They are bang average, how did they think they'd challenge without Suarez? And Sturridge will be fit for the glue factory sometime soon.
Liverpool 2014/15 | WARNING: Contains strong amounts of Scouse nonsense
- Thread starter Wumminator
- Start date
The worry from some posters on here is baffling. Liverpool don't have a hope of threatening us for a top four place, they're wank.
Unless Sterling is leaving, I don't see why Liverpool want Depay.
Why not? I really don't know enough about Depay to talk about him but it's clear that we rely too much on Sterling and Coutinho at the minute. We need another quality attacking option.
What about Lallana?
The way I see it, you have Sterling, Ibe, Lallana, Markovic and Coutinho. Ibe looks a top talent and Markovic is supposed to be quite good as well.
All of them are quite young nad I'd have thought you'd want to get the best out of them rather than signing another young talent.
He's got great technique but not much else. Good (overpriced) squad player but not someone we should be expecting to be first choice.
I'd rather we were ruthless. If they're good enough they'll be able to handle the competition, if they aren't up for the challenge then tough luck for them.
Again, talking generally here. I've no idea if Depay is who we should be aiming for and I don't think he'd choose us anyway.
They could definitely do with someone with more cutting edge particularly when Sturridge is injured/off form.
Yeah with all that other clear attacking threat they possess, it's so weird to hear about Liverpool targeting upcoming young talents.
They lack a top quality striker in the absence of Sturridge. What they don't lack is another young talented wide player to add to their already bulging collection of young wide players.
Falcao is probably available.
Markovic hasn't really worked. Ibe looks good, but has everything to prove. Even if Sterling stays on, they can't constantly rely on him. Coutinho tends to defer to the middle whether he plays left or right instead of lining up in the middle. Lallana is a built like a child and huffs after an hour.
They wanted Shaqiri not very long ago, so a move for Depay doesn't seem particularly strange to me. In the summer we'll be sat on Valencia, Young, Di Maria, Mata, Januzaj and Nani. Sure, at least one of those will be gone, but you could argue we need a centre forward more than we need a winger until we shift some bodies.
I see what you are saying but last summer they were in the same position. Markovic was by all accounts a very good player already with immense potential (although he's looked shite so far). There's no telling which way Depay will go.
There's a difference between the 2 cases. We lack a genuine pacy winger. Young is in his 30's and Di Maria was by all accounts bought as a CM.
Damn! I tried to make it subtle but nothing gets past you scousers, huh? Now, I'll have to request a change of user name.
Suarez was at the time playing in the Eredivisie, which is not what it used to be in the past. More importantly, he was bought of his first cannibalistic act when top clubs won't go near him as he wasn't proven in a top divison and was still suspended for a bizarre incident. Liverpool paid a good chunk of change for someone whose employers were very willing to offload him. The problem with buying feck-ups is that they come with no guarantees, for every Suarez who proves a success there are 10 Super Marios, as you guys are finding out.
The ones you mention are not proven goal scorers. 'Trick' is exactly the right word, that is what it'll have to be, as no one of repute will sign for you. Which is what I initailly said.
By the way, how are you doing on those 5 extra cases of souvigan from Stevie's farewell party? I bet they are coming in handy.
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They have absolutely no choice but to keep taking lots of gambles. No proven quality will sign them. they need to strike it lucky with 2-3 gems bedding in at the same time, or they will just keep free-falling.
They did it with coutinho and Suarez.
Think Liverpool will have a major facelift this Summer
Gerrard, Johnson, Manquillo, Enrique, Balotelli, Borini, Lambert could all leave in one window and they might consider selling Sterling to help finance the changes - suppose it depends on how far Henry is willing to spend too
Think some of the promoted sides would do well to sign Lambert - a run of games and he will score goals
Think Can will move to midfield so possibly bring in a ball playing CB and lose one of Toure or Louvren
Gerrard, Johnson, Manquillo, Enrique, Balotelli, Borini, Lambert could all leave in one window and they might consider selling Sterling to help finance the changes - suppose it depends on how far Henry is willing to spend too
Think some of the promoted sides would do well to sign Lambert - a run of games and he will score goals
Think Can will move to midfield so possibly bring in a ball playing CB and lose one of Toure or Louvren
He's spent £220m in 3 years on 23 players. At what point do "major face lifts" become routine makeup?
