Arsenal legend Paul Merson has slammed Liverpool for putting in such a poor performance against Stoke on Boxing Day, arguing that Brendan Rodgers' obsession with passing teams to death - even in defence - causes more problems than it's worth.
Speaking to Sky Sports yesterday, Merson hailed Stoke's 'outstanding' performance against the Reds, and encouraged Harry Redknapp to employ Stoke's pressing tactics on Sunday at Loftus Road. He said:
"I was disappointed in Liverpool. They were really poor.
"Stoke were pressing them high up the pitch but they were still trying to roll it out from the back and it was suicidal in the end.
"That's the way to beat Liverpool - pressing them, closing them down and putting them under pressure. QPR are desperate for three points - and I've got a feeling they'll get them this weekend".
Ironically, it seems that Rodgers is being beaten at his own game. As he revealed in an interview recently, one of the fundamental tenets of his philosophy is intense pressing of the opposition:
"The only time we rest is when we have the ball. When we haven’t got the ball is the moment for intense pressure to get the ball back. But you can’t go for 90 minutes, so in order to recuperate and conserve energy, we’ll do that sometimes by building our way through the game"
According to Merson, Stoke are the 'fittest team in the Premier League by a million miles', and that certainly seems to be the case. The Reds just couldn't handle the relentless pressure on the ball, and Liverpool's players have a long way to go before they match Stoke's intensity.
Aston Villa adopted similar tactics during their 3-1 victory at Anfield (a result that becomes even more embarrassing with each passing day), and QPR will inevitably use the same approach on Sunday, which could cause major problems.
Clubs have clearly discovered a major Liverpool weakness, but what is the solution? Liverpool can't (and shouldn't) play grafters like Henderson in every game to counteract the physicality of the Premier League, and the 352 formation is only used sparingly by Rodgers.
One solution is to target a couple of big, athletic midfielders in the Diame/Toure mould. Lucas and Joe Allen are excellent players, but they are not physically intimidating, and this is arguably costing the club in the centre of the field.
Merson is clearly not a fan of Rodgers. In his column for the Daily Star last weekend, he accused the LFC boss of 'naivete' and 'bad management' over his handling of Andy Carroll's loan departure to West Ham. He barked:
"Andy should go back to Newcastle next summer and prove Brendan Rodgers wrong. The thing that shocks me is that Rodgers made his mind up before he even got to Liverpool. He won’t change his mind now. He’s too stubborn. You can’t be telling a £35m player he’s got no future. It’s bad management".
Jaimie Kanwar
Speaking to Sky Sports yesterday, Merson hailed Stoke's 'outstanding' performance against the Reds, and encouraged Harry Redknapp to employ Stoke's pressing tactics on Sunday at Loftus Road. He said:
"I was disappointed in Liverpool. They were really poor.
"Stoke were pressing them high up the pitch but they were still trying to roll it out from the back and it was suicidal in the end.
"That's the way to beat Liverpool - pressing them, closing them down and putting them under pressure. QPR are desperate for three points - and I've got a feeling they'll get them this weekend".
Ironically, it seems that Rodgers is being beaten at his own game. As he revealed in an interview recently, one of the fundamental tenets of his philosophy is intense pressing of the opposition:
"The only time we rest is when we have the ball. When we haven’t got the ball is the moment for intense pressure to get the ball back. But you can’t go for 90 minutes, so in order to recuperate and conserve energy, we’ll do that sometimes by building our way through the game"
According to Merson, Stoke are the 'fittest team in the Premier League by a million miles', and that certainly seems to be the case. The Reds just couldn't handle the relentless pressure on the ball, and Liverpool's players have a long way to go before they match Stoke's intensity.
Aston Villa adopted similar tactics during their 3-1 victory at Anfield (a result that becomes even more embarrassing with each passing day), and QPR will inevitably use the same approach on Sunday, which could cause major problems.
Clubs have clearly discovered a major Liverpool weakness, but what is the solution? Liverpool can't (and shouldn't) play grafters like Henderson in every game to counteract the physicality of the Premier League, and the 352 formation is only used sparingly by Rodgers.
One solution is to target a couple of big, athletic midfielders in the Diame/Toure mould. Lucas and Joe Allen are excellent players, but they are not physically intimidating, and this is arguably costing the club in the centre of the field.
Merson is clearly not a fan of Rodgers. In his column for the Daily Star last weekend, he accused the LFC boss of 'naivete' and 'bad management' over his handling of Andy Carroll's loan departure to West Ham. He barked:
"Andy should go back to Newcastle next summer and prove Brendan Rodgers wrong. The thing that shocks me is that Rodgers made his mind up before he even got to Liverpool. He won’t change his mind now. He’s too stubborn. You can’t be telling a £35m player he’s got no future. It’s bad management".
