Three months into the season, and the jury is still very much out on £26m summer signing Adam Lallana. After his excellent performances last season for Southampton, Lallana and Liverpool seemed like a match made in heaven, but it hasn't yet turned out that way, and based on his recent comments, it sounds like the midfielder is struggling with the mental requirements of playing for a massive club like LFC.
Speaking to Sky Sports this week, Lallana revealed his principal reason for joining Liverpool. He told reporters:
“The big reason why I jumped at the opportunity to join Liverpool was because I knew they were in the Champions League. Playing at places like the Bernabeu. It’s incredible to be on the same pitch as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema".
That's all well and good, but to thrive in such games, players need mental strength, and it sounds to me like Lallana is not yet mentally prepared for the challenge of playing for LFC. Here is a selection of his recent quotes:
* “Just being at Liverpool, the expectation is there at a bigger club, so you are expected to play better more consistently".
* "It is a big difference coming from Southampton. It is something I’m learning to deal with"
* "I always knew it was going to be difficult settling in, especially with the injury. Playing for a new club the size of Liverpool and having Champions League football - you need to be tough mentally".
* "I was so desperate to do well, maybe trying a bit too hard to impress, not doing things that I'd normally do, thinking about things maybe a bit too much".
* "You can't always expect to be at your best straight away".
Reading between the lines, these comments are (IMO) worrying. The likes of Luis Suarez, Fernando Torres, and Xabi Alonso never said things like this; they just went on the field and did the business, with 100% belief in their own ability. Maybe it's just me, but Lallana's hand-wringing comments sound very similar to the kind of things Stewart Downing used to say, and it took him forever to start making a contribution.
So far, Lallana has one goal/no assists in twelve appearances, and even taking into account his recent injury, that is a pitiful return for an attacking player entering the prime of his career. He should've weighed in with at least a couple of assists by now, and the fact that he hasn't is (IMO) a major cause for concern.
Lallana claims that you 'can't always be at your best straight away', but that is precisely what happens with many mentally tough, top-class players: they immediately hit the ground running immediately. Again, Suarez is a perfect example of this, as is Daniel Sturridge, two players who clearly thrive on the pressure of delivering the goods.
All new players need time to 'settle in', but it shouldn't be used as a crutch to excuse under-performances. Lallana is not a teenager; he's 26, with experience of the Premier League, and LFC fans have the right to expect a lot more than he's delivering.
In his first season, Downing failed to provide a single assist all year. Let's hope history is not repeating itself...
Author: Jaimie K
Speaking to Sky Sports this week, Lallana revealed his principal reason for joining Liverpool. He told reporters:
“The big reason why I jumped at the opportunity to join Liverpool was because I knew they were in the Champions League. Playing at places like the Bernabeu. It’s incredible to be on the same pitch as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema".
That's all well and good, but to thrive in such games, players need mental strength, and it sounds to me like Lallana is not yet mentally prepared for the challenge of playing for LFC. Here is a selection of his recent quotes:
* “Just being at Liverpool, the expectation is there at a bigger club, so you are expected to play better more consistently".
* "It is a big difference coming from Southampton. It is something I’m learning to deal with"
* "I always knew it was going to be difficult settling in, especially with the injury. Playing for a new club the size of Liverpool and having Champions League football - you need to be tough mentally".
* "I was so desperate to do well, maybe trying a bit too hard to impress, not doing things that I'd normally do, thinking about things maybe a bit too much".
* "You can't always expect to be at your best straight away".
Reading between the lines, these comments are (IMO) worrying. The likes of Luis Suarez, Fernando Torres, and Xabi Alonso never said things like this; they just went on the field and did the business, with 100% belief in their own ability. Maybe it's just me, but Lallana's hand-wringing comments sound very similar to the kind of things Stewart Downing used to say, and it took him forever to start making a contribution.
So far, Lallana has one goal/no assists in twelve appearances, and even taking into account his recent injury, that is a pitiful return for an attacking player entering the prime of his career. He should've weighed in with at least a couple of assists by now, and the fact that he hasn't is (IMO) a major cause for concern.
Lallana claims that you 'can't always be at your best straight away', but that is precisely what happens with many mentally tough, top-class players: they immediately hit the ground running immediately. Again, Suarez is a perfect example of this, as is Daniel Sturridge, two players who clearly thrive on the pressure of delivering the goods.
All new players need time to 'settle in', but it shouldn't be used as a crutch to excuse under-performances. Lallana is not a teenager; he's 26, with experience of the Premier League, and LFC fans have the right to expect a lot more than he's delivering.
In his first season, Downing failed to provide a single assist all year. Let's hope history is not repeating itself...
Author: Jaimie K
