“Nobody really talks about [the title] much, but it’s definitely
something that’s in my mind and it’s probably in the other players’ minds as
well.” That was Jon Flanagan talking to talkSPORT
about the possibility of Liverpool challenging for the Premiership title.
As time goes on Brendan Rodgers team are making believers of even the sternness
of critics with their version of the beautiful game and our devastating front
five.
For me, should we beat Man United then the drive for home starts then
and I truly believe our destiny is then in our own hands. A Rooney inspired Man U will want to throw a
spanner in the works probably seeing the game as the last vestige of a chance
to push for a fourth, but just as importantly to throw our challenge of course.
We all agree that Man City possess the strongest squad, but they have
defensive frailties both at left-back and beside Vincent Kompany at centre-half
and we proved at the Entihad that they can be outplayed. Arsenal have struggled somewhat with the
injuries to Ramsey and Walcott, let alone Wenger’s intransigence in the
transfer market and it will be difficult to dislodge Chelsea under the
stewardship of Mourinho and a team choc-a-bloc full of winners.
That being said, Liverpool’s strong point is our naivety. Naivety, in the sense that the expectation
still lies with the ‘Big Three’ and the belief that we will eventually fall by
the wayside. We have a group of young
players playing with no fear because they have yet to feel the disappointment of
failure and this is where the leadership of Gerrard with experiences in the
Champions League and other honours and also Suarez experience in winning the
Copa America will help.
Daniel Sturridge has winner’s medals both in the Premiership and
Champions League with Chelsea and Glen Johnson has a Premiership medals with
the same club, so both know what it takes having been in and around players
with a winning mentality.
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| League Champions 1990 |
Mourinho, Pelligrino and Wenger in recent weeks have stated that we are
viable contenders for the Premiership because we are without the distraction of
European competition. This is true to an
extent, but the reality is that is these teams have squads built to enable them
to compete with the rigours of multiple competition. For example, Man City have four strikers and
misfiring or not Chelsea have three.
They are both blessed in the midfield area, so much so that Oscar hasn’t
started regularly as of late and James Milner is lucky if he starts a game at
City, yet he is a mainstay of the England squad and Jack Rodwell and Micah
Richards like many before them have become forgotten men at the Etihad.
The game is about goals and only Man City can get anywhere near us in
terms of the X-factor of our front five, with Sterling, Henderson and Coutinho
coming to the fore to add a mixture to the blend of Suarez and Sturridge
upfront and that is why we could go very close.
The Bird is about to get back on its Perch ... I can just picture it
ReplyDeleteMy big concern is Sunday for the time being. Who stays or who goes will be sorted once our top 4 finish is confirmed. Sunday, let me change the subject – what is your prediction?
DeleteI predicted Arsenal were going to hammer us and we tore them apart so I’m officially saying that United will thump us on Sunday J. I expect a really tough game in all seriousness, they’ll be right up for it and they have players that can hurt you if they get into their rhythm, I think it’s important that we play to a similar level as we did against Arsenal and Spurs, get in their faces right from the whistle and don’t let them settle. If we can get a win it will be a great boost to our Champs league qualification chances, Spurs and Arsenal face off later that day so someone is going to drop points there, Chelsea are away to a Villa side that can cause an upset if Benteke has his shooting boots on and City are on the road to Hull who can cause problems.
DeleteSound like you’ve it all figured out Barry! If we can get a win, then put up our feet with a cup of coffee or two to see the other results unfold, that will be a perfect week end for us all.
DeleteIt’s a bit early but what’s your teams for United. I’d go –
DeleteMing
Johnson Skrtl Sakho Flanno
Hendo Gerrard
Sturridge Coutinho Sterling
Suarez
If Coutinho isn’t doing his bit defensively swap for Joe Allen in an early sub and shift Hendo into the hole.
I think Agger will continue in the team.
DeleteSakho being brought back in gradually.
The team almost picks itself nowadays. Only a couple of players skating on thin ice, which says a lot for our performances as well as lack of depth. I reckon the Utd defence will be having kittens – who do I pick up, Sterlining, Coutinho or Suarez? But what about Sturridge! What a ball by Stevie! At the moment I’m dreaming of Champions League. It was good to see the Spurs manager give up on his players, hinting that all is not well in the camp. Then we saw the combustable Man City. Arsenal suffer a further loss with the glass ankle of the ever so cynical Agger. Oh how a week is a long time in this game.
