Arsenal had their influential defensive midfielder Flamini missing through injury and announced that Jack Wilshere was out through injury on the morning of the game.
Liverpool announced just before the game that Glen Johnson was out through illness which meant that surprisingly Jon Flanagan (who hadn't started a Premier League game for 18 months) had been deployed to play the right wing back role instead of Martin Kelly which was totally baffling to LFC fans.
The game started with us having a degree of control of midfield without creating a clear cut chance, with Arsenal's Rosicky shot turned away by Simon Mignolet before Jordan Henderson had Wojciech Szczesny at his mercy after hassling the ball away and going on a run from the half-way line only to scuff his shot wide. Arsenal then capitalised on our lack of creativity by taking the lead on 19 minutes when a quick break down the right found Bacary Sagna on the overlap. His cross was behind Olivier Giroud, but fell perfectly for Cazorla on the penalty spot. The Spaniard’s bullet header cannoned back off the post but he was first to the rebound and lashed a fine half-volley back past goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
The concerns about our 3-5-2 formation being susceptible to decent wing play had finally come back to haunt us and we now had to react positively.
After all the pre-match optimism, it was like all the oxygen had just sucked out of the air; Jordan Henderson had the ball in the net after Sturridge rolled it across the face of goal for the midfielder to tap in, but Martin Atkinson ruled out what would have been the equalizer after adjudging that Luis Suarez’s free kick was taken too quickly after the Uruguayan had been fouled by Bacary Sagna.
Before the break, a pair of offside efforts saw Kolo Toure’s header well saved by Szczesny and a Sturridge effort go wide as we showed some intent, while at the other end Cazorla and Ramsey both tested Mignolet as the Gunners struck time and again with purpose.
Brendan Rodgers has taken flack for being unwavering with his formation and a lack of substitutes, but we’d see both switched up when Cissokho — on a yellow card and being outmatched in every category by Sagna —was hauled off at half time in favour of Coutinho and a switch to a more traditional 4-4-2 looking to plug the holes Arsene Wenger’s side so expertly exploited.
The introduction of Coutinho slightly on the left gave us more of the ball again and his impact was immediate as he ghosted clear down the left, crossed to the far post but once again Henderson’s finishing was found wanting as he shot over the bar.
The introduction of Coutinho slightly on the left gave us more of the ball again and his impact was immediate as he ghosted clear down the left, crossed to the far post but once again Henderson’s finishing was found wanting as he shot over the bar.
Arsenal were stirred into reacting again and twice Giroud should have increased the lead.
He intercepted a weak pass from Kolo Toure but opted for precision rather than power and achieved neither as the ball went wide. He then shot tamely after Cazorla set him up.
But on 59 minutes when Ozil fed Ramsey about 20 yards out the born-again Arsenal midfielder Ramsey produced a stunning strike as he waited for the bouncing ball to sit up before dispatching a dipping volley over Mignolet who had no chance.
With us now two-nil down we were desperately chasing the game bringing on another attacking player Moses for the disappointing Flanagan.
We kept pushing for a way back into the game and with Sturridge missing a headed chance and Suarez shooting wide late on when the better option would have been to pass the ball to his strike partner Sturridge for a tap-in.
We had been totally outclassed by an Arsenal side that now moved 5pts clear of the chasing pack, we were given a reality check defeat and have a lot of work to do before we reach the very top of the league.
Man of the match - Coutinho - came back into side to play 45 minutes in the second half, showed signs of rustiness but also showed how badly he has been missed.
Positives - Coutinho's return to the side and the fact we kept trying till the very end of the game.
Negatives - Our midfield again was very poor with both Lucas and Gerrard both having extremely bad games again.
We now have to face the fact that Lucas's two long term injuries have meant that he will not be the defensive midfielder we had hoped he would be and need to address this in January 2014. Better quality required for the bigger games.
The other fact we are going to have to start facing is that maybe Steven Gerrard's legs have finally gone. As he does not exude the constant energy and looks like he is struggling in games. I feel that Rodgers feels he has to stay on the pitch for 90 mins but with Gerrard getting older we need to try and save his legs rather than over-play him every week. We need to also target a midfielder that can drive the team forward which Gerrard sadly seems unable to do so.
