Much has been said about the match and it sounded pretty consistent where the faults were in this game. But one thing I'm disturbed is the LACK OF FIGHT in many of the players in this match. All players that puts on the shirt must give nothing less than 110%, it doesn't matter whether they are junior or senior players. 50-50 tackles must be won most if not every time, we must outrun the opposing players, we have to pressure the opponents and not the other way round, we have to win all the headers, we have to get to the ball first, we have to move faster than the opponents etc. For a change I would like to see BR team to play like big bullies combine with some pretty football and I'm sure not too many teams would fancy playing against us, starting with Stoke. They would be mentally defeated even before the match.
But, the big question is does BR posseses players of such quality? Such quality and mentality is either you have it or you don't, sadly I could see most of the players don't, hope I'm wrong here. I can only identify 4-players with such quality in the team in Stevie, Suarez, Jamie and Enrique. Feel free to add on.
Gone were the days where we had Smith, Souness, McMahon, Case, Kenny, Rush Toshack, Keegan etc (too many to mention)..... the thoughts of playing against them were terrifying. One went off next came eg. Fairclough which will pour greater misery on the opponents. Can't say about the team now, except I suspect opponents only scared of 2-players in our team; Suarez and Stevie.
We need 11-fighters and winners in the team. Stevies and Suarez sounded pretty grumpy and demanding on the pitch but these are the qualities of a winner while Enrique got more complaints on his mistakes than his fighting spirit.
The winning mentality is what BR has to drum into the minds of the younger and average players, until we get better players in, otherwise, we can expect the Stokes and Oldhams to come round and bully us. Besides that, I believe BR must show the brutal side of him, no sentiments for a poor display. Players will be dropped for a poor display while players with a consistent run of poor display will be on a shorlist for transfer, with that I'm pretty sure they'll be on their toes in every game.
One thing I like about Rafa is after a good display, he was never lavish with his praises but BR is doing the opposite that could breed complacency in players for the next game. Even after a good display, it was never good enough for Rafa.
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