Liverpool's injury curse is set to continue this weekend, with three key players set to miss out on the trip to West Brom.
In his pre-match press conference on Thursday, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers confirmed the following:
* Sakho [cost: £18m] and Lucas [£12m-rated] are definitely out of the game.
* Perpetual sick-note Daniel Sturridge [£29m-rated] is also missing *again* through injury. When asked about Sturridge, Rodgers told reporters: "We're unsure at this moment [how long Sturridge will be out], but he's certainly not available for the weekend [and] none of the others will be fit"
* Adam Lallana is on the comeback trail (again): "Lallana has come back into training in the last few days. We'll see how he is for the weekend"
* Jon Flanagan is back in training, but unlikely to make the team this week: "Flanagan is now training with the team. Obviously he's a way off fitness, but we just need to monitor his rehabilitation and we'll see how he is for the coming games."
I'm a huge fan of Sturridge, and when fully-fit, he's arguably Liverpool's most important player, but his fitness issues are now entering the realms of parody. No wonder Chelsea let him leave for a comparatively small fee; the Blues' medical team probably saw the writing on the wall, and in hindsight, I'm sure the London club sees the sale as good business.
In a recent interview, Sturridge hinted that he's close to leaving his injury problems behind. He told the Liverpool Echo:
“After being out for a long period of time this season has been very stop-start. Next season is when you’ll see what I can really do again. My performances will be back to exactly where they were before"
The optimism is admirable, but what are the chances that things are suddenly going to change over the next three months? The fact is, Sturridge is simply incapable of staying injury-free for a sustained period of time. Since arriving in January 2013, he's suffered TEN separate injuries (including the latest issue):
* MAR 2015: Hip
* NOV 2014: Hamstring
* SEP 2014: Thigh
* AUG 2014: Hamstring
* APR 2014: Hamstring
* NOV 2013: Ankle Ligaments
* SEP 2013: Hip/Thigh Injury
* MAY 2013: Ankle Ligaments
* FEB 2013: Hamstring
* FEB 2013: Hip/Thigh Injury
Four injuries this season alone (!)
As good as he is, Liverpool need to go into next season with Sturridge as a third/fourth choice striker. It's not a matter of talent, it's a question of reliability, and starting next season with Sturridge as the go-to-goalscorer is a recipe for disaster.
Author: Jaimie K
In his pre-match press conference on Thursday, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers confirmed the following:
* Sakho [cost: £18m] and Lucas [£12m-rated] are definitely out of the game.
* Perpetual sick-note Daniel Sturridge [£29m-rated] is also missing *again* through injury. When asked about Sturridge, Rodgers told reporters: "We're unsure at this moment [how long Sturridge will be out], but he's certainly not available for the weekend [and] none of the others will be fit"
* Adam Lallana is on the comeback trail (again): "Lallana has come back into training in the last few days. We'll see how he is for the weekend"
* Jon Flanagan is back in training, but unlikely to make the team this week: "Flanagan is now training with the team. Obviously he's a way off fitness, but we just need to monitor his rehabilitation and we'll see how he is for the coming games."
I'm a huge fan of Sturridge, and when fully-fit, he's arguably Liverpool's most important player, but his fitness issues are now entering the realms of parody. No wonder Chelsea let him leave for a comparatively small fee; the Blues' medical team probably saw the writing on the wall, and in hindsight, I'm sure the London club sees the sale as good business.
In a recent interview, Sturridge hinted that he's close to leaving his injury problems behind. He told the Liverpool Echo:
“After being out for a long period of time this season has been very stop-start. Next season is when you’ll see what I can really do again. My performances will be back to exactly where they were before"
The optimism is admirable, but what are the chances that things are suddenly going to change over the next three months? The fact is, Sturridge is simply incapable of staying injury-free for a sustained period of time. Since arriving in January 2013, he's suffered TEN separate injuries (including the latest issue):
* MAR 2015: Hip
* NOV 2014: Hamstring
* SEP 2014: Thigh
* AUG 2014: Hamstring
* APR 2014: Hamstring
* NOV 2013: Ankle Ligaments
* SEP 2013: Hip/Thigh Injury
* MAY 2013: Ankle Ligaments
* FEB 2013: Hamstring
* FEB 2013: Hip/Thigh Injury
Four injuries this season alone (!)