Extremely disappointing day for all LFC fans.
LIVERPOOL: Mignolet; Toure, Skrtel, Sakho; Cissokho, (Coutinho 46,), Flanagan (Moses 68); Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson; Sturridge, Suarez.
With us now two-nil down we were desperately chasing the game bringing on another attacking player Moses for the disappointing Flanagan.
We kept pushing for a way back into the game and with Sturridge missing a headed chance and Suarez shooting wide late on when the better option would have been to pass the ball to his strike partner Sturridge for a tap-in.
We had been totally outclassed by an Arsenal side that now moved 5pts clear of the chasing pack, we were given a reality check defeat and have a lot of work to do before we reach the very top of the league.
Man of the match - Coutinho - came back into side to play 45 minutes in the second half, showed signs of rustiness but also showed how badly he has been missed.
Positives - Coutinho's return to the side and the fact we kept trying till the very end of the game.
Negatives - Our midfield again was very poor with both Lucas and Gerrard both having extremely bad games again.
We now have to face the fact that Lucas's two long term injuries have meant that he will not be the defensive midfielder we had hoped he would be and need to address this in January 2014. Better quality required for the bigger games.
The other fact we are going to have to start facing is that maybe Steven Gerrard's legs have finally gone. As he does not exude the constant energy and looks like he is struggling in games. I feel that Rodgers feels he has to stay on the pitch for 90 mins but with Gerrard getting older we need to try and save his legs rather than over-play him every week. We need to also target a midfielder that can drive the team forward which Gerrard sadly seems unable to do so.
Extremely disappointing day for all LFC fans.
ARSENAL: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, (Vermaelen 78); Ramsey, Arteta, Rosicky (Monreal 72); Ozil, Cazorla ; (Jenkinson 84), Giroud
Subs not used: Fabianski, Bendtner, Akpom, Hayden.
Yellow: Sagna, Jenkinson
Goals: Cazorla 19, Ramsey 59
LIVERPOOL: Mignolet; Toure, Skrtel, Sakho; Cissokho, (Coutinho 46,), Flanagan (Moses 68); Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson; Sturridge, Suarez.
Subs not used: Brad Jones,
Agger, Allen, Sterling, Kelly.
Yellow: Cissokho
Att: 60,042
Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)
It's a painful loss, but it's not the end of the world, especially as this is a season which has seen up to now everyone seemingly beatable, although Arsenal are the inform team.
ReplyDeleteBut lessons need to be learnt. The formation which has served as so well was born out of the necessity to play our two most potent players at the same time. Against a top class midfield, once our pressurising high up the pitch wore off, we were unable to get a foothold as we struggled to struggle to cope with the speed, movement and angles in the central areas and moving up to our box. If we analyse Arsenal's first goal, brilliantly taken by the way, Cazorla was allowed to stroll in the area without a midfield runner picking him up and while we can blame Flanagan for not getting back, Cazorla was allowed two attempts on goal without much of a challenge.
It could've been Cissokho or Flanagan at half time, but it was disappointing to bring on Coutinho and put out on the left when we patently needed someone to control the game and the penny only dropped once we'd gone two down. The captain and Lucas looked leaden footed and Ramsey and Arteta playing in deep roles looked a class above. Aaron Ramsey had enough time to take out a tape measure and measure the distance to the goal before his stunning strike.
For me, the formation can still work, but with Coutinho back it's got to be horses for courses. Sturridge and Suarez showed in flashes what they could do even with a sniff of an opportunity, Suarez could've had two, but they were living on scraps. One of the problems with this formation is that unless Jordan Henderson gets in a goal scoring position, or Glen Johnson (get better soon Glen) cuts in to shoot, the goal threat from open play outside of S.A.S. seems fairly negligible.
Hopefully we'll get by Fulham, but for the Everton game, basically if Coutinho plays it's got to be a midfield behind him which has legs in it, that for me being Allen and Henderson with either Lucas or Gerrard sitting, which means we go back to a flat back four.
