Liverpool FC Forum

[Johnny Boy]

A minority were calling for kenny's head yesterday just shortly before we won our first trophy in 5 odd years and secured European qualification. 

There were some utter whoppers yesterday at the game sat near me. We live in a day and age where every fan is an expert who knows better than the manager on every issue involving the team. Ok I didn't necessarily agree with the team selection but I still supported the team for 120 minutes. Some idiot sat near me spent most of the game slagging Henderson and Carroll off and spent the entire half time period slagging Kenny saying he's "out of touch with modern football" and going on about how he failed at Newcastle and Celtic blah blah blah. It was embarrassing.

It's the world we live in unfortunately. I've just looked through the match thread now that somebody mentioned it and some of the comments in there are beyond a joke.

I see that at every home game, sadly you get people who seem (for some reason) to get pleasure from moaning all the time.....and I really wish I had said that last part in a different way. 

[Johnny Boy]

We have a good foundation here, we're just missing 2-3 vital players and we will be able to consistently get into that 4th spot imo. 

I agree with that, for me a quality right sided player, a flair/creative midfielder and a new striker are a must to take us to the next level.
I suppose you could argue we need cover for Lucas too.

[Thommo's perm]

We dont have sh'it players. We have players who arent playing to their potential.
Johnson, Gerrard, Adam, Downing, Henderson, Suarez and Carroll. If these seven players upped their game we would see a massive improvement.

[lakes10]

I think that was the last game Henderson will play in that position, he was is only stuck there due to Bellamy not being that fit, look how good Downing was during that game due to being used in the right position.

the thing is when it comes down to it we should have won that game in 90mins but due to us making hard work of games like this we know it was always going to go to ET.

I think we will see our owners spend some money in the summer but dont forget that there are new rules now on how much you can spend and home grown players.
getting the right player at the club at the right cost is going to be hard to get right.

we might not get 4th but we do have a place in the EL next year, this will give the club more income and give us a better limit on what we can spend aswell as giving Kenny a chance to work out how to play in europe before being the the CL the year after.

[jacdaniel]

we might not get 4th but we do have a place in the EL next year, this will give the club more income and give us a better limit on what we can spend aswell as giving Kenny a chance to work out how to play in europe before being the the CL the year after.

Will also give us a lot more opportunities to develoop younger players like Coates, Shelvey, Hendo, Kelly, Flanno etc.

[Kenny Kan]

We dont have sh'it players. We have players who arent playing to their potential.
Johnson, Gerrard, Adam, Downing, Henderson, Suarez and Carroll. If these seven players upped their game we would see a massive improvement.

I honestly don't know what you expect from Johnson.

[Thommo's perm]

We dont have sh'it players. We have players who arent playing to their potential.
Johnson, Gerrard, Adam, Downing, Henderson, Suarez and Carroll. If these seven players upped their game we would see a massive improvement.

I honestly don't know what you expect from Johnson.

I expect what hes capable of
I believe he could improve his game and I am disappointed when he doesnt
If I expected too much from him I would be out of order. But I dont, so Im not

[Greavesie]

Now that the dust has settled over the win yesterday there's a few issues that I want to discuss, I feel yesterday highlighted our shortcomings in the middle of the park. There was such a lack of pressing and tracking back it was painful to watch at times, it got me thinking what our best midfield set up is, so here we go:

Gerrard - never in a million is he a centre midfielder, he doesn't track a runner and when he's coupled with Adam it becomes extremely noticible. He certainly belongs higher up the pitch, yesterday he was so deep he could have had another daughter on the way

Henderson - this guy frustrates the hell out me, the ability is there is drips and drabs but his tendancy to freeze in games and become invisible needs to be addressed. I'm convinced he'll come good but we need it to be sooner rather than later. Playing on the right isn't going to help the lad either. I'd  have rather swapped Gerrard and Hendo yesterday.

Spearing - he's the only one we have atm who can protect the back 4 to anything near an effective degree. Only trouble is week in week out he simply isn't going to make it.

