Rousseau

Walker's gleefully talking sense in his criticisms of us. 

I hate that. 

I feel we get sucked into a congested battle too easily -- surely we should be able to play around them? 

There were a couple of times we managed to play from one side of the pitch to the other quickly and space opened up. 

Liverpool, lacking tempo, were struggling to break down 10 men behind the ball, then conceded, poorly, from one counter-attack, exacerbated by terrible refereeing.

They've also got a player playing out of position at Left-back because they've got no strength in depth at Full-back.

Sound familiar?  

The difference? They're continuously moving and rotating positions up front and in midfield, and have quality up front. It's now 2-1 to Liverpool.

15 hours ago, Gaffer said:

I agree with you on Edmundson, because he's not been given enough of a chance.  Goldson however has had much more than "one brain fart".  He's been really poor since the start of this year (except for against Braga for 135 minutes).  I like Goldson and I'm not suggesting we get rid of him.  However he does need to realise that he too will suffer consequences for these poor performances.  This will help him and the team longer term.  We've got too many players who know they will continue to be selected regardless of their performance.  That's not good for our team to see or feel that.  It has disastrous consequences for a team if they don't trust one another or don't trust the manager.  He needs to be dropped for his own good.

I disagree - he's won several of our MotM polls since the start of the year. 

I'm not suggesting he's not made other mistakes, I just think we're jumping on the bandwagon after that mistake against Hamilton. 

I don't think he deserves to be dropped. Katic was much worse and Helander is still out. 

I do agree we need to draft in players for under-performing ones. I would actually prefer youngster drafted in. 

These conferences are mostly irrelevant, other than for team news etc.

We hear what we want to hear. 

If we're winning he's 'refreshingly honest and candid; he speaks well'; if we're losing he's 'spouting the same meaningless soundbites; he's lost' etc. 

I would really like to see some youngsters drafted in.

Does anyone know if there are any promising young midfielders that can come in? I just recall defenders, wingers and forwards that are too diminutive still or others that are out on loan.

Goldson is consistently one of our best performers. One brain fart doesn't mean he should be dropped.

Likewise with Edmundson; a couple of "mistakes" is not enough to suggest he should be dropped, especially when Katic was only dropped after he went through a prolonged period of poor form. Edmundson has not had a decent run of games yet. 

Tavernier has been consistently poor for a while, so a spell on the injury list could be a blessing in disguise for both him and the team. 

I'm always left starting at the screen for several seconds after reading @FatEck's words. 

I feel guilty reading it for free. 

#ManCrush.

In football and financial terms, the above gives me pleasure...

Ugh-- with the way we're going, I don't know. 

I would like a high scoring match, even if it's 4-5 to get some confidence and freedom back into these players. 

Ross County 0 - 1  Rangers

FGS Kamberi

1 hour ago, trublusince1982 said:

We have many problems but for me the formation is a main issue

 

We have a 8% conversion rate. Our answer to that is to create more chances and tweak the formation to increase chances but that does not increase conversion rates. 

 

The formation doesn't allow for an increase of players who are natural goal scorer's. We have a single focal point that is easy to defend against. 

 

The formation leads mainly to chance creation but leaves those chances at the feet of players who have zero confidence in front of goal.

 

We must change to a formation that emphasise and enhances those players who have higher conversion rates ie Morelos, kamberi, hagi and Defoe and stop playing number tens.

 

Play three forwards across the front line (kamberi, Defoe, morelos) and hagi behind, especially at home against bottom of the league. 

Three strikers up top now? Wow. 

For months it's been, 'play two up top, that's the solution!'. We played two up top last night and scored... nothing. If three strikers don't work, do we play four?

I agree we've got a conversion problem, but I disagree it's the formation that is the issue.

For me, the main reason is a lack of movement, intent and tempo. If you combine that with our clear psychological problems, it's a nightmare; our players look completely inept.  

It's between Kamberi and Aribo, for me. 

Ultimately, Kamberi didn't take his chance(s), so Aribo gets it. I thought he put himself about well, won the ball back a lot, and tried to make things happen. 

Maybe add a 'none of the above' option?

Yeah, I was not unhappy with that first half performance, although we lacked a bit of quality in the finish. 

They look terrified. 

There's nothing much to play for now, so I'd like to see some youngsters drafted in for the misfiring first-team players. 

The Colts would have won that game last night. 

9 hours ago, MacK1950 said:

Another easy one for Rouseau.

Yep... nae points. 

1 minute ago, DMAA said:

There’s something badly wrong in the psychology of the players at both end of the pitch

Yeah, I'm convinced a lot of our issues are mental; not all, but a large proportion. They are good players, capable of so much more; we've seen it.

There's no movement - our midfield are terrified, like rabbits caught in headlights. 

Again, they look like strangers.

The fans keep grumbling at Goldson, Edmundson, Davis holding the ball too long, but there's no passes to make.

That's the way it's going at the moment: every little lucky bounce goes against us. They've done nothing, yet score.

Having said that, Goldson is an idiot for dithering on the ball, there.

Kamberi continues to do well.

Davis is playing well, too. 

We've played well, but lacking a bit of quality on the finish.

I'm not displeased.

I'm firmly in the 'formation-isn't-the-issue' camp. 

I think it started with a lack of intensity after the break, and then when the results suffered our confidence plummeted; and now we're stuck in this mire of impotence. Davis was superb during the first half of the season, dictating the play and tempo, and couldn't do anything wrong. Now, he can barely make a 5 yard pass without giving it away. That's not down to the formation.

We do have an issue of not getting options off the bench: we stick with the same line-ups through the bad form. They deserved to be dropped but I sort of understand why he doesn't change too often: I don't think we have the options off the bench -- at least not in the same system. 

Polster could come in for Tavernier, but he's generally not as good and Tavernier's the captain: you very rarely drop your captain. A change in Captaincy would be best, IMO: I think Jack, Goldson or even McGregor have better leadership qualities than Tavernier. Tavernier's captaincy was based on his exceptional injury record and good form. 

I would like to see a different formation. Gerrard has used 3-4-1-2 at Liverpool Youths. To be honest, I don't see it happening and even if it did, we would still have the same issues if our players can't get up for it.

One tactical change I'd like to see is a better use of one of our #8s (Jack and Arfield most recently). Gerrard does like the 5-5 structure (5 defending, 5 attacking), which is standard across Europe, so it's not too much of an issue. However, domestically, I think one of our #8s should occupy higher positions. I think leaving 4 back is enough to pass around any press and defend the counter. A more advanced #8 between the lines would give more passing options. 

Gilmour absolutely bossed that midfield. Superb. 

4 minutes ago, Rousseau said:

With the injuries it's a good opportunity to try something different. 

 

I think Kamara will be drafted in -- He's had a wee break, anyway. 

 

Davis needs a break. 

 

I'd like to see a front two.

 

Gerrard was known for a 3-4-1-2 / 3-4-2-1 with the Liverpool Youths, so: 

 

Kamberi - Morelos

 

Hagi

 

Barisic - Kamara - Aribo - Tavernier

 

Edmundson - Katic - Goldson

 

McGregor

Of course, these changes count for nothing if the players don't pull their finger out!

With the injuries it's a good opportunity to try something different. 

I think Kamara will be drafted in -- He's had a wee break, anyway. 

Davis needs a break. 

I'd like to see a front two.

Gerrard was known for a 3-4-1-2 / 3-4-2-1 with the Liverpool Youths, so: 

Kamberi - Morelos

Hagi

Barisic - Kamara - Aribo - Tavernier

Edmundson - Katic - Goldson

McGregor