Liverpool FC Forum

by **roberto green** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:36 pm

redbeergoggles wrote:Arbeloa's forays up field were to say the least rare ,but he was a much more intelligent defender than fans give him credit for ,and I always felt sure he would prevent damaging crosses coming in to expose our defence ,and in that respect fans had faith in his ability ,as oppose to the unease every time a winger converges down our right I feel now with Johnson there

Is Arbeloa getting a regular game for Real?

If not we could get him back on loan.We let him go for a snip

by **woof woof !** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:36 pm

Ben Patrick wrote:I dont think Glenn is quite as bad defensively as some make out.
Granted he isnt solid but i dont think Arbeloa was that solid either to be honest.
He is a far better player for me than the spaniard but has had a few niggly injuries that have hampered his form.

Sorry mate but I have to disagree with you there. The last couple of games especially, defensively Johnson has looked like an accident waiting to happen. I can't think of any rightback we've had in recent years that that has inspired me with less confidence than him.

Perhaps his instruction to get forward and attack is making him look like a poorer defender than he actually is and in fairness to the lad, going forward at times he's looked more than impressive and imo is worth a shout over Kuyt in the RM position.

It's good to see our full backs getting forward but given our defensive uncertainty of late I'd be happier if our FB's prime duty was to defend.

by **OneHotRed** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:43 pm

Totally agree with you Woof on the give him a shot on the wing thang, first few games he played he looked on fire, now just seems an 'ok' player, gotta wonder what changes the midset of players....

by **Sabre** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:44 pm

I dont think Glenn is quite as bad defensively as some make out.
Granted he isnt solid but i dont think Arbeloa was that solid either to be honest.
He is a far better player for me than the spaniard but has had a few niggly injuries that have hampered his form.
Its a blow if he is out for a lengthy period without a doubt as our options there are not good at all.
If the young lad Kelly is fit based on that game against Lyon he would be in for me all day.
No messing round playing Carra out of position and i dont fancy Degen at all.

I agree almost all of that Ben. In the case of Degen I simply haven't seen enough of him to be totally totally sure, but yeh, I agree that.

It's a serious blow.

And Johnson is far better than the Spaniard. What's happening here is that when a team as a whole struggles, some positions will be more exposed. Arbeloa this season would be struggling in the games as the next fella.

While Johnson has his ups and downs as every player, I don't think he's one of the culprits of the awful season, and I'm personally devastated if we lose him for a considerable amount of time.

We haven't conceded more goals this season because we now have a player that is a threat for the opposition, but because the team as a whole hasn't worked.

by **Avi Cohen** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:51 pm

How about this...

Play Johnson where Kuyt is and play Deggen at right back?

Kuyt is on the wing for the sole purpose of tracking back and closing down their left back. He offers very little going forward.

Johnson offers so much going forward - he isn't shy about taking players on and getting into the box which is a rarity under Rafa - and since his first instinct is to defend he'll be tracking back to beat the band anyway. Plus he'd be more savvy in a tackle than Kuyt.

Sure this leaves us with Deggen. Yes, he likes to get forward but he's a little suspect when defending. But when we got two attacking defenders on the right I think it might give us something down that wing.

This should be right up Rafa's street too. A defender on the wing?

by **LFC2007** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:51 pm

I think his confidence took a knock in the Arsenal game and since then his form has a dipped a bit. He was tentative against Portsmouth and less forthright than usual against Wolves. His form didn't deviate too much from that pattern in last night's game by my recollection. He wasn't awful, though, just a bit dodgy. And you could make similar criticisms about a number of others, like Benayoun, Kuyt (awful and prolonged), and even Torres who hasn't been at all close to top form in the past three games. He's still one of our best players and this minor blip won't diminish that fact.