I've been saying on here for weeks that we've been winning because we have a devastating forward line, with a sub-standard midfield and yesterday we were also humbled, not just through running power, but technically they were head shoulders above us in the engine room. I don't think it's a surprise to any Liverpool fan/supporter that our midfield couldn't get to grips with an Arsenal midfield even without, Flamini and Wiltshire and wide threats of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott and Gnarby.
Yes, it could have been different had Martin Atkinson refereed the game properly and allowed the quick free kick. A goal at the stage may have given us the momentum we needed.
One of the disappointing factors, for me is we have three central defenders on the field and none of them seemed to really organise and maybe the time has come to get Daniel Agger back as the very least he acts as that link between the centre of defence and the midfield with the ball at his feet.
Like I said, it’s not the end of the world; it's just that our lack of real quality in depth in the midfield area caught up with us. Coutinho opens up different dimensions for us, but Rodgers still needs to use the squad. We need an enforcer which is obvious, of the James McCarthy or Wanyama variety, but until or if we get one we use what we have like I said horses for course with Coutinho back.
All,
ReplyDeleteVery quiet.
Mo
They deserved the win, can’t say much more than that. Thankfully we’re still in joint 2ndpoints wise. Fulham next weekend will hopefully give us confidence before the derby.
DeleteBaz
Our players and our manager were outplayed on Saturday. I accept the defeat because I think they deserved to win overall. The system needs to change. Square pegs into round holes for a game of such magnitude doesn’t help. To throw Flanagan in against the wolves in a 3-5-2 was naïve. Cissoko continues to look uncomfortable as a left wingback. Funny how nobody talks about our passing game anymore!
DeleteBaz, yep they outplayed us but we were robbed of a perfectly good goal by a stupid referee.
ReplyDeleteLucas is not upto the task against the very best sides – we need better quality. I would be prepared to play Agger in that role as he is a player that can intercept, tackle and bring the ball forward very much like a sweeper.
Gerrard, they say is carrying an injury but he just doesn’t look like the same player and I suspect his legs have now gone sadly. We desperately need to stop playing him for 90 mins of every game or we will not get much more years out of him.
Joe Allen now needs to step up and show why he was bought and trusted so much by the manager.
Joe Allen will have to be brought back in as Lucas’s performances not just this game but this season have been extremely poor – he has been deployed to cut out any danger before it happens very much like Flamini and Arteta do for Arsenal but his poor positional awareness is costing us goals.
I agree with much of what you say David. I don’t want to simply criticise Lucas but he is at least a mile off the player he was before he got injured 18 months ago. We are carrying him and I don’t really see what he is bringing to the table at the moment. You look at players in the engine room at Spurs, Arsenal, Cardiff, Swansea – they can play football as well as break up the play. I don’t think Lucas’ current form warrants a place in the side. I did say a few games ago that we should consider bringing Agger into central midfield as an experiment given that this is an area where we don’t have much depth. Not being in the Carling Cup limits the opportunity for those types of experiments as well as being able to give squad players such as Stirling, Kelly and Flanagan, much needed match practice.
DeleteI don’t think we have much choice but to give Joe Allen a try by introducing him slowly, but I he’s not really a holding midfielder, perhaps Henderson would be better in that position. The problem with Stevie is that he still performs better than the other midfielders in the team and because we chose to invest in central defenders rather than midfielders, Rogers will not give him a rest.
I distinctly remember there were times when Ged Houllier and Rafa Benitez rested Gerrard to ensure that we got the best out of the player and I think taking Gerrard out of the constant limelight will mean that when he does play he will have more energy to influence our games because at this moment in time he like Lucas is just not doing the job in the big games and needs to be looked after better by our management or we will shorten his career.
DeleteIt seems to me that the 3-5-2 works well with Glenn Johnson in the side and doesn’t work without him. Decent cover for that position should be a priority, maybe with more time Martin Kelly can deputise, Flanno is a decent player but not up to the standards we want to reach.
DeleteNot going to blame him much as it was his first game in 18 months and he was thrown in at the deep end by our manager – he is a full back not a wing back – this in the modern game is a massive difference.
