Season 2014/15

[Tes]

224 is just a fickle cheerleader for the current regime.

In fairness to Edward he's not totally blinded to things:

Poor tactical approach, consistently, in big away games. Losing the way we did today, though, is just bad coaching.

Our scouts had the whole world to look at for 16 million, and the only forward they could offer was Mario Balotelli?

Seriously, if that's the best the coaching department could do, then they were either messing with Rodgers for overruling them on something, or they are actually incompetent.

[Tes]

They have very high opinions of Eddie Howe, so I am told.

Wasn't he the guitarist in Yes?

At least it isn't Don Howe, I suppose.

It all feels like an (always been) small club wanting and hoping to be a big club, or a club like PNE or The Wanderers that were dominant at the end of the 19th century talking about being so again a 100+ years later.

It goes back to what's been said about strategic appointments in strategically crucial and pivotal positions within the club.
The top clubs are powerful on and off the field, and for a reason - absolute top quality in the most important and pivotal positions, manager/coach and CEO/president.

[Tes]

So Arsenal await us in the FA Cup Final if we can navigate a way past Villa.

I'm glad it's them, and not Reading. We'd start as underdogs, but knowing we'd have to be at the absolute top of our game, so there'd be no chance of over-confidence like there could have been with Reading.

[Ed]

We've become the recent incarnation of Spurs, and could, more chillingly, become the Aston Villa of the O'Neill era (which we're not far off), and then even worse, beyond the O'Neill era.

I agree entirely with that assessment Tes.

I'm also noticing an elephant-sized hole in the current model.

Unlike United where Fergie kept a strict balance between experience
and youth (And though the youth contributed, it was the likes of Cantona
who ultimately got the results when they mattered most.)

After Stevie goes, there's no one really left... it's incredible, absolutely
unbelievable and this is why the Villa analogy is not far off.

On top of our problem attracting quality players from Europe, are we now going
to go scrambling into the transfer market looking for Poulsens?

There is no way you win leagues or prosper in Europe without this balance
and it's not a problem easily solved. It can't be talked away, it's a f**king
generational thing resulting from 5 years of short term planning and mismanagement.

[Martinmarx]

Embarrassing first half, embarrasing attitude, embarrassing everyfuckingthing.

Another big game, another get-everyfucking-thing-wrong by Rodgers. Markovic? Gerrard? Sterling? 3-4-3?

Utterly and completely outplayed by a team playing for survival in the PL.

I feel ashamed our manager can't get our team to peform better in a game like this.

Congrats Villa to the place in the final.

[the dude abides]

half-time

1-1

jumpers for goal posts.

end to end.

215 million spent in three years.....why not spend 50 quid, like Villa, and be at this same level.

So easy for Villa, push up on Liverpool and put the reds on the back-foot......that totally ruins Rodger's passing system.

[the dude abides]

ASI is walking on the forum touchline.

No doubt he will ignore Martin's half-time analysis......and if he does post, it will be to fire abuse at mine.

Such a predictable drive-by poster.

[Edward224]

Today we showed no passion, no heart, no urgency, no tempo, no intelligence.

YET ANOTHER big game and Brendan Rodgers fails to deliver. I mean I can write and essay on how angry I am - but I'll leave that to Martin as we've been chatting on facebook all afternoon - so his thoughts will mirror mine.

So many players missing in action. However Joe Allen wasn't one of them yet Rodgers takes him off and leaves Gerrard on.

For me its Rodgers out. Too many big games and too many failures.

In all my time of watching football I have never seen an Aston Villa team out play anyone like they did to us this afternoon and Brendan has to take the blame for that. How on earth we could not manage to match their passion, their intensity. I'm sorry Brendan but times up. You have to go.

[Martinmarx]

So another LFC manager reign comes to an end. 3 years during which we have stabilized the club's economy, got a sound wage structure and build a somewhat talented squad. Thanks Rodgers for last spring. It was magic but you probably know yourself this club's too big for you. Outmaneuvered by Tim Sherwood says it all you really do not understand the basics of this game.

I have watched English footy for 37 years and NEVER seen Villa outplay an opponent like this. This, a game, which our manager labelled a "springboard into future success" (or something to that effect). I don't know what success the future holds for this club but it sure as hell won't include our current manager.

Firmly back to square one. Firmly in the Rodgers-out camp! 

[Ageing Stick Insect]

I agree with you Edward. He just can't raise their game when it matters. Every pass was to a player stood still. No movement up front to confuse the opposition. And how many times was the formation changed? Too many.

He doesn't have the required skills to get the best out of the players he has. Or the tactical acumen to out-think the opposition manager. Sherwood is hardly Mourhino.

Maybe the owners will see that and act in the summer. He can't say he hasn't had a fair crack of the whip.

[the dude abides]

YET ANOTHER big game and Brendan Rodgers fails to deliver.

For me its Rodgers out. Too many big games and too many failures. 

I'm sorry Brendan but times up. You have to go.

welcome over to the dark side, Edward.

Yes, to be so outplayed, and out-thought, is embarrassing.

And to be so out-classed after spending 215 million quid these past three years.  Villa have spent one quarter of that - some 54 million - in the same three year time frame.

Rodgers time is up.

[Edward224]

What's more disgraceful is that Villa wanted it more than we did. That is unacceptable for me in a cup semi final.

[the dude abides]

What's more disgraceful is that Villa wanted it more than we did. That is unacceptable for me in a cup semi final.

exactly.

But I was perplexed to see Gerrard in the starting line-up.

Were injuries/suspensions forcing Gerrard into the frame?

Seeing him start, filled me with dread.

[Edward224]

We are Arsenal of 05-14 that's how I can sum it up. A purist team who focus more on playing good football than winning.

Dude Lucas was injured he would have started for sure if he was fit. But one suspects Gerrard would have started whatever...

[the dude abides]

We are Arsenal of 05-14 that's how I can sum it up. A purist team who focus more on playing good football than winning.

Dude Lucas was injured he would have started for sure if he was fit. But one suspects Gerrard would have started whatever...

ah I had forgotten about Lucas being injured.

yes, like you Edward, I suspect Gerrard was going to start regardless.

Agreed, Rodgers is all about playing entertaining football.   Liverpool were always about winning matches.

Rodgers is not, and never will be, a winner.