As good as he is, Liverpool need to go into next season with Sturridge as a third/fourth choice striker. It's not a matter of talent, it's a question of reliability, and starting next season with Sturridge as the go-to-goalscorer is a recipe for disaster.
Author: Jaimie K
Absolutely true!!!!! Quite frankly i'm sick of this Sturridge injury business, I know that he cant help it but still, as a club we need more!!!!!
ReplyDeletewell the best ability is availability.
ReplyDeleteFor havens sake buy a good striker and put him on the bench for an impact change, personally I think that he is not that good without L.Saurez or another to feed him. Go for Rudy G of Blackburn he is going to be a big player in the future.
ReplyDeleteAnd I want to see Rodgers signing another striker that will be as prolific as Sturridge?
ReplyDelete“We addressed that last summer but, indirectly, we missed out on the starting XI because we’ve lost our two top strikers.
“So this year we’ve enough potential and players we can develop and improve, but I think it is definitely starters we need and we have to be really forceful to get it.”
Rodgers comments just get more ridiculous every time. We had almost £120m to spend last season and now he still has verbal diarrhea about losing Suarez but failed to find someone to fill his void and that we now need starters?
I want to see which starters will be lining up to sign for Rodgers...
I see him as a bruschetta type----- he just can't help himself, doesn't he have advisers to tell him to stop talking
ReplyDeleteWould you like some burger with that cheese Sir?
ReplyDeleteWith the lot please =D
ReplyDeleteRudy G? No way in hell.
ReplyDeletesorry but he causes more trouble to defenders than sturridge
ReplyDeleteAnd he scores more and has more assists
ReplyDeleteSo does a strong breeze
ReplyDeleteHave you ever watched or played football ?? if you have you would see just how well he plays, check out his stats.
ReplyDeleteLook Liverpool need to revamp their striking options next season every Tom, Dick and Harry know that. Lambert, borini and Bateli should be gone. With origi and another striker at least coming in.
ReplyDeleteFor me personally I believe in a squad team not number one two or three strikers with many games in a season.
The manager plans checks out who fit and then whos on form and who needs a rest. Not very hard to do with a bit of tinkering.
You're thinking of Dwight Gale.
ReplyDeleteSo team vs WBA tomorrow? From the players that are available I would go
ReplyDeleteMignolet
Manquillo Lovren Toure Moreno
Henderson Can Rossiter
Coutinho Sterling Ibe
Rossiter deserves a chance to prove himself and there is no reason why he cannot be given a run in the team now.
Going to be a tough fixture especially away to a Tony Pulis side.
The new site looks SO much better on mobile now. Nice job.
ReplyDeleteHe is unlikely to suddenly start Manquillo and I wonder now whether that is for financial reasons to do with appearances
ReplyDeleteLambert always seems to be available...........
ReplyDeleteYes lets stop al this fannying about for havens sake ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhen who plays? Rudy G or Daniel S
ReplyDeleteWhat's wrong with skrtel? BBecause I would rather play 10 v11 ..as for opposition striker, u don't need to stress yourself when one on one Vs toure
ReplyDeleteBrendan Rodgers "There's no one better than me " well, I don't blame him... He will say that again when the season comes to an end
ReplyDeleteJust caught up with BR's press conference from yesterday. He claims to be the best man to lead LFC and there is no one better than him to lead the club.
ReplyDeleteWhat utter tosh and arrogance. This dellusional behaviour is going to set a poor example. He needs to learn some humility from some of our past illustrious managers, eg Paisley.
Shame on you BR....
Yep I concur. Using mobile now... :-)
ReplyDeleteCan't we pick any more youngsters?
