JJD_LCFC

Correct, the starting 11 I don't have any complaints with, that is the best side for me we have (without Maddison) so 4-1-4-1 not a problem with. And we did start the game well. I would use that same starting 11 v Everton personally. But after half time when Chelsea made changes and were on top and especially when we were losing the game surely you have to change / adapt and turn the game in our favour. Like for like subs was a waste of time. Rudiger and Zouma were so comfortable and we didn't have 1 clear shot all game. I get what you mean and maybe good practice was the incorrect term. But I still feel we should have tried a new formation or done something different to give ourselves a chance of getting something from the game. I think as fans we could have understood in the last 10 minutes if we played 2 upfront at least we could see the logic behind it. Persisting with what was not working is poor from management. Just my opinion of course but I could not see us forcing Caballero into making a save. Caballero is a back up gk and not overly great at that, so for him to play and not even test him once is poor, both from Rodgers (formation / tactics) and the Players on the pitch. This is where a change to system could have worked. I wouldn't change the system to 352 in a QF or another big game to start a match. But when we are losing and not looking like scoring, no creativity in final 3rd surely you would think he could have changed formation to give us a chance. Having another striker on the bench and not playing him for at least 10-15 minutes is poor management. Start of the season Rodgers did bring Morgan on and go 3 at the back with Chilwell and Ricardo. Admittedly no Ricardo but Albrighton could have gone there or JJ. The team do know how to play this formation, and I think we beat Newcastle at their place with this formation with Kelechi and Perez up top. I guess it is just frustrating watching us put a consistent run of damp squib performances together, especially when we started the season incredibly well and in good positions in 2 cups. To see where we are now is unrecognisable.

As you said options are very limited. Rodgers is highly regarded and we paid 8million for him. He is on a big contract, I can not see our owners removing him at all. How we started the season was incredible and exactly the football I am so proud to watch Leicester play. His failure in January to not sign anyone was a big problem, and his tactics have been woeful for a while. However, I can not think of a better manager out there though for a long term position. We could get a quick fix and get the initial manager bounce we seem to have every new manager. Do we go back to Pearson who seemed to fit our club well, or try new and go Howe but then he looks like getting Bournemouth relegated. I would keep Rodgers, but he needs to analyse his own performances as well as the teams as his decisions and game management have been baffling.

(Sorry to bring this up again) Just an example of Rodgers being stubborn I think we saw in yesterdays game. He started a strong 11 which was good to see for a cup game. However his changes again only are position for position and hoping the subs conjure up something different. I do feel we missed a chance and he could have tried 352 and put pressure against Rudiger and Zouma who looked very comfortable dealing with Vardy on his own. Also, Vardy is not going to play every minute of every game as we have 2 - 3 per week, so the chance to play Kelechi and Perez and tried them together could have been good practice, for when Vardy can not play and we wanted to try a new system. Disappointing to lose of course, but I do feel in defeat we can still learn something and try new ideas, to change the game in our favour for example, and that is what disappointed me more than the result yesterday. I could not see us creating a decent chance in the 4-1-4-1 system and to persist with that for the entire game was a wasted opportunity.

I will agree with a lot of your comments here. However he is not a winger. I am not sure at all why we signed Perez to play him RW. His best position is just off Vardy or another striker. He has zero attributes as a winger, but play him just behind a striker there is a player there who will do something. 10 goals a season for Newcastle suggests that. I do blame our recruitment here though not Perez. Surely we should have signed a RW to play RW position.

He is showing exactly what you are saying unfortunately. I would say look at Traore at Wolves, he created chances and often final pass was woeful. Barnes with a bit of time will be very good for us. Issue is will he get the time as we need results now.

Valid point however as fans we go off only what we can see on the pitch. Start of season and maybe due to the new manager bounce we were incredible. Since Christmas we have been shocking and Rodgers doesn't do anything to turn the games in our favour. Fans will always question a manager and rightly we have our opinion. Scotland is very comfortable as there is only 1 team really. Now he has to make changes, coach and he doesn't seem capable.

Agreed, Rodgers takes too long to make changes, and today in an important cup game does nothing. Clearly could see we had no chance of scoring with that set up and never once looked to change formation and play 2 up top.