Jaimie Kanwar
This weakness was shown in the first game of the season against west brom. Its poor management that we are still talking about it four months later.
ReplyDeleteWe can't play tika tika, lets face it and find an alternative.
ReplyDeleteTHERE IS NO PLAN B - SHANKS HAD PLAN A B C D E ETC. If we lose today and I fear we might then LFC have reached another crossroads
ReplyDeleteI am sure Merson can all inform us about his illustrious career as a manager? Why do we not appoint him to come and fix things seeing that he is great at being a pundit.
ReplyDeleteLet's make Robbie Savage his number 2. We will be indestructible.
Im fed up of people wanting a manager out after half a season, just so they can give the new manager their backing for 6 months, into Summer 2013. Then, inevitably, when that new manager hasn't sorted out the problems by December 2013, they want him out too. ENDLESS WHINING.
ReplyDeleteWhat an intelligent man Merson is. Pressing, putting them under pressure and closing them down may well be the way to beat Liverpool, or any other team. Ever wondered why Merson isn't managing a club? Maybe because all he can come up with is stuff that even a Sunday League manager would know.
ReplyDeleteJust like any other Liverpool supporter I am not happy with how we got beat by Stoke, especially after being one up early on. Anyway, I'd rather like to think that we conceded unnecessary goals because our defenders went for a nap in some situations. That Shelvey, to name one, had an off game with most of his passes going astray didn't help either. What Merson probably didn't notice is that we passed around Stoke's pressure for quite a while in the first half. Had our players been able to maintain that approach for most of the game and cut out the avoidable defensive mistakes, then we wouldn't have to listen to Merson right now.
Anyone who has watched Merson and for that matter Matthew Le Patisserie, they will know that they don't like Liverpool very much. Mersons brain should be given to Sarsons, because it rarely produces a coherent sentence.
ReplyDeleteWe have been crying out for a few seasons now for a player in the Diame/Toure mould. Whilst we need to acquire a top striker, the main reason for our poor performances in the recent past has been an absent midfield.
ReplyDeleteAs I've said numerous times before, the squad Rodgers is assembling is devoid of height, physicality and variety. Again, Dalglish made many poor purchases but the team assembled was versatile. They were capable of the short passing game (not quite in the Barcelona mould), but also of a more expansive game. The tactical approach to the game under KD meant we built from the back and were defensively robust even when the midfield was lacking.
Right now, apart from Diame and Sissoko, not sure who else is available to provide that power from midfield, either way none of the names we've been persistently linked with fit that mould.
yes we need a strong defensive midfielder (imo wanyama could be a great solution) but what will we do with our 200 central midfielders (henderson gerrard allen sahin (shelvey maybe, he can also play that position) )
ReplyDeleteits absolutely rodgers fault he bought allen, yes hes a good player but sahin is better imo henderson is getting better and better. then we also miss an offensive midfielder because shelvey is to emotional ans suso is still very young .. so we need to buy one more defensive player ala diame/tiote/wanyama style and an offensive one (like carzola mata .. a creative skillful player with an eye for a goal. all together this would be 9!!! midfielders with only place for 3. allen and gerrard are starting nearly every game, and are part of rodgers stromgest 11. those are 2 cental players (gerrard isnt very offensive any more - well yeah he scored some goals but hes not our offensive solution) so if those two play we lavk at least one part of the midfield- in attacking or defence. for me allen was an absolutely failure. hes good but not needed with this amount of midfielders.
we also need a 3rd striker and another winger.fans wans an additional defender and papertalk says were in talks to get another GK
the harsh true is we lack in all areas all over the pitch, eventho rodgers spend 30m on players in summer.
i completely understand merson, just because he gives young players a chance to shine rodgers doesnt get a better manager. my absolutely favourite in summer was bringing back rafa. but now we missed our chance i think. i was optimistic and trusted rodgers at the beginning, but the true.is hes just throwing us back on the table. Im not a fan of rodgers anymore.
Had our players been able to maintain that approach........nail on head. They couldn't and didn't therefore refer to earlier comments re a plan b etc
ReplyDeleteI think the worry is that Rodgers seems hell bent on passing the ball to death. Certainly at this point we need to mix it up a bit. I think more tempo in our play would help. I also think some of the defending against Stoke was shambolic; simple as that. I mean we gifted all the momentum and belief to them with their first goal; after we had got such a great start.
