2 Mar 2015

'I just want to say...': Dejan Lovren's message to Liverpool supporters. Threat from Sakho...?

£20m summer-signing Dejan Lovren has endured a torrid start to his Liverpool career, but like Simon Mignolet, he seems be turning things around, and after LFC's superb victory over Man City on Sunday, the Croatian delivered a heartfelt personal message to the Reds' fanbase.

In the aftermath of Liverpool's morale-boosting 2-1 win over City, Lovren tweeted:

"I just want to say thanks to our real supporters for all your words of support over the past few days".

Lovren has been on the receiving end of endless criticism this season, but it's amusing (and ironic) how one fatal penalty miss can change things for better. Clearly, fans appreciate the fact that, unlike Sterling, Lovren had the balls to step-up and take a vital penalty in highly-pressurised circumstances.

He missed, but the goodwill generated as a result of that seems to be turning the tide of negative perception, and Lovren is clearly benefiting from that. I'd go so far as to suggest that missing the penalty against Besiktas could save Lovren's Liverpool career.

It would've been easy to drop him after the game, but Rodgers kept him in the team, and the Croatian delivered another assured performance. The big question, of course, is what happens when Mamadou Sakho returns to full-fitness?

Sakho is one of Liverpool's most improved players this season, but if Lovren continues to play well, it will be unfair to drop him, and will make a mockery of Rodgers' oft-advanced claim that players stay in the team on merit.

Right now, Liverpool's defensive record is slightly better with Lovren than it is with Sakho.

Sakho: Last three games before injury:

* LFC goals conceded: 3
* Clean-sheets: 1

Lovren: Three games played since Sakho's injury:

* LFC goals conceded: 2
* Clean-sheets: 1

These limited stats mean little right now, but LFC maintain this record with Lovren in the team, it could be Mignolet/Brad Jones all over again. Jones got his chance, then got injured, which allowed Mignolet to regain his spot in the team and capitalise on the opportunity.

When Jones is fit again, there's no chance that he'll come back into the team and replace Mignolet, and if Lovren goes from strength-to-strength, the same fate could befall Sakho.

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43 comments:

  1. Jonathan Capozzola7:07 pm, March 02, 2015

    How about both, Lovren on the right side of Skrtel, and Can can move to midfield.

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  2. sakho is better than lovren7:09 pm, March 02, 2015

    as you say these limited stats mean little right now...the reason Sakho should come back is because he distributes the ball from the back better than Lovren

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  3. Why not play the back three of Sakho-Skrtel-Lovren, push Can in the middle, Lovren will be known as the Wall just like in Southampton, as soon as people get of his back. The passing is actually his forte just check Who scored.com. His confidence will only build from now on , and he WILL become one of Liverpool's greats... He's clutching his position with both hands and he's not letting it go any time soon :)

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  4. sakho is better than lovren7:30 pm, March 02, 2015

    Can in midfield is the future - next season. Right now i prefer Can, Skrtel and Sakho. Pretty sure that Lovren will be much improved next season, much like Sakho who took a season to adjust.

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  5. He's improving right now guy just needs continuity and for people to get OFF his back. After all I suspect he IS Brendan's favourite and that speaks volumes

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  6. If Lovren truly plays really, really well, he should stay in the team. However, with his current form he is still overcommitting to some situations (e.g. unnecessary yellow card against Besiktas in the first leg after venturing too high up or stupid slide tackle in the box last night which gifted Aguero a real chance for equalizer, luckily he botched it). If Lovren cannot improve his form even further, I would take Sakho back when he is fully fit.

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  7. Those were the products of his nerves and willingness to impress for cryin out loud Lovren from Southamton is making a comeback, have some faith in him.

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  8. Sakho-Skrtel-Lovren is the way to go and should see game time A.S.A.P

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  9. Let's hope it's not Lyon's Lovren who's going to make a comeback...

