Liverpool FC Forum

by **Phil (moaning twat)** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 6:18 pm

Torres and Gerrard could rip any team apart as we have seen this season, wish the rest of the team could be upto that standard though, the monster, carra, agger and reina up there as well of course

Its mostly that our sh.it players are really sh.it compared to the rest of the big 4s

by **Bad Bob** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 6:40 pm

god_bless_john_houlding wrote:
Bad Bob wrote:
god_bless_john_houlding wrote:all central, funny enough it's the wide players who come in for stick.

Because they're not good enough. Sort out our wide positions and we're there or there abouts.

our wide players, don't get the same chances to build up that relationship with one another. It's one week Aurellio and Babel down the left. Then Aurellio and Kewell. Then Riise and Kewell. Then Aurellio and Riise.

I think you've got it backwards, mate. They're not good enough and thus don't earn a consistent run in the side. If we get wingers of true quality in, they'll get their chance to build relationships with the fullbacks.

And, just to clarify, I'd break it down like this:

Left Side
Kewell -- never fit and no longer good enough (sell)
Babel -- lacks guile and bottle as a wide player but still has his uses (keep and groom as a striker)
Riise -- deffo not good enough at LM but still a useful option at LB (keep as a squad player)
Leto -- not good enough (sell)
Aurelio -- good enough if he can stay fit (keep and give him the chance to make the position his own next season)
Insua -- not enough evidence to say

Right Side
Pennant -- not good enough as a starter but still has his uses (keep as a squad player)
Benayoun -- lightweight and positionally poor in wide berths but still has his uses (keep as a squad player)
Gerrard -- clearly good enough but I prefer him where he is now or at CM (keep

)
Finnan -- good enough but getting on (keep but phase out)
Arbeloa -- good enough but not top drawer (keep and give him the chance to make the position his own next season)
Carragher -- must remain a CB!!! (keep

)

by **maguskwt** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 6:48 pm

looks like out of a total rating of 10... the quality of our wide sides are 6... definitely needs some reinforcements there...

by **Bad Bob** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 6:57 pm

maguskwt wrote:looks like out of a total rating of 10... the quality of our wide sides are 6... definitely needs some reinforcements there...

A fair assessment, I'd say, mate. Truthfully, I think we'd do just fine with Aurelio and Arbeloa as our first-choice fullbacks for the time being. They'd benefit from a run of games and I think they have enough about them defensively and going forward to suit our needs in either 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2. Our priority needs to be sorting out the wide attackers as well as bolstering our strike force. If money is tight or the available options aren't great, I think we could get away with bringing in just one quality winger and one quality striker (preferably someone who could perform in wider areas in the 4-2-3-1 as well). If money's no object and the right players are available, I'd love to see two quality wingers and quality striker join up this summer. I don't expect that will happen, though.

by **whatahitson** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:17 pm

J*o*n*D*o*e wrote:

we're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of oz.....

by **ruskiy playmaker** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:32 pm

Bad Bob wrote:I think you've got it backwards, mate. They're not good enough and thus don't earn a consistent run in the side. If we get wingers of true quality in, they'll get their chance to build relationships with the fullbacks.

And, just to clarify, I'd break it down like this:

Left Side
Kewell -- never fit and no longer good enough (sell)
Babel -- lacks guile and bottle as a wide player but still has his uses (keep and groom as a striker)
Riise -- deffo not good enough at LM but still a useful option at LB (keep as a squad player)
Leto -- not good enough (sell)
Aurelio -- good enough if he can stay fit (keep and give him the chance to make the position his own next season)
Insua -- not enough evidence to say

Right Side
Pennant -- not good enough as a starter but still has his uses (keep as a squad player)
Benayoun -- lightweight and positionally poor in wide berths but still has his uses (keep as a squad player)
Gerrard -- clearly good enough but I prefer him where he is now or at CM (keep )
Finnan -- good enough but getting on (keep but phase out)
Arbeloa -- good enough but not top drawer (keep and give him the chance to make the position his own next season)
Carragher -- must remain a CB!!! (keep )

I agree with you Bob, our wide players are not good enough to have a consistent place in the team. They are far too inconsistent, they have one good game and impress then the next game they disappear. They have really let us down this year I think.

by **66-1112520797** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:39 pm

LFC2007 wrote:
Bamaga man wrote:
LFC2007 wrote:
god_bless_john_houlding wrote:
Bad Bob wrote:
god_bless_john_houlding wrote:all central, funny enough it's the wide players who come in for stick.