ReplyDeleteWe do have to stand by Rodgers though. On the plus side he is working for his career; failure here would be a major problem for him. I think in the end he will be a success. That is not to say that I don't think Rafa was by a country mile the option we should have taken.
We should appoint you as our number three.
ReplyDeleteMerson, Savage and Banoog.
This combination will sort out all our problems we have been experiencing for years gone by in ONLY ONE DAY!!!
***Light bulb*** Let's act now before it is too late
***Shudder***
Why oh why do people try and pass off the truth as some sort of bias against the club. We are poor very poor, That is down to the manager he picks the players and the tactics. If you pay peanuts you will alays get monekys. The owners surely understand that!
ReplyDeleteLike the Plan B (Andy Carroll) we tried last season. Worked so fine, didn't it.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you insist on insulting fellow commentators just because they don't agree with you? That's a very juvenile approach.
ReplyDeleteIs it your opinion that we don't need a strong, physical defensive midfielder? The lack of a defensive midfielder was patently evident last season and has been evident against the more physical teams this season.
It would be interesting to hear your opinion rather than just your insults!
We paid oysters (with pearls inside) for Carroll, Henderson, Downing and got a donkey, a player who me be half decent and a monkey. The owners surely had their fingers burnt.
ReplyDeleteThis site is filled with banter. If you can't handle then you know what to do.
ReplyDeleteWhine, Whine, Whine.
I thought my seven year old was bad.
The Andy Carroll plan is working elsewhere? It was never given a chance by BR. You need someone like Carroll to be able to change things up a gear and add a different dimension.
ReplyDeleteCarroll's situation has been a rather unfortunate for a player at his young age and I felt for the guy when he was signed at 35mil. It was a recipe for disaster but he clearly he does possess more movement than a donkey and that is the truth.
ReplyDeleteWhy haven't some our fans given Borini a chance who has played 333 minutes of EPL football before he got injured which equates 3.7 matches?
Renzon i dont think you understand , most of the fans Stuck by Rafa and then NOT with ROY and then they stuck with King Kenny ....If FSG brought in AVB or Rafa or any manager with a record worthy of Liverpools history 1) the results would not have been that bad 2) we would have supported them not matter what .....Fact is mate BrenDOM is a CRAP Manager , knew that before we signed him , he talks a good game but the result mate if u say these results are good enough OMW we were sooo much better last year with KK and Clarke .....and 1 more LIVERPOOL is not ...should not become a training ground for apprentise wannabe Jose Morinunos .....who hang a painted frame of themselves on the doorway ...JOKE
ReplyDeleteWhat difference has Andy Carroll made to West Ham. One goal in thirteen hours of football tells its own story.
ReplyDeleteDont forget it was the OWNERS who hired CAMOLLI as the DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL and the set the agenda of young BRITISH PLAYERS .....CAMOLLI NEG the deals , he paid those prices not King Kenny ....FSG should blame themselves and no one else .....
ReplyDeleteThe term 'banter' implies humour. Your responses read as sarcastic, and don't provide any meaningful response to what was a thoughtful popst
ReplyDeleteIt's called being a pundit mate. So if you have any opinion on any player or manager shall we just say why don't you go and do it if your so good. This country is fortunate enough to have free speech and everyone has a point of view. I am not saying I agree with Merson but let's be fair I think he has some knowledge of football.
ReplyDeleteThanks Maljames. Again no actual footballing comment. I don't think banter is what you think it is. If I said, you're old enough to have children? Really?! Would you class that as banter?
ReplyDeleteSure, FSG hired Comolli and they surely prefer young players, but I'd really like to see a reliable source that confirms your claim that FSG told anybody to go for British players. The prices we've paid clearly have Comolli written all over them, as does the signing of Suarez, but Adam, Carroll, Downing, Henderson, well, they very much sound like Kenny's picks to me.
ReplyDeleteYeah, enough knowledge to manage Liverpool Football Club.
ReplyDeleteMerson should rather stick to commenting on how fragile the Arsenal players are.
Even taking into consideration injuries, He has been nothing special for West Ham. Hardly been better than Carlton Cole. Apart from half-a-season of good form for Newcastle in PL, he shown very little.
ReplyDeleteMerson, Savage and Banoog managing LFC.
ReplyDeleteIf that is not humour then I do not know what sarcastic is.
I fully support Rodgers until the end of the season no matter what. However, I want Rafa to win the premier league with chelsea. Why? He's the only great manager out there at the moment, that I know of, that would pull out all stumps to come to liverpool. If he wins the premier league, FSG will want him, and his ability to attract top players would be greatly enhanced. Wouldn't that work out.
