When it rains, it pours. Daniel Sturridge's latest injury is a massive blow for Liverpool FC, but what makes it worse is the timing. The upcoming Christmas period is vital to LFC's chances of consolidating a place in the top four, and Sturridge's absence could be damaging to the club. Equally, however, it could be a blessing in disguise.
Obviously, all LFC fans would prefer to have Sturridge fit and firing on all cylinders, but that's not possible, and there's no point being miserable about it. So, let's look on the (theoretical) bright side!
LFC and Suarez
LFC will have no choice but to fight tooth and nail to keep Suarez at Anfield during the January transfer window. If Sturridge was fit, then there's arguably a slim chance the club would let him go for the right offer. The injury means LFC can't do without Suarez, and there's no way FSG will sell now, and leave the club disastrously short up front. At this stage, it's pretty much a guarantee that Suarez will stay till the summer.
Suarez's conscience
If the summer is anything to go by, then it's probable that Suarez has been plotting a January exit from Anfield. With Sturridge out, however, the Uruguayan will be acutely aware of how much he's needed by LFC right now. I can't see him jumping ship when the club is in dire straits up-front; that would be the height of selfishness, and I believe Suarez cares too much about LFC to leave the club in such a precarious position.
The rise of Aspas?
LFC are most effective this season playing two up-front, and with Sturridge out of the picture, it's a perfect opportunity for Rodgers to play Iago Aspas as a central striker alongside Suarez. This is a no-brainer. Aspas played that role well for Celta Vigo last season, and he's struggled for the Reds in a deeper role this season. Aspas my turn out to be a revelation playing the same role as Sturridge, which will then vindicate the manager's decision to buy him. Of course, it's also possible the Spaniard could crash and burn, but we'll never know until he's given the opportunity.
Squad players to the fore
The games come thick and fast over the next month, and with an extra place to fill up-front, fringe players such as Luis Alberto and Jordon Ibe should (theoretically) have a greater chance of getting significant game time.
Best case scenario: Aspas plays upfront and bangs in a few goals over Christmas. Alberto, Moses and even, perhaps, Joe Allen, rise to the challenge, and make a major impact for the Reds (hopefully, in the form of goals/assists). LFC cement a place in the top 3.
Worst case scenario: Rodgers doesn't play Aspas up-front and/or doesn't play him at all (or continues to play him out of position). LFC struggle to score goals. Moses et al continue their barren creative run. LFC drop out of the top four.
Whatever happens, I sincerely hope that Sturridge is given enough recovery time to heal properly. Rushing him back should not be an option. LFC tried that after his summer injury, and it didn't really work. Everyone wants Sturridge back as quickly as possible, but what's the point if he gets injured again two weeks into his comeback?
If full recovery takes three months, then let it take three months.
Author: Jaimie K
Obviously, all LFC fans would prefer to have Sturridge fit and firing on all cylinders, but that's not possible, and there's no point being miserable about it. So, let's look on the (theoretical) bright side!
LFC and Suarez
LFC will have no choice but to fight tooth and nail to keep Suarez at Anfield during the January transfer window. If Sturridge was fit, then there's arguably a slim chance the club would let him go for the right offer. The injury means LFC can't do without Suarez, and there's no way FSG will sell now, and leave the club disastrously short up front. At this stage, it's pretty much a guarantee that Suarez will stay till the summer.
Suarez's conscience
If the summer is anything to go by, then it's probable that Suarez has been plotting a January exit from Anfield. With Sturridge out, however, the Uruguayan will be acutely aware of how much he's needed by LFC right now. I can't see him jumping ship when the club is in dire straits up-front; that would be the height of selfishness, and I believe Suarez cares too much about LFC to leave the club in such a precarious position.
The rise of Aspas?
