Liverpool FC Forum

Very good post Ace - well summed up

Benny The Noon » Thu Sep 12, 2013 2:09 pm wrote:Very good post Ace - well summed up

Aye

Good post aCe and you make a valid argument for both stances.

I think the manager will live and die by his dealings in the transfer window the way Kenny and Comolli did. Unfortunately for Brendan he spent a lot of money in his first window on substandard players, the likes that you have mentioned in particular. I think it was shortly after that mare that the new scouting department began working at the club and the new technical group was assembled. Fortunately for Brendan the winter window was far more productive and they bagged two fine players for only 20 million, and i have no doubt both players if sold in the morning would go for around 30 million.

So up til then the manager had one poor window and one good window. The summers dealings although not massively inspiring could go either way as you have mentioned and i think a lot will hinge on how these new players adapt and progress throughout the season in the team.

I think a 6th place expectancy is reasonable for most fans although not satisfactory but it seems the most likely when the squad is compared to teams who finished above us last season.

The thing though about the teams who would have a better squad than we do is there has been a lot of changes in 3 of those clubs and nearly a whole new team in another. So hopefully there is a case of managers and players taking time to settle in. If we can steal a march on 2 of those teams and strengthen further in the window that comes around in the new year we might be able to sustain our advantage.

Another thing that could work in the managers favor is the fact that all our competitors will have European football and will/could have games coming thick and fast as well as travelling to the four corners of the continent. Where as we wont have that problem and the players should be fresher when the run in starts around March.

Interesting post Ace. Bit of a shame that you originally dismissed BR's early acquisitions during the transfer window as no improvement on what we currently had. I aways felt your comments were a little premature. I think BR will successfully grow into the job and I'm prepared to give him a chance.

devaney » Thu Sep 12, 2013 10:20 pm wrote:Interesting post Ace. Bit of a shame that you originally dismissed BR's early acquisitions during the transfer window as no improvement on what we currently had. I aways felt your comments were a little premature. I think BR will successfully grow into the job and I'm prepared to give him a chance.

Mignolet, Aspas and Alberto are the 3 early acquisitions I'm guessing you're referring to (My point about Toure was with regards to him being a starter, as a backup option I think he fits the bill). For me, Mignolet is a good goalkeeper but 10mill and sending Reina out on loan are a heavy price for what I would consider a marginal improvement. Actually, scratch that. Mignolet has done fantastically well so far but I just dont think he's an overall better goalkeeper than Reina; so improvement ? not yet for me but my stance on the issue was made softer by the early performances (I'll dismiss the frailty on crosses for early nerves for now). Aspas has been quite disappointing so far and unless he improves then he's going to be another Borini, Downing, Cole..etc. type of buy. He'll get the minutes to prove his worth but the first 6 games of the season were his big chance to make a statement and he's failing to do so. So far at least. On Alberto, I'm not quite sure he's ready for this level of football yet. If we werent so short on numbers I would have recommended that he (much like Ibe and Sterling) be loaned out to a smaller club where he can get 1st team football and develop that little bit faster. ManUtd have done that to perfection over the years (Welbeck, Zaha, Cleverly, Fabio..etc) and it does go a long way in the development of the player and determining whether he can cut it at the top level or not.

So yes, I was and to some extent (Mignolet being the saving grace) remain underwhelmed by our early dealings but Sakho for me is a very good buy (still have my fingers crossed that we can somehow manage to get two left footed CBs to play together) and Moses on loan adds to the limited number of wide options we have at the club. So overall, I think we did reasonably well without really pushing the envelope (which our main competitors unfortunately did).

I've liked the look of Aspas, but he seems overwhelmed and maybe trying to hard. Hopefully he can cool it a little and enjoy the next few games.

RedAnt » Thu Sep 12, 2013 7:08 pm wrote:I've liked the look of Aspas, but he seems overwhelmed and maybe trying to hard. Hopefully he can cool it a little and enjoy the next few games.

Only a select few players settle into PL life immediately. Torres was a prime example of a player who was able to adapt and make an immediate impact.

I think Aspas will take time, I think he has potential however.

RedAnt » Thu Sep 12, 2013 8:08 pm wrote:I've liked the look of Aspas, but he seems overwhelmed and maybe trying to hard. Hopefully he can cool it a little and enjoy the next few games.

