Experience is the name we give to making our mistakes.

One of the best predictors of success is the ability to improve your performance through learning – after all it’s not how you start that’s important compared to how you end. This is an important lesson for a new manager and new owners at our club.

Looking at our rivals, they appear to be making the same mistakes as they have done the past few seasons. Chelsea, once again, have gone against the manager’s wishes by selling one of their stars to a direct rival and they have failed to bring in replacements to improve an aging team. Apart from Cech, Arsenal have done their usual of targeting attractive midfielders rather than addressing their deficiencies. City have stuck with Pellegrini and have targeted more flavour-of-the-month players including a £50 million hippy-crack smoking forward. United are again throwing vast amounts of money at the problem – last year they succeeded as our challenge fell apart with Sturridge injured but, had he been fit, they would have been in some financial difficulty.

Are we repeating our mistakes? I would argue not – we appear to be trying to address them. As I see it, the main complaints from last season were:

1.   We did not have enough attacking options in the side and consequently our challenge ran out of steam when Coutinho and Sterling did. This season we have signed players who provide more goal threat and can treat whatever Sturridge provides as a bonus.

2.   We were vulnerable to teams pressing our backline as we struggled to pass it out. This season we have got Big Ben as a decent outball and we are playing more directly rather than putting ourselves under pressure. In addition we have hired Sean O’Driscoll to improve our ball retention which – if anyone saw Doncaster play – is one of his specialities.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHoj1nCIDQE


3.   New players and European commitments meant we did not have as much time to coach the players between matches – this was an important advantage for us two seasons ago. Solution – we have hired coaches who can take more of the day-to-day training from Brendan.

4.   We missed out on some of our first targets in the transfer window. This season we have paid over the odds to get our targets secured early.

5.   The manager did not have anyone to discuss tactics with during the game – this season we have the experienced Gary Mac and SOD who he is in constant conversation with during the game to give him another perspective.

6.   We lacked physicality and energy to press consistently and therefore left big gaps in the middle of the pitch – Benteke, Firmino, Milner, Can no wprovide those things.

7.   We were too naïve in our play – for me this is the biggest one and one of the major things we lost when Suarez left. We need better gamesmanship, to be crafty when needed and to use the referee as other big teams do. So far we have managed to see out two scrappy 1-0 wins and that bodes well for our improved game management. Both times we have grown into the game the longer it has gone on and it’s a skill we desperately need if we are gong to be in the mix.


Obviously as the season goes on more weaknesses will come to light as they do during any campaign. The question is whether we will be able to identify and rectify those things quicker than our rivals do.

With the squad at our disposal it would be interesting to hear people’s views on the key things we need to improve.

Good topic Hollywood and initially the main thing I want to see is is keeping this solid displays up while integrating the new players into the side.

Guess I'd have to see a few more games to see how we're really set up, at the mo it's quite scrappy and we don't seem to be able to change, control tempo or retain the ball which isn't very impressive as far as all the coaching aspects go. it looks like a load of our players putting in a ton of effort constantly when I'm sure things could be done more efficiently than whacking the ball long or giving the ball away so cheaply.

Guess I'd have to see a few more games to see how we're really set up, at the mo it's quite scrappy and we don't seem to be able to change, control tempo or retain the ball which isn't very impressive as far as all the coaching aspects go. it looks like a load of our players putting in a ton of effort constantly when I'm sure things could be done more efficiently than whacking the ball long or giving the ball away so cheaply.

A quality DLPM.

It's been a constant complaint that we haven't invested in a DM since the time Rafa was here - although Brendan obviously utilised Stevie as a DLPM.

Is that a weakness though? It's clear that he doesn't believe in the specialisation of the midfield into DM/DLPM/Box-to-Box and prefers having three interchangeable players who rely on the team press.

It's a shame that Lucas has lost his pace otherwise he would have been perfect for the role.

great points with perspective, i love people that have perspective and are able to give us more of a medium to long term look at how we're progressing. it was clearly so important that we had some more seniority in the coaching set up, better men to work with BR and the talent he has on offer. men who can bounce ideas back and forth and even offer plans B and C, which we've never had. there is nothing wrong with having multiple plans, of course. we can't just "death by football" everyone as we have figured out - BR has already seen most of the highs and lows in his short time at the club playing his style - now he is evolving just like the team and the coaching panel. i am excited, for one!

It is vital that we keep a steady pace and we don't lag behind the rest of the contenders until Xmas time-early January part of the race as we did in the last two seasons mainly due to the reasons HB stressed (IMO this interval's point dropping in 2013/14 and 2014/15 season cost us the league title and the top four respectively).



 

yip all good points. cheers.

1.   We did not have enough attacking options in the side and consequently our challenge ran out of steam when Coutinho and Sterling did. This season we have signed players who provide more goal threat and can treat whatever Sturridge provides as a bonus.

Point of note: We did have the attacking options available to us last season, Rodgers simply either mishandled them or refused to play them. Balotelli, regardless of what you think of him as a player or even a person for that matter, was constantly played in a manner that simply not conducive to getting the most out of him. We played him as a lone striker, never playing to his strengths when it was obvious to all that it was just not working. Similarly, Borini was not played in the majority of games last season despite being available for them and done so for no other reason than as punishment for daring to want to fight for his place.

