Our second half performances

Game finished 5-2, we were boss!

Oh wait....

Bolt on some of that U21 second have and we're sorted.
Sterling and Alberto particularly.

really don't think it's tactical, just a lack of legs and also composure at times, the second half was where we missed Carra to push them out.

I think going into half time in all our league games comfortably being the better side and leading is playing a part in our poor, more defensive second half displays.

Some of it is in the players minds I feel.

Feel sitting back in the second half, only a single goal up, could prove costly and lose us vital league points. Which in turn could affect the side's chances of a Champion's league spot. Also do not think the defence is good enough to defend for 45 minutes against the top sides. Very risky tactics and nerve racking to watch is my honest opinion.

hopeful against Southampton we play for full 90 mins, l don't care how we play 3 points main thing

It must be some kinda record that we haven't scored in the 2nd half of any PL match this season (but still top the table)

BR on our drop in form in the 2nd half of games “We have sat down this week and looked at that. You can want to win too much, but our game has to be about not being fearful and expressing ourselves.
“I will always respect brave, courageous players.
Even if they make a mistake I will always support them if they are trying to do the right thing. I have always done that.
“To continue to get on the ball, to pass, move and open up the pitch is important. We have shown we are a force when we do that.” Rodgers doesn’t believe the drop in performance level is linked to fitness, and added:
“It is more of a mental than physical thing for me. A few weeks ago we were saying how fit all the players looked. Their condition is fine.
“But sitting back is natural sometimes. We just
need to make sure that we take calculated risks in a game because that is what gets us in front in the first place.
“The quality of our football is there, the pitch opens up, we pass and press the ball well, so we have to continue to do that throughout the game.
“Of course there comes a point when you have to close things up and see the game through, and that is something I am sure we can improve on.
“Against Manchester United we dropped too deep, too quickly. Even though we looked comfortable that was not the type of game we want to play.
“And against Swansea we were very good in the
first half but were not how I expected us to be in
the second half. After Coutinho went off we went too deep, too early.”

BR on our drop in form in the 2nd half of games “We have sat down this week and looked at that. You can want to win too much, but our game has to be about not being fearful and expressing ourselves.
“I will always respect brave, courageous players.
Even if they make a mistake I will always support them if they are trying to do the right thing. I have always done that.
“To continue to get on the ball, to pass, move and open up the pitch is important. We have shown we are a force when we do that.” Rodgers doesn’t believe the drop in performance level is linked to fitness, and added:
“It is more of a mental than physical thing for me. A few weeks ago we were saying how fit all the players looked. Their condition is fine.
“But sitting back is natural sometimes. We just
need to make sure that we take calculated risks in a game because that is what gets us in front in the first place.
“The quality of our football is there, the pitch opens up, we pass and press the ball well, so we have to continue to do that throughout the game.
“Of course there comes a point when you have to close things up and see the game through, and that is something I am sure we can improve on.
“Against Manchester United we dropped too deep, too quickly. Even though we looked comfortable that was not the type of game we want to play.
“And against Swansea we were very good in the
first half but were not how I expected us to be in
the second half. After Coutinho went off we went too deep, too early.”

Agree with every single word he says there, of course it's much easier to say how to fix it than actually do it.

Mentality is probably the hardest thing to change in a player because often they're acting on instinct rather than clear thought processes, will be very intrigued if we can start to bring out the brave/courageous side in some of the lads or if in fact they'll need replacing. It's nice to be in the position where we can begin to find out who can develop the winning mentality and who simply falls by the wayside though.

BR on our drop in form in the 2nd half of games “We have sat down this week and looked at that. You can want to win too much, but our game has to be about not being fearful and expressing ourselves.
“I will always respect brave, courageous players.
Even if they make a mistake I will always support them if they are trying to do the right thing. I have always done that.
“To continue to get on the ball, to pass, move and open up the pitch is important. We have shown we are a force when we do that.” Rodgers doesn’t believe the drop in performance level is linked to fitness, and added:
“It is more of a mental than physical thing for me. A few weeks ago we were saying how fit all the players looked. Their condition is fine.
“But sitting back is natural sometimes. We just
need to make sure that we take calculated risks in a game because that is what gets us in front in the first place.
“The quality of our football is there, the pitch opens up, we pass and press the ball well, so we have to continue to do that throughout the game.
“Of course there comes a point when you have to close things up and see the game through, and that is something I am sure we can improve on.
“Against Manchester United we dropped too deep, too quickly. Even though we looked comfortable that was not the type of game we want to play.
“And against Swansea we were very good in the
first half but were not how I expected us to be in
the second half. After Coutinho went off we went too deep, too early.”

Brendan's comments would suggest the drop is tactical rather than physical/tiredness.
So we deliberately dropped off in the second half of both United and Swansea games.

"Too deep, too soon" (Matron)

Hopefully that is the case.
It would be a lot more worrying if it was a case of overtraining and tiring in the second half of games.
I think some of it is tiredness and, in the case of Sturridge and Moses' pressing game, lack of fitness.

We probably tire so much in games because we spend most of the second half chasing shadows.
If we are dropping too deep too soon, why isn't Brendan screaming his lungs out on the touch line getting it sorted.
He seemed happy with the situation during the games, so makes me feel it was a tactic being deployed rather than instinct.

The problem is if we don't score early, we can't score. Reason for that, is that we don't have enough quality in the creative areas. Lucas doesn't provide us any attacking threat, Henderson doesn't provide loads of creativity and there's no options off of the bench that are good enough to crack open opposition defences late in the game.

The problem is if we don't score early, we can't score.

Been a problem for a long long time that one.

West Brom has to be our best 2nd half performance this season, BR said he told his players to push the tempo all game and not just from the beginning and it worked. Lets hope we now continue with this mantra and with a bit of squad rotation we have the legs in the middle to do this for a full 90.

should play second halfs first !

This is working on the basis that each game restarts the scoreline to 0-0 at half time. So if for example we’re winning 3-0 at half time but the match ends 3-2, then it’ll result in the first half winning 3-0 but the second half losing 0-2 – so essentially there’s six points available per match as opposed three.

1st half of matches v 2nd half of matches

First half; Played 28
Second half; Played 28

First half; Won 19
Second half; Won 11

First half; Drew 5
Second half; Drew 9

First half; Lost 4
Second half; Lost 8

First half; Scored 47
Second half; Scored 26

First half; Conceded 16
Second half; Conceded 19

First half; GD +31
Second half; GD +7

First half; Points 62
Second half; Points 42