Is This Good Enough To Keep Suarez?

• 

If you have anything to say on any subject, mail us at theeditor@football365.com


Sent At 22.33 On Saturday
I f***ing love football sometimes.
Neil Raines, AVFC


Sent At 22.36 On Saturday
PS I love Brad Guzan all the time
Neil Raines


The Tao Of Brendan
Now, I may be less p***ed off than my fellow 'Pool supporters at the moment because for almost as long as I've been a Reds fan (40 years or so) my second team has been Southampton, but this loss may have been just what the doctor ordered. All this nonsense about hopes for a Champions League spot, and how spectacularly Brendan Rodgers' philosophy was being adopted and incorporated by the team, had to be put to death. There is a great deal of difference between getting an excellent result, as we got last week against Spurs, and playing excellently, which we have not done (apart from some sporadic inspired moments) for some time now. There is too much quality in the side not to play some good football some of the time. But there are some glaring issues that have to be dealt with before there can be any serious talk of a return to the top four.

For instance, Joe Allen, shoulder problem or not (and incidentally, if he has a bum shoulder why is he starting instead of Lucas or even Henderson?), is pants. Instead of spunking 25 million on Brendan's old buddies Allen and Borini, and renting a midfielder in Sahin for five million more who was then rarely played and mostly out of his proper role, we should've been outbidding Spurs for Dembele. Or signing a couple of centre-halves, a decent striker or two, and a new goalkeeper. Coutinho looks a good signing, but introducing Sturridge, an obvious (or infamous) lazy, selfish, cowardly narcissist into the side, was the footballing equivalent of Europeans introducing viruses to native American aboriginals a couple of hundred years ago for which they had no immunity. It was always going to be a disaster, it was simply a matter of time for the toxic infection to become a contagion.

Our two best players, Suarez and Gerrard, are also our two hardest-working players. How will they feel over time watching Sturridge swan about the pitch pulling out of every challenge, and pouting and gesticulating when every attack doesn't ineluctably result in a chance for him? Today, from the kick-off, Suarez looked frustrated and Gerrard looked weary and discouraged. The rest of the team looked much the same. A coincidence? Perhaps. Or perhaps a hint at a broader underlying narrative whereby the team some time ago accepted that the Tao of Brendan was a farce and they've resorted to simply playing for themselves now.

Whatever the case is, there can be no illusions about this season's so-called progress. Liverpool are several quality signings away from being a European-contending club again. If Suarez bolts for Bayern we'll be even further off the pace. And with the Americans apparently signalling an intention to impose an austerity campaign, there will be no room for future mistakes in the transfer market. Brendan's Way this summer will be along a tightrope without a net. How hopeful should we feel about that I wonder?
Canuck LFC


...Another lackluster display by Liverpool and a 3-1 loss to a team which is struggling among the relegation heap.

You'd think that as a Liverpool fan that I'd be upset, I'd be fuming, that I'd be mad and yelling profanities at the top of my lungs over such a dismal performance, but I'm not. I'm not angry at all because I've become so used to seeing the modern Liverpool bottle it when the pressure is on, when the team absolutely need a convincing performance. The one exception to this is the Carling Cup win of 2012 where even the most ardent Liverpool supporter will agree that LFC were amazingly fortunate to eke past Cardiff City on penalties.

Every time there are murmurs of getting a European spot or getting close to a trophy the team just collapses in spectacular fashion, there is no self-belief at times and the team just seem to wallow in self-pity instead. 3-1 loss to Aston Villa, 3-1 defeat to Stoke, 2-0 to West Brom, and now 3-1 to Southampton, all calamitous performances just after it seems that Liverpool would finally break into the conversation of the more elite teams. It has unfortunately become the norm at Liverpool, it's like reading off a script, and that's why I am not worked up about it; frustrated sure but not depressed as fourth or even fifth was somewhat of a pipe dream anyways after a very poor start to the season.

With little to nothing left to play for, will the team performances get progressively worse as they did last season? Or will Rodgers be able to motivate his team to finish the season off on a high in the hopes that would help convince the likes of Suarez to stay on board just a bit longer to see if that ever-so-elusive fourth spot can be achieved. Either way, until Liverpool can finally exorcise these demons of crumbling under pressure then they are exactly as good as their league position shows. Enough of this goal difference, second-half season form, and all the other bull**** statistics Until Liverpool can consistently string together an ENTIRE season of good performances then they do not deserve to be anywhere near the Champions League, and the league table is the only evidence you'll need to prove this argument.

PS. Surely Joe Allen for 15m makes Henderson and Downing look like bargains of the century now in comparison, dear lord.
CB (Come back Xabi) West Palm Beach, FL


Liverpool Nowhere Near Ready
After last Sunday's amazingly, breathtakingly and marvellously lucky win over Spurs, several people mailed in and said something along the lines of 'Liverpool will challenge for/get into the top four this season'. Care to re-evaluate?

I didn't mail in last weekend, despite being pleased with the win, to predict Liverpool would finish fifth or above (that was my hope) because I had a niggling feeling that something would go wrong, and I was right unfortunately. If you look at the season as a whole, this result is no surprise as Liverpool have taken the infuriating 'two steps forward, one step back' approach as after every run of good results comes an absolute stinker, with Villa and Stoke being the best examples of this. It's frustrating for everyone involved but I feel it will be beneficial in the long run, as Rodgers has continually pointed out after vey disappointing (or 'near perfect' in his eyes, at least he said we were crap this week) result as we are not ready for the CL just yet and would almost certainly be knocked out in qualifying or the group stages, much as I believe Arsenal or Spurs will be without significant additions this summer.

