Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 11/12 - Mod Note 4153

sh__93 · 01-12-2011 07:15PM

daithijjj wrote: »

Lets see what happens between now and end of season to gauge the blow. Sometimes things like this galvanise a squad. Dare i say it, some fans might lower their expectations.... and get a surprise.

I rate Henderson alot, but not out the wing, he is a centre mid all day long and ive always held that view, everyone associated with him has said so, he plays there for the u21's and thats where he likes to play. Just dont expect a 'sitter' like Lucas is if he does play there, he is box to box, we might miss the shield a bit when Lucas goes but we might gain more from a central midfielder getting closer to the strikers. It is definitely something we have lacked, getting midfielders making runs ahead of the ball.

I was just thinking there that maybe we might see more of Downing playing wide right now, he is much more influential and comfortable there imo. And with that, more Bellamy starts out left.

Im sorry to say i dont rate Spearing at all, will be a long season if he is expected to step up imho. Perhaps we do have summer targets in the pipeline and the Lucas injury plays our hand for itself a bit by pushing in Jan for them, can only wait and see. Shelvey was due back on 30th December in any case.

Agree completely.. Was thinking this could be a good chance for him to step up to the mark!

Kess73 · 01-12-2011 07:21PM

sh__93 wrote: »

Who do you lot think would be suitable to fill the gap left by Lucas if our owners do decide to dip into their pockets..
I reard people mention m'vila ans sissoko but i don't know enough about them to comment to be honest.
ow much would they cost does anybody know?

M'Vila and Sissoko would both be very capable of filling the void as well as playing alongside Lucas imho.

M'Vila would probably cost a lot, but you get a hell of a player for the money. I would regard M'Vila as being able to do everything that Lucas can do and then some. He would be a lot stronger than Lucas and a bit faster as well. Three years younger than Lucas as well.

Sissoko is actually a bit like our old Sissoko in look and style. Tall, gangly, quick, covers a crazy amount of ground, great at breaking up play, and loads of stamina. But he also brings good control, good positioning, good passing and the ability to play as a DM, a coventional CM, or a more advanced role to the table. Two years younger than Lucas and would cost a fair bit less than M'Vila imho.

Another option could be Gary Medel. He would cost less than the first two imho, but is more of an out and out DM than them as well, but he is like a rottweiler on the ptch. Think Mascherano with extra fight in him. Excellent tackler and reader of the game, as competitive/combative as the likes of Bellamy, and buckets of stamina to allow him to zip around the pitch. He tends to have a very high workrate and harrying style that allows his midfield partner or partners the luxury of getting forward more. He only moved to Spain last January though so don't know how viable an option he would be.

Javi Martinez is a player that has been mentioned by a few of us on here as well. Very good player who can play as a CM or a DM, but generally positions himself based on how he team are doing. Good tackler, passer, and reader of the game. Useful at centre back as well thanks to his height, strength, and positioning. Would cost a hell of a lot of money to get though.

Arturo Vidal is one I quite like as a player. Does every central midfield role well. Excellent as a DM, excellent as a CM, and good as a CAM. Good pace, good strength, good passer, good at positioning, and has bite to his game. But he only moved to Juve last summer.

Vidal's clubmate Claudio Marchisio would be an interesting option as well. As he can play in the DM role, and is very good at it, but he excels when he has someone alongside him that can do the DM stuff while he gets forward to attack and/or link play.

El Inho · 01-12-2011 07:22PM

fear of testicles not to blame for Chelsea poor form...fair enough.

D'Agger · 01-12-2011 07:23PM

Who's for trying to sign Gareth Barry again?? :pac:

Kess73 · 01-12-2011 07:26PM

daithijjj wrote: »

Lets see what happens between now and end of season to gauge the blow. Sometimes things like this galvanise a squad. Dare i say it, some fans might lower their expectations.... and get a surprise.

I rate Henderson alot, but not out the wing, he is a centre mid all day long and ive always held that view, everyone associated with him has said so, he plays there for the u21's and thats where he likes to play. Just dont expect a 'sitter' like Lucas is if he does play there, he is box to box, we might miss the shield a bit when Lucas goes but we might gain more from a central midfielder getting closer to the strikers. It is definitely something we have lacked, getting midfielders making runs ahead of the ball.