Lucas - We've painfully missed Lucas and would have been a lot better off if he'd have been on the pitch for me, someone to just break up the play and keep the ball

Adam - he's a good passer of the ball don't get me wrong but his immobility is worrying me, he rarely tracks a man and is prone to giving away needless fouls

Shelvey - he's a promising talent as well and seems more reliable than Hendo atm which is a concern. If one of the two warrants a run in the side its him but even then he's still a rough diamond and at this stage in the season it's too much of a risk

Downing - probably the only proper winger we have and I think that shows, it also makes our game a bit lop-sided. Any chances we were going to create yesterday were down that side for me, the right was non-existent in comparison.

Bellamy - wasn't sure whether to include him with regards to the midfield but he's completely different to Downing and has been awesome this season. He's definitely not guilty of failing to press the opposition, only problem is he can't play a good run of games.

Kuyt - probably the hero of yesterday, great servant to the club but good enough week in week out? His first touch is his achilles heel but he'll certainly harry the opposition in the more tight battles

I'm genuinely uncertain about the midfield and how we set up, to get the best out of one striker I feel we have to neglect the other. If Carroll is to be the targetman I'd play Gerrard on the right and Downing on the left, at least we can cross from either side, though that's probably Kenny's logic in putting Henderson there, to no avail.

Now this might seem like a knee jerk based on yesterday's performance but it's something that I feel has been going on for a while, mainly in an attacking sense though the failure to track runners still remains. My main gripe with the midfield is the lack of dynamism and defence splitting ability, it all seemed very laboured yesterday imo, there were many occasions in which Downing was in a good position to cross with only one or two people making the run to the box.

So, what would be your strongest midfield set up given our options and who isn't good enough? I know its a little early to discuss changes but for me it seems unbalanced and the reason behind why we haven't seen too many goals this season. I also feel it gets a bit confused at times when deciding to play to Carroll's strengths or to Suarez' so a change of personell at the front might be warranted as well

Hi Greavesie, good post.

It's not that long ago when we used to sing the song "We've got the best Midfield in the World"and weren't far short of the mark !

Xabi Alonso
Javier Mascerano
Steven Gerrard
Momo Sissoko

Thats how good we had it back then as that little quartet  looked to put in Fernando Torres who pound for pound was the best striker on the planet!

How times have changed with the inevitable fall out from the mis management of the club by Hicks and Gillet. It's going to be some time before we can match the Midfield we had at the start of their tenure.

Henderson continues to frustrate and you yearn to see some of the reason why we shelled out £20 Million. You just hope he eventually comes good as Lucas invariably has but with noises from within the club targeting CL football and a genuine assault on the title it had better be sooner rather than later  ! 

Personally I think we are still some way short and Adam, Shelvey and Spearing arent the answer.

Maybe Werner and Henry will have to modify the length of their plan cos I don't see anything com ing over the hill just yet to save the day.

I suspect we may have to blood some of the ypunger lads a little more and they may hold the key to genuine progress in terms of the highest honours the game has to offer......

Seems Comoli might have something up his sleeve mate!

Reds attracting 'big players'
Club chief claims stars want to join Liverpool in the summer

Liverpool's Carling Cup triumph will encourage the interest of top players around Europe looking to join the club in the summer, according to director of football Damien Comolli.

The Reds beat Cardiff in a penalty shoot-out on Sunday to lift their first piece of silverware in six years and guarantee a place in the UEFA Europa League next season.

Comolli believes that success was a crucial step in the "project" at Anfield as the club continues its turnaround following John Henry's takeover in 2010.

And the Reds chief claims Liverpool's ongoing revival under Kenny Dalglish has already caught the eye of several high-profile players from around Europe.

Positive

"We already know that there are big players who want to join us next summer because they believe in the project," Comolli told Sky Sports.

"Everybody in Europe knows what Liverpool football club are trying to do.

