Liverpool in the Media (Linked Articles Only) VI

Does Didi Hamman have any sons? Clones?

 

I'd go so far as to say the MF is really our weakest link at this point. We lack not only steel and holding capability, but also creativity and quickness to support that great front line. Our forward players usually do it on their own especially against packed defenses. We need more than a Keita, we need a complete upgrade there imo.

 

hendo is a bit of square peg in a round hole. I think he does a lot for the team but he's never been and never will be a natural DM in the mould of Hamann. he has the game intelligence but not the quickness or natural defensive sense. if I recall correctly he was regarded as more of a box-to-box player for almost all of his career before being given the holding role.

interesting though that our "defensive problem area" is a moving target for us - it's the goalie(s) ... it's the CBs .... now it's the MF.

 

To me its all three, Sam, but in my little mind the MF is the lynchpin of the side - Gerrard, Alonso and Mascherano would make our current back line and keepers look like relative world beaters. We're one hell of a long way from that group...

 

Klopp on Moreno today ...

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...moreno-sevilla-champions-league-a8073746.html

Jürgen Klopp has reaffirmed his faith in Alberto Moreno after the Liverpool full-back suffered a night to forget during Tuesday's 3-3 Champions League draw with Sevilla.

 

the thing I find most puzzling about the Moreno thing is not that Moreno effed up big time - no great surprise there, other than the extent of the effing up - but the fact that Millie is our only option.

why is Robertson completely off the radar? in his debut game he was simply terrific, MOTM for me. he didn't replicate that in the next appearances, but now he's not even getting near the bench and recently klopp spoke about him like he was totally out of the picture. what the hell has the guy done - or not done - in the background to be dismissed so completely, so soon? anyone know what's been happening? I've seen zero background in the media.

 

the 2008-2009 season was one where LFC had Torres, Kuijt and Babel (and half of a Keane) and couldn't win anything. losing to Moskova West at Anfield in the QF of the CL was the most disappointing moment.

the only two players who weren't nicked up that season were Carra and Pepe.

 

A little write up about Sadio Mane. For some reason the writer said that Salif Diao was a forward while at Liverpool.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42101105

 

said Diao was a midfielder, Diouf was a forward.

i can see the confusion since the names are spelt similarly.

 

Not sure what the point is you're trying to make, but a second place league finish, four points off the top and a quarter-final UCL exit were considered disappointments at the time. Quite different from where we sit today.

And there was that 1- 4 encounter with the scum at their place, rather memorable.

 

My point was that LFC had one of the most potent lineups in the Prem with a midfield triumvirate that would rival any in football in any era, and yet trophies went unwon ( if that's a word ).

In the CL, in group play, only Bayern did better and only by GD.

In the knockouts, Liverpool crushed Real Madrid. Crushed.

"___________________...Rollin' in the deep...."

 

I agree with ryered in that its all three areas really that need an upgrade. I'm sure we could and should get better than Migs and Lovren . But when I looked at the mf of Coutinho, Hendo and Gini .......as tasty as it may look from an attacking viewpoint those three are lightweights defensively and I wouldn't fancy being a defender playing behind them. None are hard tacklers nor should be regarded as ball winner types.
I love Klopp and I do think he's a very good manager/coach who loves his ultra attacking style but I think he needs to get more balance between his attackers and defenders.

 

It was ultimately those 11 draws, most of them 0-0 at home that ultimately did for us. One of Benitez's biggest [tactical] weaknesses was the inability to change the style when faced with lower down the table teams. The skanks went at them and that proved the difference.

 

that's exactly the situation/challenge isn't it?

of the regular MF starters (Phil - Hendo - Gini - Can) Phil's lack of defensive attributes is (far) outweighed by his invention and passing so I'm not concerned with is protecting skills.

Of the other 3 .... yes they are not pure holding MFs, but as attacking midfielders they simply don't contribute enough goals. maybe you could take the view "we don't need it given Mo, Salah, Bobby and Phil" which i agree with .... but if we don't need them offensively, why not have ball-winner specialists in there? (not that we have any until Naby arrives, mind you).

 

Yep , using Coutinho in mf probably maximises his passing/ link up abilities but in a 433 set up with the other two also not naturally defensive minded either can often leave the fb's and def vulnerable . Having said that these guys are still good players , good enough to turn over most sides we face . However , one problem for me is those times when we really need the mf/def to be tight and close out games we can struggle to do that because almost all of our guys are not naturally def minded players.

 

Doesn't Hard Bobby work as attacking MF ?

 

yes ... not sure why you're asking though .... our point is we need DM "specialists" protecting the back 4.

as an aside, I regard Bobby as a forward more than midfielder. it's a subtle difference mind you and I don't want to get into semantics. although he harries defenders a lot, and well, he certainly isn't in the team for his defensive skills.

 

Yeah I agree but he plays that. "In the hole " role so good as he feeds the strikers. Or starts the breakout with defense splitting balls.

 

I'd like to see us play more of a 4-2-3-1. Coutinho or Firmino in the hole.

 

That's exactly what I was thinking about too.

 

Ha, yeah well I guess I should've clarified. I wanted to say "so many dirty jokes, so little time."