I was just thinking there that maybe we might see more of Downing playing wide right now, he is much more influential and comfortable there imo. And with that, more Bellamy starts out left.

Im sorry to say i dont rate Spearing at all, will be a long season if he is expected to step up imho. Perhaps we do have summer targets in the pipeline and the Lucas injury plays our hand for itself a bit by pushing in Jan for them, can only wait and see. Shelvey was due back on 30th December in any case.

I would worry about throwing Henderson straight into the role. He has been showing some good signs in recent games and I hope his confidence is growing as a result. However I don't think he would be ready for the responsibilty of the role yet, not without someone alongside him to bring him along. I think we would need a three man midfield to allow Henderson the flexibility and freedom (not to mention the safety net of having an extra man there) to try and continue his recent good progress.

Totally agree on Downing. He has looked good for us every time he has been played on the right, and seems to work well with both Johnson and Kelly.

sh__93 · 01-12-2011 07:31PM

I thought i knew a fair bit about footbal but kess, you just put me to shame there.

I like the sound of that Medel fella. I like a player who will bust his gut for the team. I'll reserve jusgement of course until i actually see him play though.

Revolution9 · 01-12-2011 07:36PM

sh__93 wrote: »

I thought i knew a fair bit about football manager but kess, you just put me to shame there.

FYP on behalf of The Chessplayer

G.K. · 01-12-2011 07:48PM

Banega gone from your radar Kess?

Also, sh93, obligatory YT clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sERogfvmmfw

noodler · 01-12-2011 07:53PM

@LucasLeiva87 Lucas Leiva
I am sure I'll NEVER WALK ALONE

Corny bastard.

sh__93 · 01-12-2011 08:00PM

Revolution9 wrote: »

FYP on behalf of The Chessplayer

I'm guessing you're the class joker :P

Excellent, having seen thhat 5 minute youtube clip from the one game i can now declare that i am an expert on Gary Medel and the lad's the next Makalele! Buy him KK :pac:

sh__93 · 01-12-2011 08:02PM

noodler wrote: »

Corny bastard.

Fair play to him for staying positive. It's hardly easy for him at a time like this. Still a boss imo!

Chucky the tree · 01-12-2011 08:03PM

The thughts of Henderson and Adam in the centre of midfield scares the **** out of me.

daithijjj · 01-12-2011 08:22PM

Kess73 wrote: »

I would worry about throwing Henderson straight into the role. He has been showing some good signs in recent games and I hope his confidence is growing as a result. However I don't think he would be ready for the responsibilty of the role yet, not without someone alongside him to bring him along. I think we would need a three man midfield to allow Henderson the flexibility and freedom (not to mention the safety net of having an extra man there) to try and continue his recent good progress.

Totally agree on Downing. He has looked good for us every time he has been played on the right, and seems to work well with both Johnson and Kelly.

The only reservation i would have is that he isnt that used to the role for us. He is more than capable of playing there, just not as a 'sitter'. This time last year he played in the centre of a 442 that went to the league leaders Chelsea and won 3-0, he was called up by Capello that week. Capello went on to play him as a 'sitter' and he was more or less told by everyone who knows Henderson that that was the wrong thing to do with him.

Another reservation i would have is that some fans will instantly compare him to Lucas in a defensive capacity, which isnt really what his game is about. I cant remember the exact stats that came out in the summer but he was in top 5 anyway in the whole EPL for creating chances, that isnt Lucas game and isnt meant as a comparison to Lucas, its just to emphasise what Henderson does.

Edit.............If we want a player to come in now and just sit then that man is Spearing and his terrier abilities. The problem with Spearing is, he is far inferior to Lucas and he would bring next to nothing in attack, he just doesnt cut the mustard for me. I would much prefer to at least have Hendersons quick passes and eye for through balls and lose a bit of defensive solidity. Better that than lose defensive solidity and gain even less in attack. When we played Lucas/Spearing at Arsenal end of last season we couldnt get out of our own half for most of the game, Henderson breaks quickly and has the ability on the ball that Spearing is light years behind.

Dont be at yourself · 01-12-2011 08:42PM

I reckon if are bringing in a replacement for Lucas in January, we may as well go out and get an established player if possible. Gerrard's coming to the end of his career, so we're going to need increased competition next year, regardless of Lucas's recovery. Henderson and Spearing are both still very young, and Adam doesn't offer enough by himself to run the midfield.

