The Official Liverpool FC Thread [Vol 9]

[Black can man]

Flip Martian said:

Dan_1981 said:

A good run in Europe may very well cover up failures in the league.

The haters need to be hoping for failure tonight.

Imagine, finishing outside the top 4, but making the final of the champions league.....

I'd be ok with that but it won't happen. We've looked as bad in Europe as in other games.

Whats the scenario with the Europa league positions for the clubs that don't make the cut in the champions league ?

Would you want that ?

[RedTrident]

If we were to play 433 or a 442 diamond with a midfield 3,that 3 for me would be Cann, Henderson and Coutinho or Lallana. If it needed more steel then I'd bring in from the current squad either Allen or Lucas. If Gerrard was to play it'd be as an impact player in a more advanced central/attacking midfield position.

I'm sure I'm stating the obvious here.

[Flip Martian]

Black can man said:

Whats the scenario with the Europa league positions for the clubs that don't make the cut in the champions league ?

Would you want that ?

No I wouldn't. Its just dragging out the inevitable. And I've always been opposed to losers in the CL being allowed into another competition to compete against those who are already in it.

[BlackST]

Dan_1981 said:

A good run in Europe may very well cover up failures in the league.

The haters need to be hoping for failure tonight.

Imagine, finishing outside the top 4, but making the final of the champions league.....

We have looked garbage in and out of Europe. We got beat by Basel away and they aren't one of the best teams in the Champs league.
IF we did get through we could face Leverkusen, Monaco, Sporting, Porto and Donetsk. They are the weakest out of the ones who will probably go through.
So a 1 in 3 chance of playing a team who wouldn't turn us over good and proper (but would still give us a game in our current state )

ras62 said:

BlackST said:

ras62 said:

We are all stupid. Outsmarted by the smooth talking N.Irish genius. Liverpool do not play with a defensive midfielder at all, the position (invented by Rodgers) is called a deep lying playmaker! You know a quarterback type tag the Yanks can connect with it. Utter nonsense of course but there it is.
Times must be bad when some here are advocating the inclusion of Lucas Leiva. The walking free kick is just what a shaky keeper and defense do not need.

Someone has to replace Gerrard in that position though. Wether it is Lucas, Can or Allen, I'd just love to see us try it for a run of games.
2013/2014 stats for Lucas.
64 successful tackles out of 149 attempts.
60 fouls in 27 games.

Ok, that foul stat is piss poor.
A proper CDM is needed in January. We won't buy one though.

We were privileged to watch the very best in Mascherano. That position would be best given to Can or Henderson out of the current squad imo. Both are strong and mobile and although they are not outright DM's they would do the job well. They certainly wouldn't be standing on the toe's of the central defenders the way Gerrard often does. Every time I see him receiving the ball with his back to the play I expect trouble.

I don't think Henderson would suit the CDM role. I'm not sure on Can neither. Never know though until you give him a chance.
Mascherano was something else. One of the best CDM's i've ever seen. A shame to see him play CB the majority of the time for Barca.

[Black can man]

RedTrident said:

If we were to play 433 or a 442 diamond with a midfield 3,that 3 for me would be Cann, Henderson and Coutinho or Lallana. If it needed more steel then I'd bring in from the current squad either Allen or Lucas. If Gerrard was to play it'd be as an impact player in a more advanced central/attacking midfield position.

I'm sure I'm stating the obvious here.

Continuing to play Gerrard is the problem isn't it ?

[BlackST]

Black can man said:

RedTrident said:

If we were to play 433 or a 442 diamond with a midfield 3,that 3 for me would be Cann, Henderson and Coutinho or Lallana. If it needed more steel then I'd bring in from the current squad either Allen or Lucas. If Gerrard was to play it'd be as an impact player in a more advanced central/attacking midfield position.

I'm sure I'm stating the obvious here.

Continuing to play Gerrard is the problem isn't it ?

Maybe. Maybe not. Rodgers certainly doesn't think so, but he wouldn't would he? He's renting his house off him

Rodgers said: “The spotlight he has been under has been incredible.

“People expect Steven to be the type of player he was 10 or 12 years ago but sadly that's not the case.

“Steven has been slowly adapting to a position I felt would really benefit the team - the playmaking role behind.

“That player who scored 15 a season and made 13 or 14 assists, he's not that type of player anymore. It's hugely unfair he gets judged on that level.

“He's a wonderful player, I can safely say he's the best player I've ever worked with – his mentality, commitment and loyalty he's shown the football club has been incredible."

[m3sye]

Black can man said:

Continuing to play Gerrard is the problem isn't it ?

He is not a DM so is part of the problem - not quick or agile enough and players can get past him quite quickly - Have him further forward for 5 games and see if he has any impact - I am not sure he will thought without top draw striker up top - so he may just have to become an impact player.

I dont thing Mignolet is totally to blame that is madness - have we witnessed some of our defending this year

[m3sye]

BlackST said:

“That player who scored 15 a season and made 13 or 14 assists, he's not that type of player anymore. It's hugely unfair he gets judged on that level.