LFC are most effective this season playing two up-front, and with Sturridge out of the picture, it's a perfect opportunity for Rodgers to play Iago Aspas as a central striker alongside Suarez. This is a no-brainer. Aspas played that role well for Celta Vigo last season, and he's struggled for the Reds in a deeper role this season. Aspas my turn out to be a revelation playing the same role as Sturridge, which will then vindicate the manager's decision to buy him. Of course, it's also possible the Spaniard could crash and burn, but we'll never know until he's given the opportunity.
Squad players to the fore
The games come thick and fast over the next month, and with an extra place to fill up-front, fringe players such as Luis Alberto and Jordon Ibe should (theoretically) have a greater chance of getting significant game time.
Best case scenario: Aspas plays upfront and bangs in a few goals over Christmas. Alberto, Moses and even, perhaps, Joe Allen, rise to the challenge, and make a major impact for the Reds (hopefully, in the form of goals/assists). LFC cement a place in the top 3.
Worst case scenario: Rodgers doesn't play Aspas up-front and/or doesn't play him at all (or continues to play him out of position). LFC struggle to score goals. Moses et al continue their barren creative run. LFC drop out of the top four.
Whatever happens, I sincerely hope that Sturridge is given enough recovery time to heal properly. Rushing him back should not be an option. LFC tried that after his summer injury, and it didn't really work. Everyone wants Sturridge back as quickly as possible, but what's the point if he gets injured again two weeks into his comeback?
If full recovery takes three months, then let it take three months.
Author: Jaimie K
It seems the most likely explanation was that you downvoted him and tried to cover your tracks with that comment.
ReplyDeleteToo bad, orme, you would have gotten away with it too, but I'm just too god damn smart.
All the people who are posting on here do. And I mean ALL. ;-p
ReplyDeleteLOL
ReplyDeleteCity by their standards set in recent seasons, haven't performed that well. Yes, they have scored a lot of goals but they have lost four games. Jovetic has been injured. Navas has been in and out of the side.Hardly a totally new attack and midfield. They still rely on contributions from Silva, Aguero Yaya and Nasri. City should be performing a lot better for a side that won the title 2 seasons ago with mostly the same players.
ReplyDeleteYes, there are examples of teams that have bought a truck load of players and hit the ground running but that doesn't make it unreasonable for a team that do bring in a truckload of players to take their time to gel, especially when their plan A from last season has gone.
City have only got 4 more points than Tottenham. Jovetic hasn't figured, so they've really just had to fit Negredo, Navas and Fernandinho in to the side.
ReplyDeleteSpurs have been meshing Chiriches, Paulinho, Eriksen, Soldado, Chadli and to a lesser extent Capoue and Lamela into the side.
Tottenham lost their best player from last season and have had to adapt whereas City are just stronger. Spurs whole system last season accommodated a player who isn't there anymore.
Tottenham aren't doing that badly. They should be doing better, but I think the general gulf in class between City's players and Tottenham's, in addition to the points above, helps to explain there poorer start.
Happy now pedant?
ReplyDeleteThis article was written by an imposter!
ReplyDeleteHansen is like most journalist-an expert who has never demonstrated any expertise at the sharp end. I would value his opinion if he had had the guts to try his hand at management. It's none too brave to sit on a sofa in a nice warm tv studio once or twice a week for a great deal of money and pick holes in those who have the GUTS to manage. Hansen is great a criticising others but has never managed at any senior level; and Souness make him look like the cowardly lion. Not a fan of Souness but he has earned respect for his efforts as a manager although not a great success whilst Hansen has earned contempt for his supercilious , superior air which fails to cover the large almost gold-like streak down his spine. What avlue do the gutless have?
ReplyDeleteOr maybe he just didn't want to manage! And he could get payed a great deal of money for his opinions on football instead. Perhaps he took his dream by the scruff of the neck and became a brilliant professional football player who had won all the trophies available. I would think that was quite sharp as sharp ends go.
ReplyDeleteJaimie has been possessed!
ReplyDeleteThey were lads??? Sh!t!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree about Sturridge. Let him fully recover. Think Rodgers is doing the same with Kelly who's career could take a massive turn should he pick up another bad injury.
