Liverpool FC Forum

Doeboy » Mon Mar 06, 2017 8:37 pm wrote:

ycsatbjywtbiastkamb » Mon Mar 06, 2017 7:30 pm wrote:I'd actually prefer it if we concentrated on strengthening the defence and midfield in the summer. Given we are the highest scorers in the division I'd argue that the other end of pitch is more of a priority anyway.
I know spending big money on goalkeepers and defenders isn't as exciting and glamorous as splashing the cash on attackers but every single successful side is built on a solid defence.

Yep, strong defence is absolutely a must. We wont get anywhere continually conceding anything approaching 50 league goals a season.

I agree.
We really need to stop conceding too many goals.
A solid backline should be given priority.

ycsatbjywtbiastkamb » Mon Mar 06, 2017 7:30 pm wrote:I'd actually prefer it if we concentrated on strengthening the defence and midfield in the summer. Given we are the highest scorers in the division I'd argue that the other end of pitch is more of a priority anyway.
I know spending big money on goalkeepers and defenders isn't as exciting and glamorous as splashing the cash on attackers but every single successful side is built on a solid defence.

agreed. you can see that against arsenal, our defence and midfield played well so our attackers can go ahead and score goals without having to track back and defend too much. A solid foundation can also improve our attack. If we stop conceding goals, we will accumulate many more points....
a GK, CB and an DM or a solid CM is a must IMHO...

I think the defensive side of our game must be improved upon most as we are able to score regularly but what we really must find from an offensive point of view is a free kick specialist. Coutinho is ok but not reliable enough and that is all we really have in the team. We need a player that can score more from free kicks outside the box when playing against teams that defend ten behind the ball and are camped in front of their goal, we need someone with that quality. How many times this season have we been frustrated by teams defending deep and how a free kick goal would have changed that whole match and probably resulted in more goals as teams tend to only defend deep while tied or winning. Having a player that can curl a ball consistently around a wall and into the corner is the easiest way to break down a stubborn defense and we don't have one. Also hopefully a left footed player because there is no one that takes left footed free kicks in the team.

No doubt we have plenty that can do it in practice but when the match is on the line we come up short. We have players that can earn free kick but none that score enough, frankly it is a skill that comes with most quality players. We should have broken the bank to buy Pjanic when we were looking at him.

Our defensive record is more about out system of play rather than the personnel. That said, we'll need a better GK, CB (a starter and backup) and DM to improve regardless.

I think we need to start again in defence, complete refit and a couple of high class defensive midfielders, a keeper.

Just start there in the summer and get that base so we can go anywhere and shut games down, and play smarter at home when required.

Doubt massive amounts of money will be available so forget likes of Goetze and build a wall in front of our goal.

Apparently Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain wants out at Arsenal as well. Should we go for him? Didn't think he had a fair shot at Arsenal...

maguskwt » Thu Mar 09, 2017 6:44 am wrote:Apparently Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain wants out at Arsenal as well. Should we go for him? Didn't think he had a fair shot at Arsenal...

He wouldn't be high on my shopping list Mags. Showed lots of early promise but imo hasn't really kicked on. Could be down to his experience at Arsenal, in and out of the team (?) or maybe he's hit his ceiling (?). His goal scoring is circa 1 in every ten appearances.

I don't rate Oxlade-Chamberlain at all. He's just a runner like Walcott with no end product, very inconsistent aswell.

We need defensive minded players more than we need offensive one's.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is a decent player but 1) we don't really need him and 2) if we were to go for someone in that mould I'd prefer someone like Brandt or Pulisic.

If it where me I would source at least 2 experienced defenders (over 30) preferably from Italy or maybe Uruguay to come straight in and specifically task them with leading our back line.

Tough ask but Chiellini springs to mind, that sort, but with our transfer policy theres more chance of snow in hell.

Xabi retiring. LEGEND is an overused word.......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39217287

       

fivecups » Thu Mar 09, 2017 8:54 pm wrote:Xabi retiring. LEGEND is an overused word.......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39217287

       

He was a superb player, I tend to have mixed feelings about him though because I firmly believe if he would have stayed one more year we would have won the league (Ronaldo moved to Madrid that same summer).

Yup mate a legend. That was one thing I've had against Rafa. HE didn't deal the Alonso/Barry thing well.

redshade » Thu Mar 09, 2017 10:09 pm wrote:Yup mate a legend. That was one thing I've had against Rafa. HE didn't deal the Alonso/Barry thing well.

He has won all hasnt he? what a successful career...

Yup he has..Champs league twice. League titles, League Cups and majors for national side.
A very good career.
Gerrard has always praised him and said his one of the best his played with.