ReplyDeleteWell he is just stating an opinion and let's face it arsenal after losing some good players in the summer are still light years ahead of Liverpool. Merson is just highlighting what he sees as a weakness with the team.
ReplyDeleteRumours abound that Chelsea might tie him to a long-term deal. Of course, this will depend on exactly how successful he is this season, whether Torres continues to perform or not, how his relationship develops with the Chelsea fans and the Pep Guadiola situation.
ReplyDeleteThere lies the (or at least one) problem for us. People referring to our history. A manager worthy of our history, nice idea, but how about a manager worthy of our current situation. How about a long term plan?
ReplyDeleteIf the history of a club matters that much, then Rafa should rather join Preston North End as they were the first league champions ever. Think they even went a season unbeaten in both the league and the cup, something no other team has ever managed since.
We were so much better last season that we would have been extremely close to relegation, had the season started at Christmas.
Maybe some of our fans should forget about our 'deserved' entitlement for success. There is no such thing.
A 7 yr old who is more mature than his dad. Please don't have anymore children!
ReplyDeleteJaimie, I think you should edit that title. Merson - given all his flaws - actually said: 'They were really poor'; not: 'They are really poor.' Quite a big difference in overall meaning.
ReplyDeleteFunny how no big club whatsoever was interested in appointing Rafa for two years and then he has landed himself a job as an interim manager at a club that can afford to hire and fire managers as well as sign players as if money went out of fashion.
ReplyDeleteHopefully FSG will have checked all the pros and cons that come with Rafa before deciding to not appoint him as Liverpool manager.
Andy Carroll is a plan Z, he's useless, a half a season wonder. Pine for him all you want, he was never going to be the answer. Whilst I agree we need a target man with physical presence, to add a different dimension, he also needs to work the flanks ie add some athleticism as well. Carroll has the athleticism of a corpse! What we need is a Benteke/Adebayor/Kenwyne Jones or Walters all are battering rams who CAN MOVE. Take someone like Kone for Wigan, he is the type of player we need because of sheer athleticism.
ReplyDeleteAs for our midfield lacking a Toure/Diame enforcer I've said it before LFC are paying the price for ignoring African/Euro African talent especially in this area. Benitez, to his credit bought into this with Sissoko. Ironically we talk of Tika Taka, Barca traditionally have an enforcer in the middle & they have traditionally been African- Keita, Toure now Song. Tottenham have Dembele, IMO Toure was the reason City won the prem last season & where Man Utd are at their weakest!
Quite simply, Rogers whist deconstructing LFC getting rid of dross should have insisted on keeping Bellamy & Rodriguez whilst getting rid of Carroll, Adam, Spearing. The purchase of Allen is an error because even if he does improve the area we need to see the most improvement is GOAL SCORING this is not his game. We missed out big time on Gaston Ramirez for Southampton.
My real hope is that our scouting team pull their finger out & offer alternatives to BR so that we don't become Chelsea reserves/Swansea/Reading.
Banoog is on the rags!
ReplyDeleteTime for you to crawl out of your corner, it is time for me to go and cry now.
ReplyDeleteMy son will read your whining from now on and he won't even understand how somebody can whine more than him.
free speech my arse...
ReplyDeleteSo raid Stoke in January? I don't think that's the solution. This is just like the 'We need goals so let's sign a striker' debacle. You don't need to be big to be 'physical'.
ReplyDeleteA big midfielder isn't the solution. Focus on how the squad isn't being played to its strengths, the ruthless implementation of the Rodgers philosophy which isn't quite working right now, focus on the favouritism by Rodgers of some players over others (eg Shelvey starts instead of Henderson, when Henderson was a better choice).
Rodgers needs to adapt his game better. At the end of the day it's down to the players but Rodgers isn't quite performing right now.
What's hampering the teams cause is BR and fans thinking Gerrard is still the player is was 3 years ago. His decline has been severe, after years of carrying Liverpool it's caught up with him. IMO Suso and Lucas are players we can't afford to not have playing. Suso for his passing and skill (hopefully he can add some goals to his game) and Lucas who should be the next captain (Always loved his effort and commitment)
ReplyDeleteIt worked better then our Plan A this season, we were harder to beat last season then we are this one, and you got the sense the players wanted to give everything for KD at times this season you wonder if the players are happy under BR
ReplyDeleteThe highly knowledgeable "Paul Merson" gives yet again another DAMNING verdict on LFC!!