ReplyDeleteThats some good Charlie work!
ReplyDeleteHave you been feeling a little weary?
ReplyDeleteEternal optamism of LFC. Loves it mind babes
ReplyDeleteActually, with everything was all said and done, Spurs's expenditure is £500k.
ReplyDeleteAnd I forgot, Alan Hansen is such an esteemed coach. Very easy to jump on the bandwagon and slate everyone. Especially the foreign managers.
Remember when Nigel Adkins was let go from Southampton and everyone slated Pochettino? Look at how Southampton ended last term and the quality of football they've been playing ever since. Adkins was never going to get Southampton playing anything close to that.
LFC can't do without Suarez? Suarez cares about LFC?
ReplyDeleteI think this piece was total satire... right? RIght? RIGHT?!?!?
ManUre were reported bidders. Supposedly for more than Madrid were going to ever offer.
ReplyDeleteManUre, £125M bid, which was rejected.
ReplyDeleteMy dear Watson...
ReplyDeletePressure is not good for players that are in process. Coutinho is on the threshold of being in and out of process and the pressure is the main factor for his less good of a form. He has to disconnect himself from ahead of itself media crap.
ReplyDeleteLook at Suarez, his true engine is that is so up to his own thing that he doesn't care about anything really, in a good way, for he cares as you can see by how he plays. See games of Zidane and notice the state of mind he projects. He was the king.
I am really beginning to worry, for footballers most times doesn't have real street experience, and the media became what she is.
Baldini and AvB always knew that Lamela was going to take longer to adapt. He reportedly had a similar adaptive period in Italy too. They expected a minimum of 6 months.
ReplyDelete£30M.
ReplyDeleteCoutinho doesn't come up stupid from how he talks, maybe there's a chance for him. Aspas and Cissokho on the other end. Not under these circumstances, can't see it for them.
ReplyDeleteSturridge is another example of a player in process. He actually fights with being unable to stop his dance that actually embarrasses him, and he talked about getting of twitter, just to put it other than his form. He should stop giving a fu** asap.
Or no one asked him. He could be like a long list of former players were great on the pitch but could never make that transition to management...Bryan Robson, Alan Shearer, and Tony Adams come to mind.
ReplyDeleteI liked what I have seen of Capoue except he appears to have a temper...which isn't good. I like Lamela too. My jury is still out on Erikson. He hasn't really set white hart lane on fire. I really think Soldado would work out here. Remember Suarez' first season. I think he hit the woodwork about 15 times and didn't look like he was going to work out either. Paulinho has been a bust.
ReplyDeleteI disagree. City have had some hiccups, but their new players are contributing, working very well. Sure they have a better squad, but they are far outperforming Tottenham's signings. TH performance, especially the new guys has been poor, arguably due to managment/tacticts.
ReplyDeleteI think their position in the table is a little flattering due to a couple victories from questionable penalties.
Liverpool a great club,with fantastic fans,and a proud history.Hanson played in a good team.But as a player was fastly over rated.Its a good job he was a scot.One would have had nightmares if he had been in the England team or any other national team for that matter.Admittidly his contibution to Liverpool was tremendous.But the facty remains if he had been with any other team of that era.His lack of talent.woudl have been a hell of a lot more noticable.
ReplyDeleteJovetic has done nothing. Navas hasn't done much. Negredo has done well. Fernandinho has done ok. Even if they have all done well, that doesn't change the fact that City have kept most of the same squad and still rely on the same key players as before, which are Aguero, Yaya and Silva. Those new players have had it easier than those new players at Spurs, as the team can rely on Aguero, Yaya and Silva. Those new players at Spurs do not have Bale to bail them out. Spurs do not have a equivalent of a Yaya, Aguero or Silva that they can rely on to make it easier for new players to settle in. So of course they are performing well. It is very odd to compare the situations at City and at Spurs together like you do as the situations are different, very different.