Also who in their right mind would buy Balotelli?
Well that's not strictly true. They are not utilised because one is a 4th choice striker and the other has just been a total flop. However I completely disagree with Bob on aerial threats being overrated, you only have to look at City (Dzeko, Jovetic, Kompany etc.), Arsenal (Giroud, Welbeck, Mertersacker) and Chelsea (Costa, Ivanovic, Terry), even United have 8 headed goals, to see that we are not only lacking any real threat in that area but also losing a substantial number of goals that could/would have been match turners for us in this season of drought. We can not completly disregard one major facet of the game and just rely on open-play goals, we have totally lacked any set-piece / headed threat this season.
We also have other two major talents, in the same mould, in Wilson and Kent in the U21s that I expect to see making the match day squad next season. Canos and Sinclair can't be far away either and Yesil is the type of striker we've badly missed this season. He's making a great start to his comeback in the U21s, 2 wonderful goals against Spurs, after two ACL injuries/surgery, I hope the lad can make it after the horrors he's suffered.
*sigh* Yet another one who missed the ironic nature of the post .. and my later clarification for those for whom it sailed over their headsBy the way, how are you doing on those 5 extra cases of souvigan from Stevie's farewell party? I bet they are coming in handy.
Yup. We definitely need to sign some new posters this summer, Raf.
You're missing the point, its just not and never has been a fundamental of the way we play under Rodgers. Look at City they push there fullbacks up, create 2 v 1 overloads on the side for the likes of Zabaleta and Kolarov to overlap therefore creating the opportunity for crosses and pull backs for there strikers, that's why they need those target men to hold the ball up and utilise there slow patient probing passing game. I'd wager you put Lambert or Balotelli in that side theyd look half decent players. Our game unless we're playing at breakneck speed and with movement is quiet dull and one paced, when we're faced with a parked bus our players don't have the nous and patience to break a side down. That's why it's so vitally important we get back to attacking teams at ferocious speed and grabbing an early goal because credit to Rodgers he's shown he can set up a team to devastating effect without the right tools, I'm just not sure he knows what those tools are, he seems to want to play last year's game with a lone target man which is utter madness. I think he keeps reverting back to his favoured game plan but its proved such an utter failure that I think he needs to accept he's better at setting up counter attacking teams.
As for your set piece comment I agree, but it was a problem in Rodgers first season if you recall and last season was a statistical anomaly this season we've gone the other way again. We evidently need better set piece routines and takers we should at least have 5-8 from corners and free kicks. Its a problem but one that's easily rectified on the training ground.
We've lacked a goalscorer all season and we still have a sniff of fourth Rodgers has many faults and I've not been quiet about airing them but unless we get a call from Jurgen Klopp he deserves another season to try and get things right.
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Good thing I wasn't alive to witness that moment. Here is for 25 more years of misery.
Sorry for taking so long to reply - busy week.
To pick up on some of the points you made / replied to ;
1. I agree with keeping BR unless Klopp fancies a touch of S&M. But there are no excuses next season.
2. Set pieces - I'm not so sure it's a training ground issue, surely they spend plenty of time on practicing routines. Better FK takers required. We seem to be delegating FKs to the most senior players and not those best suited - maybe.
3. Headed goals. It's irrelevant whether it's fundamental to the way we play or not (though of course it isn't), the fact remains we put in an average of 16 crosses a match (the lowest in the league, United have joint 3rd highest with 24 per game) ... and have very very little to show for it. Chelsea only average 18 but have scored many more headed goals that we have, well everyone else has to be accurate.
4. You mention not being able to break down teams that have parked the bus and mention 'right tools'. Well taking one of them out of the tool box doesn't help the cause. It's far easier to defend against a team that you know are going to try and pass their way through you - than have to defend against a team with more than one tactic.
