ball, running into space (and as important, space that makes sense) when others have the ball, and his all round basic hunger for the ball.
He looks eager to impress.
He looks to be on a similar wavelength to Luis Suarez.
He looks… well… so far, worth every penny of 12 million.
I’m actually really eager to see how their partnership develops… and if that will make a difference to the performances of Sterling, Borini… hell, maybe even Stewie (..er well, okay, maybe that’s a pipe dream, but you get my drift).
So Norwich next, which should be, not only a 3 point banker, but an opportunity to do some much-needed renovation to our goal-difference.
… but could just as easily be yet another fuckin embarrassment…
… so start strong from the off… get Danny out there alongside Luis…
… and if you must tap it about, feel free to do so in bits, but get the ball forward to these two, and lets go 2-0 up first, coz I reckon they’ll do the biz for us.
watching LFC is frustrating though.
we play, really well at times and then we shoot ourselves in the foot.
apart from the scum, that is the same for every team in the prem league.
have some respect for Aitch?
i always have, but he’s had his needle stuck in the same groove for a while and as long as he decides to be a target, then its open season. his decision. the comment about sturridge going missing in 2 games was not very generous. harsh. if i played six and scored four goals for LFC i’d count that a champagne popping coke snorting success. i wish borini had those stats. i wish AC had those stats when he galloped into town.
digger. you are right, there is no replacement for stevie. the point is, can we see another player of his kind coming through the ranks?
downing…er, well, me and my mate predicted what he would do every time he got the ball. look, i don’t want to criticise the fella, because i know how difficult the expectation is being a winger…..
….but he’s not a winger. he doesn’t want to get forward much, he’s too… thinkative, to coin a phrase. he thinks long and hard about the move before he does it, so when it comes to it, the moments passed.
i often found that the only way to beat a defender is when momentum is on your side, like when sturridge beat the right back to pass to suarez in the centre. sturridge is not that quick, but he used momentum and it got him beyond the defender.
in the same situation downing would tread on the ball, stop and think…that move would not happen. is this psychological? do wingers get ‘the fear’? i think they do. either that or downing is not that type of winger. or not a winger at all. never mind. i’m sure he’s a nice kid. (i’m trying to be supportive)
time for a new blog aitch? demands of the blog pt 3?
YNWA
Last season FSG invested heavily backing Comolli and Kenny. With the 2 windows that BR has been there, surely it can’t be said FSG have not invested heavily again (The summer window was a mess, I know).
We have not won the league in 23 YEARS, and just before FSG came in, it was looking like we would be competing for the championship anytime soon.
BR is a young manager who is learning in the roll, this does not equal mid-table manager. I think if FSG stick to their guns on this we could reap the benefits.
The big fear in the summer when Kenny was sacked and BR was appointed was that we were going to fall further behind the big teams.
Looking at the Arse and the Chavs at the moment for example we appear to be closing the gap. We are now only starting to benefit from the stability that FSG have created.
We are still short players, but the list is alot shorter than it was at the start of the season, be that down to new signing or existing players finding form and the like of Sterling and Suso will be allowed to be developed in the right way not that we have attacking options.
Last season FSG invested heavily backing Comolli and Kenny. With the 2 windows that BR has been there, surely it can’t be said FSG have not invested heavily again (The summer window was a mess, I know).
We have not won the league in 23 YEARS, and just before FSG came in, it was looking like we would be competing for the championship anytime soon.
BR is a young manager who is learning in the roll, this does not equal mid-table manager. I think if FSG stick to their guns on this we could reap the benefits.
The big fear in the summer when Kenny was sacked and BR was appointed was that we were going to fall further behind the big teams.
Looking at the Arse and the Chavs at the moment for example we appear to be closing the gap. We are now only starting to benefit from the stability that FSG have created.
We are still short players, but the list is alot shorter than it was at the start of the season, be that down to new signing or existing players finding form and the like of Sterling and Suso will be allowed to be developed in the right way not that we have attacking options.
The game was just beautiful to watch. Two teams willing to let each other play but we really outplayed Man City.
I have full confidence in what BR is trying to achieve. It will take time and some of these results will not go our way but we need patience and in a 1-2 years we will putting these games to bed, of which I have no doubt as we continue to rebuild. Even if we finish lower than last year we should keep the faith.
Its my personal view that there is no point in putting down players of the stature of Stevie, Suarez or Carragher. I also feel Reina is in the same class and has shown a lot of loyalty for this club and is making some wrong decisions but he needs to be persisted and given confidence.
Stevie has been exceptional this season and you can see why. He has been fit and hasn’t missed a single PL game. I don’t care whether he is 32 but you knew he wasn’t going to miss his bullet shot yesterday if you really believed in Stevie. I did and I know Digger does as well.
Sturridge has done everything right and so has Henderson. While we don’t feel Downing is right for our club but recently he is doing quite well.