DeleteSo it looks like its good bye to Aly Cissokho at the end of the season as Brendan will not pick up his option. By the look's of things Mr Moses is also going through the Long Goodbye!
ReplyDeleteNice to see that Conor Coady will be experiencing a wembley semi-final. Brendan also commented about the the good experience Borini, Suso and Coady are gaining away from Anfield. Saw a poll where 72 per cent of those those who voted (could have been 50 people for all I know, thought I'd get that in before David) wanted Borini back next season as our third striker.
Rodgers said he has been impressed with the game time Borini has got, and how he has helped Gustavo Poyet’s side.“Fabio has got games and scored some very important goals,” Rodgers told The Liverpool Echo.“He got the opportunity to play in a major final at Wembley. All that bodes well for the future.”Suso, 20, meanwhile has spent the season on-loan at Spanish La Liga side Almeria, where he has scored twice and created 22 chances in 25 appearances this season. Rodgers continued, “The likes of young Suso has had a terrific loan in Spain playing regular first team football.“He will come back and come into the squad in the summer and then we will assess where he’s at.”The Reds have sent many of his fringe players out on loan this season, including 12 who are with other clubs right now. The Northern Irishman says the system allows the players to develop at strong levels, and experience the highs and lows that come with spending a season in the first team.“The loans have certainly been beneficial,” said Rodgers.“There are different types of loans for different players. In particular for the young players it’s very important for them to gain that experience.“It’s good for us to put them into clubs who operate with a similar philosophy. That helps their development and hopefully brings them back ready to play pressurised football at a high level.“We’ve got Andre Wisdom doing really well at Derby at the top end of the Championship and young Conor getting league experience at Sheffield United. He needed to go away and prepare himself to play every single week.”
and then there's the other loanee....
Napoli's on-loan goalkeeper Jose Reina remains at odds with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers over his future at Anfield.
Last month the Reds boss, in response to comments from the goalkeeper about needing to return to Merseyside to make a decision, said he believed the 31-year-old had already made up his mind.
"Pepe made it very clear when he went to Napoli he was looking to move as he penned a great big letter saying he was going to work with the best manager that he'd worked with and thanked everyone for his time for Liverpool," said Rodgers.
However, Reina, reunited with his former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez in Italy, denies he has already confirmed his departure.
"That is what the manager says apparently but I have two years left on my contract," he told BBC Sport.
"Liverpool got another goalkeeper (Simon Mignolet) and they told me they were happy to loan me for a season.
"It was strange but I don't regret it. The only thing about the letter is that I just could say goodbye in a different way and I couldn't do it (in person).
"There are always up and downs in a career and in the last two and a half years at Liverpool there were different methods and perhaps I didn't do as good as I used to with Rafa."
Benitez remains circumspect on Reina's long-term future.
"He reads the game very well and is one of the best goalkeepers in the world," the Spaniard told Sky Italia.
"Will he stay at Napoli? He has a clause and we know it - meanwhile he should continue to do well until the end of the season."
I think Opta Douglas has been a bit more relaxed about the stats in recent weeks. I’d be happy for Borini to remain as our fourth choice striker and for Victor and Aly to do one.
DeleteSeems like Pepe has no option of coming back as he’s upset BR by saying that Rafa was the best manager he’d worked with.
Just to assist you all on the ridiculous notion of bringing back Borini as third choice striker Opta Douglas thinks only 25 people voted making 18 positive votes for him – I would definitely want us to try and get £10m through his admirable performances as a striker this season.
Delete£10m would be a pleasing return on our investment – when last season we looked like we wouldn’t even get a tenner !!!
6 million euro/ £5 million pounds is the most we can expect to get from Reina, which is sad but true – his salary desperately needs to come off our wage bill this summer.
Migs has done well but I still feel we need a better keeper – more dominant, commanding and more of a leader of men.
Stato
DeleteNot surprised Pepe's struggling to find a club, when you consider that nearly every top club in Europe has a decent keeper.
Stato, get 10 million for Borini and replace him with who, bearing in mind what 310 million buys you these days!?!
You mean £310m or £30m
Delete10m
DeleteHopefully Rodgers can persuade Suso to come home to be an alternative to Coutinho and then we can bring in a player such as Kopposts' choice (Southampton’s Jay Rodriguez as back up to Suarez and Sturridge) as my choice Utd’s Hernandez will not want to play second fiddle at another big club.
DeleteThere are definitely better alternatives to Borini – it’s the scouts job to find them and for a reasonable price as well but a quality player.
