Liverpool FC Forum

Unfortunately john I dont disagree with your point on mignolet... That is an error on the clubs part though big time.

With regards to the gaps infront of the defence I've already said I partially agree, but most of that is due to the defence not pushing out quick enough when the chance arrives and no one recognising this. Carragher was never a great player but had the influence of one due to his ability to Marshall a defence (which he learnt from Sami) and we are missing someone of that quality. Skrtel isn't good enough. In terms ofta right back, johnsontgpta disgrace, Flanagan while decent lacks pace and will always do. That position is a major priority this summer.

While I also have doubts about Mignolet I also have no doubt he will be be no 1 next season too.

Penguins » Sat Jun 07, 2014 3:43 pm wrote:While I also have doubts about Mignolet I also have no doubt he will be be no 1 next season too.

Which to me would suggest an inability by the manager to correct a mistake made. I'd say its pretty weak to be honest if he is number one next season considering how bad he's been this season. When you look at Rodgers inability to adapt to Chelsea's tactics in the crucial stages too I must admit, I am starting to think this weakness could be a trait.

I like Rodgers, I want him to succeed and personally I've never sat on the fence with a manager for as long as I have with him, I'm just hoping next season (providing I'm still here ) that I'm off the fence and on the positive side. We must improve next season, that doesn't mean we must win the league, that means we need a strong showing in all fronts, backed up with champions league qualification and a much improved team and squad. So far, during the transfer window, I'm not so sure we've done the right business and I'm also unsure of some of the players we're being linked with.

To not be linked with a Keeper, Centre half and a right back, when its painstakingly obvious it was those players who cost us the league I think is extremely strange.

I kind of agree, but you should be happy if one of the 3 you mentioned is replaced....

I caught half an hour of Brazils warm up game against Serbia before and that Markovic looked very impressive. He's going to be some player him.
Brazil won 1-0 but Serbia were all over them

Markovic is a very good player, however think Chelsea are involved with him and have first option

maguskwt » Sat Jun 07, 2014 4:42 am wrote:Can someone enlighten me, if we buy shaqiri, where are we going to play him? who is to be sacrificed?

hardly the area we need strengthening...

I think we've had a thin squad for so long that some of you have forgotten the meaning of squad rotation.

damjan193 » Sat Jun 07, 2014 8:48 pm wrote:

maguskwt » Sat Jun 07, 2014 4:42 am wrote:Can someone enlighten me, if we buy shaqiri, where are we going to play him? who is to be sacrificed?

hardly the area we need strengthening...

I think we've had a thin squad for so long that some of you have forgotten the meaning of squad rotation.

The biggest pile of ***** in the world.

You have a best 11. A settled eleven, from which you have maybe two or three players you can occasionally bring in when one is lacking form or fitness. Hence the reason Liverpool finished 2nd last sesaon, no needless stupid rotation. Occasionally Allen would play instead of Coutinho if Coutinho's form dropped. Other than that it was a settled side unless injury dictated otherwise.

I'm not a fan of mass rotation, but we'll have to rotate more next season to cope with midweek CL games.  Gerrard certainly won't cope with 2 games per week, in fact with the sort of high tempo game we play a lot of players will struggle to do that twice a week.  We'll need more like 5 or 6 players that can be relied on to come in and do a good job rather than 2 or 3.  But I agree the settled team was one of the main pluses for us this season.  It's going to be a challenge for sure.

JC_81 » Sun Jun 08, 2014 11:01 am wrote:I'm not a fan of mass rotation, but we'll have to rotate more next season to cope with midweek CL games.  Gerrard certainly won't cope with 2 games per week, in fact with the sort of high tempo game we play a lot of players will struggle to do that twice a week.  We'll need more like 5 or 6 players that can be relied on to come in and do a good job rather than 2 or 3.  But I agree the settled team was one of the main pluses for us this season.  It's going to be a challenge for sure.

I know what you're saying, of course there are times when we're going to have to rotate. However, there are also times when the team is going to play that well that you just can't. You need to have a best 11, teams who don't know their best line ups never do well. Every top side that I can think off had a "best 11". Of course some of them had good players on the bench and of course its needed, but you need to have that solidity in the first place as it breeds confidence.

