Was it All Just a Dream?

In which Scott asks the question all Liverpool fans have on their mind:

Did we really finish second last year?  Was that really Liverpool who nearly won the title were it not for a certain slip?  And, even if so, was that really just the first slip in this huge slide to mid-table, and then below?

 

After an Adam Lallana to Rickie Lambert connection gave Liverpool a dream start to the game last weekend, it was more of the season’s usual fare: sloppy defending and meek attacking.  Sure we can move the ball from the back to the tip of the forward third.  But then we seem to have no idea how to penetrate from there, aside from the odd dribble from Raheem Sterling (although not this past weekend) and Philippe Coutinho.  It is infuriating to watch such impotency.  And the defense not only lacks the disciplined organization that is required, but also is fraught with individual miscues and poor decisions

 

Liverpool is a team in disarray and in full downward spiral.  Normally, I can always see the light at the end of the tunnel, even if I can’t find the positives in a game.  Now, however, I don’t even know where to start.  Not only have they lacked the quality to win, it seems their belief in their ability to win has been throttled out of them.  The recently much-maligned Brendan Rodgers has much to repair, even beyond the porous defense and toothless offense.

 

I still think it is too early to sack Rodgers.  He has had to deal with some injury setbacks and, arguably, some of his transfers in have taken longer to fit in than would have been expected.  Not to mention Mario Balotelli’s dearth of goals.  But whatever he does to get this team back on track, he better do it quickly and the plan cannot include Daniel Sturridge any time soon.

 

Because it is so hard to watch.  At least when Arsenal lose, they do it by being the better team (i.e. against Manchester United).  Liverpool were second best against a relegation team.  At this point, even if it had been all a dream, the dream has nearly faded to black.


This is farlieonfootie for November 25.