Liverpool FC Forum

[LFC2007]

You are talking some considerable sense Maguskwt.

[maguskwt]

BTW Van Persie has been out since the begining of November mate

really? I thought he returned using the same horse placenta treatment and then injured again    I guess horse placentas only works for a while....

[account deleted by request]

There is a difference between winning a lot of games, exciting matches AND playing good football. You can play great win 10 -0 but it wont be a thriller. You can play poorly win 1-0 and its a nailbiting thriller, or you can win a lot of games (as we have recently ) by grinding out results but hardly classic football.

Personally I would rather we won every match than worry about how great we played, but I also like to see good football and we have seen little of that this season, or in truth since Evans left. 

For me the result is first and foremost, but I prefer we did it with a little more football rather than emulating the likes of Bolton.

[LFC2007]

A square has four sides.

[account deleted by request]

And four corners ..... no doubt we would conceed from three of them

[made in UK]

And score from one. (if we're lucky)

[maypaxvobiscum]

well S@int has argued my point for me so i have nothing much to add on now

what i meant by boring is the conservative approach taken by the manager by deploying 2 players in midfield incapable of posing an attacking threat (even if we're up against lesser teams), too many defensive players even on the bench sometimes (im sure Owzat has got some stats somewhere on this), not going for the juggler (i remember there was a couple of instances where when we were in need of a goal, he took off our attacking threats, like Benayoun) and being too concerned over what the opposition might be capable of doing rather then what our own players are capable of doing.

[Owzat]

well S@int has argued my point for me so i have nothing much to add on now

what i meant by boring is the conservative approach taken by the manager by deploying 2 players in midfield incapable of posing an attacking threat (even if we're up against lesser teams), too many defensive players even on the bench sometimes (im sure Owzat has got some stats somewhere on this), not going for the juggler (i remember there was a couple of instances where when we were in need of a goal, he took off our attacking threats, like Benayoun) and being too concerned over what the opposition might be capable of doing rather then what our own players are capable of doing.

I've mentioned the bench before, and while I do track appearances in the Premiership I don't keep a record of the unused subs

But I could slot them in without disrupting other stats so I'll do that! I've been meaning to change my stats so I can identify scoring subs, at the moment it's not that "sophisticated" 

SUBS PREMIERSHIP 09/10 (DEF-ATT SPLIT IN BRACKETS, USED SUBS IN CAPS)

