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

Incredibly frustrating, started off brightly but overall we played very poor, nobody really impressed me tonight, maybe Johnson and Enrique again. Downing was so frustrating to watch, more and more as the game went on. He just would not put the ball in the box, kept trying to beat his man or cut back inside. Kuyt was poor, we should probably look to replace him ahead of next season. Adam had one of his worst games for us tonight but can't blame him for not winning.

The subs we brought on were very ineffective, thought we should have brought Carroll on earlier. So frustrating to watch us play well on Sunday against better opposition and then play so badly tonight, always has been Liverpools problem though really. Don't know who Kenny/Comoli plan on signing in January, but I hope to god he can put the ball in the net.

Even Kuyt has missed this season (Everton).

Ardent wrote: »

You're right about the signings Jayo. We're going about things in the right way on the pitch but the quality in terms of playing staff just isn't there. Adam and Enrique have improved the team for sure but the others have been huge let-downs.

Carroll, Downing and Henderson: £75+ Million for that??! Who's to blame?

Correct, the style of football is attractive and it will win ya friends. With top class players we would do serious damage but you will live and die by your signings.

There are some worrying aspects of Kennys approach, and i'm not advocating him getting sacked before anyone jumps down my neck, just some constructive analysis.

Any man on the street could tell you Adam is not going to cut it as part of a 2 man central midfield. And as that game went on he was more and more exposed. Similar Henderson, although his athleticism papers over the cracks in terms of him playing as part of a 2.
Kenny seems incapable of changing our approach mid game.

Downing is very ineffective when there is no presence in the box. He is a traditional winger, his job is (and has always been) to get crosses into the box. We signed him on the back of such attributes. he is not a playmaker forward, and when he comes inside he doesn't have the guile to open up teams. Theres 20million quid right there, spent on a player who is the finished article. its simply bad judgement.

We are playing one particular way, but its in direct contrast to the strengths of the personel.

The way we play would be fantastic if we had the likes of Silva, Nasri, Aguero, Rooney, Mata et al, but rather we have Kuyt, Downing, Adam, Henderson. You cannot play that fluid football with these kind of players. Successfully anyways.

All of our good stuff seems to come from Suarez and even Maxi at times, 2 players probably most suited to this style. and it looks like its off the cuff more often than not.

I just wonder why Kenny doesn't seem capable of changing it up mid game. These dropped points against lesser sides are starting to add up and its alarming.

The-Rigger wrote: »

Somewhat premature to call this imo.

its a fair shout IMO.

He doesn't suit the fluid style of player, he is 32 this summer, he is on a big contract but would have suitors.

He is one of the first team players we need to upgrade if we are brutally honest.

He has his virtues, great work ethic, amazing stamina and good attitude. But we have to find someone with the same with greater quality its as simple as that.

Mr Alan wrote: »

Has Adams not been pretty awesome in a 2 man midfield for much of this season?

he has been fantastic with Lucas beside him and another man in front.

when playing 4-4-2 he does not perform to his normal level

Jayob10 wrote: »

Correct, the style of football is attractive and it will win ya friends. With top class players we would do serious damage but you will live and die by your signings.

There are some worrying aspects of Kennys approach, and i'm not advocating him getting sacked before anyone jumps down my neck, just some constructive analysis.

Any man on the street could tell you Adam is not going to cut it as part of a 2 man central midfield. And as that game went on he was more and more exposed. Similar Henderson, although his athleticism papers over the cracks in terms of him playing as part of a 2.
Kenny seems incapable of changing our approach mid game.

Downing is very ineffective when there is no presence in the box. He is a traditional winger, his job is (and has always been) to get crosses into the box. We signed him on the back of such attributes. he is not a playmaker forward, and when he comes inside he doesn't have the guile to open up teams. Theres 20million quid right there, spent on a player who is the finished article. its simply bad judgement.

We are playing one particular way, but its in direct contrast to the strengths of the personel.

The way we play would be fantastic if we had the likes of Silva, Nasri, Aguero, Rooney, Mata et al, but rather we have Kuyt, Downing, Adam, Henderson. You cannot play that fluid football with these kind of players. Successfully anyways.

All of our good stuff seems to come from Suarez and even Maxi at times, 2 players probably most suited to this style. and it looks like its off the cuff more often than not.

I just wonder why Kenny doesn't seem capable of changing it up mid game. These dropped points against lesser sides are starting to add up and its alarming.

In fairness to Adam its a massive ask for him. He had licence to attack when Lucas was there, now we are left hugely exposed when he attacks, plus he's trying to track back. Shelvey worked last week because we'd a balance.

The problem with Downing and Enrique is they don't seem to actually look up and then cross, sometimes its very much just cross and hope stuff.

For all the signings made by Kenny last summer, Downing has to be the most disappointing. Hes a very ordinary and predictable player at times, Enrique was like two players down the left tonight, brilliant player.

Fowler87 wrote: »

For all the signings made by Kenny last summer, Downing has to be the most disappointing. Hes a very ordinary and predictable player at times, Enrique was like two players down the left tonight, brilliant player.

I thought Enrique was poor enough in the first half, good enough in the second. Same the last day, dangerous crosses coming in from his side.

I suppose the fans have to say 1 signing has lived up to expectations.

that was at best limp, and at worst pathetic.

Adam should've won the game, but either way, bar the first 20 minutes, we were ridiculously lackadaisical in everything we did.

Enrique was the one bright spark, and poor Suarez was so isolated.

our big problem, for some reason, was getting runners to support the front. it was just so stop-start in terms of our build-up play.

if a Roy team had put in those 70 minutes or so, we'd be screaming our heads off.

another clean sheet, but that's not good enough against Wigan, with all due respect.

we need to get our fingers out going forward, we really do.

K-9 wrote: »

I thought Enrique was poor enough in the first half, good enough in the second. Same the last day, dangerous crosses coming in from his side.

I suppose the fans have to say 1 signing has lived up to expectations.

I agree he needs to improve his crossing but hes a beast running down that left flank running with power, pace and finesse. Could learn from Fabio Aurelio with his final delivery though:pac: 6m was a snip

SlickRic wrote: »

that was at best limp, and at worst pathetic.

Adam should've won the game, but either way, bar the first 20 minutes, we were ridiculously lackadaisical in everything we did.

Enrique was the one bright spark, and poor Suarez was so isolated.

our big problem, for some reason, was getting runners to support the front. it was just so stop-start in terms of our build-up play.

if a Roy team had put in those 70 minutes or so, we'd be screaming our heads off.

another clean sheet, but that's not good enough against Wigan, with all due respect.

we need to get our fingers out going forward, we really do.

Downing was awful in giving Maxi and Suarez support at times tonight. Just standing up looking for the ball to take it down the wing instead of taking the initiative and bursting into the box to give another option like a Meireles/Gerrard type would have