Remodez

There's no proof he was given such instructions, I agree that the players brought in would have put him in a position were attacking football would have been the best option, if that's what you mean, but it wasn't the only option. There is difference between the defending under Robbie and the one in this match, we actually pressed players and forced errors instead of just sitting back and waiting for teams to break us down. That, to me, is a huge improvement and something most fans have been calling for for a while now.I agree that excuse isn't a good one, which is why I didn't agree with the others saying it, but the fact is they were the better team, not because of their reputation of being champions but simply because their players played better. Defence was solid, midfield won pretty much every 50/50 and their attack pinned us back at times. We aren't always going to be able to have shots on target, especially not when we play narrow v Man City of all teams who's weaknesses are more easily exploited from out wide than through the middle. And quite frankly, with the way Torres was playing (in fairness the attacking 3 weren't that great either for the full 90 mins going forward) I doubt we would have got much joy from going all guns blazing. Nobody is underestimating his achievements, he has been rightly praised but there's nothing wrong with pointing out his flaws as a manager. It's hardly going to change the fact that he won the CL and is a legend, it's just something to take on board. Not sure why you've resorted to sarcasm, it's a valid point.

We had bodies back, sat back for the game and had immense luck to come out with a win to win the CL. Considering that we have been shipping in goals for fun, I think that one game is a breath of fresh air. I'm not saying he's worked wonders, we could lose our next game due to poor defending, I'm just saying it's a huge improvement from just one game in charge.Like I already said, he only had a few days with the team before this game so naturally he would start from the back like most manages would given the circumstances. You should wait until a few more games have passed, and more importantly when Danny gets back, before you start worrying about our attack and lack of shots. Which I don't think will be a problem v other teams, City were just the better team on the day, it happens. Performances from certain players didn't help matters either. And that's how we get beat by teams like Mardird and Juventus and find it hard v European teams, lack of disciple and organistion. It's all well and good in the league and you might get away with it v certain sides but not in Europe. Also odd how you say that now when that's how we won the CL in the first place, by everyone working together. Not that I'm suggesting Rafa go full defensive like that but the teamwork aspect is something that is needed.

I can't agree with that myself, he has got the team defending well in patches in the past but not in the same way as Rafa did in this match. Everyone was pressing, working hard, generally defending as a team instead of individuals, under Robbie that just wasn't happening regardless of whether he was under pressure or not to play a certain style. A view I don't buy myself, you can be defensively solid and still play Barca style. In fact the whole style is based on a solid defense in terms of pressing and positioning which recycles possession.I personally felt he left the trio of Hazard, Oscar and Mata just go out there and do their thing for most games, which, while admittedly worked very well, lacks discipline and organisation and against better sides becomes detrimental to the whole team. I agree that given time he would have got both to work and your striker point but he's not here anymore and I can only go off actually happened, not what could have happened.

If Robbie got the team to defend like that I would be the first of many to sing his praises. The lack of attacking and shots are hardly something you can blame on Rafa, it wasn't him who instructed Hazard to play that poorly, it wasn't him who instructed Torres to be hopeless, etc. The players have to take responsibility. I agree with Mata though, but then again I can see the thinking behind it, it just didn't pay off. It's his first game in charge, he had 4 days to prepare so naturally he's going to focus on a solid defence to start with. Next few games, now that he has more time with the team to prepare he will be working on the attack. I was expecting a win too but realised I was being too optimistic considering we only have Torres and a makeshift in Moses as strikers and the mid 2 are still not on the same wave length. A draw is a respectable result considering the circumstances, not to mention we probably had the better chances.

Covered what I was gonna say. Agreed.

Probably Azpi for me. Oscar came close though, I like how they both press effectively. Need more players like that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBrJyfSXxs0 His crawl at the end is priceless.

Paizon should have been sent out on loan, we've basically just done a Lukaku with him by wasting a year of his career. Josh has done well but not good enough to recall him and start him, should be focusing more on using Romeu if anything.As for the game itself I'm feeling quite confident actually, not sure why I just do. 2-1.