Because they're not good enough. Sort out our wide positions and we're there or there abouts.

our wide players, don't get the same chances to build up that relationship with one another. It's one week Aurellio and Babel down the left. Then Aurellio and Kewell. Then Riise and Kewell. Then Aurellio and Riise.

It doesn't matter if they're not good enough.

So your saying the likes of Aurelio and Babel who Rafa paid 11 million for are not good enough ....... GREAT.

Correct, for the left wing they are not good enough.

So does that mean Rafa has not only wasted 11 million on Babel, but he plays him out of position ....... GREAT.

by **LFC2007** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:40 pm

Bamaga man wrote:
LFC2007 wrote:
Bamaga man wrote:
LFC2007 wrote:
god_bless_john_houlding wrote:
Bad Bob wrote:
god_bless_john_houlding wrote:all central, funny enough it's the wide players who come in for stick.

Because they're not good enough. Sort out our wide positions and we're there or there abouts.

our wide players, don't get the same chances to build up that relationship with one another. It's one week Aurellio and Babel down the left. Then Aurellio and Kewell. Then Riise and Kewell. Then Aurellio and Riise.

It doesn't matter if they're not good enough.

So your saying the likes of Aurelio and Babel who Rafa paid 11 million for are not good enough ....... GREAT.

Correct, for the left wing they are not good enough.

So does that mean Rafa has not only wasted 11 million on Babel, but he plays him out of position ....... GREAT.

No, he may well be useful in the future as a forward.

by **redtrader74** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:42 pm

Bamaga man wrote:
LFC2007 wrote:
Bamaga man wrote:
LFC2007 wrote:
god_bless_john_houlding wrote:
Bad Bob wrote:
god_bless_john_houlding wrote:all central, funny enough it's the wide players who come in for stick.

Because they're not good enough. Sort out our wide positions and we're there or there abouts.

our wide players, don't get the same chances to build up that relationship with one another. It's one week Aurellio and Babel down the left. Then Aurellio and Kewell. Then Riise and Kewell. Then Aurellio and Riise.

It doesn't matter if they're not good enough.

So your saying the likes of Aurelio and Babel who Rafa paid 11 million for are not good enough ....... GREAT.

Correct, for the left wing they are not good enough.

So does that mean Rafa has not only wasted 11 million on Babel, but he plays him out of position ....... GREAT.

He could be copying the great sage Wenger by playing Babel out wide to get him used to the league, ala Walcott. He may not be ready for us to rely on him as a striker yet. Takes some people longer to adjust than others.

by **66-1112520797** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:43 pm

LFC2007 wrote:
Bamaga man wrote:
LFC2007 wrote:
Bamaga man wrote:
LFC2007 wrote:
god_bless_john_houlding wrote:
Bad Bob wrote:
god_bless_john_houlding wrote:all central, funny enough it's the wide players who come in for stick.

Because they're not good enough. Sort out our wide positions and we're there or there abouts.

our wide players, don't get the same chances to build up that relationship with one another. It's one week Aurellio and Babel down the left. Then Aurellio and Kewell. Then Riise and Kewell. Then Aurellio and Riise.

It doesn't matter if they're not good enough.

So your saying the likes of Aurelio and Babel who Rafa paid 11 million for are not good enough ....... GREAT.

Correct, for the left wing they are not good enough.

So does that mean Rafa has not only wasted 11 million on Babel, but he plays him out of position ....... GREAT.

No, he may well be useful in the future as a forward.

But what about the LW position, hasnt Rafa failed to address this position then if Aurelio, Riise, Kewell and the stop gap of 11 million are not good enough to play this role.

by **LFC2007** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:44 pm

Bamaga man wrote:
LFC2007 wrote:
Bamaga man wrote:
LFC2007 wrote:
Bamaga man wrote:
LFC2007 wrote:
god_bless_john_houlding wrote:
Bad Bob wrote:
god_bless_john_houlding wrote:all central, funny enough it's the wide players who come in for stick.