I don't necessarily disagree with your post, I just thought it was important to make this point.

I've been pleased with our defensive improvements, although there is still a lot more to realise as they begin to gel. the midfield is physically stronger, and that needed sorting, so well done there. We are still under confident in the striker dept' or we would be starting with 2 up top at Anfield, against the likes of Bournemouth. Or perhaps it's a lack of confidence in the back line, so he needed an extra man in midfield to cover, thereby sacrificing a second striker.vOur link up play, midfield to striker, is still very slow and indecisive. That will no doubt improve as the lads get used to each others game, as long as Brendan is ready to make the changes when things aren't working. Up to now, including the back end of last season, he hasn't.
We should see a marked difference this year with the players we now have available, even though we've started pretty poorly. 3 Points don't always mean the game was a success. We may get a better idea against the arse, just how much we've improved, if the right side is selected to start, and everyone puts in a good shift. Perhaps 3 pre games is a bit to soon to tell, but we've gotta perform a lot better going forward than we have up to now.

It's been a constant complaint that we haven't invested in a DM since the time Rafa was here - although Brendan obviously utilised Stevie as a DLPM.

Is that a weakness though? It's clear that he doesn't believe in the specialisation of the midfield into DM/DLPM/Box-to-Box and prefers having three interchangeable players who rely on the team press.

It's a shame that Lucas has lost his pace otherwise he would have been perfect for the role.

It's fatal for BR not to believe and not to recognize that we needed a quality DMF. AM and DM they are different beast altogether. Masch would have taken the ball into the opposition box and he would be lost after that and we have seen that many times before. The same goes for Cou, he could track back with his fastest 150m dash and he would be lost after that.

Did BR actually see how many times the Stoke and Bournemouth players went across just outside our box, looking for openings. They know too well we don't have a quality DM to patrol those areas.

Not sure whether BR realises that a DM is as dangerous as an AM. A DM could immediately switch play from defensive to offensive mode. The nearest player in that mould is Lucas but sadly speed is not his greatest asset.

There is only one Mascherano and I've seen him F**k up big style loads but he's still quite good yeah, so who are these DM's everyone wants? Sick of hearing the term really.
Put Lucas on against Arsenhole and he's still the best at that role in the Premier.
Who are these Defensive midfielders everyone is going on about? Please inform me.


Another question, who is the best Defensive midfielder ever?

Point of note: We did have the attacking options available to us last season, Rodgers simply either mishandled them or refused to play them. Balotelli, regardless of what you think of him as a player or even a person for that matter, was constantly played in a manner that simply not conducive to getting the most out of him. We played him as a lone striker, never playing to his strengths when it was obvious to all that it was just not working. Similarly, Borini was not played in the majority of games last season despite being available for them and done so for no other reason than as punishment for daring to want to fight for his place.

I don't necessarily disagree with your post, I just thought it was important to make this point.

Borini had chances, but his last one I think he came on, and git himself send off almost straight away. Idiot. That was him finishd at the club I think.

Another weakness we have failed to address is manager - player relations.

Brendan seems to have fallen out with a huge number of players - not just the likes of Balotelli but Lucas too.

Normally that's quite a bad sign - hopefully it's just because of the large number of deals we have done resulting in us needing a high turnover in the team and now things will settle but it's something i am concerned about.

Another question, who is the best Defensive midfielder ever?

Objectively gotta be Lothar Mattheus.

Subjectively it's Graeme Souness for me.

Objectively gotta be Lothar Mattheus.

Subjectively it's Graeme Souness for me.

always though mattheus was better when he got forward. Souness was a hero of mine cos he was a right b***ard plus his bit in Boys from the Blackstuff is class

Lucas is still our best DM why he's consistently left out is beyond me remember last season Rogers brought Lucas back and we went on that 11 game unbeaten run although it all went pear shape in the end wasn't down to Lucas but Rogers I think Lucas gives the team a better balance at the back and we shall need our team working hard and in unison at Arsenal and we'll need Lucas there.

Point of note: We did have the attacking options available to us last season, Rodgers simply either mishandled them or refused to play them.

Good point and something many if us debated last season but I think we've learned from that.

It's clear the way this summer has went that Brendan has no time or no use for a number of players and there if them were strikers we had last season. Now he may well have cut his nose off to spite his face last season but at least we have learned from that and bought players, especially strikers, he wants and he will use.

Another question, who is the best Defensive midfielder ever?

Fernando Redondo.

Point of note: We did have the attacking options available to us last season, Rodgers simply either mishandled them or refused to play them. Balotelli, regardless of what you think of him as a player or even a person for that matter, was constantly played in a manner that simply not conducive to getting the most out of him. We played him as a lone striker, never playing to his strengths when it was obvious to all that it was just not working. Similarly, Borini was not played in the majority of games last season despite being available for them and done so for no other reason than as punishment for daring to want to fight for his place.