TOT 2-1 LIV (5-2) : Cavalieri, AYALA, Kelly, Dossena, Spearing, VORONIN, BENAYOUN
LIV 4-0 STO (3-4) : Cavalieri, Kelly, Dossena, Babel, N'GOG, VORONIN, RIERA
LIV 1-3 AVL (3-4) : Cavalieri, Kelly, Ayala, Dossena, Riera, BABEL, VORONIN
BOL 2-3 LIV (5-2) : Gulacsi, Kelly, DOSSENA, Skrtel, Plessis, VORONIN, BENAYOUN
LIV 4-0 BUR (5-2) : Cavalieri, Kyrgiakos, Dossena, DEGEN, Spearing, N'GOG, VORONIN
WHU 2-3 LIV (5-2) : Cavalieri, Kyrgiakos, Dossena, Degen, AURELIO, BABEL, RIERA
LIV 6-1 HUL (4-3) : Cavalieri, Kyrgiakos, Aurelio, MASCHERANO, BABEL, N'Gog, VORONIN
CHE 2-0 LIV (4-3) : Cavalieri, Agger, Kyrgiakos, AURELIO, BENAYOUN, BABEL, N'Gog
SUN 1-0 LIV (4-3) : Cavalieri, Kelly, Insua, MASCHERANO, Riera, VORONIN, N'GOG
LIV 2-0 MNU (4-3) : Cavalieri, SKRTEL, Degen, Spearing, Voronin, Babel, N'GOG
FUL 3-1 LIV (5-2) : Gulacsi, AYALA, Plessis, Spearing, Dossena, ECCLESTON, BABEL
LIV 2-2 BIR (4-3) : Cavalieri, Kyrgiakos, Darby, Spearing, GERRARD, AQUILANI, BABEL
LIV 2-2 MNC (3-4) : Cavalieri, KYRGIAKOS, AURELIO, El Zhar, Aquilani, Riera, BENAYOUN
EVE 0-2 LIV (3-4) : Cavalieri, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, RIERA, BENAYOUN, Aquilani, El Zhar
BLA 0-0 LIV (4-3) : Cavalieri, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Dossena, EL ZHAR, N'GOG, Aquilani
LIV 1-2 ARS (5-2) : Cavalieri, Skrtel, DEGEN, Dossena, Insua, AQUILANI, N'GOG
LIV 2-1 WIG (5-2) : Cavalieri, Kyrgiakos, Dossena, Darby, LUCAS, AQUILANI, TORRES
POR 2-0 LIV (4-3) : Cavalieri, Skrtel, AURELIO, SPEARING, BENAYOUN, N'Gog, Babel
LIV 2-0 WLV (4-3) : Cavalieri, Skrtel, Darby, SPEARING, PACHECO, KUYT, N'Gog
AVL 0-1 LIV (5-2) : Cavalieri, Kyrgiakos, SKRTEL, AURELIO, Spearing, BABEL, N'Gog
STO 1-1 LIV (3-4) : Cavalieri, Darby, Spearing, Riera, Pacheco, RODRIGUEZ, AQUILANI
LIV 2-0 TOT (3-4) : Cavalieri, DARBY, Spearing, Pacheco, RODRIGUEZ, N'GOG, Babel
WLV 0-0 LIV (3-4) : Cavalieri, Darby, Degen, Aquilani, Pacheco, Babel, N'GOG
LIV 2-0 BOL (4-3) : Cavalieri, Kelly, Agger, LUCAS, RODRIGUEZ, BABEL, Pacheco
LIV 1-0 EVE (4-3) : Cavalieri, SKRTEL, AURELIO, Degen, Aquilani, Riera, BABEL
ARS 1-0 LIV (5-2) : Cavalieri, Kelly, DEGEN, Aurelio, Spearing, BABEL, Riera

You can argue Dossena, Degen and Aurelio are attacking full-backs, but they're still classed as a defenders with defensive responsibilities. I've split the DEF-ATT according to whether they have much defensive responsibility or are free to attack and only really track-back.

DEF-ATT SPLITS (FREQUENCY)

5-2 : P9 W5 D0 L4
4-3 : P10 W5 D2 L3
3-4 : P7 W3 D3 L1

With a two DM approach most games, surely the balance on the bench should be more attacking ie four attackers on the bench. Then again Rafa probably considers his full-backs attacking, although quite why we need two CBs on the bench at times and do we need Spearing on the bench so often (nine times, see below) when Mascherano and Lucas have missed only THREE Premiership games combined?

What really annoys me, besides Rafa not making substitutions when needed rather than at his usual fixed point during a match, is that he doesn't always use all his subs when we're losing or not winning. TRY ANYTHING ffs, other teams would throw as many as four forwards at chasing a game, Rafa would be lucky to have that many attacking options on the bench to rustle up four attackers! We went to Fulham with two DMs on the bench ffs with Mascherano and Lucas in the starting XI, what was the turn-things-around tactic going to be there - four DMs on the pitch at once!?!?!? We drew 0-0 with Wolves and only used one sub, even with attacking options on the bench

MOST UNUSED SUBS

24 Cavalieri
9 Kyrgiakos, Dossena, Spearing
7 Kelly
6 Skrtel, RIERA
5 Darby, AQUILANI, BABEL. N'GOG
4 Degen, PACHECO

[Owzat]

All that said, we have scored seven goals of our 43 off the bench. Two for Babel were in a 6-1 thumping of Hull, Gerrard's was a penalty off the bench and Torres notched up one. N'Gog has scored twice off the bench, a later victory sealing goal against the mancs and a fourth in the 4-0 win over Stoke

SUBS GOALS IMPACT

3-0 > 4-0 : N'Gog vs Stoke
4-1 > 6-1 : Babel 2 vs Hull
1-0 > 2-0 : N'Gog vs Man Utd
1-2 > 2-2 : Benayoun vs Man City (19th minute sub, 77th minute equaliser)
1-2 > 2-2 : Gerrard (pen) vs Birmingham
1-1 > 2-1 : Torres vs Wigan

So only three games where the goal changed the result, two goals rescuing a point in their respective games and a Torres winner. Anything clever on the part of Rafa? One was an enforced substitution halfway through the 1st half and the goal came past halfway in the 2nd so nope, bringing Gerrard and Torres on was hardly inspired when losing/drawing either. N'Gog's goal against the mancs did seal the win late on, N'Gog was brought on to take Torres off.