Basically if we are not scoring a good percentage of goals from headers (and last season we did) then we have lost one major threat in attack and it makes us far easier to defend against.
You are putting too much focus on headers. It is a minor issue, while your team has several bigger problems.
1) Sturridge is too injury prone to count on him. Liverpool needs another player with similar qualities so you don’t need to shuffle around the whole team all the time. You´d still be in the mix for top4, if he would have been fit for the majority of the season.
2) Rodgers should commit to one system and strengthen the central midfield accordingly.
3) Regardless of the formation, the defense has to be sorted out. I am not talking about better player but about a systematic approach.
These three things should have priority and they are doable without spending silly money.
1) Sturridge is too injury prone to count on him. Liverpool needs another player with similar qualities so you don’t need to shuffle around the whole team all the time. You´d still be in the mix for top4, if he would have been fit for the majority of the season.
2) Rodgers should commit to one system and strengthen the central midfield accordingly.
3) Regardless of the formation, the defense has to be sorted out. I am not talking about better player but about a systematic approach.
These three things should have priority and they are doable without spending silly money.
Seriously haven't seen a manager look as confused and clueless as he has this season. He had one of the best up and coming attacking mids playing at right wing back at some moment. Has a diminutive winger leading his time. Signed the likes of lambert and Ballo and doesn't get them on the field even though his main striker has been injured for the majority of the season. At some Gerrard was back to being an attacking mid, then he's back to holding. Can, an up and coming box to box midfield has been in defence the whole time, either right back, Right center back or even right wing back. Coutinho has played inside left, attacking mid, or the left center mid role through the season. Sterling has been up top, outwide, at right back. Now Ibe used to be at right wing back, then suddenly right wing. Henderson has played box to box mid, the right mid role or even right wing back. How can they still have faith in someone that looks like he's running the worlds greatest football experiment ever after spending 200 million quid?
I don't disagree with anything you have said, at all. However my point re. headed goals was not a substitution for the points you've raised, merely an addendum. It is something that needs to be addressed regardless of the system employed.
Re. In the mix for Top 4, I absolutely agree, in fact had we had a fit Sturridge this season then more than likely we would be in 2nd, or at least on similar points total to City, Arsenal and yourselves. Which in itself goes to show that we are not that far away. A few more headed goals for instance
All laughs and fun aside, and it's really fun to see Liverpool crumble like this, what has exactly happened. After a terrible start they went on a nice run until the game vs United and from then on it seems their season totally collapsed.
When you have players like Balotelli, that certainly doesnt help, amongst other things.
When you have players like Balotelli, that certainly doesnt help, amongst other things.
Yeah cheers for that guys.
I still dont understand why Liverpool bought him.
And it seems Rodgers lost the dressing room.
Committe, Manager, Ferguson take your pick.
In all seriousness though I reckon he's gone and I can't argue at all with it.
In all seriousness though I reckon he's gone and I can't argue at all with it.
Seriously @ Liver_bird - Brendan started losing the dressing room a while back and this is unfortunately reflecting in the performances. Never thought I'd see Liverpool not motivated when they have a game in hand and playing before us on Saturday to get within one point and put some pressure on us. That is not a happy dressing room - no one seems to care...
Since we rocked up at Anfield, they've lost 4 games and drawn one, winning a grand total of NONE.
Sold their one and only world class player who singlehandedly carried them last season. Bought a bunch of average and below average players (hilariously overpaying for most of them). They have a tactically inept and highly arrogant manager who employs stupid tactics in most games and is woefully naive in every big game.
You could see this season's outcome happening before it started. They won't get near the top 4 next season either.
It's reminiscent of Kenny's final games with us. There's no excuse for not giving a 100% on the pitch but unfortunately none care anymore, if he can't get them motivated for a push at the CL places then he's clearly lost them. I'm not sure what happens next but these are turbulent times once again, the only saving grace is there's a few quality players still in the squad.
You would have been only two behind us if you had won your last two. The opening was there and those games were winnable. Liverpool didn't score in either game. Doesn't look good for Rodgers at all.
Sorry, but I just couldn't resist posting this again. Will it ever get old?
