I'm not going to scout through the previous dozen pages for all the over-reactions. I remember when we had the cheek to lose 2-1 at Spurs and reaction to that to know well what will have been written.
My reaction from a no doubt slightly more positive viewpoint:
We didn't start for an hour, they weren't that great either. My feeling is that chief amongst the reasons for our poor play was an over determination to play it out from the back, ineffective displays from Downing and Allen, and the selection of Sterling which was IMHO a mistake there.
If Manchester City come sniffing around again for Agger, we should sell him for big money and buy somebody who defends better. Both goals yesterday were very poor, and we need a centre half who does what centre halves are supposed to do.
Andre Wisdom is going to be a fine player. In time, he may even be that centre half I'm talking about. Sterling already is a fine player, but he's currently become bogged down in doing stuff which although being laudible (tracking back etc), has taken away his youthful determination to take people on. He had opportunities in the first half yesterday to go at people and ask questions, he didn't take them.
Stewart Downing unfortunately isn't going to be good enough. If we can get 6-8 million, we should take it.
Joe Allen and Lucas together doesn't really work with the rest of our team. Given they are both supposed to be defensive midfielders, we concede far too many chances with them together, and create little. My guess is that the manager is going to have to pick one of them, my preference would be comfortably for Allen. In the second half yesterday I thought he was very good, whil I still don't think Lucas is anywhere near his best. He never was quick, but right now he looks like a carthorse.
Daniel Sturridge really does look like a very good player indeed in a red shirt. He's instantly got chemistry with Suarez and Gerrard our other best two players, and it looks like he's going to score heavily for us. Well done to the manager for buying him. Equally, it's great to see Fabio Borini back. I stand by my prediction that he will look like a very good signing before too long.
I still believe despite the fact that we lost away to the team that is beating everyone at the moment and is a mile clear in the league, that we are improving and are coming together. I am 100% bhind the manager and what he is trying to do, and I now think we will finishj inside the top six this season, our best finish for four seasons. I hope the owners don't pay too much mind to the forums and those who completely over-react each time we don't win.
Logged