Another inept performance from Rodgers. He was outdone by Lampard today. They made 3 changes to improve his side and at half time and we do nothing. Again when losing there was no ideas or even looking like we could get a goal. Why not use 5 subs, why not try a new formation when 4-1-4-1 is not working. He could have gone 352 and played both Vardy and Kelechi up front. Rodgers doesn't make changes to impact a game which is extremely worrying. Anyone can put a teams best 11 on the pitch at kick off, top manager and coaching staff are able to make changes during the game to win. Extremely worrying..

You might be right are the set pieces a Brendan Directive. I would guess Rodgers organises these the way he wants as a manager, but of course I do not know this to be the case. It is highly frustrating watching us have numerous corners and know we will usually have to defend a counter attack from our own set piece. I would like us to try something different, just vary it up once or twice to keep opponents guessing, this might create space in the box for when we do cross. Playing out from the back I like, its a great way to play. However look at how we play as we all get to watch every game, and compare us with Wolves. How many times do we pass Evans to soynucu to a full back. This is too slow and pedestrian. Compare with Wolves today, Coady gets the ball and doesn't look for another cb, instead penetrating pass to a wing back who is in a structure. This completely unbalances the opponents. That is coaching.. I agree he has played a few formations this year 4-1-4-1 / 3-5-2 / 4-2-3-1 with Mendy and Ndidi, usually preferring 4-1-4-1. our approach doesn't have to be route 1, start of season we were using quick combination play, 3rd man running, full backs pushing forward to support, more than 1 player in the penalty box making runs. I dont understand the change to our more laboured approach since Christmas. It has not been a short dip in form since Covid break. Its a prolonged 15 games where we have been extremely dull and at the moment we are 15th in the league (on current form), which for me is no way near good enough for our starting 11. I definitely agree he posses the knowledge and knowhow as a coach, he is very highly regarded in the game and far better than myself as just a fan of our club. However I do fear when things actually matter his own stubbornness or, that maybe be the wrong term, something seems to go wrong. We are not the first side that his teams seem to lose a lead, Liverpool miles ahead and lost the league, we were 13 points at Christmas as well and look like losing that. A plan B doesn't have to be route 1, as we dont have the players for this. But he needs to make some changes when the games are not going our way or changes to go and win the game. And not just like for like Gray or Perez for Barnes for example.

I do agree fully behind Rodgers, he does have a good coaching reputation even though I think he can do better. Do you think there is more too it, as we always start well under new managers and tail of massively, Shakespeare, Puel and now Rodgers. We looked great first few months of all these managers and roughly Christmas time we dropped massively.

I guess I would refer to style of play, set pieces, playing out from the back in a set pattern + no plan B . I know managers have to have their own philosophy and for example Guardiola will never change his system, but when you have class players you can get away with that. I think Rodgers is very stubborn in these regards and needs to adapt, on occasions. I would like to see some varied corners + set piece ideas. Look at Brighton goal, even if just to keep opponents guessing and thinking instead of guaranteeing the ball will aim for Soyuncu / Evans or Ndidi and we hope one of them win it. Playing out from the back is a great idea but you might agree we have looked laboured since Christmas with the ball and pose very little threat because we play side to side continuously. There doesn't seem to be any forward runs or penetration anymore. We seem to pass with very little options, and Rodgers won't change. Which leads to a lot of high crosses in the box. Which I cannot reason why we do this. We only have Vardy as an outlet and I can not remember the last header he won or Kelechi. Surely we look for low crosses or cut backs for a shot. Martial goal from Wan Bissaka as an example, give your small strikers a chance, why play high crosses against the Watford defence and Brighton who are all 6ft2 or more.

Before Christmas I would completely agree with you. However since Christmas you can not argue we have been abysmal. The stats show we would be 15th in the league. We do have a very good side, first 11 for sure. However the bench is poor. When you are fighting for something you play your best 11. Man United didnt change their team and they win comfortably. Rodgers is very stubborn in his ideas, which I guess a manager has to be. But I think we have to be worried that his Liverpool side failed so badly when miles ahead and we look like doing the same. If you asked me would I have taken 6th before the season started of course I would have. However we know probably better than anyone that how you end a season can bode so well for you the next year. (relegation survival to league champions) if we have a current record for 15th place in the league signs are not good for next year, and add in European football with a small squad. Fans are right to questions Rodgers. Team selection and subs as we will any manager. I can not remember the high pressing, quick interchanging passing, exciting attacking football where we started the season so well. Let alone a Vardy goal or even shot, Maddison assist in open play, a header from a corner I have to go back to Wilf second game of season for that I think v Chelsea. Why not try a different corner routine like Brighton v Arsenal, change it up slightly at least. We have laboured to a side who pass the ball for the sake of passing with extremely little purpose or attacking threat. For a few games this will happen. But since Christmas there is something wrong.

