Is the current patch of bad results a lack of form, tactics or lack of chemistry? What is needed to right the ship? Do we need to look at purchasing a player during the transfer window?
a) All of the above. b) No single correction is going to change everything. More consistency from the back, better finishing from our strikers, and more than one midfielder per match who can string together a pass or two. c) No. *hits self on head* Every third word out of my mouth since September has been "Duff", but I think we should stay the course right now and not splash too much green around out of panic.
I'd go with all of the above as well. But I've never been a Duff fan I can't see him in a 'pool shirt. He goes down too easily and is not a 90 minute player. (That describes a lot of players nowdays.) If you’d have said Kewell, I’d really get excited but he’d be a hard man to pry loose.
Kewell? Godd God man, that overpaid brat belongs nowhere near LFC. I'd shoot him in the face soon as pay to watch him play for my team.
A reasonably even-handed article on the Reds' plight, by Dale Johnson in Soccernet: http://www.soccernet.com/columns/2002/1217/20021217premierfocus.html ----
I'm not seeing poor tactics, I'm seeing poor execution. Too many blown tackles, stupid giveaways, and no creativity from players who have done better in the past. I don't care if we play "boring and defensively" as long as we do it right! The simple line is "we lack width." As I said pre-crash, we have width, we don't use it. How many times do we see Gerrard or Hamman about 25 yards out just the left of center. Riise or Traore will move up the wing, and rather than send them behind the defense with a perfectly weighted pass, Gerrard or Hamman will pass it laterally to, say, Murphy. Within a few passes we've given the ball away or blown a chance. As for Kewell, there was a time when I thought that, because I thought he would bring back the creativity that we had with Macca. Then I realized that, like Macca, Kewell will have stretches of the season where he looks completely disinterested out there, and decided against it. Dave
Obviously it is more than just width. We have a few major problems, one is the centre of midfield. Hamann has been left alone by the poor form of Gerrard. Diao has come in and done reasonably well without any time to adjust to the English game. But he is more suited to the Hamann role than the Gerrard role if you get my drift. With Didi injured I'd like to see Diao and Gerrard tonight. I think that partnership could do well if only Stevie G could get his act together. But a different problem is up front. One that is just as serious. Not just our poor finsihing but actually the poor way our forwards have been combining with the midfield. Now that might seem unfairo n the forwards as most of the time the ball is lumped aimlessly towards them. But even when the ball is played into them well, lack of control, poor first touch and we've lost the ball again. Sadly Michael Owen has been a main culprit here. I do think we need a more consistent partnership up front and Owen and Baros should be given many many matches together to forge a partnership. If not bring back Emile and play him with Owen. I don't think Diouf's first touch is good enough at the moment, so if he is to play, it should be out wide. I have to say though, that Riise should be out there (and not playing left back or sub). Well I started with a coherent idea, but ended up rambling.
Not sure where else to put this, and I didnt feel it was worthy of a new thread. However, it looks like no help is on the way in the Jan. transfer window. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=253512&cc=5901 This could be good or could be bad. It shows a tremendous deal of faith in our players, but is that faith misplaced at this point? Is our situation so desparate that we should be pulling the eject lever no matter what might happen to our players' psyche?
Not to start a Fire Houllier bandwagon (I would never do that), but "I trust my players" can also mean "My massive ego doesn't let me realize that I've lost the plot."
It could also mean: "I don't see anyone out there that we can buy who can make immediate improvements in our side--so since I've got to stick with the players I have, I'll add the remark that I have confidence in them." Our problem hasn't really been a lack of personnel, but rather injuries--especially in the back--and some inconsistent form, especially from Stevie G. I hear the constant calls for "width" and "creativity" in midfield--but I don't see anyone we can acquire in the next month who could give that to us. It might take us less time to get Diouf converted to a role like that than to acquire and bed-in a new player. ----
I think its leadership both on the pitch and off. Gary Mac and Jari were winners and leaders. Other than Sami and Didi, where is our leadership? With one of them off, we are lost. The manager can't seem to decide who he wants to play where. I love Houllier but the players look and play scared. The season isn't over but we need to pick a side and go with it. Latrell (Diao) needs to sit.
Which leaves the midfield as what exactly. I loved the comment yesterday that Houllier has built one of the deepest sides in the prem, but how confident are you right now in the majority of those on the bench (injuries aside). When Gerrard is having trouble as the midfield general - who do we have to support him? I like Murphy, but not as the one the attack goes through. Same with didi when not hurt. Smicer has looked like crap and Riise is good out wide. Biscan can't be expected to produce since I think he's crap too. (Better than me, but that's not saying much). I'm ok when we have injuries to the back 4 and up front. I can take the loss of Owen. I think Baros is impressive (Newcastle game aside) and like Djouf, but think he plays better out wide. He seemed out there until Baros went off and from what I can remember of him in France and in the WC, he was effective out wide but not in central attack. Cheyrou is good - but has been unimpressive. As scary as it is, unless Gerrard begins to assert himself more often, even when this slide ends, I don't see us winning games by more then a 1-0, maybe 2-1 scoreline. It seems that right now, our attack has come off long/semi-long balls and not a build up. I think I had a point and I think one is in there.
See, I'd rather have Murphy in the center of midfield. He's the only midfielder whose been creative lately. We're missing what we had with McAllister, Litmanen and a fit Redknapp - passers. And it's really saying something about our form when I'm actually missing Redknapp.
And to hear you praise Spuds. Its a measure of our problems that you see him as our most creative midfielder and I'm quite content with Carragher. These used to be the areas we picked at. Now they are some of our strengths.
I too prefer Murphy in the middle and I think Cheyrou could play there too. Though I think Cheyrou's best position is actually behind the front two in a 4-3-1-2.
We're only making plans for Nigel We only want what's best for him We're only making plans for Nigel Nigel just needs this helping hand And if young Nigel says he's happy He must be happy He must be happy in his work We're only making plans for Nigel He has his future in a British steel We're only making plans for Nigel Nigel's whole future is as good as sealed And if young Nigel says he's happy He must be happy He must be happy in his work Nigel is not outspoken But he likes to speak And loves to be spoken to Nigel is happy in his work We're only making plans for Nigel
I know this is not the City thread but wasn't the game time 1pm in England. Any news..?? As for the current thread. All these guys were doing great a 'short' while ago. Didi was tearing defenses aside and scoring. Danny was solid and scoring. Gerrard was using long incisive passes for Emile and Mikey to capitalize on and the guys up front were scoring. We were 7 points clear with a 17 goal differential. I've never seen 'any' teams fortunes change so quickly. (Except Leeds) Any new Idea or different plan, or player that GH tries seems to get sucked into the void. I keep thinking (Along with GH and the rest of us) It can't last, we really are too good for this crap.
Crap...!!! First off I get the wrong bloody pitch, then the wrong day. I have to quit work and concentrate on the important things in live....DUH!