DeleteWhat so ever it was, we just did not turn up. I had the feelings two days before the match that it was going to be 2:1 against us. Well they did score their two goals, but we did not manage our one. On a different note, please join me in well coming the true red inside out in the person of Jawad Iginla into the fold.
DeleteThere are two winnable games ahead of us first Fulham and then the noisy neighbour whose noise in the past two seasons is verging on irritation. If Man U turn up on Sunday for their on own good though, Arsenal will only be two points clear.
Barry, I think Kelly could have been a better option in that circumstances.
DeleteFlanno’s was on the bench against Newcastle and West Brom and got his start on Saturday night so he’s obviously been showing something in training recently and he wasn’t terrible defensively against Arsenal but he just doesn’t offer anything going forward.
DeleteCissokho was even worst.
DeleteMo
Cissokho just looks like a centre back playing as a wing back – he just doesn’t look like he has any control over the ball at all !!! LOL
DeleteHe just seems to run down the line and wait for the defender to take the ball off him. I know we have achieved some success with the 3-5-2 but I’m not really a fan. For it to work properly we’d certainly need to have both Johnson and Enrique available. I’d like us to try going back to something like a 4-1-2-1 which might look something like
Delete4 = Johnson, Skrtel (or Toure), Agger (or Killer), Enrique,
1 = Henderson or Lucas (if he returns to form)
2 = Gerrard, Allen (if he discovers some form)
2 = Coutinho, Suarez
1 = Sturridge.
I’m not necessarily hung up on the names but we need to get the formation right to ensure that our key players play in the position that damages the opposition.
David,
DeleteAgreed.
Mo
I did predict 2-1 to Arsenal, but we never got our goal.
DeleteOn the day it was never going to be a easy task, I think Arsenal have just been very impressive this season, midfield and going forward., and on top of that the form they have been in of Ramsey and Giroud and signing Ozil, they just seems refreshed
We are sitting 3rd so its not all bad. We just did not turn up and yes got out played. Some of our new boys still not step up the mark quickly otherwise we will start to loose thread and drop.
Not massively impressed by Cissokho so far, and we still lack match player winners, cant keep relying on SG for producing magic, our team should be able to rest him and still to be competitive.
Roll on next match..
My fellow Reds
DeleteThank you all for embracing me in the spirit of YNWA.
On Sunday, we did find out what they were smoking at the Emirates, Lol!!.
If it is any consolation, I would say some of my Arsenal friends were in shock.
Realism sets in - we are short of attacking mid fielders who can chip in with a goal or two when the strikers are pegged down.
And keeping up with the top is our realistic target till January where we can hopefully secure another "coutinho and Sturridge" to kick on with our ambitions for the season.
So chin up everyone, keep the flame of belief kindled...
Welcome on board. I think you’re right Jawad, keeping in touch with the top is our real ambition, especially if we can get a
Deletecouple of players of the quality you mention in the January window.
welcome Jawad,
ReplyDeleteI think maybe we expected a bit too much, we lost to a good team who look as one of the contenders for the league, (not saying they will it) so our main priority
this season is to keep our main players i.e. LS, and strengthen our team in January hopefully get close as possible for 4th place or above. All is possible
Thanks.
DeleteWith the Boston Red Sox having overachieved with winning the World Series.
J W Henry and his associates would surely be looking to Brendan to highlight some players for priority recruitment in January, so we can achieve likewise - the impossible ???.
We have the nucleus of a good team, a bit of more belief and application would help.
where to start? Welcome to Jawaid, always good to start positive!
ReplyDeleteReal shame about the performance on Saturday although I think they gave it their all which just wasn't good enough. Arsenal underperformed last season (again) and with Ramsey becoming the player we thought he might, Giroud having found his feet and the addition of Ozil, its fair to say they are a class act. We're way behind in terms of quality and personnel which is disappointing yes, but as I've said before, if you're 30 odd points off the top, do you really expect a miracle?
Agree Stevie and Lucas were poor but don't believe they've had it. Both are still quality and I expect them to prove it. Lucas needs games to do so and as others say, Stevie may need the opposite. Time for Joe Allen to stake a claim.
