Liverpool FC Forum

Cavani looks like he's making himself available.

Thoughts on Cavani?

damjan193 » Mon Jul 14, 2014 9:16 pm wrote:

ycsatbjywtbiastkamb » Mon Jul 14, 2014 9:12 pm wrote:Yeah but my point mate is that we certainly had 2 world class talents in that team (Gerrard and Alonso), plus while I'd never go as far as to describe Jamie Carragher as world class (or anything like it) there weren't many defenders playing in Europe at that time in better form than him.
This idea that you can win things with a team full of average players doesn't wash, we need to be aiming higher than Bertrand, Davies and Bony.

We didn't exactly spend any big money on those players though. Carragher and Gerrard were locals and from the academy while Alonso, although a good player, wasn't exactly a superstar before we bought him. Hyypia was also bought for peanuts. Don't get me wrong mate, I'm very much in agreement with you that we need a quality player to replace Suarez, but kazza's and mramo's point was that we've never actually bought any sound names yet we've still managed to keep ourselves near the top and even win a title or two.

Wether they come from the academy or wether you buy them before they become superstars the fact still remains that you need quality players in your team if you want to compete for the top prizes in the game.

Kopite-Jud » Mon Jul 14, 2014 10:17 pm wrote:Cavani looks like he's making himself available.

Thoughts on Cavani?

Good player but over rated IMO mate

Stu the Red » Mon Jul 14, 2014 8:05 pm wrote:

kazza » Mon Jul 14, 2014 7:44 pm wrote:Yet our attack was not the best and we were nicking games 1-0 so you give  and you take. We have never been so exciting to watch as we were last year. If we can just address the amount of goals scored against we will be fine, even without Suarez because we will still play attacking football and make alot of chances.

We won't make half the chances without Suarez, he's the most clinical player I've ever seen. I.E. When you expect him to pull of a pass or finish, he obliges. A lot of great players often f*ck up a ball to put someone in or a bit of link up play, Luis didn't. Sturridge doesn't hold the ball up well enough and his linkn up play is very average, if people are expecting us to be anything like the same attacking force we seen last season then thats extremely naive. If you remember at the start of the season, we struggled badly to create chances until Suarez regained his place.

You also seem to conveniently forget we have a defence which concedes nearly two a game. Skrtel, Johnson and Mignolet will never be part of a solid defence. All of them are complete flops and bog standard players.

Hyypia, Carragher and Finnan were far and away better than what we have now. Our midfield, while more than decent going forward aren't exactly the type to control a game and stop another teams midfield playing. We create a lot of chances, but the midfield is by no means dominant, yes we have creativety in their so even when not dominating they will still create, however our forward line is massively weakened and thats what made us what we were last season.

We need a keeper, a right back, a centre half, a winger and now a centre forward. Anything less and we'll struggle to make the top 4.

If we sign Markovich and the Spanish LB along with DS and Sterling we will have blistering pace throughout the team, even Can looks quick. We have become a team of fast, young dynamic players that are all good on the ball. With the guile and wisdom of Gerrard and the creativity of PC I'd say we will still create a lot of chances next year, I think you are underestimating our quality. I think speed is a killer weapon especially in the prem and I think Rodgers is building something exciting. I think other players are going to step up out of the shadow of Suarez this year. I agree that we need a CB and a RB and a keeper, I also think we need a RB and obviously a striker. I think if we can get Reus we will be better than last year.  Lallana is better than Allen, Lambert is better than Aspas and Can, who I think is the hidden gem from this window I'd say is better than Lucas and probably Hendo. So far aside from the Suarez replacement ( which is still pending) we are better than last year. If we manage to lure Reus we would be better than last year and we wouldn't have to worry every summer he was going to bolt.

We have never been in this position before where the manager had such a budget (if true) and I am sure the manager knows how to spot a player so I'll wait and see who we sign rather than getting heated up over rumours. Being linked is not the same as signing.

Suarez was outrageous last year Stu, for this there is no doubt but I think he could not have possibly had another season like last year this year because frankly those goals were not normal, especially the frequency of outrageous goals. I think he will score goals but I think in terms of quality goals scored last year will be his high point. Having a point to prove, last summers's transfer drama, putting himself in the shop window and and the re-negotiated contract all served to have the best season any Liverpool striker had ever had and it will be fondly remembered but he could not have replicated that same performance this year. He would still be world class but last year he was the best in the world and I don't think he IS the best in the world. So with a tear in my eye I say to Luis thanks for the memories and don't let the fecking door hit you on the way out.

