20 Jan 2026 22:36:16
I don't have much time for Jamie Carragher but his piece on Liam's obsession with playing through the middle before going wide on MNF was very good. He highlighted how important Enzo Fernandez is to his way of playing and how we need more players like Fernandez, he showed Cucu looking totally lost in the new system as we now man to man mark all over the pitch.
He also highlighted how easy it was for Brentford to get at us and how open we look when we lose the ball. It was a very brave decision to sack/push Maresca before the season ends and I truly hope it proves to be the correct one but I have my doubts. Grass always greener? Let's wait and see.
21 Jan 2026 07:14:33
Greenaway, I don’t know enough about Brentford’s usual tactic but to my sad old eyes it was them who went man to man. It was them who won the majority of individual battles.
Other than the shocking gaps between our lines, I couldn’t see any patterns of play or tight shape from us. It was awful.
It’s early days and I guess it will take time for the players to adapt to our new managers ideas.
21 Jan 2026 10:35:36
Lets be totally honest, LR did not have a pre-season with the players, never mind the lack of training sessions and furthermore there is a virus running through the club limiting the players available and also those that did play, probably weren't 100% fit due to the virus.
I'm not getting into Maresca again, he wanted to leave the club, end off, maybe the grass might not be greener for him either.
21 Jan 2026 11:18:14
I don't think Maresca did want to leave the club Bill and a lot of fans think it was a mistake by the sporting directors to push him out and it is inevitable now that comparisons will be drawn just as they were when Poch left in similiar circumstances.
Maresca outperformed Pochetino by qualifying for the champions league and winning 2 trophies, let's hope Liam can at least match that if not better it. The standard of football will, of course, also be compared which will no doubt be discussed going forward.
21 Jan 2026 12:18:59
I take the view that when they have left, “good luck, thanks and goodbye. ”
Some I might of liked more than others but I spend very little time thinking about any of them.
Good luck to our new boss.
21 Jan 2026 20:27:17
Saw that Carragher segment too, Greenaway. I'm not a tactician, but it would seem to me that having your team play just one way would make them predictable – once the other team had worked out the pattern you'd be stuffed – and that having as many different ways of attacking would be preferable.