Don't like 3-5-2 however good it was against the albion. doubt Brendan will try again against quality opposition in a hurry. but then we know football managers! Don't think the back 3 helped, each are prone to mistakes and for that reason alone I think Danny Agger would have been better. Skrtel and Kolo have been v good so far though to be fair. With Flano and Cissokho told to sit deep, I think we could have done with Danny Agger to bring the ball out of defence and link up with Stevie and Lucas better. As it was, everyone sat deep and Suarez and Sturridge had no support at all. Coutinho looked lively as did Moses.
I think we got what we deserved really. Coutinho back and Hendo playing well were the positives. good to see Flano play too though he didn't shine amidst a very dull groul of stars. One for the future tho and can't wait till we can call on Glen, Kelly, Wisdom and Flano for that position. oh but two of them are Centre back I hear you say. maybe danny agger in the middle isn't such a bad idea.
Miles off but we knew that. 2 wins coming up would be spot on and keep our momemtum up for a strong season.
wonder what the dressing room and Suarez said to each other after that.
The really good thing was the 0-0 draw with Spurs and the blue percentile of the city.
DeleteApparently Stevie might be out for the Fulham game with a hip injury, might not be a bad thing, the boy could do with a rest and it’d give Joe Allen or Luis Alberto a chance to get involved.
ReplyDeleteBrendan Rodgers should be brave and give Jonathan Ibe and Raheem Sterling a run in the same 11 and to see if they add a dynamic edge to the team.
DeleteJordan Ibe would be a great shout in a different formation to the 3-5-2 we are currently playing as he is an out and out winger that is great at taking on players one on one.
DeleteAll I want is 3 points. I understand that it would be nice to bring other fringe players.
DeleteMo
Moving into the next couple of months where we start to have some tricky games I would like to see us changing the system, with 3-5-2 we have too many players not playing in their best position. I’d like us to go back to 4-2-3-1 as I think it gives us the best balance with the personnel we have.
DeleteJawaid, a very warm welcome.
DeleteNo point beating ourselves and Brendan up, in the sense that he was working with the resources he has, in that he played the formation to maximise the most from his most potent weapons, his strike force. He patently made a mistake with Flanagan, but the fact that Kelly didn't make it on the pitch may something regarding his fitness levels.
We paid the price for having two full backs in the wing-back roles as they struggled to tuck in and help in midfield and going forward the least sad the better. For me Rodgers tends to react to slowly when things are not going right on the pitch, he seems to want to wait until half-time as if he can't change the formation or make an early substiute.
He could move Agger to midfield, but for me it would make more sense to have in back in the defence especially if he moves back to playing four across at the back and we've been letting in some pretty pathetic goals recently in his absence. Toure deserves to be dropped just for shying away from Ramsey's shot (should and could have taken that flush on the chin... Carragher I hear the cry!).
We know Stevie's a fixture, so it's him and two others if Coutinho plays behind the front two or alonside Suarez. If the Arsenal game proved anything it's that with the players we have available Jordan Henderson needs help, because he's doing the running for the other two and that's one reason why Joe Allen should play. At his best at least we know he can pass the ball and he'd help on the technical side of things in terms of ball retention, if back to the Allen of the start of last season (at the very least when Stevie starts flagging he should be the prime candidate to come off the bench). Wing backs or full backs Enrique (if fit) and Johnson would hopefully be the first named in those positions because we haven't or at least are not playing with any authentic wide men unless Victor Moses plays wide and it looks as though Sterling is on the back burner for now, thus it falls on those two to provide width.
Like I said before, a decent position in January should be the first aim and then we work from that position because the deficiencies in this squad will make it a struggle to stay in the top four. Come January if we are languishing in 6th or 7th that January window might just by pass us by at the mid to top-end of the market. Just have to do it the Paisley way, one game at a time and try to stay in contention with regards the top four.
Btw, rumours floating around that Pepe's transfer fee will be £4 mill...
ReplyDeleteOr 5 million euros.
DeleteIn other words, peanuts!
DeleteWe have a great habit of being stung by Spanish clubs it's like we freeze in negotiations! Reina should really be going for at least 8-10 million pounds minimum but we just seem to want to get him off our wage bill permanently by any cheap price possible.