I'd take either Lass or Keita, so long as they were on the cheap or on loan. Maybe we could add to our Uruguayan stable with Gargano, either. Or maybe we could try to raid the North East with Tiote or Sessengon. If Comolli and Kenny want to continue buying up young British players, we could look at Barry Bannan or James McCarthy.

Big Knox · 01-12-2011 08:58PM

Absolutely gutted about Lucas, we won't be the same team without him and our strength against the likes of Chelsea, United and City relied on him being in the engine room doing what he does best. The 6 months is bad enough but he's got injured during a time when he was making massive improvements to his game and I really hope this doesen't set him back too bad as I can see him being our future captain!!

I would guess Spearing is going to be getting alot of game time for now with the possibility of KK bringing someone in in January.

Also was reading through the news post on facebook and was glancing over the comments and came across this post:

Thank God hopefully our midfield will be stronger now he is gone we have plenty of better players to fill the roll. And non better than Stevie G when back to fitness. A blessing in disguise."

Now I know alot of people took time coming around to the realization that Lucas is an unbelievably important player for us but I honestly don't know how idiots like this are still out there. Shocking stuff!! :mad:

Chucky the tree · 01-12-2011 09:01PM

Big Knox wrote: »

Also was reading through the news post on facebook and was glancing over the comments and came across this post:

Now I know alot of people took time coming around to the realization that Lucas is an unbelievably important player for us but I honestly don't know how idiots like this are still out there. Shocking stuff!! :mad:

Probably Ilovelamp.

mike65 · 01-12-2011 09:06PM

Hi-ho

Well no doubt the FSG head honchoes and the management have already been talking through the options, I'm sure they'll enter the market.

K-9 · 01-12-2011 09:13PM

Spearing got forward a fair bit when he played last season, won a few free kicks and a penalty or 2 IIRC. He can be quite direct at times, more so than Lucas in that regard.

It probably will need a more attacking formation as the team just isn't going to be as solid defensively.

Reina

Kelly -- Skrtel -- Agger -- Enrique

Spearing

Henderson -- Adam

Downing -- Suarez -- Bellamy

Said it pre the CC game, it was hard to pick a second string CM.

Defensively still sound enough with Johnson, Carra, Coates, Flanagan, Robinson and Aurelio as back up.

Front 3 not bad with Maxi, Kuyt and Carroll to come in.

djPSB · 01-12-2011 09:39PM

Would be mental but Carragher could be used as a defensive midfielder if we were DESPARATELY stuck.

mike65 · 01-12-2011 09:41PM

We will never be that stuck

Dont be at yourself · 01-12-2011 09:45PM

mike65 wrote: »

We will never be that stuck

I'd play almost half the squad in that position before I'd play Carra there.

djPSB · 01-12-2011 09:56PM

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2011/12/01/ex-liverpool-fc-player-ryan-babel-s-clash-with-spongebob-squarepants-yes-you-really-did-read-that-100252-29874988/2/

Quality.

amiable · 01-12-2011 09:56PM

Not sure if it was posted today or not but Ben Smith of the Times was saying earlier that Liverpool were already contemplating buying a Defensive midfielder in January and now it seems very likely Liverpool will have to buy

daithijjj · 01-12-2011 10:07PM

Id play Reina ahead of Carra as def mid.

Phoenix Park · 01-12-2011 10:09PM

Dont be at yourself wrote: »

I reckon if are bringing in a replacement for Lucas in January, we may as well go out and get an established player if possible. Gerrard's coming to the end of his career, so we're going to need increased competition next year, regardless of Lucas's recovery. Henderson and Spearing are both still very young, and Adam doesn't offer enough by himself to run the midfield.

I'd take either Lass or Keita, so long as they were on the cheap or on loan. Maybe we could add to our Uruguayan stable with Gargano, either. Or maybe we could try to raid the North East with Tiote or Sessengon. If Comolli and Kenny want to continue buying up young British players, we could look at Barry Bannan or James McCarthy.

The last line is a joke i take it?. McCarthy would never be up to it. I'd give Spearing his chance for now, reevaluate in January (while scouting now).