ReplyDeleteIs this former England Reserve back on the booze???
You cant keep blaming Comolli for those signings, KD is on record saying they are his signings and he wanted them players!
ReplyDeletecompared to ours there world beaters ,you can critisize merson all you want(i dont particually like him )but hes right we are a shambols and if we don,t get 3 points today rodgers time must surely be up ,hes turning us into a laughting stock
ReplyDeleteCan't agree more - even the crowd this season is dead.
ReplyDeletetwo cup finals enought said ,its more than rodgers will do if hes hear for 5 years
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly what FSG did. They checked out all the pros and cons and is the reason why FSG did not even approach Rafa when we got rid of Hodgson, never mind when Kenny left.
ReplyDeleteSo no need to worry anteater, FSG have clearly done their homework. We are safe.
LOL
ReplyDeletedon,t forget borinni ,allen etc you will blame kd regaurdless rodgers has had time to show some improvment now,its just not happening .lastly i bet my bottom dollar allen starts today i mean ,even rodgers must be confident we will win and he can praise his signing as a masterstroke
ReplyDeletePretty much the same as our attackers barring Suarez then... I have never rated Carroll but I would sooner have him up front then Shelvey
ReplyDeleteAgree with this. I just wonder if we've ignored African players because of the African Cup of Nations or do we have a complex following the car wreck that was El Hadji Diouf and the inadequacy of Salif Diao.
ReplyDeleteI cant see us winning today, I have no confidence in the team at all
ReplyDeleteCome on, people - let's remain civil please :-)
ReplyDeleteredforlife - Banter is fine, but in this instance, your comment was slightly belittling. Knowing your posting history, I'm sure you didn't intend it that way.
Yawn.....
ReplyDeleteDalglish led LFC to relegation form in the second half of the season:
ReplyDeleteP19 W5 D3 L11 - Ave Points per game: 0.95
And that is *after* spending over £100m. Rodgers is by far the better option.
Yeah and Jason Carr knows his history as well Jaimie :-) :-0
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's fair. An oversight on my part. Changed.
ReplyDeleteSpot on, Seejay.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, 2 senior strikers is not usually adequate for a top team and doesn't take into account injuries, lack of form, a different tactical approach etc.
ReplyDeleteI've never linked the signings of Allen and Borini to Kenny so you are wrong again in your assessment of my comment.
ReplyDeleteI know that you don't agree with me, and I would like us to have a few better results too, but I can see some improvement. Borini has been here five minutes and is still quite young. I'll have him over Andy Carroll for all matches bar Stoke. Allen is not as bad a player as you try to portray him, at least in my eyes. His form has been poor of late, that's for sure. You may have a point should you argue that we should have bought a proven striker instead of Borini, though.
Furthermore I simply don't understand your hatred for Rodgers. Having said that I, again, worry for the future of your kids as you are about to bet your bottom dollar on some football match. What will they eat tomorrow should you be wrong (mind, you've been wrong in the past, too).
chirag vyas
ReplyDeleteSome people on here wouldn't understand your point of view. They'd moan about everything unless FSG appointed Rafa. Some people seem to have such blinkered views that they don't realise that there are hundreds of thousand managers out there who are not called Rafa and are still quite successful.
ReplyDeletejaimie if there excuses for rodgers there are excuses for kenny,suarez ban lucas injured and 2 cup runs ,rodgers inherited a side that got to 2 cup finals and has spent monet to transform us into what a laugthing stock ps 4 games 8 points not a unrealistic target you agreed looking dodgey
ReplyDeleteIn other words, you'd be happy for us to win the famous Milk Cup and get relegated than finish higher in the league. Interesting view that.
ReplyDeleteBut Kenny only spent 5p net. Net spend is all that matters, don't you know. And anyway, it's all Comolli's, FSG's, the kit man's, the tea-lady's fault. Kenny did nothing wrong, ever.
ReplyDeleteno we will win today paperover the cracks ,if we loose hes got to go ,a draw will be exceptable(god a draw how times have changed)
ReplyDeleteYeah, sure, we were incredibly hard to beat last season. Take today's corresponding fixture for instance. We were 2-0 up with 18 minutes to go. And lost. Surely because the players gave everything for KD.
ReplyDeleteThe crowd has been dead for quite a while now. Funny how you realise it just yet. Maybe you are looking for things to blame Rodgers for.