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  10. That was a terrible episode the coach and the fans took him for a scapegoat he abandoned that team and they were still horrendous even when he left... Ergo- not his fault :)

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  11. Well, your liver is going to take a battering over the next few months, I'm sure, so be prepared ;-)

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  12. Oh no not again


    I started a new drinking game to replace the one based on BR saying "outstanding" . The new game is to have a drink every time you have a dig at Sterling in your articles. I've been p^ssed for a fortnight ;-/

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  13. Amazing man management by BR ;'-)

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  14. I can't see Jones replacing mignolet on current form... Last few weeks he has been very good and I think the only reason why he was dropped in the first place was so that he would improve his performances and that has happened...

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  15. Don't understand why expectations are different for Sakho & Lovren? Sakho has been key, no coincidence that we've kept clean sheets with him around.

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  16. that's quite an odd choice of number of game to take stats from to make an opinion.

    If you want to make an objective opinion based on stats you should take the goals the team conceded while they were playing for the season, when one played and the other did not, and when they actually played together... or something like that. (don't know if i made myself clear)

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  17. ok then looking at southampton current season, obvisously their good season was not thanks to him either if we're going this road.

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  18. I voted for Sakho but not because I think Lovren should be dropped but because I think Sakho's distribution out from the back has been sorely missed. There are two other centre half positions however and rotation, injury/suspension should ensure plenty more game time for all our centre halves

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  19. Both Pochettino and Koeman designated Lovren a key player... Coincidence? I think not... Southampton's current streak? Could be a lucky strike?

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  20. I voted for Sakho to come back only because I don't think a player should lose his spot due to an injury that kept him out a week or two.


    It's really not fair to either player to sit, so I'd prefer to get a solid rotation going incorporating both players.


    Perhaps even shifting Can to midfield and using a back three of Lovren, Sakho, and Skrtel.

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  21. Please be fair and take into consideration the formation change and new found defensive stability post December. At the start of the season the whole team underperformed

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  22. a lot of people in France (some media too) consider Lovren average and have been bemused by his transfer to Liverpool, i read some Lyon's fan are still wondering how in hell they got €10M for him...

    We could do this for a long time, in the end if you want to give credit Southampton performance on him you also have to take his time at Lyon too on the balance
    (i don't hate the guy or whatever i actually did not see a lot of him before his Liverpool days but what i heard his time in France were not that great.)

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  23. I think we need to establish more rules to this game. Stuart, you've started us off on the right foot (or left depending on which you think you're looking at by now)


    1. BR saying "outstanding"
    2. Jaimie's digs at Sterling


    I'd like to expand upon that to include the following types of specific digs in the form of references:


    2.a. Greed in modern football
    2.b. No loyalty
    2.c. What will happen the next time he wants a new contract?
    2.d. Any increase in specific player's wage demand from one article to the next


    For each of these specifically, you cannot let go of the bottle until there's not a drop left. You don't have to chug all at once. But you can't place it down once you've picked it up. I'd suggest drinking rather quickly as who likes warm beer anyway.


    Everyone feel free to chime in and add on.


    In fact, Jaimie, can we have a specific article created for the sole purpose of adding to this game?

    Thanks in advance

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  24. well i'm being fair... i say that if you take stats to make a statement about a player you have to take the most of what is available to have an objective one, if that's not fair i don't know what is.

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  25. I agree to some point... But when he arrived in Lyon he didn't speak French and had big price tag (for croatian terms). I think his bad performances at Liverpool are the result of his pressure and the need to justify the big price tag, which somewhat mirrors his Lyon situation, but I think the moment he settels he will prove his worth, I'm watching him a bit more longer and I know he's Croatia's best and talented centre back, and all those scouts, pundits and coaches can't be wrong, right?

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  26. I voted for Sakho because Mignolet seems to be more confident with him and they have a better understanding .
    On a side note the pitch looked terrible on Sunday and will get a further bashing on Wednesday and no doubt be in a sorry state for the cup match on Sunday . Are we economising on ground staff ?