Chelsea do have probably harder fixtures Man United and Wolves. We never do things the easy way, 5 wins guarantees us champions league. I hope you are correct of course! I just think we will miss out by a couple of points. United did great getting Fernandes in January. I was so annoyed we didn't strengthen. Always improves the hunger and drive of the team when a new decent player arrives.

Its interesting Man United have not rested any players and play full strength when they can. I genuinely think we should do the same, at home to Brighton start your best 11. Get a lead and then can make subs. We are not in a position to rotate as we don't have strong enough bench.

I agree with your assessment on the fixtures. Bournemouth and Sheff United we should win, I would add Palace too. They will be on their holidays by then I feel. Arsenal a draw. Everton I think we will lose, Then United and Spurs incredibly tough. I think 3 wins, 1 draw and 3 defeats in the run in. Just missing out on champions league.

I think you are correct, but I do fear United will win 6 of the 7 remains games. The way they have played tonight and second half v spurs. They are flying. Pogba and Fernandes together, front 3 look dangerous. Their fixtures are pretty comfortable. They do have 4 sides near the bottom fighting for points though but I can see the better sides winning without home / away advantage. 5 wins and we are guaranteed champions league, we never do things easy!

You are correct, we were definitely. However I would say for Gray that after he came off the team had a known set up of 4141. When Gray was on the pitch, in the first half and until him being subbed. I still couldn't tell you what formation we played. Or what role Maddison was supposed to do. Kelechi was he a striker or winger. It is easy to blame Gray, but we were all poor, Kasper great penalty save and then his distribution again, volley to Chilwell straight out of play. Gray was not helped by a poor tactical system and a complete lack of forward passing or movement to receive the ball from any player. Watch any moment until this substitution there was 0 movement from any player. Another alarming point, we had one minute to go in the first half we had the ball and passed it amongst the defenders until half time. We were better when Gray came off but I think there are reasons why. He looked great against Watford + one of our better players tonight (that is not saying much I agree)

Can not believe this. He grabbed a lad by the throat, right under the referees nose who as usual did nothing... Absolute joke of a decision.

Apparently after 100k per week - could be reasonable value as no buying fee. Upgrade on Gray and can play on both wings. Would start him ahead of Perez, for a free transfer worth an option I would have thought. Can always sell him after a season if not working out so won't lose money.

Don't see any faults with this transfer. Tarkowski knows the league, solid defender. Where we have lacked I think is from set pieces in both boxes as we really only have Ndidi over 6ft, maybe Evans as well. He can be like Maguire for us. Provides good competition for Cags and Evans. Admittedly tactics might need to change as he is fairly slow so might need to defend deeper than with Soyuncu. If he does well great chance of England game time with the current English central defenders and we know first hand how good England performances can raise the price of players. Rodgers will bring out the best in him. If the transfer is for reasonable fee 20-25million think very solid option.

Iniesta for me from abroad. Always felt he was an incredible player to watch. Glides past opponents and passing was incredible. For us - grew up watching Neil Lennon. What a player he was, gutted when he moved to Celtic. Premier League player - Scholes. Always looked 1 step ahead of everyone he played against.

The issue I have is middle aged white managers who have been in the game forever without ever really doing well always seem to get jobs, whereas a Chris Powell or Chris Houghton has one bad stint, if at all, and that is it. Alex McLeish + Steve Mclaren for example. Always get employed at decent levels in the game yet barely do any good.

58 For Maddison yet 91 for Mount.. Do the writers actually watch any football at all? Guess it shows if play for a big club you are valued more. Also shows if play for England vast increase in price looking at Rice. He is not a bad player but 1 mill less than Maddison.. No chance.

problem is if they sold him for 70-80million last year, they would pretty much get relegated. And then the club lose that amount just for being in the premier league. They need him to stay but for him he needs a move to a better side. I would definitely take him here. Coming into his peak as a player would help Barnes, Vardy in a front 3. With Brendan as his coach, could be a huge signing and statement of intent to our team.

Sign a new contract and then loan him out, ideally to a championship side. We need to loan a lot more of our U23s out for first team experience. No point them playing in a league no one cares about.