I don't necessarily disagree with your post, I just thought it was important to make this point.

I think when he says 'didn't' he doesn't mean it in terms of quantity. Sure we had players to cover, Lambert, Balotelli, Borini... But the 'didn't' was more a reference to quality. We didn't have any quality options in that area and now we do. I mean do you have:

Sterling, Lambert, Balotelli, Borini
or
Benteke, Firminho, Ings, Origi

One is three duds and a c**t. The other at the very least talent waiting to explode. So I do think saying 'we had Borini and Balo' is a bit of a moot point.

Are we repeating our mistakes? I would argue not – we appear to be trying to address them. As I see it, the main complaints from last season were:

1.   We did not have enough attacking options in the side and consequently our challenge ran out of steam when Coutinho and Sterling did. This season we have signed players who provide more goal threat and can treat whatever Sturridge provides as a bonus.

2.   We were vulnerable to teams pressing our backline as we struggled to pass it out. This season we have got Big Ben as a decent outball and we are playing more directly rather than putting ourselves under pressure. In addition we have hired Sean O’Driscoll to improve our ball retention which – if anyone saw Doncaster play – is one of his specialities.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHoj1nCIDQE


3.   New players and European commitments meant we did not have as much time to coach the players between matches – this was an important advantage for us two seasons ago. Solution – we have hired coaches who can take more of the day-to-day training from Brendan.

4.   We missed out on some of our first targets in the transfer window. This season we have paid over the odds to get our targets secured early.

5.   The manager did not have anyone to discuss tactics with during the game – this season we have the experienced Gary Mac and SOD who he is in constant conversation with during the game to give him another perspective.

6.   We lacked physicality and energy to press consistently and therefore left big gaps in the middle of the pitch – Benteke, Firmino, Milner, Can no wprovide those things.

7.   We were too naïve in our play – for me this is the biggest one and one of the major things we lost when Suarez left. We need better gamesmanship, to be crafty when needed and to use the referee as other big teams do. So far we have managed to see out two scrappy 1-0 wins and that bodes well for our improved game management. Both times we have grown into the game the longer it has gone on and it’s a skill we desperately need if we are gong to be in the mix.


Obviously as the season goes on more weaknesses will come to light as they do during any campaign. The question is whether we will be able to identify and rectify those things quicker than our rivals do.

With the squad at our disposal it would be interesting to hear people’s views on the key things we need to improve.

Nice OP and some good points in here fella, I agree with the majority of them bar a couple. Certainly as far as the transfer window goes, there was no messing, all of our business done early and integrated into the side with a whole pre-season behind most of them and it means we can sit back and enjoy the likes of the mans and spuds scrambling for players with the deadline looming. I would also agree with point 7 about our nativity at times under Rodgers, certainly we have been much less gung-ho and cavalier in the two games so far.

I'm not sure I agree on your point about buying the players we need to press the ball, I can't say I've seen us press during the first two games, I've watched Lallana and Milner have a crack at it but I've yet to see Big Ben really put his shopping down and make an effort to close and harass defenders. Maybe that is still to come but I suspect we will press less as a team this year than any of the previous three seasons. I'm also unsure as to how much of an upgrade we have in terms of opinions and assistance on the sidelines, I'm sure Pascoe (despite all the piss taking) was able to give some good opinions on the bench and I know we all love Gary Mac but his record as a manager since hanging up his boots is pretty poor. That's not to say he isn't an upgrade but I'm not sure we can measure it.

I would also agree with point 7 about our nativity at times under Rodgers, certainly we have been much less gung-ho and cavalier in the two games so far.

Having now got three games under our belt there are a couple of other weaknesses we have addressed that give me real hope for the future.

8.) Midfield squad depth. In comparison to last season we now have a number of different ways to configure our central two or three that give us options against different teams. First  half against Arsenal was a fantastic example of how to play them - all things being equal we should have gone into the dressing room a goal or two ahead but we have the potential to play in a completely different way. Since so many of the new signings appear to be producing the best performances on the pitch, there is a good chance that will prove to be an advantage over the course of a whole season. Looking around at the rest of the league there's no reason we cannot challenge for the big four.

9) We are managing Sturridge's injury better. Because we now have options up front there is absolutely no need to rush him back - in fact any game we get from him can be taken as a bonus. But if we crack the conundrum and he returns for a significant option of the season then our team could go anywhere. Goals per game Daniel Sturridge scored 36 goals in his first fifty matches - that's better than anyone in our history for top-flight goals* - better than Rush, Fowler, Torres or Suarez.

And he can form a brilliant partnership with Benteke. As with Luis both offer so much threat that they draw in defenders and create space for each other. Not only that but the team hasn't capitalised on running onto Benteke's knockdowns which Sturridge has the exact natural game to exploit running behind defenders. Looking at the other top teams who has a better set of strikers (when fit) than we do? Are there any situations in which this advantage might prove decisive in the season?

We have tightened up and the back and have the potential for many more goals in comparison to last season. We could go anywhere.





*honourable mention for George Allan who scored 41 in 50 in 1895-97 though lots were in Division 2.