I think some of our youngsters like Sterling, Suso, Shelvey have started to wear off as the season progressed but that was expected. They will only get better next season.
We just need to make the right investments in next few transfer windows. If money is in shortfall then it puts a little more pressure to get it right.
So we have to be cautious with our spending but we need to get a first 11 a little more stronger (I wouldn’t go over which positions all of you have made it amply clear) and backups all over.
It may take 4-6 transfer windows considering our current spend before we start challenging for the top honors. So PATIENCE my dear friends.
Oh you better believe I did Pshenava! ;-D
Some disgraceful comments in relation to Aitch, didn’t see many of us jumping into the hot seat. Be fair people, he’s now creating a blog and then commenting on it as he would someone elses blog, give the guy a go.
.
So we just drew with City and Arsenal, well we also just got fucking belted by Oldham, so lets hold of the champagne corking parties. We are actually a point worse off than last season, and out of the Carling and FA Cup, so I don’t see how that is classed as closing the gab on Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea, if anything their dropping off.
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I’m liking the exciting nature of our by the skin of the teeth games but we have a long way to go. Lets give Aitch is chance to have his opinion, thats what these blogs are about.
I’m sure Gerry is disgusted upon reading some of the posts in here over the last 24 hrs ,
What’s with the fucking gang rape lads?
Whether you agree or disagree with his blogs or comment there’s no need for the abuse being hurled about here,
Shame shame !
I agree there is no need for abuse, but there is very little of that going on.
It’s very clear what Aitch’s view are at this stage, but the conversation is not moving on from the decision FSG took last Summer to replace Kenny. Some will say it’s not right to more on because it was a such a bad call on FSG’s part.
Others are now getting frustrated with that, and I am in that camp. I see real progress on the pitch, I see good players being signed, I see other players improving hugely.
We are so way off where we were with Rafa in 08/09, but I know everyone is aware of the history of our recent past without having to spell it out again.
A post that show’s you DO NOT in fact “know” what “Aitch’s opinion” is on any of the things you commented on.
Aitch, it’s the tone off the last number of blogs especially, and your comments. Your view is that FSG have made a big mistake in appointing BR, and you don’t think he is up to the job (mid-table manager reference and lots more).
You are doing your best not to say it and that you back the manager because that’s what LFC fan’s do.
Am I way of track there???
You are mischaracterizing what I have read to suit your own tone.
To be clear… again…
YES… I said that FSG made a mistake firing Kenny. Still think so.
YES… I think there were perhaps “better qualified” managers available.
I may have said it was “a mistake” to hire Rodgers, coz as stated I believed it was a change unnecessary.
However… in regards Rodgers himself… I believe it was a “gamble” rather than a mistake” (this is further detailed in the new blog) to hire a fella with his C.V.
But you are drawing your own conclusions from there… that I think he isn’t up to the job.
Frankly, I have no idea if he is or not… and neither do you.
You may think he is, but that’s as much as you can say at this point, since he has Zero track record at a top club.
I have not made up my mind one way or the other.
What I’m “doing my best” to say is that there are good and bad to discuss, about Rodgers, about FSG, about all of it.
We are into semantics now.
What you are saying there is confirming the point I am trying to make
Week by week we’re looking more and more like a Champions League team… Our midfield still lacks something, I’m not sure what it is but we seem to miss a Xabi, who can put his foot on the ball and kill the other team by simple passing when we’ve got the lead…
Or maybe it’s the Defence that just isn’t quite right… Either which way our attack play seems to be in it’s infancy, which = glorious attacking games in the near future…
I’m loving the growth that seems to be happening at the moment, we’ve got a pretty simple run to the end of the season, should make for an interesting run in…
Nobody is getting personal with Aitch or gang raping him. We do appreciate his input here and I would like to think we are all on the same side. It is ok to look back, but it is not ok to stare.
This season is an improvement on last both on and off the field. Already more wins at Anfield than the whole of last season and a pretty decent run-in to come. Maybe not as much as some people would like or maybe even what we would all like but it is there. Financially much better off, smaller squad but nearly all the deadwood gone. Good new signings, youngsters coming along, out of form players finding form, injury prone players not missing a match, goals being spread around. I could go on but I am sure there are people here who could list a few things that they think are worse off. I’m definitely glass half full. I’m getting a lot of satisfaction at seeing our team develop together and that includes our young new manager. I feel sorry for anyone who follows this club but can’t find anything to cheer about (Oldham performance and result aside).
FSG have us sitting pretty regarding FFP and if you read the report from Uefa this week regarding debt in footie and the astronomical wages almost killing the game, I’d rather be us than some other clubs. And we could certainly not say that two and a half years ago.
Huge new sponsorship deals, money for players and our beloved home being refurbished and made bigger. What’s not to look forward to. There are none so blind as those who will not see. In Brendan I trust.
New blog out…thanks Aitch