ReplyDeletethat must be your famous humour sorry m8 its lost on me would have repled earlier but been wiping away the tears of laughter
ReplyDeletelol
ReplyDeletefunny how no big club ever even considered appointing rodgers until more cowboys came to town
ReplyDeleteYour like a woman scorned. what has benitez done to you love
ReplyDeleteJason, I really don't know since when you are using message boards and comments sections, but I can assure you that the supporters of other clubs were laughing at (some of) us under Rafa already. We've been a laughing stock for years, partly because of the entitlement for success some of our fans seem to have (and publish all over the web), partly because of some of our fans referring to our glorious past while ignoring the present, and partly down to the pig-headed insistence that Rafael BenÃtez is the one and only manager capable of achieving something.
ReplyDeleteLol....That'll keep me laughing until i end up in tears after the qpr game
ReplyDeletewho says were going to finish higher in the league,and yes a would rather win the carling cup and get to the fa cup final and finish 8th,than get to no cup finals and finish 7th every season
ReplyDeleteLet's make a deal. If we lose today, Rodgers goes, if we don't lose today, you go.
ReplyDeleteA draw at QPR would actualy be an improvement on last seasons result there.
ReplyDeleteWe were harder to beat, I never said we were hard to beat did I? And they did seem to work harder for him, I am guessing you support BR 100%? I used to but after a few interviews I could see he was just a salesman in managers clothing with an ego to match Ronaldo's, I do however wish him the best in the job and hope he brings success though I fear the worst and expect little
ReplyDeleteAnd that list doesn't include BR ...that Is the problem
ReplyDeleteeither way we will have played great...
ReplyDeleteHe's done nothing to me mate, no thanks but there have been rumours of some fans that have slipped into his back door at night. Rafa even left hints of where the keys were just to make the experience that much more
ReplyDeleteriveting.
Yawn...
ReplyDeleteEither way, it's irrational to ignore an entire continent. Especially the ACoN argument so many teams have benefited including Chelski I regard it has a poor argument!
ReplyDeleteYawn
ReplyDeletei was going to flag your post but then again i do not give a sh"t about your opinion,re your post downing henderson,and carrol have all outscored allen this season,
ReplyDeletevaliant in defeat lol
ReplyDeletesorry must have me confused with some one else when have i ever said anything about rafa being the only one
ReplyDeletelol
ReplyDeleteYes, there are always mitigating circumstances, but Dalglish had 18 months in charge; Rodgers has only been at LFC for 5 months. If BR is still in charge in another 13 months, the club will be in a much healthier position than when KD left.
ReplyDeletesee there you go again going on about last seasons results ,but only when it suits you you dont mention last seasons results after the stoke,wba and villa games you seem to only have a selective memeory
ReplyDeleteYou forgot to mention the coach driver!
ReplyDeletelol i hope your right because if your wrong we could be mid table in the championship at this rate
ReplyDeleteedited by a moderator but he can talk about my kids your having a laugh
ReplyDeleteShow some class and leave his children out of sporting disagreements!
ReplyDelete'Barca.... traditionally been African'
ReplyDeleteNot saying I disagree with your post in general but after Toure, it has always been Busquets, with the likes of Keita, Masch and Song covering his position or playing alongside him or playing elsewhere. Song has probably played as many games at centre back as he has in midfield for Barca (the same goes for Masch and if anything, has played more games at CB than DM at Barca). There is no 'tradition' for Barca's first choice holding midfielder to be African for the past few seasons. Apart from Toure, no African has been first choice in central midfield in the last 5 seasons for Barca. Even in his last season at Barca, Toure started less league games than Busquets and a few of those games in Yaya's last season, Yaya played at CB anyway (he played in the CL final at centre back I think).
But they certainly have had African players in recent seasons as back up for Busquets as well as in CM in general. Just not as first choice, since Yaya left. Its not the be all and end all to have a stereotypical African CM as first choice but its nice to have the option as they can add a different dynamic at times, as shown by Barca having them in their squad in recent seasons, even if not as key players.Since Busquets usurped Yaya, no one has come close to usurping Busquets from his position at Barca, let alone an African. No one. Tactically, in terms of defending, he is very clever with the way he slots in between and around the two centre backs. He doesn't need to go sliding in, he defends with positioning. His defensive awareness is what he has over any of the rivals he had for that position, as well as his calmness in possession. He is brilliant at what he does and a better holding player than Yaya (he is better off in a box-to-box role as seen at City or at least in a role to burst forward)
We should generally be casting our net wider. There is a dearth of British talent, especially for acceptable prices.
ReplyDeleteWILFRIED BONY is the perfect target man available for a decent price.Technically he'll fit our system.He beats up defenders, can link up play and scores goals.He would give our attack extra bite.