So, it is to the summer that Liverpool fans, and fans of other clubs, should look to, as this team is in need of some new, preferably defensive, blood. Skrtel has had a torrid season and needs to leave and with Carragher retiring, Rodgers must spend big on at least two new centre-halves and hopefully a new full-back to provide some back-up to Enrique, whilst also adding one or two players to the midfield and/or attack. This should be obvious to anyone who can see the table as Liverpool are second in the 'goals for' column but have conceded the most in the top 10 (so, tenth worst in the league). By way of deducting one from the other, we should roughly finish 5th-6th but, with the teams above us more consistent, even 6th looks unlikely.

So, therefore, in my opinion we Liverpool fans can expect at least a seventh-place finish with a much better points total than the measly 54 we gained last term and a much more potent 'goals for' column. The question is though, will that, and a perceptive degree of progress, be enough for Mr Suarez to stick around?
Joe, LFC


Some Thoughts
That Liverpool loss was predictable, they always seem to shoot themselves in the foot whenever they're doing well. Oh well, next year will be our year, but I do have some things to say:

- Does anyone have a scarier back line than Liverpool? Between Reina, Jones, Johnson, Carragher, and Skrtel, they can make anyone jumpier than an ADHD kangaroo!

- Martin Skrtel is the worst though, I'm not sure if we'll be seeing him in a Liverpool shirt for much longer.

- Wasn't José Enrique bald two weeks ago? Seems like Wayne Rooney's 'hair surgeon' isn't short of clients.

- Daniel Sturridge is a b*llend.

- To Raymond King, I've always read Chris ITFC as Chris, Ilkeston Town FC for some reason, they're terrible even in non-league but they were Southport's bogey team in the Conference North a few years ago.

In conclusion, a miserable weekend for football has been capped off by a battering of Southport from bottom of the league Ebbsfleet and I'm considering cheering on exactly the opposite teams that I want to win so the results are reversed!
Ben, Southport


Blaming Rodgers
Defeat to Southampton absolutely sits with Rodgers for me. What on earth is he doing playing Allen when apparently he needs shoulder surgery? Henderson has been a far better option anyway and it really begs the question what Rodgers thinks he's playing at. The Southampton team knew Allen was weak and attacked him so much. Pass completion rate of 65% for him was embarrassing he should've been pulled off after 20 minutes.

Johnson was also a joke. Unable to connect with any forward passes and constantly dispossessed. The booing from the crowd must have got to me which is pathetic for an England international.

Sturridge is not yet recovered from injury and doesn't need 90 minutes to recover every week. He was poor against Spurs and offered nothing today.

Once again the team start chatting to the press and being really optimistic and once again we get battered in a game we should have won. Southampton have dropped 27 points from winning positions and instead of keeping it tight and letting them and their fans get nervous we just part like the Red Sea and make it a nice comfortable closing for them. It didn't come that easy to Moses I imagine!

Skrtel must know he is leaving at the end of the season but he appeared to not give a f*ck all afternoon. Wasn't even fussed when the third goal went in after he failed to put in a tackle or clear after Jones made the initial save.

Lots of positives this season but if the team think winning three in a row is a big deal then they'll never have the mentality to challenge for top four.
Minty, LFC


Questions For Rodgers
I would like to know what was behind Rogers thinking in starting the game with Allen, who needs surgery and has been gash?

Why start Skrtl after dropping him for being gash?

Why keep Sturridge on when he was gash today?

Why did we look knackered?

Why didn't you bring on subs earlier?

There is absolutely no way we can get a European place now, the only thing we have to look forward to is the derby and the Chelsea game so I hope he has a clear plan on who he is bringing in next year to shore up an unbelievably leaky defence.

All in all a crap season.
Donjuan (massively disappointed, again) King, LFC.....


Don't Even Mention Europe
Any mention of a top-four finish leads to defeat, it gets the team scared to death. Let's just not talk about it.
Carlton (not so surprised Pool fan) Australia


Laughing At Liverpool
This is why everyone laughs at Liverpool.

After they luckily beat us last week my Facebook and Twitter home page was full of Pool fans claiming they'll get fourth place! Even in the mailbox they were predicting how everyone else are going backwards and they're moving forward etc etc.

But the reality is, Pool fans, you wont even get an Europa League spot next season. And the sooner you realise you wont get a CL spot in the next 2-3 years as well, the better it is for you.
Nabil (seriously Lucas is better than Sandro?! Watch Saints' third goal again silly Pool fans) THFC, Bangladesh


Liverpool Logic
Am I right in thinking that if 'annihilating' Tottenham 3-2 means a top 3 finish isn't out of the equation, then losing 3-1 to Southampton means relegation is still a possibility?
Will, THFC


Probert Creative? Only For Everton
I know I'm redsh*te but having watched MOTD I can't see why F365 have said that Probert made creative decisions for both teams. The Fellaini handball was clearly in the area so that was a mistake. What did he give incorrectly the other way? Pienaar made two yellow card challenges. Mirallas was in line when he scored a disallowed goal first half but that was the linesman's decision...
James Outram


No More Big Weekends For United
So now that Man Utd are 15 points clear at the top of the table, can we safely say that they will no longer feature in the F365 Big Weekend column as I don't see there is an actually big game for them in the remaining games. Obviously the game against City on the 8th April would normally be term as 'huge', 'title decider', etc. but not this season I guess.

I always enjoy F365 Big Weekend column. What a shame my favourite team will not be part of it anymore.
Kenneth (one-horse race since January) Hew, Malaysia


Rafa Will Not Be 'Sacked'
It does not matter what Rafa does or does not win. His contract ends at the end of the season. He won't be sacked, he will leave of his own free will. He has known all along that this will happen. He is the 'interim' manager.
John Clarke