Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones has started the last 6 games for the club, and with Pepe Reina on his way back to full fitness, Brendan Rodgers has an important decision to make: does he stick with Jones or bring Reina back into the team? With the Reds facing Chelsea in another vital Premier League game this afternoon, Anfield legend Steve Nicol has no doubts about what Rodgers should do here.
Speaking to ESPN last night, Nicol was asked whether Reina should come back into the team for the Chelsea game. He insisted:
"I would absolutely play Brad Jones.
"I think he deserves to play; he’s been solid, and he’s made some good saves, and none of the goals he’s let in have been down to him.
"When Reina was playing, a lot of the goals were down to him. I wouldn’t touch the goalkeeping situation at all".
I totally agree with this. Jones has done extremely well so far, and there's no need to change things.
All goalkeepers concede goals, and it's unrealistic to expect him to keep a clean sheet every game; the good thing is that - unlike Reina - the Aussie 'keeper has not made error after error leading to opposition goals.
With only 11 points from 12 games, Liverpool simply have to get a positive result against Chelsea, and Nicol believes Suso and Sterling will be integral to the Reds' chances. He observed:
"I think Sterling and Suso could be a real problem for Chelsea. Suarez is going to be tid up with the two centre-backs, so there should be space for these two young guys.
"The question is, do they have the composure to finish off any chances they might get. I’m not sure they can, but if they do well, Liverpool will do well".
Going into today's game, Liverpool are unbeaten in the last 5 league games, which is a positive foundation upon which to build. Plus, the Reds have won the last four league meetings against Chelsea. My team for today:
------------------------ Jones
Wisdom ----------- Agger ---- Skrtel ---------- Johnson
------------------ Allen ---- Shelvey
Suso --------------- Gerrard ------------------ Sterling
-------------------- Suarez
Jaimie Kanwar
Speaking to ESPN last night, Nicol was asked whether Reina should come back into the team for the Chelsea game. He insisted:
"I would absolutely play Brad Jones.
"I think he deserves to play; he’s been solid, and he’s made some good saves, and none of the goals he’s let in have been down to him.
"When Reina was playing, a lot of the goals were down to him. I wouldn’t touch the goalkeeping situation at all".
I totally agree with this. Jones has done extremely well so far, and there's no need to change things.
All goalkeepers concede goals, and it's unrealistic to expect him to keep a clean sheet every game; the good thing is that - unlike Reina - the Aussie 'keeper has not made error after error leading to opposition goals.
With only 11 points from 12 games, Liverpool simply have to get a positive result against Chelsea, and Nicol believes Suso and Sterling will be integral to the Reds' chances. He observed:
"I think Sterling and Suso could be a real problem for Chelsea. Suarez is going to be tid up with the two centre-backs, so there should be space for these two young guys.
"The question is, do they have the composure to finish off any chances they might get. I’m not sure they can, but if they do well, Liverpool will do well".
Going into today's game, Liverpool are unbeaten in the last 5 league games, which is a positive foundation upon which to build. Plus, the Reds have won the last four league meetings against Chelsea. My team for today:
------------------------ Jones
Wisdom ----------- Agger ---- Skrtel ---------- Johnson
------------------ Allen ---- Shelvey
Suso --------------- Gerrard ------------------ Sterling
-------------------- Suarez
Jaimie Kanwar
steve nicol, everytime you quote this fella he's knocking someone. please can you find some positive articles. always doom and gloom here!
ReplyDeletejust doesn't look strong enough team for liverpool. breaks my heart.
ReplyDeletejamie chelsea has had problems vs a 3 man defence because Wigan nearly beat them and City did IMO 3-5-2 is a natrual counter to the 4-2-3-1 Roberto Di Matteo uses
ReplyDeleteare you forgetting the error Jones done in the everton game which cost us?...Pepe anytime!!!
ReplyDeleteIf it's a 352, what team would you go for?
ReplyDeleteI reluctantly have to agree. It's still missing something.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the numerous errors Reina has made this season and last season?
