v Liverpool v Fulham 22 Dec 2012, KO: 17:30 John Arne Riise, i want to know-ow-ow-ow, how you scored that goal- except against us.
Based on form, I would bench sterling, Allen, and Gerrard. I'd play Henderson or Suso in front of Lucas and Sahin (nose permitting). Hopefully Enrique can come back in. Give assaidi a run out. Something fresh. It's funny how we all though the midfield would be our best area, and they are arguably the worst. Suarez brings up the aggregate on the front players to beat them out.
I'm not mad at how Gerrard has played this year, because he's about where I thought he'd be. But, the only thing that still pisses me off about Gerrard (and Joe Cole) is that they always exhibit the least amount of patience in the attacking third. We move the ball around for a bit, they get impatient, and then all of a sudden, they are whacking a speculative, overly ambitious, first-time half-volley, with the outside of the foot, out-swinging to the far post from 25 yards with 2 guys open somewhere else on the edge of the penalty box. It never fails to make me curse *&@^$^@^!!!! at the top of my lungs in front of my poor, abused remote control, children, and pets.
Will be interested to see how the players bounce back and what BR does with selection. The (possible) silver lining from this weekend was that people were knocked out of our "we'll win every match until January" state of mind. We would have lost eventually so better sooner than later? Would kill to have Wisdom and Enrique for this one. I think our least goal-prone lineup has a back line of Wisdom, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique/Johnson on left side of attack.
I do think we really missed Enrique in the match that must not be named (or remembered). He adds a lot going forward, but he tracks back very well too. I hope he is fit. I am on board with some rotation, but if he does send out the same players they need a rocket up 'em before they touch the Anfield sign ... time for some "tough love" from BR
This, for the love of god. THIS. Allen has been terrible for about a half-dozen games now, Gerrard (in the midfield) is borderline useless. Cole simply cannot be our best option right off the bench. What did Suso do to deserve his trip to the doghouse? Why isn't Sahin, whom we worked very hard to beat Arsenal to the loan signing of, getting any time on the field? Why isn't Henderson rewarded for a recent good run of games? It's clear that Sterling is fatigued - is Assaidi simply unplayable? Why was he bought in the first place? We knew the squad was going to be thin, and that come December, our starters will be gassed and need some spelling. There is not much quality in our depth, but it's simply incomprehensible to me that the guys we do have are not getting much of (or any sort of) a chance. The guys Rodgers has been too stubborn to remove have hardly been setting the world on fire.
You guys know that the players and coaches get together on days when they don't have games. They do this thing called training. It's fantastic. It's where every player GETS A CHANCE to show what they can do for the coaches versus the other guys on the team they are competing with spots for. It's a really cool thing. I think they just started it a few years ago. I bet Ryan Babel wishes they had that when he was playing here, because he never got a chance to play soccer EVER in the years he was here. FFS.
I'm going to have two spare for this one if anyone wants to go? Exec package 4 course meal and a bar....
If schedule permitted I'd hop a ride with henry from boston (giving him an earful of my opinions of his ownership on the flight) and take you up on those tix in a heartbeat.
you don't know how many of us wish we could AND how generous of an offer this is. Just bad timing really for a lot of us with the holidays etc. - If this was in February for example - I'd very likely hop on a plane for a long weekend and do it.