I think you're badly under estimating just how good a player Suarez is.

Even when he's slightly off the ball still sticks, he still scores goals and he still creates chances. His movement and anticipation was another level altogether, he made Owen, Torres and Fowler look completely brain dead at times thats how good he is.

I agree it would be naive to expect the same again, but by the same token, with him, it wouldn't suprise me if he surpassed it. He's a complete genius on the pitch and his skill, vision, finishing, quality, touch and movement are out of this world. Make no mistake, he was the reason Henderson, Sturridge and Sterling hit the heights they did last season.

I really don't believe we will be anything like the same attacking threat this season. This Markovic is meant to be promising, but again, if he's THAT good, why aren't Chelsea, Barca, City and the likes after him.

You also mention pace. Pace is one of the most overated attributes in football, if you want proof. See Suarez... Pace is good in moderation, craft, vision, skill, the ability to pass and control will always wipe the floor with pace. Hence Barca at their best were so good...

Sterling, Sturridge, Markovic and Ibe are not just one dimensional pace merchants Stu, they are skillful players in their own right.
Plus having raw pace didn't do the likes of Henry, Ronaldo and Bale any harm in this country, even the likes of Kevin Mirallas and Nathan Dyer have caused us major problems on their day.

Stu the Red » Tue Jul 15, 2014 7:36 am wrote:I really don't believe we will be anything like the same attacking threat this season. This Markovic is meant to be promising, but again, if he's THAT good, why aren't Chelsea, Barca, City and the likes after him....

Funny that when we bought Saurez Chelsea, Barca etc weren't in for him, he couldn't have been that good. Funny that Chelsea sold us Sturridge he couldnt be any good according to your logic

I dont think theres any serious argument to the fact that, by and large players improve when they come to LFC. Whether or not they keep on improving after they leave is another matter, but Suarez has become one of the best, if not THE best in the world thanks to us. As did Keegan, Rush, Fowler, Owen, Dalglish, Souness, Hansen, Hyppia, Torres, Gerrard, etc, etc.
My point is that I cant think of one marquee player we have bought over the years (correct me if Im wrong) because thats not what we do? So why are people constantly going on and on ad nauseum about signing one, massive, expensive, fantastic player?
Lets do what we always do and buy someone who will fit into the vision, formation and most of all the team that we want for the future.

Suarez, man for man is irreplaceable. In order to "recover" from this we need to improve on our GA and keep as close to our GF stats of last year. It may mean buying 3 or 4 new players to improve but that's how we "recover" from the sale of Luis.

Spot on KK. There is more than one way to improve on last year and "recover" from Suarez leaving.

A strong defence like Arsenals back in the day can sometimes wn you titles. Sturridge will have 20 goals in him and with young Raheem having a year of first team football under his belt that can only be good for us.

Obviosuly I would love to sign a top player like Reus or Benzema but getting a strong defender to stop us leaking goals can go along way on fogetting Suarez

With the signing of Markovic the recovery has started IMO.

Agree with you there mate

ycsatbjywtbiastkamb » Tue Jul 15, 2014 6:27 pm wrote:With the signing of Markovic the recovery has started IMO.

Let's hope we get a top defender and 2 more top players

I believe that BR is trying to develop a system of play that doesn't rely too much on any particular player. Of course, we will suffer when we lose a player of Suarez's quality. When you have someone like him, then the play centres around that person and the way we play also is to that advantage. We would likely not recover from this if we try to play the same way next season. Because at the moment, I can't see a man-to-man replacement for Suarez. But I believe BR will have obviously noted that and will try to play a slightly different way to take advantage of the players that he has now.

In the end, the system is most important. I would hope that we do an Athletico Madrid. First they lost Torres. He was also considered "irreplaceable". But they got Aguero in return. Then they lost Aguero, but got Costa. And they won the La Liga last season. So they have shown that they can do without "irreplaceable" players with a good team and system in place.

Suarez is gone. Fact, no changing it and be done with it. I'd rather focus on the positives and hope we take off from here. Build a super system of play that will endure the inevitable loss of players from time to time. It will take time (as Athletico did), but we should keep the faith until then