It's obviously a blow, but if it's a short-term layoff one we should be able to get away with mainly because RB isn't generally as key a position as CB, CM, or up front. The concern is perhaps in who might replace him. If we stick Kelly in there I think we'll be OK because he's a quality player (one of the two genuine prospects we have, IMO), someone I very much look forward to seeing. But if we take the Degen, Darby or a Carra/Skrtel (god forbid) variation I think we face a definite risk. With Kelly we'll get a well-rounded contribution.

by **Sir Roger** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 7:09 pm

redbeergoggles wrote:
roberto green wrote:Bad luck strikes again

Or is it yet another catalyst for the duration of the season ,another turning point, because if I am truthful Johnson in a defensive capacity has been weak ,in fact I don't think I have seen our Right flank so vulnerable since his deployment in that position ,dont get me wrong Johnson is talented fleet footed and pacy going forward ,but sadly lacking in the characteristics that Arbeloa had in abundance .

So could this injury be yet another event ,that will in turn leave Liverpool regaining the solidity that we have been so lacking this season ,because the alarming regularity with which Johnson is beaten or indeed M.I.A is starting to become incredulous in the extreme .

I think Kelly would be a much more capable defender and this would leave Carragher less exposed and able to concentrate on being the best central defender in the Premiership

Sometimes bad luck becomes good fortune.
Aquilani stepping in for Mascherano maybe such an occurrence
Johnson has been terrible in the last two games. Fragile of mind and timid of body. I watched the skank and birmingham games recently and he was awesome in both. He has been absolute rope and a liability recently and it is ironic that his injury came from tying to retrieve the ball after he had given it away (again)
I wouldnt wish injury on him but maybe he can now take the time to analyse why he has been so poor of late and come back stronger and wiser.

by **woof woof !** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 7:58 pm

Sir Roger wrote:Fragile of mind and timid of body.

TIMID

Think thats a word I was looking for when trying to describe his recent performances. Despite the tackle thats caused his knee injury he's generally seemed less than assertive when it come to getting stuck in.

Whats the deal with the bandage on his left wrist ? . Sometimes a less than robust player can have their whole attitude changed if they're carrying even a minor sprain.

by **Sir Roger** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:06 pm

woof woof ! wrote:
Sir Roger wrote:Fragile of mind and timid of body.

TIMID

Think thats a word I was looking for when trying to describe his recent performances. Despite the tackle thats caused his knee injury he's generally seemed less than assertive when it come to getting stuck in.

Whats the deal with the bandage on his left wrist ? . Sometimes a less than robust player can have their whole attitude changed if they're carrying even a minor sprain.

And his hairs done like a girls...
:nod

by **Scottbot** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:21 pm

They're saying he has torn his medial ligament which means he's gonna be out for ages

Gonna have to bring someone in during the window which means more problematic positons such as upfront are gonna get looked over.

by **Sir Roger** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:40 pm

Scottbot wrote:They're saying he has torn his medial ligament which means he's gonna be out for ages

Gonna have to bring someone in during the window which means more problematic positons such as upfront are gonna get looked over.

Gerrard moved to right back
Aurelio, Lucas and Aqua in mid
Kuyt and benny on the wings
Torres up front
Simples
:;):

by **roberto green** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:49 pm

Sir Roger wrote:
Scottbot wrote:They're saying he has torn his medial ligament which means he's gonna be out for ages

Gonna have to bring someone in during the window which means more problematic positons such as upfront are gonna get looked over.

Gerrard moved to right back
Aurelio, Lucas and Aqua in mid
Kuyt and benny on the wings
Torres up front
Simples

Yeah your joking right?

by **tubby** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:51 pm

How long is someone normally out for with ligament damage? Worst case what is he looking at.... 3 months?

by **Sir Roger** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:58 pm

roberto green wrote:
Sir Roger wrote:
Scottbot wrote:They're saying he has torn his medial ligament which means he's gonna be out for ages

Gonna have to bring someone in during the window which means more problematic positons such as upfront are gonna get looked over.

Gerrard moved to right back
Aurelio, Lucas and Aqua in mid
Kuyt and benny on the wings
Torres up front
Simples

Yeah your joking right?

Gerrard can play anywhere cant he?
We dont need another rb

by **Scottbot** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:12 pm

bavlondon wrote:How long is someone normally out for with ligament damage? Worst case what is he looking at.... 3 months?

Depends on the tear, they are v.slow to repair. could even be the whole season if it's a bad one.

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