DeleteI would tell Reina if they do not match your valuation you will return to LFC in the summer- let's now see how badly they really want you.
Even the skipper should not have a god given right to a spot in midfield if he isn't producing the goods and frankly for a player we all rate so highly this season he has shown signs that the sands of time on his LFC career are running out very fast.
ReplyDeleteNo league goals in open play from either him, Lucas or Henderson is just not good enough and to have a realistic chance of staying in contention with Arsenal or having a realistic chance to compete for the top four we need more goals from our midfield.
If Gerrard is not performing in a game it does not mean he is now an average player but sometimes if his game is off like vs Arsenal it would be a sign of very strong management if he was taken out of the firing line to preserve our capt's energy for another battle - he should be rested from the Fulham game ("slight injury doubt") and return for the Merseyside derby after the international break.
It's now time for the return of the much maligned Joe "90" Allen - we need to start controlling the games more in midfield and he is the boy (sorry!) man for the task at hand!
If we continue to persist with the 3-5-2 formation which I strongly believe stubborn Rodgers will do Coutinho will play in the number 10 role to provide the chances for the SAS but will also be expected to chip in with a decent goal return alongside his assist stats.
I would revert back to our previous formation 4-2-3-1 (see attached) once all our available players are fit
I would revert back to our number one central defensive partnership Skrtel and Agger
Pull Lucas out of the firing line for a while as he has not done the job for us this season - give the responsibility to Henderson and ensure that him and Gerrard alternate going forward between them. Most important is that our defensive midfielder needs to learn how to anticipate danger in our defensive areas very much like Flamini does for Arsenal.
The Suarez/Coutinho/Moses/Sturridge front four axis will be told to alternate as well but their jobs are to create havoc, create chances and score goals
Johnson and Enrique will also be given the tasks of supporting the attacking plays when we are attacking but also be mindful of their defensive duties at all times.
Gerrard is still our best midfielder, regardless of whether he scores 20 goals a season or 2 from the spot. I don’t think he’s an average player. Clearly he’s not the same player that he was, but our expectations seem to remain. The role he is playing for Liverpool is now defensive rather than him slotting into one of the more attacking roles that he has occupied so well in the past.
DeleteI think Lucas’ form has created a real opportunity for the Boy Wonder Jo 90 in one of the midfield roles.
The good thing is that we’re still 3rd and the window is getting ever closer.
Its an indication of Gerrard’s decline that Henderson now provides greater contribution over 90 minutes, one of the reasons you no longer hear about the LFC passing game is because our captain is now a passenger in midfield, which leaves us trying to control the tempo and possession of the game with 2 players. Right now not even Allen could be a worst option than Gerrard.
DeleteEveryone’s time at a club comes and goes and the sands of time are running out on Stevie G – still a legend but we need to face the facts he just may not have it anymore – to have players like Tiote, Cabaye from Newcastle, Wanyama and Schneiderlin from Southampton – getting the better of him and Lucas/Henderson when not one of them could lace his boots when he was at the top of his game is sad for me.
DeleteVic – your time is now to defend your capt !!! LOL
DeleteSG is still the best midfielder we got, he has spent all his career with LFC. The man has has his socks off, so we cant go comparing him to our younger recruits who we have brought in and done sh*t. He deserves rest.
DeleteHe may have shown less contribution in games, and lack of bursts he used to do towards goals, but in all fair-ness he cant carry the team himself.
He has now become a holding player, who just keeps control of the flow around the middle, and tries to feed the ball through.
I 'am happy for him rest at games, but its now time for the others to step and lead the show.
Very good defence Billy,
DeleteMy question to the group is when do we know that the time is right for our capt to step aside – do we wait for him to decide – which could mean poorer players than him continuing to outplay him or do we do the decent respectable thing and let him retire from the team on a high?