ReplyDelete------------jones
ReplyDelete-------agger skrtel coates---------
enrique---gerrard--allen---johnson
----------------suso--------------
-----------suarez-----sterling
neither goals was jones error one was the linesman the other was allen/sterling fault
ReplyDeleteBut Reina passing is more superb than Jones. When Reina take a goalkick he has 80-90 % success rate of passing to our player while Jones 40 - 60% success rate. Although Jones is better goalkeeping than Reina at this moment.
ReplyDeleteI hate to think about this but today we'll see the kind of motivation on the field which would have won us the games against the lesser teams. But still, for some reason, starting from the next match against the mid/low-table teams we'll be complacent again.
ReplyDeleteThis has been the pattern in our games, and the chief reason for our league underachievement, for many years now.
Jones already made couple of mistakes - misjudgements, so it would probably be better to play Reina who can make a terrible mistake(like Jones), but has bigger chances of shining.
ReplyDeleteI think you got Brandon's team right, except Enrique is getting his big chance to impress, in my opinion. And even though it looks like Steven is very close to the box, he is never close enough. And I don't think he is capable of fighting in the middle anymore, especially against their combination of strength, speed and technique...
sahin for gerrard, shelvey for suso and gerrard for sterling.pressing all the way, do not conceed, maybe score and you have suso and sterling to kill them in the second half... oh and wisdom for coates...
ReplyDeletewhile i agree with the post, you have to put some blame towards him for the anzhi goal on thursday, had he not rushed out and held his position, he would probably saved it or at least one of the 2 defenders surrounding him would have made a challenge, rather than him making traore's mind up for him.
ReplyDeletebut that is the only mistake that had consequences i can think of, which shows he is playing well
huntelaar-)
ReplyDelete--------------------Jones
ReplyDelete----------Skrtel ----------Agger-----------Johnson
-----------------Allen-----------Shelvey
Suso------------Gerrard---------------Assaidi
------------Suarez
-------------------------Sterling
Sterling's speed against Chelsea's slow backline, Suarez trickery and ability to shoot from outside the box, with what we have, barring any red cards, if I was the coach, I'll try this formation
punching the ball? had to do it better...
ReplyDeleteBut what can Suso do in defense? Though, I like it...
ReplyDeleteTry Lawro, he said we're gonna lose 2-0...
ReplyDeleteBest defense is attack, Suso's understanding with Suarez is almost telepathic, if they succeed to put alot of pressure on Mikel who people fail to spot is the link between their 3 attacking mid fielders, we'll have little to worry with Skrtel and Agger baby sitting Torres
ReplyDeleteThe talk is Liverpool will play 3-5-2 and i would certainly leave Brad Jones in goal, I hope SG plays up with Suarez. Brad Jones makes saves and Reina doesn't these days, how can we possibly drop him???
ReplyDeleteForgot to mention that Assaidi's trickery would keep Ivanovic at bay
ReplyDeleteJones has done well in Reina's absence and he deserves to keep his place, but i think Reina should start in cup games and if he really steps up only then he should be brought back as our no.1 goalkeeper in the league.
ReplyDeleteI think BR will go for 352 formation so my line up for Chelsea game would be
Jones
Wisdom Skrtel Agger
Johnson Downing
Allen Gerrard
Suso Suarez Sterling
Luiz will get sent off an we will win 1 nil with a goal from he spot. Yous herd it hear first.
ReplyDeleteyes but asterling could of tackled allen could of cleared
ReplyDeletethe last Penalty liverpool got was against Arsenal last season
ReplyDeletereina and johnson start, as does Sahin
ReplyDeleteyes, ivanovic may get pissed off and sent off...
ReplyDeleteSahin is not ready for the physicality and pace of high profile EPL games, 2nd half run out maybe when we need to keep possession after killing off the game
ReplyDeleteGoalkeeper is the LAST defender, he is not allowed to make mistakes- that is why is so hard finding a good one. or sane one....
