01 May 2015 18:01:56
Lambert, Balotelli and Borini scored 46 goals between them last season. So aren't we scoring goals?
Rodgers isn't setting up the team to play to the current strikeforce's strenghts, in addition to playing more than half the first team behind them out of their natural positions. It's that simple. Analyze the season from a managerial POW and Rodgers has been an absolute disaster.
01 May 2015 18:27:50
I don't necessarily disagree with the premise, but they had 34 league goals between them and 9 of those were from penalties and 6 from free kicks. Balotelli had 7 from open play last year in league play, Lambert 8, and Borini 4, so it's not like any of them were scoring open play goals at near the rate of Sturridge or Suarez last season.
01 May 2015 18:47:51
Great post mate and think the answer is obvious, they played in systems that suited them (and in fairness took pens).
Was initially wxcited with players signed this summer but they don't fit together. Have a lot of players j don't think we need who are actually really good players, just have no clue where they're meant to play or what their role is.
Hate to say it but look at chelsea, can look at their team sheet and know exactly what is expected if each player and their role, look at ours and are wondering why a talented young CM is a CB, a great box to box player is at right back, a great pacey number 10 is at LWB, an legend AM is playing DM, and a great back up striker is starting 10 games is trying to break on the counter despite being into his 30s!
01 May 2015 19:10:15
RDL, all of them look infinitely better within their teams last season. I think its pretty obvious that Rodgers has been unable to play to their strengths, what we don't know is how that would've changed the rest of the team.
I can imagine setting the team up to play to Balotellis static style of play might have made the season as woeful as it has already been but who knows.
01 May 2015 19:44:42
Don't disagree lmred, but in general I think relying on the likes of Balotelli, Lambert, or Borini to score loads from open play (which is what we need) was/is a mistake as none of them have proven especially prolific in recent history.
Again, I do think they all looked better previously though.
01 May 2015 20:06:17
I know Balotelli has not been lighting the world ablaze, but how many crosses has he received the last 2 games that were worthy of a goal? 1 maybe? Many of us think he'd be better with a 2nd striker, and many are wanting to sell him. If a new manager comes, I think it would be worth a shout to see if Balotelli, among other players on the fringes, have a future. We should be patient with our sales if we are to can Rodgers, including Mario.
I hope Borini and Lambert are moved, because I don't think they are good enough. I do think Balotelli can come good; we wouldn't, or at least many of us wouldn't, give up on another player after one year.
01 May 2015 20:13:12
Imred, RDL, Balotelli was a poison chalice we should have never drank from. As Macca said its been a thorn in our side since day one. I truly believe whoever was responsible for his signing is sick in the head, and MUST BE REMOVED. I don't know who pulled what strings, and I don't think Rogers pulled most of them, but its a sickness within our Club that needs to be cut out like a fucking tumour, or we are going to die a slow painful death. Honestly there is a stench of rottenness pervading our club, and it needs sorting with immediate effect.
01 May 2015 20:20:00
Good Grief Tj I can't believe you just said that!!!!!!!
Mario. be patient !!!! I flippin give up I really do.
01 May 2015 21:47:31
Balotelli is not the reason this season has sucked. Many of you would like to believe so, but overall the team just hasn't been good enough. The team, including balotelli.
01 May 2015 22:02:00
We don't play two strikers, just a false number nine.
Dead simple reason why we don't score goals BUT
When a class striker like Sturridge is on form and fit (which he hasn't been), he usually takes the half opportunities gifted to him and we get away with it.
Regardless of this opinion being with the benefit of hindsight, a fully fit Sturridge this season would have won us many games with the opportunities presented, any other striker in the squad is simply not good enough or skilled enough to play as a lone striker, therefore aside from Sturridge the rest should be played as a pair, and in my opinion (regardless of my opinion on the Italian), they would present themselves as a handful and would score.
01 May 2015 22:56:58
If Mario even chipped in with half a dozen league goals things could certainly been a lot better. A complete and utter disaster. Whoever suggested him as a possibility needs to be collecting their p45
01 May 2015 23:43:17
Golden boy sturridge wasnt really lighting the world alight prior to his last injury. Sure he's scored a couple goals but he's familiar with the players and how BR "works." Even he has struggled. I'm just tired of signing on here and seein balotelli bashing when he has been putting in a shift. The main complaint on being purchased was his work rate. He has worked pretty hard every time I've seen him on the pitch. Every player has declined in form this season in our starting lineup, bar mignolet Lucas and henderson. I suppose that's marios fault too.
02 May 2015 00:35:31
borini and lambert have not been played enough at LFC to give fair judjement IMO
Im sure if borini had the same playing time as balotelli this season we would have a few more goals
02 May 2015 00:48:15
Bali would obviously be more effective as two upfront but we've never played him like that, Lambert best in a 4-2-3-1 to allow others to play off him, but we only played him like that for a short spell, Borini never given a chance. I personally think all the strikers has as much reason to be upset with Rogers as he has with them.
I suspect at the start of the season BR was building for a 4-2-3-1 with all the midfielders he bought but why did he need to change things entirely after last year? I reckon with studge out, we would have done better sticking with the diamond, playing Lucas, Hendo and Coutinho midfield with Balo/Borini upfront and Sterling in just behind them.
02 May 2015 13:35:16
My main complaint was he didn't fit with the system or the ethos of the team. Complete waste of £16m. Mourinho couldn't manage him, Mancini couldn't manage him, AC Milan wanted shut of him. What possessed the committee to think it would be a good signing?
Daft as a brush!