[Reg]

Report: Sven-Goran Eriksson Wants To Manage Liverpool

Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson reportedly wants to manage Liverpool if under pressure boss Rafael Benitez is ousted from the Anfield hot-seat.

After leaving his director of football role at League 2 side Notts County last week, the News of the World claims that the 62-year-old is a 'wanted man' with both Juventus and Nigeria chasing his signature.

However, according to the tabloid there is only one job in football that the Swede is interested in, and that is the one Benitez currently occupies at Liverpool.

“The job Sven [Sven-Goran Eriksson] really wants above all others is Liverpool,” the tabloid quotes a source as saying.

“His track record stands up to scrutiny and he thinks he has a chance.”

The report also claims that the reason the former England manager became involved with Notts County was to put himself back “in the shop window for jobs in England”, after parting company with the Mexican national side.

Of course Eriksson has managed in UK previously, having spent a season with Manchester City before being axed in favour of Mark Hughes.

Meanwhile, a poor season at Liverpool means speculation concerning Benitez’s future continues to circle, with his future possibly dependent on the club managing a top four finish and qualification in to next season’s Champions League.
+++

Where would we be without rumours? 

[maguskwt]

OMG Sven! no way...

[maypaxvobiscum]

well S@int has argued my point for me so i have nothing much to add on now

what i meant by boring is the conservative approach taken by the manager by deploying 2 players in midfield incapable of posing an attacking threat (even if we're up against lesser teams), too many defensive players even on the bench sometimes (im sure Owzat has got some stats somewhere on this), not going for the juggler (i remember there was a couple of instances where when we were in need of a goal, he took off our attacking threats, like Benayoun) and being too concerned over what the opposition might be capable of doing rather then what our own players are capable of doing.

What really annoys me, besides Rafa not making substitutions when needed rather than at his usual fixed point during a match, is that he doesn't always use all his subs when we're losing or not winning. TRY ANYTHING ffs, other teams would throw as many as four forwards at chasing a game, Rafa would be lucky to have that many attacking options on the bench to rustle up four attackers! We went to Fulham with two DMs on the bench ffs with Mascherano and Lucas in the starting XI, what was the turn-things-around tactic going to be there - four DMs on the pitch at once!?!?!? We drew 0-0 with Wolves and only used one sub, even with attacking options on the bench.

nail on the head there.

[red_guy]

well S@int has argued my point for me so i have nothing much to add on now

what i meant by boring is the conservative approach taken by the manager by deploying 2 players in midfield incapable of posing an attacking threat (even if we're up against lesser teams), too many defensive players even on the bench sometimes (im sure Owzat has got some stats somewhere on this), not going for the juggler (i remember there was a couple of instances where when we were in need of a goal, he took off our attacking threats, like Benayoun) and being too concerned over what the opposition might be capable of doing rather then what our own players are capable of doing.

What really annoys me, besides Rafa not making substitutions when needed rather than at his usual fixed point during a match, is that he doesn't always use all his subs when we're losing or not winning. TRY ANYTHING ffs, other teams would throw as many as four forwards at chasing a game, Rafa would be lucky to have that many attacking options on the bench to rustle up four attackers! We went to Fulham with two DMs on the bench ffs with Mascherano and Lucas in the starting XI, what was the turn-things-around tactic going to be there - four DMs on the pitch at once!?!?!? We drew 0-0 with Wolves and only used one sub, even with attacking options on the bench.

nail on the head there.

Agreed. So..the question is 'can we win the league and play good attacking football with this guy as a manager?' .....

[NANNY RED]

OMG Sven! no way...

Sven   Big feck off heels no chance

[account deleted by request]

You spoiled a good post by mentioning Mark Hughes mate