So far everything just seems to mirror Borini last season - good movement in the pre season with good finishes when the opposition are a bit weaker and less physical - as soon as the prem starts just looks out of depth physically and just invisible in games where space is a premium and the pace and physical nature is increased. The Celtic pre season game gave a good indication and its continued into the prem season. Currently don't think we will see much difference from Borini

RedAnt » Thu Sep 12, 2013 7:08 pm wrote:I've liked the look of Aspas, but he seems overwhelmed and maybe trying to hard. Hopefully he can cool it a little and enjoy the next few games.

Aspas has been forced to play a role alien to him mate ,and if you take that into the equation I think he has acquitted himself well under the
circumstances .If you also take into account its only the Manc game when he allowed the occasion to overawe him,all the others he's carried out
the managers instructions to the letter....I think he's been a good signing by Rodgers.

SouthCoastShankly » Thu Sep 12, 2013 9:16 pm wrote:

RedAnt » Thu Sep 12, 2013 7:08 pm wrote:I've liked the look of Aspas, but he seems overwhelmed and maybe trying to hard. Hopefully he can cool it a little and enjoy the next few games.

Only a select few players settle into PL life immediately. Torres was a prime example of a player who was able to adapt and make an immediate impact.

I think Aspas will take time, I think he has potential however.

Rubbish.

I'm hoping you're going to do the old classic... look and Henry and Pires comment... Please do

Benny The Noon » Thu Sep 12, 2013 9:22 pm wrote:

RedAnt » Thu Sep 12, 2013 8:08 pm wrote:I've liked the look of Aspas, but he seems overwhelmed and maybe trying to hard. Hopefully he can cool it a little and enjoy the next few games.

So far everything just seems to mirror Borini last season - good movement in the pre season with good finishes when the opposition are a bit weaker and less physical - as soon as the prem starts just looks out of depth physically and just invisible in games where space is a premium and the pace and physical nature is increased. The Celtic pre season game gave a good indication and its continued into the prem season. Currently don't think we will see much difference from Borini

Behave lad, he's no world beater but comparing him Borini who is quite frankly embarrassing is just silly.

Aspas is steady if not spectacular.

The less said about Borini the better.

The less said about Borini the better.

I must admit when the manager made him his first signing a part of me died that day.

StuYesThatStu » Fri Sep 13, 2013 10:26 am wrote:

Benny The Noon » Thu Sep 12, 2013 9:22 pm wrote:

RedAnt » Thu Sep 12, 2013 8:08 pm wrote:I've liked the look of Aspas, but he seems overwhelmed and maybe trying to hard. Hopefully he can cool it a little and enjoy the next few games.

So far everything just seems to mirror Borini last season - good movement in the pre season with good finishes when the opposition are a bit weaker and less physical - as soon as the prem starts just looks out of depth physically and just invisible in games where space is a premium and the pace and physical nature is increased. The Celtic pre season game gave a good indication and its continued into the prem season. Currently don't think we will see much difference from Borini

Behave lad, he's no world beater but comparing him Borini who is quite frankly embarrassing is just silly.

Aspas is steady if not spectacular.

The less said about Borini the better.

Yeah sorry that's a bit harsh on Borini who actually managed to score early on in a competitive game in the Europa Cup.

For me so far their productiveness on the pitch has been exactly the same - good in pre season - anonymous in competitive games.

Now Aspas may well improve as the season goes along and not disappear during the game and be physically dominated but at the moment he appears no improvement from players last season. And I will be pleasantly surprised if we get much from him.

Remember though that these games are vital to adaption. Aspas will now know he needs to toughen up, maybe even bulk up. Henderson was a complete lightweight when he joined, but he's a bit of a bruiser now. He's lost mobility for it, but much better suited to midfield now. Aspas is different. We've not really seen what he has yet. Is he clever? Quick? Should we bulk him up, or are we going for another little guy, drawing fouls all over the place.

Whichever, hopefully he'll adapt quickly and learn to use prem defenders against themselves, like Suarez and Couthino.

StuYesThatStu » Fri Sep 13, 2013 9:24 am wrote:

SouthCoastShankly » Thu Sep 12, 2013 9:16 pm wrote:

RedAnt » Thu Sep 12, 2013 7:08 pm wrote:I've liked the look of Aspas, but he seems overwhelmed and maybe trying to hard. Hopefully he can cool it a little and enjoy the next few games.

Only a select few players settle into PL life immediately. Torres was a prime example of a player who was able to adapt and make an immediate impact.

I think Aspas will take time, I think he has potential however.

Rubbish.

I'm hoping you're going to do the old classic... look and Henry and Pires comment... Please do

You see Stu, for you to sound coherent you need to elaborate a little more.

What part was rubbish?

Aspas having potential or that foreign players new to the PL not adapting immediately?

Blimey.