devaney » Mon Apr 21, 2014 7:40 am wrote:I expected losing Henderson to cause us problems and to be honest I can't see a quick fix for the next two games. Allen and Lucas earlier in the season, whilst hard working, were two of our less effective players. Allen has improved considerably since then and he has gained a lot of confidence. Lucas, the poor lad has had a rough time with injuries. I don't think he has ever been quite the same since he did his cruciate. Yesterday he struggled and it will worry me if we put out the same team against Chelsea. The problem is I don't know what else we can do. Could Agger play left back? Could Flanaghan play the Lucas role? Is there a place for Alberto? I just hope Danny is fit for the Chelsea game because that will make the decisions a lot easier. The one thing we cannot do at all costs is let those classless fkrs take all three points. I wouldn't be that happy with the draw but I would take it if we are struggling !! Hopefully our amazing twelfth man will give us the vital edge.
One thing is certain however. We cannot enter the CL next season with the bench we started with yesterday. This will be our transfer committees most important window for many a year. I'm not suggesting we go out and buy half a dozen players and spend £150m because we all know that probably won't happen. What does need to happen is that the players that we bring in can quickly adapt and make a serious contribution. We've got some decent lads out on loan and coming through the system but I don't feel that will be sufficient to face next seasons demands. We don't want to be a one season wonder if we do eventually win the league and it is still quite a big if regardless of what the bookies may think. Those guys were offering 18/1 for Sunderland to beat Chelsea !!
Yup, Agree totally.
Our bench looked very threadbare yesterday but I don't think we've helped ourselves on that score by loaning out so many of our players, at the hour mark yesterday Lucas looked shattered but we didn't have another CM to throw on.
We could have even done with someone like Connor Coady yesterday, I know he's not the most naturally gifted footballer but in a game like that where we were crying out for legs in midfield maybe he could have come on and done a job a la Jay Spearing against Madrid.
Infact hasn't Ilorri played a bit as a DM? That lad looks like a Rolls Royce of a footballer, he's very comfortable on the ball, tall, athletic and very quick, he would have come in very handy yesterday when our midfield was getting out worked and over run.
Plus I'd much rather see Ibe come on than Moses, Ibe is even quicker than Sterling and in the last 20 minutes when we are looking to hit teams on the break his power and pace would come in very handy as well.
Half of our bench is made up of players that Brendan wouldn't even throw on except in an emergency which is a ridiculous situation for a team challenging for the title to find itself in.
I'm dreading next week as well, if we sit back and invite the likes of Hazard, Willian, Oscar, Salah etc onto us like we did Norwich's midfield then Chelsea are going to blow this title race wide open and with no Hendo for the trip to Palace we could do a Devon Loch here . But with the personel we have available I'm not sure that Rodgers can do anything different.
Is our lack of squad depth going to cost us right at the finishing line?