ReplyDeleteGaffer tap across mouth may work for a while..
ReplyDeleteActually I DON'T want BR to sign another striker since he should be sacked and never be trusted with our transfer kitty ever again.
ReplyDeleteBR gambled on Sturridge scoring 20+ goals this season in the absence of L Suarez and got burnt big time!!
ReplyDeleteHe got burnt NOT because Sturridge didn't score 20+ goals, but because
ReplyDeletea) he didn't account for who was going to supply the service to Sturridge
b) have a decent backup striker
Bad in a back four, drops too deep. Not that the other towbar better though.
ReplyDeleteLawro's predictions-West Brom will beat us 1-0
ReplyDeleteBasically his injuries are outweighing the value to the team and the squad. We need to replace him. Simple as that.
ReplyDeleteBut I would still prefer an app.
ReplyDeleteHe's not the first player to miss the best part of a season or two of his career through injury. Not really a big deal. I certainly don't think Chelsea have any magical powers of foresight, otherwise none of their players would ever miss long periods through persistent injuries. But they do. It's just a shame. Especially for Daniel.
ReplyDeletea) is patent rubbish. Coutinho. Marcovic. Sterling. Hendo were all supposed to provide chances through pace and running power esp on the break.
ReplyDeleteb) is spot on. He gambled on Ballo being that 2nd striker
He got burned by Sturridge missing most of the season and scoring 1/4 of the goals he did before and by Balo being a waste of space
RVP was just the same, but had a magical 2 seasons for Arsenal then UTD
ReplyDeleteNever mind a decent backup striker
ReplyDeleteAspas, Lambert, Borini, Balotelli...
You should have written
b) had a £120m kitty and failed to find a player to fill in for Suarez. Rodgers will never in his life see such a big transfer kitty again.
That has to be the biggest blunder this season!
Jurgen Klopp - everything has an end only the sausage has two
ReplyDeleteWhen you say he is going to be big in the future, how long would you give him? He's goodish in a goodish championship team, if he's not a decent/ good pl player by 26 when will he be. He's not as sensational as our defence made him look.
ReplyDeleteSomething tells me if Chelsea knew he was going to put up 20+ goals last season, they would not have sold him for such a relatively small fee.
ReplyDeleteChoose Your Own Adventure stories...?
ReplyDeleteWhat's incredibly bizarre about the whole situation is that when Sturridge and Balotelli were both healthy/not sick, he still didn't play them together enough.
ReplyDeleteSo he brings in Balotelli to play as the second striker with Sturridge.
Looks great against Spurs when playing with Sturridge. Sturridge gets hurt, and when he comes back, they don't play much together.
Isn't Rossiter still hurt because of his ankle/leg?
ReplyDeleteTop Gear
ReplyDeleteYes... but not before the 90th minute apparently
ReplyDeleteThat frustrates me to no end. Why, when we're losing, does Rodgers waste time making a substitute in the 90th minute? I will never understand that.
ReplyDeleteSame shit, different day, different flies.
ReplyDeleteThis year clearly ended against Manc U and every waking moment should be focused on:
1. giving exposure to our kids (not Markovic)
2. Developing a transfer plan for proven players WHO CAN SCORE
3. At least 1 central defender so we can free up Can to midfield
4. another goalie to challenge or supplant Migs depending on competitive performance.
Voila!
Not only that... but he's done it all year with inserting Lambert too late into games.
ReplyDeleteRicky's the type of player who needs time to get going in games. He's not a Craig Bellamy "shot out of a cannon" type.
Too many times, Rodgers has waited until the 75th minute to put Ricky in when we're losing, when he should be in at least 10-15 minutes earlier.
And even worse, he has barely played him at all over the past 3 months. How is Ricky supposed to get any momentum when he doesn't play.
And more importantly, I miss Craig Bellamy.
Agreed. Always enjoyed his little digs at the opposition.
ReplyDeleteAnd me. I usually talk out of my arse but occasionally out of the more appropriate end too...
