K-9 wrote: » It's only really since Xmas it has been so bad. Spurs suffering it now but the worrying thing for us is it's more or less half a season of poor form!
Sir Gallagher wrote: » Theres been plenty of games where we havent created chances, whats the common denominator? We dont win.
kingshankly wrote: » In fairness to Roy today in his interview saying Liverpool were clearly the better side and that they were lucky hate the way some managers come on after a lucky win saying how well they defended and deserved their victory.
djPSB wrote: » In fairness the midfield we put out today and for a large proportion of the season is bottom half of the table standard. Kuyt is passed it. Doesn't have the pace anymore. He works like a dog but that's not enough. Spearing is Championship quality. Maxi gets a few goals but doesn't have the pace to beat a man. Intelligent player but again that's not enough. Henderson is the only one that comes anywhere near top 6 standard. He played well today and has shown a big improvement in the last few games. These players are fine as back up but the players like Kuyt and Maxi are on too high a wage to be warming the bench. They need to be moved on.One transfer window could solve alot of these problems though.
mike65 wrote: » A striker, a winger, a central midfielder would make a big difference we all know that and we all have 3 names we can pick to fill the roles but will the club sign them or use them properly?
Gbear wrote: » Not really. The same thing happened against Sunderland on the first game of the season. The next game we battered the ever loving **** out of Arsenal and eventually got the breakthrough through a poxy own goal. 3 games later we annihilated Stoke. We had 73% possession away, had 24 shots, 7 on target, 3 times as many passes. We lost that in similar circumstances to today. It's read this way all season long. I would argue that we've dipped below a further threshold since Xmas because of the loss of Lucas and Suarez (wins -> draws, draws -> losses). There's been a few stinkers this season - bolton away, spurs away (even without losing 2 players to red cards we were still crap and deserved losers) but the overriding pattern has been dominant possession, dominant chances, on and off target, having 10 times as many corners and failing to score from the easiest of chances or making **** decisions in the box (like Suarez today on a couple of occasions). I'd give our finishing a 0/10 this season but i'd give the average of everything else at about 8/10. The 0 is catastrophic though. Our scoring (not so much our attack in general) has been so **** as to invalidate the quality of everything else we've done.
K-9 wrote: » 7 points out of 39 says otherwise, we were on target for a top 4 finish before that. Something isn't right, we've players who have consistent records of scoring either with us or other PL teams and somehow it hasn't been fixed. I go a long with the Lucas and Suarez line but a partner for Lucas and a clinical finisher is the priority for a top 4 challenge. Adam nor any alternative is top 4 standard. When we've everybody fit and you can't plan for a season like that, we are very light in CM. Ideally a playmaker who can fill in for Lucas if required. Striker is the obvious and I'd say a RW.
jesus_thats_gre wrote: » For all that has been said on the subject, i really dont think that Carroll is the problem. In Maxi and Bellamy, we have two players that have largely produced the goods when given any sort of game time. Kuyt less so but we know he needs a run in the team. All 3 have not been picked for the majority of the seaon. Instead, 2 big money signings have been consistently played instead. Neithet have produced the goods yet are still selected. Then you have Suarez who causes absolute havoc in tge oppositions box. He unfortunately makes the wrong decision too often though and could even be accused of being greedy - to the overall detriment of the team. He isnt the problem though. The problem is down to tge wrong wingers veing selected and the lack of a creative player in the centre of midfield that can set the pace of the match, pick passes and actually create chances. Gerrard gives the vast majority of that but someone else needs to be bought to take over that responsibility. That and pick players with intelligence and the willingness to push up and support the strikers.
5starpool wrote: » This is quite a few transfer windows in a row we've been saying this exact same thing. Hopefully this summer will be the one we can stop. Just home now after a long day trip over. Depressing indeed.