ReplyDeleteWe need to find different ways of breaking down stubborn defences.A striker who leads the line with the qualities of a DROGBA, would be a useful weapon to have in our arsenal.
I agree Busquets is the creme de la creme of holding midfielders, Barca definitely understand the role of an athletic African in the middle. Makalele was pioneer in this role. Back to LFC our most successful period regarding challenging for prem & taking 3 points from the top 4 teams, was when we had a blend of tenacity & flair found in Masch, Alonso & Sissoko. I believe Hendo could be a poor man's Masch, Gerrard even at his best could not touch Alonso in his range of passing but since he is less dynamic should play the "Alonso/quarter back". Shelvey & Allen can't do it! The Sissoko enforcer role break things up & play it simple is an ingredient we have not replaced.
ReplyDeleteBeast, exactly what I'm talking about. It would be great to get Bony in the summer as he wld be tied up with ACoN! Bottom line is that our scouts should be watching such players. I heard that Geordie scouts watched Tiote for almost 2 years before they bought him talk about doing your homework!
ReplyDeleteid take that trio overs rogers anyday ...in fact id take the 3 stooges over rogers
ReplyDeletea plan z that scored the winner against the blue noses
ReplyDeletecall merson all you want he was a pro footballer for arsenal and played for england........kind beats playing xbox in the box room
ReplyDeletemerson has merely pointed out what everyone in the land ( bar rogers ) can see....frightening if this guy can spot out problems what will an organized tactical manager do
ReplyDeleteYep you got me, Rodgers is to blame for everything negative that has ever happened, ever... (!)
ReplyDeleteAnd goals are all that matters. Enrique has outscored Reina.
ReplyDeleteno goals are not all that matters but would not mind getting a bet on who will score 1st allen or pepe probabley about even money
ReplyDeleteDon't know what you wrote, Jason, but I surely didn't want to insult you, and you know that for sure. I would worry about everybody's kids. It's in my system, I'm an emphatic person, that's why I worry about the environment, too. It wouldn't bother me if it was just about me.
ReplyDeletecheers m8 class is a thing that you get with wisdom lol
ReplyDeleteno worries
ReplyDeleteI didn't think that I insulted him at all to be honest. Jason and I, well, we have some history on here. I am convinced that he knows (by now) that I don't mean to insult people. Jason has told me that I am "full of it" and "beyond contempt" in the past. I don't have those kind of negative feelings towards him, his kids, any other person on here. The other day I've asked him how it could be that he gave a shit about the environment while having kids (as I simply don't understand it) which he answered with "lol". May I reiterate that I have nothing against Jason and wish not to insult him. Why would a reasonable person want to insult others on an internet forum?
ReplyDeleteThought it was pretty clear from Jason's comment that he was kind of joking when claiming he would bet his bottom dollar so I continued that joke, in what I thought was a friendly manner. Maybe my English isn't good enough to make jokes, though I tend to think it is.
Funny how Rodgers is in his 30ies and Rafa is in his 50ies and the latter is being considered the best manager every to grace this planet. It's unbelievable that a manager with his reputation and experience isn't considered by anybody but newly promoted Sampdoria in two years.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, one Bill Shankly had won zilch when he came to Liverpool. I am glad that back then they didn't have internet because some people may have told the world that he has won nothing and wasn't big enough for such a big name as ours.
I don't say that. I'll ask my question in a different way, as you didn't reply to it. Do you think that our league form in the second half of last season was good enough, especially given how much money was spent?
ReplyDeleteI deleted the part questioning the wisdom in betting your bottom dollar, even though I truly never meant to insult you.
ReplyDeleteDid you always write of players who didn't score within their first 20 or 30 games for us?
ReplyDeleteYeah, sorry, and the groundsman. We should fire the whole lot of them.
ReplyDeleteYou might be right there. I have a selective memory in this case, because last season's corresponding fixture was mentioned in an article I just read about today's match.
ReplyDeleteCan't find where I wrote that YOU said that Rafa is the only one. It may be down to my lack of grasp of the English language or my lack of wisdom (according to you) that I was unable to write a comment which made my point clear enough for you, and probably many others, to understand.
ReplyDeletei did not reply because the comments are not showing on whih subject people have posted on no i do not but like i have said before there were reasons behind that to some extent eg suarez ban ,lucas injury plus once we were out of champions league contention and already garenteed europa league through the carling cup kd rightley so imo consentrated on the fa cup,am sure this season we would have been a lot higher in the league but we will never know,re rodgers i just do not think he will ever be a success at anfield and the sooner he goes the better,also like i have said before i do not blame rodgers i blame fsg for giving such a high profile job to someone with so little experience
ReplyDeleteBruno Cherou scored the winner against Chelski, doesn't make him a world beater!