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  27. well pundits and coaches in England base their arguments on 1 season in the PL where his team fared well (it's hardly a reference of consistency), i base my opinion for what i've seen since he's been at Liverpool and the 2014 world cup and he did not really made and impression. If he starts to produce amazing performance and get on another level great but right now he has had a difficult time

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  28. Mignolet is turning bipolar I dont think squad policy should depend on player relatiions... I could argue he has better communication with Lovren from his interviews, or maybe it could only be result of Migs being Migs- sla goalkeeper you can't rely on

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  29. I was referring to the understanding and communication of the two players ON the pitch which is essential for team performance and nothing to do with squad policy ......
    How players get on off the pitch is not an issue .

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  30. It's not fair because you have to see the big picture- start of season and bad formation where every player was sub-par. Enter January when Lovren was dropped, Sakho was introduced different FORMATION and fewer goals. Lovrem only played a handful of games in the NEW formation.

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  31. That's correct- he doesn't produce and that's the bottom line. And here I am trying to justify him. You mentioned World Cup performance- I think he was pretty good, Brazil penalty on Fred was a joke, Croatia then hammered Cameroon and were ill prepared vs.Mexico when the whole team underperformed. It was down to manager Niko Kovac who still has a few things to learn but I think vs Italy in qualifiers he showed tactical maturation. Bottom line Lovren didnt show his class in WC nor did Modric, Rakitic or Mandzukic who are world class players mind you.

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  32. Ok but I still blame it on Migs solely and not the players who are on the pitch, because with him you never know which Migs will turn up... One of the reasons BR is looking to strenghten that part of the squad in the summer.

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  33. I doubted Migno had what it takes but all credit to the lad he has proved a lot of people wrong and turned things around . His stats prove that he is now one of the best keepers in the league .... His new found confidence has a lot to do with the way our defence has now gelled with their defined roles . Skirt in particular seems more steady . ..
    That's not to say Migno is far from the finished article - his kicking and distribution leave a lot to be desired but it will come , he is young and like others will grow with the team . However we all realise that
    another experienced keeper in the Summer is a must ......

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  34. The you would drop Allen. Not that I'm against that, but he's also been on quite an impressive run of form. Hendo just got a break too, so no dropping him. Gerrard could be back for Burnley, so there's that problem as well.

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  35. It's because Sakho looks to pass out himself and Lovren would prefer to pass back to the keeper. Mign doesn't lime that side of the game and looks more shaky because of it.

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  36. Miss has been very consistency t for a good run of games now. Not something that can be said of Dajan.

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  37. I can't see why people would say no to Sakho coming back. Truth is both at their bests still means Sakho is better. Lovren had a good fourty five minutes against City. Fair play to him. His passing is still not even a tenth as good as Sakho's and neither is his composure. I think it is probably only fair that Lovren stay in if he is doing well enough but if we are losing possession so often because of him then he is not doing well enough.

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  38. The difference is that people want to justify why they didn't think Sakho was any good even though he was clearly talented. Rather than admitting they were wrong they would rather he went away.

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  39. I certainly think that much more is expected of sakho & actually Lovren bad form was overlooked especially in the first few months of this season.

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  40. boycottthis_site11:52 pm, March 02, 2015

    i agree 100% until the 2nd paragraph :) If Can is playing in defence, no need to rest him. Does anyone ever call for a centre back to be rested?!
    I think he had one poor game recently and that was when he was in midfield. Against Man City he was magnificant. Against Besiktas he, and the rest of the midfield, got over run.
    I just don't see the need for such debate when we are playing well and winning. Leave Can where he is for now.
    Next season we can move Can to centre midfield, which he will boss.
    This is all Jamie's fault, and why i hate this site (i'm only posting cos i'm drunk). This site is just clickbait, to cause mischief. All so Jamie can get a nice fat check from his advertisers.

    Check out the history. All Jamie ever does is write controversial headlines, normally slagging off Gerrard, Rafa, Kenny, Suarez, anyone who is a fans fav, just to make more money.
    Jamie only allows comments which make him £ stay. So expect this to be gone very soon :)

    BOYCOTT THIS SITE!!!!!
    YNWA

    PS - there's a reason why this site says it's independent. It because no-one at the club want's anything to do with him.
    This is true isn't it Jamie?

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  41. Overlooked? Lovren has been crucified by fans this season, and I've experienced that on a first-hand basis many times over the last 6 months.

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  42. I know it is crazy.

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