ReplyDelete-----------------------Jones
ReplyDelete-------------Skertl--Coates--Agger----------------------------------------Allen-----Sahin------------------------------Johnson---------Gerrard----------------Enrique---------------------Suarez--------Sterling
Best defense is attack, Suso's link up with Suarez will keep Mikel (the overlooked link) too preoccupied to be feeding their 3 attacking midfielders, today's game is going to test Roger's tactical acumen
ReplyDeleteYou would play shelvey, seriously? I never liked that guy he keeps on missing sitters and his first touch is nothing better cmon now say hes still young etc. But really for me hes nowhere near being a top class player, rodgers has to stop playing suso at wings we all saw how good was suso at his natural position vs anzhi at the center of midfield, lfc line up has become very predictable recently as we have such a small squad, personally i think we have no chance today the likes of hazard mata oscar are too much for our defence especially for wisdom i wouldnt play him today hes been making mistakes recently anyway who knows we always seem to play brilliantly vs chelsea so thats our only hope today
ReplyDeletene seri.
ReplyDeleteReina is class and did not build a reputation as one of the world's best keepers for nothing, admittedly his recent form has been below par but their is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Reina is the better keeper. I don't think many will disagree. With that being the case, when you take sentiment out of it Reina must start. Reina is the number one and he was only not in the side because on injury. A number two does not become the number one just because the real number one is injured. Rodgers did not drop Reina before the injury, why would he now?
ReplyDeleteEven Hart makes mistakes, damn...
ReplyDeletethat is the most ludicrous formation and line-up ive ever seen
ReplyDeleteSorry what?
ReplyDeleteSuso is not playing today. 3/5/2 set up w luis/raheem up top.
ReplyDelete3 centre backs so we dont get hammered.
as for jones, hes not the long term solution..and maybe pepe isnt either.
Bit disappointed with him for the Traore goal and certainly hasn't been flawless but overall, he has done fairly well and yes, stick him in goal ahead of Reina, as the latter needs a wake up goal and Jones has put in some decent performances. But Jones, imo, isn't the long term answer as he is rather average at best.
ReplyDeleteOf course the team is missing Lucas. if he was around we wouldnt concede as much as now.
ReplyDeleteThats a good team actually,but i still not convinced by coates u know
ReplyDeleteSurly wasn't meant to appear like this, but four players on the right wing would be rather innovative.
ReplyDeleteYou are, in a way, right. It has been like this for years. But I'd like to stress that the so-called lesser teams rather sit back and counter which. Taking the game to the opposition has been a problem for us for a long time.
ReplyDeleteI would tell the legend Nicol, that you do not play an unfit goalie it is a recipe for disaster
ReplyDeleteTWAT.
ReplyDeletewell done mate, u were spot on!!
ReplyDeleteRubbish! Pep Reina is world class and is our #1 keeper , the sooner he is back the better off we will be! That being said Brad Jones has been solid , superior to any recent #2 keeper we have had recently.
ReplyDeletewrong!!
ReplyDeletereina has been poor for the last two seasons. world class sorry mate . he is now 2nd class sell sell asap .brad jones well done again to day .and u no what i ve not seen him beaten at the near post.unlike reina
ReplyDeletetotally agree reina doesn t make saves .some people who post on this site who describe reina as world class are deluded
ReplyDeleteyou must be a basketballer to have named this kin d of formation,its awful
ReplyDeleteworld class maybe in ur world! he has been cr"p 4 the last 2 seasons. brad done great again 2 day. sorry fella reina is well passed his sell by date
ReplyDeleteEverton's first goal was down to Jones mistake in coming out to punch the ball tamely to an opponent.
ReplyDeleteBrad Jones, 100%
ReplyDeleteId be more concerned with Wisdom. He had an absolute shocker.
ReplyDeletecompletely disagree with the article about jones being solid and I believe the writer is'nt viewing his performances through the eye of a goalkeeper. I could be wrong but here are my reasons why all of the last 3 goals, excluding chelsea's were partly jones's mistakes. (although a more assertive and alert keeper should demanded a man stay on the post). Evertons first - misguided punch to edge of box while his out of position, Evertons 2nd - gk should demand and control their area, he should have claimed the cross before naismith connected with it. newcastle - good finish, but jones is at least 6 ft, lost his balance and watched the ball drift over his head, should be standing tall. I dont see a confident or even a gk that demands a presence within the box, which all great keepers do, therefore he is'nt good enough to play for liverpool.
ReplyDelete