This annoys me tbh - I think the more he keeps drumming on about this the more the person SG may start to believe it

Watching the snippets of Lampard when he has played this year you can tell if he played a whole season his goals and assists would be in double figures - There is no question if Lamps can do Gerrard can. No one would expect him to score 15 but 7-10 and 6-9 assists would be ample and I for one think with the belief and a decent striker in front of him making space he could still do that - We cannont though play him every game, he does need to be used wisely .

[greygoose]

Flip Martian said:

"However, the criticism comes, whether it is deserved or not, you won’t like it as a player. But you just have to ignore it, not listen to it."

OR how about taking it on board and pulling your fecking fingers out and trying a bit harder?!

That seemed an odd quote to me too, commentators like Carragher and Neville aren't stupid and he would be well advised to listen and take their points on board.

[ras62]

m3sye said:

BlackST said:

“That player who scored 15 a season and made 13 or 14 assists, he's not that type of player anymore. It's hugely unfair he gets judged on that level.

This annoys me tbh - I think the more he keeps drumming on about this the more the person SG may start to believe it

Watching the snippets of Lampard when he has played this year you can tell if he played a whole season his goals and assists would be in double figures - There is no question if Lamps can do Gerrard can. No one would expect him to score 15 but 7-10 and 6-9 assists would be ample and I for one think with the belief and a decent striker in front of him making space he could still do that - We cannont though play him every game, he does need to be used wisely .

Not many are expecting Gerrard of old, he is judged on what he does each game which sadly is of little of benefit to the side and infact is much to the detriment of the team defensively. He is maybe able to play offensively but why would you choose Gerrard when Lallana, Sterling and Coutinho are all much better options. Trying to find a system in which to play Gerrard was wrong years ago and is absolutely negligent today.
BTW Gerrard cannot lace Lampard's boots when it comes to scoring goals. One look at their respective records is enough to put that idea to bed.

[ascayman]

BlackST said:

“He's a wonderful player, I can safely say he's the best player I've ever worked with – his mentality, commitment and loyalty he's shown the football club has been incredible."

He's after a rent reduction.

[DuncanM]

I think it's absolutely fine the fans voicing their disapproval, but I think some of the ex LFC players should be ashamed of themselves for criticising specific players, and Carragher saying we need 4 players is completely mental imo.

BR will go in January if the results don't come right now, I think that really is pretty clear for all to see.

Despite supporting him up until now, it is the worry that he refuses to changing anything that will make him kind of deserve to go.

Can't imagine the pressure he is under!

Watching tonight, try and judge our attacking midfield on end product, I still believe that's our biggest issue at the moment.

[m3sye]

DuncanM said:

I think it's absolutely fine the fans voicing their disapproval, but I think some of the ex LFC players should be ashamed of themselves for criticising specific players, and Carragher saying we need 4 players is completely mental imo.

B

We do - I would say more tbh - We need FW,RCB,GK,CM OR DM

[BlackST]

DuncanM said:

Watching tonight, try and judge our attacking midfield on end product, I still believe that's our biggest issue at the moment.

The problem we have is
We have no quality striker up there.
Our attacking midfielders really aren't goal scorers.

I don't think Coutinho, Sterling, Lallana, Henderson will score many goals without Sturridge or a Suarez in the squad.
It's like the oppositions defenders don't fear us when we don't have a quality striker up there. Stick Sturridge in there I think defences will have to start thinking and be wary of the quality that can hit them.
Until we do have a proper decent striker up top opposition will play with confidence. And we won't.

[jammy_basturd]

I wouldn't get your hopes up that we'll sign anyone in January. Maybe a striker if we're lucky.

[BlackST]

Little rumour for tonights line up. Nothing 100%

@MarkmaccaMc: Jones,Manquillo,Skrtel,Toure,Moreno,Can,Lallana,Coutinho,Sterling, Boroini,Lambert.

[DSLiverpool]

BlackST said:

“He's a wonderful player, I can safely say he's the best player I've ever worked with – his mentality, commitment and loyalty he's shown the football club has been incredible."

So Bren drops him for the swan song top game of his career just to tell him who`s boss - it just doesn't add up.

Bren has Rafas bad qualities without any of the good ones.

[Kaj91]

DSLiverpool said:

Bren has Rafas bad qualities without any of the good ones.

Bren has nicer teeth.

[revrange]

BlackST said:

Little rumour for tonights line up. Nothing 100%

@MarkmaccaMc: Jones,Manquillo,Skrtel,Toure,Moreno,Can,Lallana,Coutinho,Sterling, Boroini,Lambert.

I like the look of that side, its a joke we are reduced to that. Selling Reina and Agger looks the worst bit of business of the summer, really does. Also Kelly being sold was a bad decision, as although he doesnt really suit the attacking full back style of play, he was a solid defender and my god we could use one of those now. He was also tall, and anyone else noted that most of our attacking 11 are small, a factor in our poor defending of set pieces.

I think one think BR needs to do, is pick a team, maybe the one above and then stick to it. Let the players get use to each other again, and get some form back. Maybe only change 1-2 players each game. Always play players in there position, so no Johnson at LB, what must Enque and Moreno think!

[BlackST]

Another rumour
We'll see who's right in 15 minutes or so.

@Liddellpool: #rumour Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Toure, Moreno; Lucas, Gerrard, Henderson; Sterling, Lallana; Lambert