ReplyDeleteAnd the first poster,Damon, is actually JK...
ReplyDeleteCorrection:
ReplyDeleteThey were the shit, lad.
Like the article said Eriksen is a fantastic player, and Chiriches has proved to be our signing of the season so far, a player any top tier side woulden't mind having on their roster. Lamela will come good and prove to be a great buy. Writing off Paulinho shows the complete and utter stupidity of Hansen as well. He has no idea what he's talking about.
ReplyDeleteGenerally true, but you always have to bear in mind exceptions. Aaron Ramsey's roller-coaster career thus far proves there is only so much you can predict.
ReplyDeleteI don't know where the observation/experience/instinct is with most of these managers/scouts, as it's so frequently so obvious that the multi-million pound investments will not pay off, just by watching a couple of games on TV, nevermind by actually working with the player in person!
ReplyDeleteIt's not always possible to anticipate what a player will be capable of.
It typically is though.
The difference is that Suarez was doing everything except score at an elite rate, whereas Soldado is doing absolutely nothing at present.
ReplyDeleteIt should have been easy for most to anticipate that Suarez would eventually start scoring regularly, due to the number he chances he created every game. It's the same reason that I am convinced that Coutinho will start shooting up the goal & assist charts again soon also.
Actually Capoue has been very impressive in the games he played before getting injured. Now only an excellent Sandro will keep him out of the team. Chiriches looks a fantastic CB and Chadli looks like a £7 million player - solid and dependible if not exactly electric. Both Paulinho and Erikssen have had a decent start to their time in England with some excellent moments and along with Soldado and Lamela will only improve. Spurs will get stronger as time passes and we will all be wondering what the fuss was about. Spurs will be challenging for the CL and are my favourites for 4th.
ReplyDeleteIt's more likely that Suarez will start pushing for a move more fervently if we start slipping down the table and convincing him that there is zero chance of him achieving anything at all by seasons end.
ReplyDeleteI don't see losing one of our very best players as any sort of blessing, but hopefully Rodgers can negate the loss by encouraging/forcing some of the backups to step up in his absence. And bringing in a new quality forward or two in the winter window.
Maybe there is a solution, if we can play with 3 CBs again (we have for experienced centre backs, we have to use them, now that we have so many injuries), Hendo running the whole right side (he did it quite well before), Johnson take the left side (he did it very well before), Allen to give some extra energy to our midfield (at least he can do that) and Coutinho, play close to Suarez (this two little devils can make things happen):
ReplyDeleteGK Mignolet, RCB Skrtel, CB-SW Agger, LCB Sakho, RBW Henderson, LBW Johnson, RCM Gerrard, DM-CM Lucas, LCM Allen, AM Coutinho, ST Suarez. SUBS Jones, Toure, Flanagan, Alberto, Moses, Ibe, Aspas.
I hope that it can work that way, otherwise... "Ohhh please god help meeeee...!!!!" - BLACK SABBATH (Happy birthday Ozzy!!!). YNWA
I have to say, I'm surprised by Bale's current success at Madrid. He's doing brilliantly, but can he sustain across a whole season?
ReplyDeleteLiverpool definitely asked him. Several times, in fact. He didn't want the job. With very few exceptions, top class former players rarely make great managers. The management greats of the Prem were all comparative failures as footballers (i.e. Ferguson, Wenger, Mourinho etc)
ReplyDeleteEx-Man United players always make poor managers (!)
Haha. Good one.
ReplyDeleteMost of my posts get down-voted at some stage. And I'm sure you'll be shocked to know that I am the most down-voted poster on the site (!)
ReplyDeleteVery true. And like most, I get things wrong too. I was wrong about Peter Crouch (which my LFC-supporting friends never let me forget). I was also wrong about Sturridge. I wasn't a big fan of signing him, but he turned out okay!
ReplyDeleteYes, I remember you repeatedly imploring LFC to sign Capoue. He'd improve the squad, no doubt.
ReplyDeleteIs expenditure another term for net spend?