Because they're not good enough. Sort out our wide positions and we're there or there abouts.

our wide players, don't get the same chances to build up that relationship with one another. It's one week Aurellio and Babel down the left. Then Aurellio and Kewell. Then Riise and Kewell. Then Aurellio and Riise.

It doesn't matter if they're not good enough.

So your saying the likes of Aurelio and Babel who Rafa paid 11 million for are not good enough ....... GREAT.

Correct, for the left wing they are not good enough.

So does that mean Rafa has not only wasted 11 million on Babel, but he plays him out of position ....... GREAT.

No, he may well be useful in the future as a forward.

But what about the LW position, hasnt Rafa failed to address this position then if Aurelio, Riise, Kewell and the stop gap of 11 million are not good enough to play this role.

Yes.

by **god_bless_john_houlding** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:51 pm

Bad Bob wrote:I think you've got it backwards, mate. They're not good enough and thus don't earn a consistent run in the side. If we get wingers of true quality in, they'll get their chance to build relationships with the fullbacks.

And, just to clarify, I'd break it down like this:

Left Side
Kewell -- never fit and no longer good enough (sell)
Babel -- lacks guile and bottle as a wide player but still has his uses (keep and groom as a striker)
Riise -- deffo not good enough at LM but still a useful option at LB (keep as a squad player)
Leto -- not good enough (sell)
Aurelio -- good enough if he can stay fit (keep and give him the chance to make the position his own next season)
Insua -- not enough evidence to say

Right Side
Pennant -- not good enough as a starter but still has his uses (keep as a squad player)
Benayoun -- lightweight and positionally poor in wide berths but still has his uses (keep as a squad player)
Gerrard -- clearly good enough but I prefer him where he is now or at CM (keep )
Finnan -- good enough but getting on (keep but phase out)
Arbeloa -- good enough but not top drawer (keep and give him the chance to make the position his own next season)
Carragher -- must remain a CB!!! (keep )

Out of the 12, seven are signings of Benitez. So in four years Benitez hasn't signed a right/left winger/full back of any quality?

In me own opinion I think Pennant and Babel are good enough to play as the two wide men, with Arebloa at right back and hopefully Insua on the left. But the only way we'll see the best of all four, is if they build up a relationship with one another. This can be achieved if they're playing in the same side on a regular basis.

by **JBM** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:47 pm

Pennant and Kewell are the only two quality wide midfielders, Babel is a forward, Benayoun is better playing more central. IMO Risse and Kewell have an excellent partnership down the left, and Kewell and Torres also have a good understanding, there is certainly a need for another winger but unless Benitez is given the funds to bring in real quality then we are better off sticking with these two and letting some of the youngsters come through.

by **Kharhaz** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:56 pm

Right Side
Pennant -- not good enough as a starter but still has his uses (keep as a squad player)
Benayoun -- lightweight and positionally poor in wide berths but still has his uses (keep as a squad player)
Gerrard -- clearly good enough but I prefer him where he is now or at CM (keep )
Finnan -- good enough but getting on (keep but phase out)
Arbeloa -- good enough but not top drawer (keep and give him the chance to make the position his own next season)
Carragher -- must remain a CB!!! (keep )

What about Kuyt? I think he can now be classed as a right midfielder/winger.

by **Bad Bob** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 3:46 am

god_bless_john_houlding wrote:Out of the 12, seven are signings of Benitez. So in four years Benitez hasn't signed a right/left winger/full back of any quality?

Not quite. I rate both Aurelio and Arbeloa as good signings and Insua may yet prove to be as well, so Rafa's done alright with fullbacks. As for Pennant, while I don't think he's good enough to be a starter in a title-challenging side, he also hasn't been a terrible buy. He filled a gaping hole when he arrived but we now need to take a step up in attacking quality and he's not got it in him to make that leap, IMO. Turning to Babel, I think he may turn out to be a good buy but much will depend on his attitude. He's got the raw talent to be a special player but I'm not convinced at all about his mentality yet. I also don't think he has enough in his locker to nail down the LM berth. He's far too predictable and good defenders will have him in their pocket.

If Rafa does have a glaring weakness in the transfer market, though, I'd say it is his eye for wide midfielders. Hopefully he'll have the money to spend on someone quality out wide this summer and not a stop-gap or a potential diamond in the rough.

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