NEIL ATKINSON was joined by Rob Gutmann, Peter Hooton and Jim Boardman as they look back on the midweek defeat to the European Champions and look towards a crunch clash against Mourinho’s Chelsea
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I was listening to this on the radio and there’s a building I pass at 5.15pm every night which makes my radio go funny. It was almost incomprehensible for a minute but I think I heard Jim say something to the effect of Rodgers had tailored his after match press conferences to fit the narrative of the game. If he did say that then I completely agree. I’ve thought it all week. It’s good spin and who can blame him. I thought the team selection was pragmatic. It’s one thing moaning about how Liverpool don’t do that etc and I like the pride and tradition aspects of LFC, but pride and tradition are pointless when we’re playing Thursday night Europa Cup games. It’s soul destroying and embarrassing. As Rob pointed out, this season is about top 4 and nothing else. It’s an absolutely huge season in that respect. The money and FFP sees to that.
I wondered if anyone knows what would happen if City finish 3rd in their CL group then go on to win the Europa as well as say, runners up in the league. Would top 5 get CL football?
It’s also important we get at least a draw in Ludogorets. Obviously, qualification is our aim but if we fail then the Europa offers a shortcut to top 4. I know it very tough but we can win 5 cup ties, 4 over two legs.
Regarding Toure, he could have done better for the Madrid goal but I definitely think he did the right thing to leave it. It was a good goal, preventable though. If he makes 100% effort to defend the cross then I think the chances of him scoring an own goal were extremely high. As it is, we’re talking like we have some gladiator at the back. An own goal there and he becomes a joke character and it’s back to that spell last season when he looked a bit shot.
Not sure we can play both Lucas and Gerrard together even though it’s Chelsea and it could make sense. Playing how we have in the last 3 games (forget the League Cup), as in doing absolutely nothing for an hour, is a risky strategy. We didn’t score in that last half hour against Hull. Nor in the Newcastle game and come to think of it, not in the Madrid game either. We clearly can’t score so keeping it tight for an hour will only be ok when we’ve got Sturridge. Chelsea are more than capable of scoring from a set piece or a corner so if we want anything other than a 1-0 defeat then I feel we have to take the game to them a bit more. We clearly need more than half an hour to score so we have to be careful of personnel. We don’t have many goals in the team as it is.
In truth, I fully expected Chelsea to win the league this year and as it stands my belief is only getting stronger. I’m amazed a team with such monetary value haven’t had better strikers over the last few years. It’s been their only weakness. Obviously, Costa could get injured and that changes everything but with him……..
Lot of talk these last few days about the clubs heritage, tradition and legacy from all corners of the media. It makes good copy for journos , bloggers etc. and we can all identify as our relationship with the club is emotional . However, top 4 is imperative and should rightly be the clubs priority. Tomorrows game will tell us if the right decision was made on Tueday. A win could really kick start the campaign and Tuesday may have buoyed those that took part and gave those omitted the kick up the arse needed. Looking forward to finding out
Gutmann – apologies apologies apologies. He must be hoping he gets an invite round to Brendan’s for a cuppa!! ;)
regards Lucas – why can’t he play instead of Gerrard? why can’t the status quo be our 34yr old fading legend come on for 30mins as standard? Like a bit more on that though I understand why you don’t want to touch it
Good pod
Oh I meant to put in – regards Peter Hooton’s bit about 1914 – if anyone is interested and because Liverpool is very very close to Wales, the National Library of Wales has combined with all the Uni’s in Wales to produce this online digital archive – its very good and worth a look. – http://cymru1914.org/
kyriakos, Mario, Byrne, Moreno, Mascherano, Kuyt, Kenny, R’ Moran- my team wins
Kroos, Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Marcello, Carlos, Pepe, Zidane, Ramos- Madrid might win again
I like Can, I luv Alberto, I like Lucas, infact.. I like Lallana, I will like Lazar, I like Toure is he stays leaner and mobile like that, should keep place and be the boss alongside Dejan
I love away fans,
Rodgers reverts to form and selected his buddies. Was anyone surprised?
Rodgers will be out by February, Gerrard sees off another manager because no one has the balls to drop him or tell him where to play since Rafa.