ReplyDeleteHave Man United or Spurs confirmed officially such a bid or is that musing of a tabloid journo?
ReplyDeleteReported by who? A tabloid journo whilst he was sitting on the loo?
ReplyDeleteAVB had a 100m to fill a 40M hole - he didn't do a great job - no excuses!
ReplyDeleteBut it also should be said that this is great! Long may the bad decisions continue!
ReplyDeleteSerially though, Suarez will step up his game (can he step it up any more?!?!?) As long as Rodgers plays the right tactics to feed him and a couple other players the ball everything will be alright.
ReplyDeleteLast game was an anomaly with both Sturridge and Coutinho, and Enrique out, plus bad games all around for most (Mignolet, Skrtel, Suarez though sub-par are exempt).
Aspas will do the business. Alberto, the little we've seen, he's very confident, might be young but does not suffer from the deer-caugh-in-headlights syndrome like sterling, or other youngsters.
All will be good 12 points min by January are possible.
He didn't get one of his 1st choice targets. He submits a list of positions he wants strengthened and preferred players to fill them. The dof then tries to do deals. No one said he has no input. Spurs have had their best start to a premier league season despite all of the upheaval so it has to be personal the criticism he is getting. Spurs will only get better as the players settle and integrate. Will 100% finish higher than Liverpool.
ReplyDeleteWhat are you on about? Spurs made a £3m profit in the transfer window. Trading of players is legit football business. Net spend is the most important figure as it is how much new money is invested by the club in the playing staff.
ReplyDeleteIf Bale hadn't been sold Spurs were unlikely to have spent very much as the avg net spend in the prem era is £10m a season.
Why he is class, he was the best player in the prem last season and we be one of the best in Spain.
ReplyDeleteIf they are getting regular games.
ReplyDeleteLamella's price was £24 with a possible extra £6m depending on his success. Henderson wasn't half the price. Anyone that knows a player can see Lamella will easily be twice the player.
ReplyDeleteSo you wouldn't take Paulinho?
ReplyDeleteEriksen has nearly 50 caps, over 110 league appearances and about 30 champions league appearances, 2 world cup appearances(at 17). He has won 3 titles, and a cup, and got Dutch young player of the year in 2011.
ReplyDeleteHe has undoubted quality and has already shown glimpses, he will be a success. What have the players you are comparing him to achieved?
Lennon has been injured for 96% of the season!!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see him tear Glen a new one when we meet.
He got Spurs' PL record points total last season, he has started this season on course to beat that. Sack? What an asinine poster you are, totally clueless sheep following the $hit the media feed you. He is doing a great job in the circumstances and his job is very secure.
ReplyDeleteThis is funny. Lucas is shot was ok before injury is nothing now. Capoue is better than him in every department, pace, power, strength, aerial ability, passing range. If I forgot a relevant attribute feel free to insert.
ReplyDeleteImprove the 1st team, which he would walk into.
ReplyDeleteYou seem to have the monopoly on asinine comments. City have spent over £500m in the last 4 years. They won the title the season before last and were 2nd last season. I could have them firing with that squad. Spurs have made their best points total start to a premier league season and are doing well despite having to acclimatise / assimilate 7 new players and losing their best attacking player. How on earth can you compare the 2?
ReplyDeleteThe net spend was -£3m. Spurs made a profit of £3m on transfers and reduced the wage bill despite signing 7 players.
ReplyDeleteCity's new players have scored more than Tottenham combined, nuff said.
ReplyDeleteGood start? Less than a goal a game, and 20% of your points come from shoddy penalties, not exactly greatness.
Repeat after One Hundred Million Pounds - you better be getting the best start ever!
He has started 5 PL games this season, 5 out of 13. He hasn't been anything to write home about thus far. Anyhoo, he may well get the better of full backs, in terms of getting past them but that doesn't mean his end product has always been top notch. Very good speed merchant but beyond that, never had much else to his game.