The problem with rotation though is that it infers that good players are going to be sitting on the bench, we are a team at the best of times that struggles to translate what we spend in transfer windows into cold hard currency out on the pitch. Most of our signings tend to end up either on the fringes of the squad (Aspas, Alberto, Sahin, Cissokho even Allen etc) or out on loan (Borini, Ilorri, Assaidi etc).
While we have a defence that at certain points last season pi$$ed goals at an average of 2 a game and a midfield lacking dynamism (not to mention a keeper that's glued to his line, flaps at crosses and kicks to touch like a rugby outside half) I think it's pointless signing players who might only play in half the games next year.
If we were the finished article as a team then by all means go down that road but not when the problems that cost us the title last year haven't been addressed.
What's the use having an embaressment of riches up front with top players sitting out games when teams like Norwich and Crystal Palace can have us under siege at the back?

ycsatbjywtbiastkamb » Sun Jun 08, 2014 12:07 pm wrote:The problem with rotation though is that it infers that good players are going to be sitting on the bench, we are a team at the best of times that struggles to translate what we spend in transfer windows into cold hard currency out on the pitch. Most of our signings tend to end up either on the fringes of the squad (Aspas, Alberto, Sahin, Cissokho even Allen etc) or out on loan (Borini, Ilorri, Assaidi etc).
While we have a defence that at certain points last season pi$$ed goals at an average of 2 a game and a midfield lacking dynamism (not to mention a keeper that's glued to his line, flaps at crosses and kicks to touch like a rugby outside half) I think it's pointless signing players who might only play in half the games next year.
If we were the finished article as a team then by all means go down that road but not when the problems that cost us the title last year haven't been addressed.
What's the use having an embaressment of riches up front with top players sitting out games when teams like Norwich and Crystal Palace can have us under siege at the back?

I think you're underrating our midfield, which I think with Henderson, Gerrard and Coutinho in is excellent and going forward and in terms of high pressing is good as anything in the league. In terms of tracking back and postionally we lack a little bit, and aren't the most difficult to play through inside our own half but I'm fine with that trade off when they're scoring 20 odd goals between them and creating chance after chance for the genius and someone as good in front of goal as Sturridge is. To be fair to the midfield last season, as soon as Lucas was out of the side and we settled on Henderson, Gerrard and Coutinho we looked a far far far better side.

I do agree with your post however in general and its probably the point I was trying to make but lack the neccessary english skills to do so.

Defence is poor and i mean very poor however I think with Henderson in the side it gives us the protection that he will not let anything go. The game against chelsea we wouldnt have lost if we had Hendo playing we would have beaten Palace with him in there as well.

If everyone was to write down our strongest 11 I can guarantee that those 11 was not in the same side for one match last year due to injuries suspensions etc.

We do need a new RB and arguably a CB but im sorry Mig saved us more points than he cost us last year

LFC1990 » Sun Jun 08, 2014 12:31 pm wrote:Defence is poor and i mean very poor however I think with Henderson in the side it gives us the protection that he will not let anything go. The game against chelsea we wouldnt have lost if we had Hendo playing we would have beaten Palace with him in there as well.

If everyone was to write down our strongest 11 I can guarantee that those 11 was not in the same side for one match last year due to injuries suspensions etc.

We do need a new RB and arguably a CB but im sorry Mig saved us more points than he cost us last year

Boll0cks.... again. Mignolet is a liability, as is Skrtel, as is Johnson.

Our best 11 at present.

Reina

Flanagan
Agger
Sahko
Enrique

Gerrard
Henderson
Coutinho

Sterling
Suarez
Sturridge

Don't think anyone would argue with that. You may get the occasional odd ball who'd put Skrtel in there, apart from that I think the rest pick themselves and pick themselves with great ease.

Fancy us to get Alexis Sanchez instead of Lallana. Southampton look like they are happy to drag it out and think we will want to get business done early. Suarez, Sturridge, Sterling and Sanchez would be one hell of an attack