Bet this doesn't even get mentioned.

Not sure why Anderson doesn't start for United, he's their best mid.

Seems fake, didn't they delete that tweet so their total tweets should be 6140 not 6141? Unless it stays the same even if you delete a tweet. Not that it would that much of a surprise anyway but still.

Already been through all this in detail but in short I don't care about the comments he's made towards us in the past. If we all took every negative thing any manager/player has said about our club seriously then we would have a long list of enemies. Sometimes you just have to look at the things they say and go "What a tit", grin, shrug your shoulders and carry on about your business. I certainly found myself doing that with a lot of what Rafa and SAF have said in the past. Would I still want either of them to manage our team? Of course I bloody would. Things get said in the moment, it happens.This whole thing is like being at school and having people making fun of your mom and then you get really angry about it, only to later realise that you were getting angry at something really petty. That's what it's like for me anyway. Point is I've moved on and I'm sure he has otherwise he wouldn't be here, right now I'm interested in what's best for the club.

Probably Oscar, only player who knows how to press effectively. If only the rest could follow his lead. Ramires did well attacking wise but wasn't great defensively, think he was trying a bit too hard at times which is somewhat understandable seeing as his partner was Mikel.

Probably should have said, I assumed most had seen it. It's Giroud.

Not his biggest fan but nice to see him scoring and assisting after getting unnecessary stick.

Can't read all 40 pages, would take me forever and I'm sure what I was going to say has been said already. I will just say though that I couldn't care less who was the manager as long as they fix our pressing and defending problem, which was the main reason I wanted Rafa from the start. Glad Rafa got the job now but it's a little too late, going to be hard to implement his style in such a short period. I'm grateful for the CL win but I have never been comfortable with RDM's tactics, his tendency to barely rotate the team and his treatment of Romeu (Ironically Romeu would have worked better in his style than Mikel) and Sturridge.

Nice to hear, was about to ask how he is doing. Still baffled as to why we kept Piazon and loaned Kakuta when it should have been the other way around. Not to mention he counts as homegrown.

Depends on the formation they play, I'm assuming they are going to switch to their 532/352 formation in which case it would make things much harder. If it's their normal formation then it should be a straight enough win if everyone turns up, they don't have a proper defensive midfielder for their system to work properly, Skrtel is quite aggressive and gets draw out of position often leaving Agger all alone as their fullbacks almost always stay wide (Although Johnson at LB does seem to move a bit more centrally than he does at RB but he's not going to be playing LB in this match so that's pretty much moot) and fail to track runs through the middle before it's too late. I'll expect a draw or a loss if they set up with the 532/352 formation but expect a solid 2/3-0 victory if they lined up with their 433 formation.

Cole's contract needs to be burned. He even had the cheek to be annoyed at being subbed off. Already mentioned Flanagan, expected him to be rusty after not playing that much but he really impressed me. MOTM by far.

I think Liverpool were unlucky to be honest, not often you get goals like that put pass you. Keeper should have handled it better and Coates, while great at tackling and interceptions/reading the game, is quite possibly the slowest defender in the history of the game. All they had to do was press and they would have created more chances, seemed content on getting everyone back and sitting deep which I found odd as Anzhi were there for the taking. Only postivies were Flanagan who was a rock the whole game, great ability on the ball as well and Suso who was class in his more familiar CAM role. Bit greedy at times but at least he was making things happen. I wouldn't call what he did "playing" but the intention was to have him as a false nine.

Also I've never understood why Jamie Carragher is almost always the furthest forward of the 2 CB's. It' beyond me, surely he knows he's slow.

Really like the look of Conor Coady, nice passer.

Happens fairly often actually, strangely enough. I remember a few Russian, French and Italian teams getting power cuts during matches. Although that's the second time Braga have had a power cut in recent times, not sure what's going on there.

Strange analogy to say the least.