Not saying right now as he still has lots to offer the team but we need to face that day is not that far away at all.
well
DeleteI think retiring on a high is wining the penmanship. You can have a excellent career with a top club, but winning the domestic club, with the club you love is any footballers dream
No question about it, he should be rested in games, but like I said we need players to step up, make a contribution and I think its time to test out team with a few games with out SG, and let other players be given a chance, mix the play
This season we have started so well, if we start to decline by January sitting below 7th spot than, im going to get my 12 inch LP out, slap it on the decks, and play some back to life, back to reality.
David, said my piece earlier.
DeleteI've sent enough emails out about him over the years to let you know he's my favourite player. I said before, I thought he should have moved further up the pitch after Coutinho got injured because he's still the best supplier of a goal chance at the club and he wouldn't have been asked to do so much running. Actually, he's second in that regard in the Premiership at this moment. That's not to say he's immune from criticism as I think I said yesterday. With a better balanced squad, again as I've said before, he could've been used in the same way Chelsea use Lampard these days in terms of spacing his games out and his time on the pitch.
With Coutinho one hopes that he can be a supplier as well as a taker of goals. That's why I think with him in the team both Allen and Henderson have to play to give the team legs in the engine room with Gerrard in there to help control the tempo with Countinho ahead of him. We want central midfielders in the centre, not widemen in there by default.
The Conor Coady's of this world may have been better served staying with the club rather than being sent out and when we are scratching around for midfield players who can actually play a pass 10 feet and get on the end of a chance.
my favourite player too, by miles...no one comes close.
DeleteThink we worked that one out Billy !!!! LOL
DeleteDavid
DeleteI thought I back up Vic, not that he needs backing up lol....:-)
LOL. Don’t worry Vic can defend himself in any conversation!!! LOL
DeleteChelsea can afford to accommodate Lampard’s extended retirement from football providing him with the odd cameo appearance to massage his ego, Liverpool don’t have that luxury and I imagine that if BR had managed to bring in the attacking midfielder he sought then Gerrard could have been used more sparingly. Gerrard’s performances are now reminiscence of an ailing Ali quitting on his stool against a younger, stronger Larry Holmes, no longer able to even throw a punch much less manage an Ali shuffle.
DeleteCarragher went at the right time and Gerrard should follow him in the summer, LFC’s second greatest player of all time.
Wouldn’t surprise me if he decided to make the World Cup for England this summer his football swansong as apart from winning the league he doesn’t have anything else to prove to anyone.
DeleteVery entertaining Billy, hopefully your DJ ing days are well and truly behind you – back to reality.
DeleteEven his shuffle from memory is still a creative force compared to what we have - the problem for us is we have some who if they tried the shuffle would hit the ground! We are talking the here and now and why I keep saying it's about the next two months and trying to put outselves in with an assemblance of chance of purchasing some decent players in January. We have a squad with has out performed itself and we must to make do what we have until then. Even from corners we can't even muster a taker who can by pass the first man when he's not taking them - no reason to pick someone, but shows what we lack in the creative department.
DeleteIt's not just about Joe Allen doing the business, it's about the fact that Brendan Rodgers let players go because he piled so much faith in him, so he has a lot riding on him when he starts back in the team.
No matter how limited they were in other aspects of their game – Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez always chipped in with 8-10 goals which can not be said for our current midfield.
DeleteInteresting to see if we are in the top 4 in January who we can lure into the squad.
I can hear the sentiments of how Livingstone feels about Gerrard but to say that even Jo would do a better job, is a bit below the mark for me. I still think Gerrard has been our best midfielder – but that shouldn’t stop us embarking on the challenge of trying to find someone who’s better than him.
DeleteI stilll feel that Jonjo should have been sent on loan rather than sold – I know exactly what Livingstone will say to that !!! LOL
DeleteYeah Bill, we need some players to step up and "Get on the Good Foot" as James used to sing!
DeleteBilly that’s James Brown ok ?? LOL
DeleteI could just hear James ripping those lines when Henderson clean through tried to use his left leg!
ReplyDeleteLOL
ReplyDeleteDon’t teams do training drills where they have to use just their weaker foot – it would have a long term benefit if they did.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, least he swung it, albeit in vein!
DeleteIt looks like we have now been linked to Cabaye in a Jan move and also Shay Given as back up keeper again!!!
ReplyDelete