ReplyDeleteespecially if he used a golf club
ReplyDeleteI wish he'd said --- everything has an end but my Johnson has two
ReplyDeleteHallelujah ;-)
ReplyDeleteRegarding your response to a) above 100% agree with you that the premise was that Coutinho, Marcovic, Sterling, Hendo were all supposed to provide chances - but they didn't.
ReplyDeleteAll this years stats (goals scored, assists, chances created, etc..) are greater than 50% down on last year.
And I believe more than Suarez's goals, we missed his team link up play that either directly or indirectly led to chance creation for other team members.
ie another hole BR did not fill in the summer.
I think you're spot on with everything here.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, point 2 is somewhat unrealistic due to our wage structure. The proven players who can score are out there for the right price, but FSG won't approve the base salary wages.
Spot on! They sold him because he wanted to play up front whilst Abramovic's play thing, Nando Torres was there. I don't think his injury record was ever as bad for Chelsea otherwise if it was he could never then complain about not getting a chance to play as striker.
ReplyDeleteHe needs an individual training plan. Cryotherapy etc etc.
Personally, I've calm down since the Villa game. I reckon give him next season, if our start to next season is the same as the first half to this season. He should get the chop. 3-4 years is long enough to stamp your mark on a team. By the way we need all our top players including Sterling.
ReplyDeleteI think the type of player that legitimately could have been a direct replacement ie world class forward, was a) difficult to find in the first place, and b) likely to have been sought after by clubs with a higher profile than us currently with a long recent CL pedigree and the one we did try for chose Arsenal.
ReplyDeleteIt's all very well throwing names about, but the harsh truth is that few could have replaced Suarez.
What BR tried was the right way, but there is a big question mark above some of his choices, and he has to answer for that.
£7m Aspas and £10m Borini were signed 2 years ago when we we down in 7th and 30 points off the top.
ReplyDeleteLambert was only £4m ffs
I am still finding it a little crackly on my wireless though.
ReplyDeleteReally I still haven't calmed from last season when he played into mou's hand by going gun ho and allowing pulis to tear us a new hole (twice ) in a calendar year. I don't think suarez was crying because we lost the league. I think he was moved by the sheer incompetence of Rodgers. After five years of "stability " it's time to move on up and stay there. We got the biggest chunk of the tv money last year and we didn't even win the league. That will never happen if we don't get stars In. Even juventus have started signing wc players and they could only dream about the money we rake in as a club. That'll soon change if we don't improve our league standing soon. I'm afraid that's not going to happen under the current regime of ayre and rodgers.
ReplyDeleteAnd Balotelli was only 16m too.
ReplyDeleteWe're not out there throwing 35m on a striker.
I know we didn't win the title in the end, but the £12m for Sturridge is pretty much covered for that atleast... What have Utd paid to borrow Falcoa? I'd say we did alright...Just why he's so brittle is anyone's guess.. especially the LFC doc's....
ReplyDeleteI am starting to think that Sakho maybe made of similar stuff, he has been out injured quite abit aswell... Lucas... What is even left to say about Lucas's problems....
In the summer, I am going to be going crazy if LFC decide to sign anymore injury prone players... Then I think to myself, Sakho didn't get injured like this at PSG, and niether did Lallana at Southampton for that matter... I'm wondering whether we need to sign some new training staff along with a better medical team...
The rest of this season though, I think it's more about not losing more ground on the top 4, than trying to break into... I have a horrible feeling that trying too hard to overcome the points, we may leave ourselves open to more injuries we could most definately not afford.
Sounds like a sandwich filler...
ReplyDeleteGlen?
ReplyDeleteCheck out The Big Lebowski for the definitive meaning of a Johnson : ))
ReplyDeleteDude, 'Johnson' is not the preferred nomenclature ;-)
ReplyDeleteBack in the day a Johnson was seen as an honourable person to do business with, someone you could rely upon----- sorry Glen its Lebowski version for you
ReplyDelete