Chucky the tree wrote: » jesus_thats_gre wrote: » For all that has been said on the subject, i really dont think that Carroll is the problem. In Maxi and Bellamy, we have two players that have largely produced the goods when given any sort of game time. Kuyt less so but we know he needs a run in the team. All 3 have not been picked for the majority of the seaon. Instead, 2 big money signings have been consistently played instead. Neithet have produced the goods yet are still selected. Then you have Suarez who causes absolute havoc in tge oppositions box. He unfortunately makes the wrong decision too often though and could even be accused of being greedy - to the overall detriment of the team. He isnt the problem though. The problem is down to tge wrong wingers veing selected and the lack of a creative player in the centre of midfield that can set the pace of the match, pick passes and actually create chances. Gerrard gives the vast majority of that but someone else needs to be bought to take over that responsibility. That and pick players with intelligence and the willingness to push up and support the strikers. He's certainly not the solution anyway.
eldwaro wrote: » really feel for ya man... trips are suppose to be fun. and right now its like booking a trip to somewhere you know has bad service and its gonna rain.
jesus_thats_gre wrote: » Its strange, i am relatively confident that he will become and important player for us. I think that selecting the right wingers and improving the creativity of our central midfield will lead to Carroll's strengtgs being utilised and maybe even Suarez improving his decision making - would like him to be a bit deeper where he would have to look up more.
Gbear wrote: » The point is that we started throwing points away on day 1 against sunderland. I think that the team was stretched and at the slightest sign of adversity (losing lucas, suarez) we crumbled. The media always lark on about the "stuff of champions" when teams can score and win when they're not playing well. That's just about quality in the final 3rd and clinical finishing in my book. It's not some intangible x-factor. If you look at teams without the money cheat on, Henderson and Spearing (particularly the former given he has lots of room to improve and probably will) would be fine as squad players. That's all Spearing will ever be. Hopefully in time Henderson can become more. Despite that supposed frailty, we've still created enough to win and our throwing of points away can not possibly be blamed on Spearing not giving enough quality going forward or Henderson sometimes going missing. That's not to say world class midfielders wouldn't make us better and even would earn us a few extra points, but I don't think in terms of value for money, that would be the best solution. I'd rather spend 5-10m on a Granero and get a a striker for 20m+ than compromising 50/50. Just look at other teams. Despite Utd having a midfield that's easy to shut down, despite Barca having no recognisable defence, despite blablabla. If you've got goalscorers you can get away with varying levels of weaknesses. Incidentally I don't think Spearing or Henderson are weaknesses. I think they're both useful assets - Spearing as a willing, competent worker who'll probably be happy to play a bit-part role in the long term for fairly low wages and Henderson as a very bright prospect.
eldwaro wrote: » sure look...four games left until we can finally start hearing about transfers.
K-9 wrote: » I don't really see why you are pointing at the very first League match against Sunderland or the Arsenal match. Something like 34 appearances between 6 players was the stat for the Sunderland match. I was happy enougfh with us up to Christmas, on course for 4th and expecting the team to move on. How a team of a good few new signings could show CL qualification form for half a season, when it's nearly half a new team, and show relegation form for the rest................ And I don't think it is just Lucas or Suarez.
jesus_thats_gre wrote: » I am not really suggesting half a new squad though, am I? I have advocated selecting players from the existing based based on their effectiveness and not their transfer fee. That and buying a quality attack minded midfielder.
ASOT wrote: » Lads i have this up on adverts but im sure it would interest you lot more. Im shifting this because im going away for the summer and need to raise some cash. More pictures here - http://s562.photobucket.com/albums/ss63/AnDy-GFX-/Liverpool%20Jersey/ (password=liverpool) If anyones interested give me a bell, It has a COA & was professionally framed after i got the jersey. Signatures Micheal Owen Stephen Gerrard Sami Hyypia Jersey Dudek Bruno Cheyrou Florent Sinama Pongolle Salif Diao Stephane Henchoz Harry Kewell Milan Baros Carl Medjani John Arne Riise Jamie Carragher Mark Gonzalez Igor Biscan Didi Hamann Emile Heskey Richie Partridge Phil Thompson Anthony LeTallec Steve Finnan Djimi Traore Steven Warnock El Haldi Diouf Patrice Luzi Vladimir Smicer Sammy Lee
Gbear wrote: » Carroll has shown nothing to suggest that he can be the kind of consistant goalscorer we require. We can either buy about 5 players that would improve on all the other places in our squad (Downing, Henderson, Spearing, Maxi, Kuyt) and combined that might give us enough in attack. Or we can buy 1 striker - say Roberto Soldado - who can finish his breakfast. Something like *********** (Our current back 5) Henderson - Lucas - Gerrard New AM - Soldado - Suarez ************ would actually be feasible. Getting half a new squad just to make chances so easy that even Carroll can't miss them is not.
