Probaby a combination of both, to be honest. Gerrard in a deep-lying role is a total waste, for example.
It's easy to make these points about any player with a sustained absence from the team though. Take Suarez for example. There are 11 games this season he has played no part in and from those we have won 7 drew 2 and lost 2 scoring 22 in the process. Our biggest problem in the Prem this season has been a failure to score. We have only scored more than 2 goals on 4 occasions in the league 3 of which were without Suarez. I don't think either Gerrard or Suarez is the problem but more of a lack of equality in the squad. On the pitch invariably the other 9 players expect one of these 2 to win the match and let too much of the play go through them and off the pitch both players get selected no matter the form of the other players. Yesterday we won our first game in a month, away from home and a man down yet most will be dropped for players who are currently poor. I hope next season we will have a meritocracy.
As much as Gerrard used to be a problem for Benitez's teams, he's not a problem for Dalglish. Sure, Gerrard is never going to be the intelligent piano player at the heart of this team, but he can still be a driving force. Lucas's presence is essential to add balance between brains and brawn, because Spearing (although willing to fight) is not yet a highly cerebral player. The issue was playing Adam for way to long and then the back line falling victim to injuries. The way I see it... * Gerrard/Adam should not play together often. * Lucas needs to come back 100%. * Agger and Johnson need to stay healthy for a full season. * We need to buy another creative wide player and a clinical striker.
Wouldn't that be nice....! We fell apart with all these injuries.....except maybe Adam's. Lucas, Gerrard and Agger's problems really hurt us along with a couple of, perhaps in hindsight, unfortunate purchaces.
I think Wilson's point goes beyond results and goals - it's that when Gerrard enters the lineup, the performance of other players dip in measurable ways., I'm not sure that Suarez's presence is as disruptive as Gerrard's.
Kenny is doing everything possible to keep from Comolli being run over by the Number 26* bus. or number 19...or number 14...or number 9
Does anyone find it annoying/strange that English press is making such a big deal out of Henry being in Boston instead of at Wembley? Is anyone here actually upset that he wasn't at Wembley? I wasn't upset that he wasn't there and I wasn't surprised he was in Boston. I don't care what their attendance record is, I just want the owners to show they care. That doesn't mean they have to dress up like cheerleaders and shake pom-poms at every big game. I'd rather they demonstrate their ambition by doing what they did last week: making difficult personnel decisions that will keep the club moving forward instead of going stagnant. Just my thoughts but I was wondering if anyone else caught these articles or if they were as annoyed...
I agree completely, but then I am not a cynical journalist hoping to stir up the xenophobic Little Englanders.
Some of the English press are trying to stir up trouble. Fenway Park had it's 100th anniversary. Of course Henry and Werner are going to attend. It's a one off occasion. It meant they could not make the FA Cup Semi-Final. Big deal, clashes occur. They will be at the FA Cup Final. Spurs owner not at Wembley this weekend. Not even mentioned. Was Abramovich there? Does it matter? How many times has Man City owner been to Eastlands for a match? Once or twice maybe. The Press are just pretending the owners' absence indicates a lack of interest or support for Dalglish. It's clear b@llocks but the Press have their agenda.
As with last time when he claimed Everton was the top side in Liverpool, seventeen days before Istanbul.
@miaianabbie: On sale now at Boots... Limited edition 'Everton' viagra pills ... For those moments when all you can manage is a semi. #lfc
Seriously. And how many cup semifinals have the Venky's people attended? Honestly, I don't think this would've been a story in the old days when the semifinals were held in places like Villa Park and Old Trafford. But with the Wembley mystique and all (despite the fact that it's a completely different stadium from the one with the towers), the FA and the press decided to elevate the event into OMG A DAY OUT AT WEMBLEY THIS IS A FUGGIN BIG DEAL.
Very interesting article on the effect of the departure of Comolli from Liverpool: http://www.footandball.net/what-does-damien-comollis-departure-mean-for-liverpool/ What are your thoughts on it?
My initial thoughts are that you have simply regurgitated last weeks events without adding anything new. If Kenny is taking all the blame/credit for the players signed then maybe Comolli was sacked not for the poor performance of the players but not doing anything positive in his 18 months. The reason why Kenny still has a job is not down to sentimentality but because there have been positives since he took over. We were 13th when he took over and finished 6th. And while this seasons league form has been poor two cup finals are another positive. Anyone know what positives Comolli is responsible for?
An omitted reason, and a more likely one, is that Comolli was sacked simply for not getting value for money. Dalglish may have wanted Carroll but was he worth £35 million? Downing, but was he worth £18 million? And so on ...
It was Comolli and his team who were negotiating prices. So if we overpaid, then it is down to him. Oh and Suarez has thanked Dalglish for always supporting him during this season. He says he is very happy at LFC and wants to stay and even extend his contract. I know we have been burned by Torres, and so must be aware that a player can change his mind, but at least we know that currently Suarez is content to remain with the club. He has 4 years left on his contract. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/apr/15/luis-suarez-liverpool-everton-new-contract
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...sets-Reds-fans-with-design-article892647.html How exciting I want a pair!!!