DeleteDavid – are you still keen on Hernandes?
DeleteI personally would give Borini another chance to come back in and play as our third choice striker, He’s still young and has potential and it seems like he has a really good attitude. If we get Champs league then he’ll get more game time and more chances to develop. The same goes for the likes of Suso, Wisdom, Ibe and Teixeira, they can come in and add depth to the squad, If we manage to get in the Champions league then it will be important to augment the 1st eleven with quality young players.
DeleteI doubt Chicarito will want to go anywhere where he’d have 2 established strikers ahead of him.
DeleteAs discussed with David and Victor, he’s a poor man’s David Fairclough.
DeleteIts always useful to have a quality supersub – it means you are always in a game and they are likely to help turn around any situations.
DeleteAbsolutely right, but nobody wants to play that role.
DeleteIn addition, he's been warned by the Mexican manager about his lack of minutes on the pitch.
DeleteAlso, goes to my question to David, about who would he bring in. We've got two dynamic strikers so anyone coming in knows they are not going to be first choice, so better to have either someone willing to the job as a third striker like Borini or an experienced striker suplimented by another coming through the ranks.
Man City are probably the only team with three top class strikers in Europe and with Dzeko I use that discription advisedly!
I am sure Adam Morgan would have loved to have been given the chance to play that role (substitute).
DeleteLivi, I know who want to play substitute!!! Third choice, Borini no hassle!
DeleteSo does Biffa Aspas
DeleteYou know who I mean, when I say he is not good enough.
DeleteAspas, Alberto, Moses, Cissokho, Brad Jones, Toure....
DeleteI’d hang on to Alberto but I don’t think the manager thinks much of the lad. It’s a pity, from what brief glimpses we’ve seen he looks like he has some quality.
DeleteI agree on Alberto – we need to be in more competitions to see this player develop even more into the quality player that we have already seen glimpses of.
DeleteHe will be snapped up very quickly if Rodgers continues to ignore his undoubted qualities.
Brendan's pretty ruthless when he thinks soomeone's not cutting the mustard! I agree with regards Alberto, he looks as though he is struggling with the physicality of the English game, but if you're not playing games...
DeleteCoutino, Texeira, Alberto and Suso, can't see all of them fitting in the first team squad.Coutino, Texeira, Alberto and Suso, can't see all of them fitting in the first team squad.
DeleteTeixeira can go on loan but to a Premiership club such as Swansea not to Spain or to a lower division club.
DeleteAssaidi and Suso are the cream of the crop for me...
Deletestill not convinced with Borini....so I think the Boss is going to cut him loose.
Agree with thia Barry. I like the look of him, maybe bit slow for prem but can see him going on to have a good career somewhere. Always available and great eye for a pass...shame we haven't seen a bit more of him in my opinion but can't help think rodgers is trying to make a bit of a point to owners transfer committee that likes of him and aspas aren't up to scratch and he needs more backing in transfer market...
DeleteLuke, playing devil's advocate they could just as easily say to Brendan you spent £22 million on Illori, Alberto and Aspas and together none of these three have barely made a dent in the first team. With that in mind £22 million could've bought us that top class central midfielder or winger...
DeleteFair point, I suppose it depends on who you think made the decisions to sign those players. My suspicion is that for all rodgers loves to say how he was aware of coutihno when he 15 I reckon most of the decisions are made by the committee and he probably knew little of the likes of illori, alberto and aspas but was convinced by the committee that they were right profile. All speculation obviously but hopefully a cl spot will see a slight shift in transfer strategy....
DeleteOn Illori, i've seen a few people say plan was always to give a few months bedding in in liverpool before sending him out on loan, and that the club still have very high hopes for him. Extremely long-term planning if so but be interesting to see whats happens with him in the summer as he's been doing well at grenada (?) by all accounts....
Illori’s being doing so well, his club already wants him to stay. There maybe some truth in what your saying regarding the other two as there was no doubting Brendan’s disappointment when the transfers fell through in January of two players that most be felt were top class.
DeleteUtd planning double swoop in the summer on Lallana and Shaw – what are we waiting for ??
ReplyDeleteOffer them the biggest stage of Champions League football at Anfield or Euro League or no Euro football at Utd !!! LOL
The two will equally drag theirs legs of United do not qualified do not get Champion League place through back door and that is having to win the competition – which is a very big ask given the clubs who are still in it. That holding constant that they will get pass Olympiakus with 2 goals advantage from the first leg next week.
Delete