ReplyDeleteKD did not show that much faith in him either, cast your mins back to when Saurez was banned for 8 games!
no not if i saw potential but allen is vastley overated and if rodgers gets the sack it will be interesting to see were he figures under a new manager
ReplyDeleteI support LFC 100% and try to support all the club's staff as well (though it is difficult with some players). I don't particular like Rodger's interviews, but they are not worse then those of previous managers or managers at other clubs. From the top of my head I only know two managers who match C. Ronaldo's ego: Rafa BenÃtez and Jose Mourinho.
ReplyDeletePaul Merson was a good footballer in his heyday, he was part of the famous BMW partnership at Arsenal (Bergkamp, merson, Wright) but he was certainly not an England regular by any means!
ReplyDeleteI'm just sick of Biased ex- pro's giving their opinions on ourBeloved Liverpool!!!
Alan Hansen is someone who makes "sense", Merson sadly IMO does not!!
I agree totally, all we need is some luck and a few astute buys in January/summer and we WILL be back!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jamie seriously for being open to change! Great forum buddy - keep it up!!
ReplyDeleteI also think that for what Allen provides, that amount of money could have been spent better elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteYour english is perfect (so your patronising last sentence wasn't necessary) sometimes it's difficult to judge someones intentions over the internet.I've made jokes on this forum before and people have reacted badly.It's easily done.
ReplyDeleteyes 15 million for a player who was not really needed still who would make brendans hot chocolate
ReplyDeleteHow do you modify what you type?
ReplyDeleteBR is more then a match in the ego stakes with them 2, shame the same cant be said of his management ability
ReplyDeleteClick on "Edit". Change/delete what you want, click on "Save Edit".
ReplyDeleteDon't agree with you. As a football manager you probably have kind of a big ego nowadays with all the media circus going on all of the time. Jose Mourinho, as much as I don't like him, is in a class of his own when it comes to management ability.
ReplyDeleteFair enough, Jason. My point is that the Liverpool job might just be not as high profile as it once was. And I actually think that Rodgers might bring success back to Anfield, but it will take time (as it would for any manager given how much some other clubs spend).
ReplyDeleteDidn't mean to be patronising. I, too, might get a bit upset at times. And I actually don't have much believe in my English, especially my grammar. It's a never ending learning process.
ReplyDeleteRight, difficult to argue against that. I see potential and would give him more time to settle in. Talking about vastly overrated players, some website recently named Lucas as exactly that. Possibly we overrate quite a few of our players.
ReplyDeleteJAIMIE, how do I change what I type? ANTEATER said click on edit but I don't see it.
ReplyDeletemerson spot on in all aspects
ReplyDeleteI might add though, I only want FSG to consider Rafa if he wins the league. Winning the league for Rafa would give him vast amounts of confidence and respect in the league. Ultimately, it would draw the big name players that Rafa demanded more of at Liverpool with FSG's funds. Even if Rafa wins the league with chelsea, I can still see him being sacked at one stage or another next year, if he stays.
ReplyDeleteI understood exactly what you are saying
ReplyDeleteGlad you did! Sometimes I wonder if my comments appear in Chinese on people's screens :-)
ReplyDeleteI'd always worry about our club if Rafa returned. He surely has the ability to stir up people and start a mutiny. We need some stability now, not Rafa's infighting at all levels. If Rafa won the league with Chelsea, his ego would go through the roof. Should we make him our manager in such situation, he would demand this and that, and everything else without considering the means we have to run our club within. Rafa and a club with shed-loads of money sounds just right for me, Rafa at a club that's run self-sufficient isn't. And I would prefer a manager who knows that a white liquid in a bottle can be milk or something else (like white paint). People go on about how poor Brendan's pressers are, but Rafa made us quite a laughing stock with his believe that he was funny.
ReplyDeleteThe word "Edit" should appear left of the "Reply" button at the bottom right of your messages. It substitutes the "Like" button that appears on comments written by other people.
ReplyDeleteI don't have the word edit.It says like and reply on the bottom right on the comments i make.When i give my views i sign in as a guest is that the problem?
ReplyDeleteYes, signing in as a guest seems to be the problem.
ReplyDeleteBEAST - I advise you to sign up for a Disqus account. You'll be able to edit comments if you do that. http://www.disqus.com/profile.
ReplyDelete