"Obviously the fact that we're back playing in Europe and we've won the trophy, it's all positive things.

"There's a very positive vibe around the club around Europe. A lot players I know are very interested about joining the project because it's a very interesting project."

Here's hoping 

[dawson99]

In the aftermath can we talk about my hangover and bank balance? spent about 200 on a 14 hour drinking binge that incldued most parts of London, cocktail bars and private wine bars.

My head is gonna hurt for a month, as for the game, really can't remember much, we won though right?

[7_Kewell]

In the aftermath can we talk about my hangover and bank balance? spent about 200 on a 14 hour drinking binge that incldued most parts of London, cocktail bars and private wine bars.

My head is gonna hurt for a month, as for the game, really can't remember much, we won though right?

[Thommo's perm]

In the aftermath can we talk about my hangover and bank balance? spent about 200 on a 14 hour drinking binge that incldued most parts of London, cocktail bars and private wine bars.

My head is gonna hurt for a month, as for the game, really can't remember much, we won though right?

£200?
I spent a one-er on a ten hour binge up here, never mind the prices they charge down there.
You must have took it easy to only spend that much in 14 hours?

[Kenny Kan]

We dont have sh'it players. We have players who arent playing to their potential.
Johnson, Gerrard, Adam, Downing, Henderson, Suarez and Carroll. If these seven players upped their game we would see a massive improvement.

I honestly don't know what you expect from Johnson.

I expect what hes capable of
I believe he could improve his game and I am disappointed when he doesnt
If I expected too much from him I would be out of order. But I dont, so Im not

Kerry & Carroll
Thommo & Johno

[stmichael]

My head is gonna hurt for a month, as for the game, really can't remember much, we won though right?

Yeah. Carroll and Henderson were world class and Suarez has got a 15 game ban for looking at the linesman in a racist manner.

[Thommo's perm]

We dont have sh'it players. We have players who arent playing to their potential.
Johnson, Gerrard, Adam, Downing, Henderson, Suarez and Carroll. If these seven players upped their game we would see a massive improvement.

I honestly don't know what you expect from Johnson.

I expect what hes capable of
I believe he could improve his game and I am disappointed when he doesnt
If I expected too much from him I would be out of order. But I dont, so Im not

Kerry & Carroll
Thommo & Johno

Thats not nice

She says Carrolls sh'ite and a waste of space and will never be any good. I say Johnson is a good player who could be great is he applied himself more

Heres a quote from the Johnson thread:
"...I actually like him but I want him to play to his potential and be successful for us. I have high expectations for him because he is a talented international player who could do much more than what hes doing. I feel he is coasting most of the time and it frustrates me that he thinks its acceptable to just do enough to stay in the team. Now more than ever we need something extra from our best players and I dont think he is trying hard enough. He should be setting an example, not go missing when the going gets tough."

Thats a lot different to what soft ar'se says

[Kenny Kan]

We dont have sh'it players. We have players who arent playing to their potential.
Johnson, Gerrard, Adam, Downing, Henderson, Suarez and Carroll. If these seven players upped their game we would see a massive improvement.

I honestly don't know what you expect from Johnson.

I expect what hes capable of
I believe he could improve his game and I am disappointed when he doesnt
If I expected too much from him I would be out of order. But I dont, so Im not

Kerry & Carroll
Thommo & Johno

Thats not nice

She says Carrolls sh'ite and a waste of space and will never be any good. I say Johnson is a good player who could be great is he applied himself more

Heres a quote from the Johnson thread:
"...I actually like him but I want him to play to his potential and be successful for us. I have high expectations for him because he is a talented international player who could do much more than what hes doing. I feel he is coasting most of the time and it frustrates me that he thinks its acceptable to just do enough to stay in the team. Now more than ever we need something extra from our best players and I dont think he is trying hard enough. He should be setting an example, not go missing when the going gets tough."

Thats a lot different to what soft ar'se says

Maybe, but could you expand your argument on what Johnson can "do much more than what hes doing".