Liverpool FC Forum

[C-R]

I saw a youth tournament in which Ilori played sweeper and did a great job, had no idea he was born in london

would he still qualify for england, does anyone know?

[redno7]

yep he can play for England

[C-R]

yep he can play for England

cheers bud, well if he improves as we hope he does could be an england player, then 1 less player to worry about on this home grown player nonsense too

[Ben Patrick]

Thats a decent shout on Toure filling in at centre mid. Hadnt thought about it until mentioned but think he'd do a job if needed.

[Stu the Red]

Must admit I think there is a genuine lack of depth.

Gerrard is still a class player, his first half performance against United where he was head and shoulders above everyone on the pitch proved this. He did however waine in the second half and as a result Liverpool lost there way. Lucas is a steady eddie but he's never going to win you games.

I think ideally it would be Gerrard, Lucas and Coutinho as the central three, this would give us the balance we need. But then it means playing either Sturridge or Suarez out wide... Sturridge is no winger and Luis is our best player.

For me the lack of quality out wide and at the back are more of a concern, however I do worry that if Gerrard picks up an injury, we'll be found wanting in central midfield too.

[Ben Patrick]

Stu the red ??

[Redman in wales]

Must admit I think there is a genuine lack of depth.

Gerrard is still a class player, his first half performance against United where he was head and shoulders above everyone on the pitch proved this. He did however waine in the second half and as a result Liverpool lost there way. Lucas is a steady eddie but he's never going to win you games.

I think ideally it would be Gerrard, Lucas and Coutinho as the central three, this would give us the balance we need. But then it means playing either Sturridge or Suarez out wide... Sturridge is no winger and Luis is our best player.

For me the lack of quality out wide and at the back are more of a concern, however I do worry that if Gerrard picks up an injury, we'll be found wanting in central midfield too.

An injury to Gerrard and I'd be comfortable with Henderson alongside Lucas. He's not a direct replacement by anymeans (is anyone?) but he's improving all the time and has even shown leadership qualities and a lead by example commitment, though is still fairly young.

[Stu the Red]

Stu the red ??

[Ben Patrick]

Haha the forum will be a better place for your return.

[Stu the Red]

Must admit I think there is a genuine lack of depth.

Gerrard is still a class player, his first half performance against United where he was head and shoulders above everyone on the pitch proved this. He did however waine in the second half and as a result Liverpool lost there way. Lucas is a steady eddie but he's never going to win you games.

I think ideally it would be Gerrard, Lucas and Coutinho as the central three, this would give us the balance we need. But then it means playing either Sturridge or Suarez out wide... Sturridge is no winger and Luis is our best player.

For me the lack of quality out wide and at the back are more of a concern, however I do worry that if Gerrard picks up an injury, we'll be found wanting in central midfield too.

An injury to Gerrard and I'd be comfortable with Henderson alongside Lucas. He's not a direct replacement by anymeans (is anyone?) but he's improving all the time and has even shown leadership qualities and a lead by example commitment, though is still fairly young.

Seriously did you just say that...

Stop and think a second... An injury to Gerrard and I'd be comfortable with Henderson alongside Lucas... 

Henderson this season so far hasn't let anyone down, I'll give you that and the lad ALWAYS runs his ***** off but for me he's absoloutely nowhere near the standard we need. As a fourth choice he'd be ok I suppose, but the fact that we keep finishing where we do the last few years is because we accept players like this all too readily these days.

[Stu the Red]

Haha the forum will be a better place for your return.

Thanks Ben... I've chilled out a bit though over the last three or four years... gettin on a bit these days... 30 soon...

I've learnt how to argue, convince, disagree with everyone without wanting to rip there faces off... I probably will still reply to every post I disagree with though, just for old times sake 

[Ben Patrick]

You and benny could be in for some fun if you share different opinions haha

[C-R]

wb stuthered

[Redman in wales]

yep, i did say that and stand by it. 

He aint Gerrards standard no - but who would be to come and sit on the bench?

Lucas and Gerrard is the preferred midfield two and will be starting a majority of games (barring injury) so any CM we could have bought to boulster our midfield would be only get time from the bench, or when one of the starting two get injured. I see Henderson as that person.

I'm not saying he's who we need long term, or who we should build the team around, I'm saying he'd do a job whilst Gerrard's injured, and I'd be okay with that.

Stu - Who do you think we could have got this summer to play that role? (ie the 3rd choice midfeilder who  comes off the bench, or starts only if Gerrards injured)

[Stu the Red]

yep, i did say that and stand by it. 

He aint Gerrards standard no - but who would be to come and sit on the bench?

Lucas and Gerrard is the preferred midfield two and will be starting a majority of games (barring injury) so any CM we could have bought to boulster our midfield would be only get time from the bench, or when one of the starting two get injured. I see Henderson as that person.

I'm not saying he's who we need long term, or who we should build the team around, I'm saying he'd do a job whilst Gerrard's injured, and I'd be okay with that.

Stu - Who do you think we could have got this summer to play that role? (ie the 3rd choice midfeilder who  comes off the bench, or starts only if Gerrards injured)

Really? you're standing by that comment? Are you sure? even after thinking about it?

Oh dear lord...

To be fair, I wouldn't see it like that. I would see it as bringing someone in better than Lucas and Gerrard and moving each down the pecking order by one. I am never a fan of signing players to sit on the bench unless they are loan players or a back up to a world class player. Lucas isn't world class so for me had we gone and splashed the cash on Alonso for Example... Then I would have been happier.

Take Gerrard out of our midfield... and its quite frankly poor at best. Where as for example... we had Gerrard, Alonso, Lucas, Henderson... then one of Gerrard/Alonso gets injured, you still have a class player in there.

Although we aren't weak in this area at the minute, I do believe we need to improve on Lucas. Allen for me is a waste of space. Never a top half premiership player.