The angriest I've been for a long time, making Jones and Walters look like worldbeaters, the team looked totally underprepared for the game, the flaky mentality shone through yet again, 3 terrible goals, it could have been different if Luis hadn't missed that chance at 2-1 but then to give such a bad goal away straight after is unforgivable. Hasn't BR watched Stoke play ever. Pretty terrible against a tema with no skill but plenty of heart and desire and above all very well organised.
No, I don't for a second thinks BR ever watch Stoke play because he has simply played into the hands of Stoke. Why did we keep on pumping the ball into the box when they've 3 6 footers defenders, I just can't figure out what BR was trying to achieve. When Stoke pressed us high up the pitch, BR never shouted at the defenders to move the ball out of defence faster but allowing Agger and Skrtel to dally and wait for the clear sky before launching the ball upwards thus inviting more pressure upon them.
Common sense dictates that if you play against a physical team with 6 footers, you pass the ball fast and try to out manouvre them as they tend to be clumsy. As for Jonjo, I'm not sure whether he's the long term answer to our midfield. He may have the desire but his skills can only take him that far. He was in the box most of the time just for the sake of being there, no attempt to make a nuisance inside the box or get involved enough, always get piinned at the far post and ball watching. At least show some passion, run around more often, harass defenders and get into scoring positions.
Did BR ever work on tactics to break Stoke down, again I doubt it, it was as clear as a sky that Stoke was trying to get us away from their box by defending high up the pitch and closing us down fast in midfield. What we do, knock the ball around at half pace and our defenders took ages to lauch the ball upfield.
We can say different things all day long but we simply didn't have the quality of players in depth to bring us back to the top. When we replaced Masch with Henderson and Alonso with Allen, this is what we can come to expect. Not to mention many of our players are physically and mentally weak.
Some doubted Sturridge but I can't wait till Jan for him to come onto the pitch, he has the qualities that most don't, probably 3/4 of our squad doesn't, that is, attack with speed and aggression.
From the game itself I could see that there's no plan from BR to break down Stoke's defence, the players were lost when Stoke packed their defence. Everthing happened at the final third is at random. Perhaps BR should, for a change look at the game diffferently, the more you pack the defence, the more I'll come at you until you're exhausted and make mistakes, and discard the 5 - a side football.