ReplyDeleteRodgers should just play players in their natural positions. Playing them in other positions is affecting their game. The Hull team selection was bad but why play Moses on the left and Sterling on the right. That made things even worse
ReplyDeleteSo what? How many more points do they have?
ReplyDeleteLiverpool get more than their fair share of pens, what is a shoddy penalty, one that is got from a dive? If that is the case Suarez must have won u scores. No one used the word great.
Only an idiot thinks that if you lose your best player and then have to integrate 7 new players you are going to fly out of the box. Doing better than we have done previously is remarkable.
When Kenny spent close to that what did you achieve?
Has missed lots of the season injured still isn't 100%.
ReplyDeleteStill miles better than any wide player you have.
Yes, I know we haven't got a good wide player and haven't done so in years but who cares, as it has got nothing to do with this context, it is irrelevant. You can deflect all you like but it doesn't change the fact that Lennon, even at 100%, has always had a average final product. His crossing has always been suspect (7/10 he will do that predictable pull back from the byline thing he does) and going inside, he is even worse. Luckily for him, speed merchants can fare reasonably well in PL. But in terms of being a top player, relying on speed and dribbling alone means he has never been a top player and never will be. He is just a better version of SWP. In regards to this season, considering how much experience he has in PL and that he has played a fair few games, one would expect him to do better than he has done but than again, he has always been inconsistent, even at 100% fitness.
ReplyDeleteUh oh, does this fit the narrative? http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2013/12/04/soldado-proof-he-is-a-slow-starter-and-will-get-hot-at-tottenham/?
ReplyDeletego away mug, by trying to incite people with your silly comments you're making yourself sound like a bigger loser than AVB after a 6 nil loss!
ReplyDeletePaulinho is the best acquisition in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteEver heard of Signing bonus, Agent fees?
ReplyDeleteHence, Kenny was sacked, so by comparing AVB situation with Kenny, you agree AVB must be sacked if the form continues? Personally, I think spurs will get better but the way they have been playing football is very unlike Spurs/AVB. Too dull.
ReplyDeleteLol 96 percent you reckon highly doubt it and Johnson is a far superior player to Lennon.
ReplyDeleteso the unqualified successes versus the total flops.
ReplyDeleteThere was only a 4 point gap last time i checked.
Hope the 'flops' dont get their act together.
Caulker and Dempsey were also sold...
ReplyDeleteBased on the headline I thought this article was about Brendan Rogers, he has spent £90m and is still complaining that his squad lacks quality!
ReplyDeleteHansen has made it abundantly clear that he has no interest in management yet spends his time as a 2 bit pundit telling managers how to manage.....yes Alan we are all listening..........not!
ReplyDeleteHis decisions were nearly as good as the season of carrol = 35m,downing 18m, pretty sure there were others. At least our are true internstis and can't expect half a team to gel straight away. And the season is marathon not a sprint and it's not like Liverpool are miles ahead and it's only a few points in it
ReplyDeleteGive it 6 months and the headline could conceivably be about Rodgers (!)
ReplyDeleteHansen is ONE OF MANY Ingrid's that cowered out of becoming managers and yet found the comfort of being MOTORMOUTHS appealing. Isn't this the same dude that said to SAF when Man U were struggling that ' YOU CAN'T WIN ANYTHING WITH KIDS?' and they went on to win the PREMIER LEAGUE that year?
ReplyDeleteAnother "journalist" allowed to spew unsubstantiated, uninformed bile through a major news platform. If you are going to attack someone you should at least get your facts correct.
ReplyDeleteAnd the net spend argument does stand up. Bale IS that good. Commercially he a gold mine. Glad y'all kept Suarez. He is a joy to watch.
It would have been better if I'd only posted it once...
ReplyDeleteThe second one will have to be for me. :(
So the new elite vs the mid-table club obsessed with the past - yet we've still won more in recent years than most of the Premier League, including Spurs...
ReplyDeleteHope the 'bitters' don't get their act together.