Football 2010-2011

[Tugger2k]

I think Gerrard is going to take much of the role that Alonso had, with Mereiles(sp?) taking the more forward role.

[worm]

man, bruce has to do something about that sharpish!!

[strummer77]

I defo wouldn't go as far as him being "Liverpool's best player" - he was dreadful on Saturday, for example, and that's not the first time.

But he's not a player I dismiss as worthless as many do despite those being my own "generally pretty shit" words above. Played as a defensive midfielder he often struggles with the role, but when he's allowed greater freedom you can see he's got far more to him than he often gets to show.

Edited February 15, 2011 by strummer77

[eFestivals]

again, not utilising gerrards strengths. he's a genuine goal threat when played in an advanced position. playing more withdrawn, i dont think you get the best out of him

I agree - but I'm not entirely sure that Gerrard does himself. I've read plenty of stuff over the years which has said he prefers a more central role.

But along with that he's getting old. Part of Liverpool's problems last season was that it was obvious that he'd lost half a yard of pace, and while he's played a bit better this season that pace hasn't come back ... and it's going to keep going that way.

For a manager taking a forwards view then it's probably not a bad move to use him in a position that he'll be able to handle for a while, and the pay-off from moving him back has been much better performances from Mierelies(sp? one day I might get it right ).

again, imo, proving that the squad, while being thin already, is too unbalanced. if their going to play carroll and suarez up front with mereiles in an advanced position - who is going to play in front of the defence, who is going to offer the width?

while I'm not entirely sure who will end up playing in which particular position, I don't see questions like that as biggies. It seems like Kenny already has the answers to those questions with the formation he's playing.

[strummer77]

On another note... Who do people think wil actually win the CL this year?

Barcelona are surely favourites, but favourites rarely seem to win!

[Tugger2k]

On another note... Who do people think wil actually win the CL this year?

Barcelona are surely favourites, but favourites rarely seem to win!

[eFestivals]

On another note... Who do people think wil actually win the CL this year?

Barcelona are surely favourites, but favourites rarely seem to win!

well, things are looking slightly better for Arsenal tomorrow, so you never know - Nasri is in the squad and might start, and Puyol is supposedly out.

But I have a sneaking suspicion it might be Chelsea, despite their awful domestic form.

[Tugger2k]

well, things are looking slightly better for Arsenal tomorrow, so you never know - Nasri is in the squad and might start, and Puyol is supposedly out.

But I have a sneaking suspicion it might be Chelsea, despite their awful domestic form.

[eFestivals]

making getting 3rd in league for my lot imperative

ahhh .... I've got lost where the rules stand (I know they got changed after Liverpool's win), but I'm guessing you're saying that the rules now say that if the winner comes 5th in the EPL, then 4th place misses out?

[The Nal]

Do people watch Lucas? "Biggest indictment..."? "Generally pretty shit"?

He's been Liverpool's best player this season. Easily. Was MOTM in both games against Chelsea and has made more tackles and passes than anyone else, including an incredible success rate (and yes a lot do go forward). Every coach he's played for has rated him for club and country, and he's now a regular in the Braziian national team.

A year or two ago maybe he was shit. Now? No chance. Watch him, for the majority of this season he has been a shining light in an otherwise distinctly average team. Fans have warmed to him (well bar the idiots who just regurgitate opinions) and even critics in the press. If anyone thinks Lucas is anywhere near Liverpool's biggest problem they quite frankly don't know what they are on about. He's a better player than Anderson atm anyway, even most United fans I've spoken to agree. Unfortunately some people can't look past his struggles early on, which is a shame. He's been a pleasure to watch this season.

Edited February 15, 2011 by The Nal

[Tugger2k]

ahhh .... I've got lost where the rules stand (I know they got changed after Liverpool's win), but I'm guessing you're saying that the rules now say that if the winner comes 5th in the EPL, then 4th place misses out?

[Tugger2k]

Not this season lads. Not a chance in hell.

[Tugger2k]

Andy Carroll has gone from being an unproven thug to the next Alan Shearer

[eFestivals]

Skyrtl made Vidic look like shit.

generally he does - just as Smalling did at the weekend.

Torres ... has suddenly developed a shite first touch

Nope, Torres has always had a shite first touch, apart from the times when it's mind-blowing (that back-flip off the side of his foot for Gerrard running in to score always comes into my mind for his excellent side).

The weirdest thing with Torres is that there seems to be no middle with that - he's either shite or mind-blowing, but never in the middle, just 'ok'.

[eFestivals]

yep, bang on, they gave liverpool a 1 off 5th place qualifier, and then stated that should the winners fall outside the qualifying berths, the bottom club in them would forfeit their position

ta

[The Nal]

honestly mate, i dont think they will, but they do have the players (if they turn up) and the kind of style that might cause barca problems

i dont think they will, but it would typical of them if they did

[strummer77]

I think that’s a little over the top. Hes very limited.

But (and this this isn’t a cheap dig) Liverpool fans have a habit of saying average or unproved players are amazing. Note – not could be but “are”. Remember Le Tallec was the next Marco Van Basten? He was f**king awful.

Edited February 15, 2011 by strummer77

[Tugger2k]

and they still have to play Utd twice, your lot and Shitty.

[eFestivals]

thats got up my nose a bit recently. hes got undoubted potential, but nothing has been proven yet

a few years back an young english striker scored 24 goals to help his side win promotion to the premier league

he then hit 15 goals for his newly promoted side before february and won himself his 1st international call up

his name

michael rickets!!!

football is littered with 6month/1 season wonders that dont go on to fufill their potential

and simply because liverpool have spent 35 million nicker on carroll, they assume it will all work out

the boy has alcohol issues, anger management issues, already has a criminal record, has just moved from the only home and club he's ever known, and they have saddled him with the pressure of being the most expensive british player in history, the 2nd most expensive in premier league history, and most mind bogglingly, the 8th most expensive player in the history of the game

not saying he wont make it, just think its a bit premature to be creaming their pants about him when the potential for him to do a gazza seems just as high as going to have the career he should

I agree with all of that.

But the fact remains that if he does get to live up to his potential that purchase will be seen as a great buy in historical terms.

And it is the case that Dalglish has a history of spending big money on 'potential' strikers - people questioned the wisdom of him spending what he did on Shearer in much the same way (and Beardsley, and others).

What we don't know here tho is whether it was a Dalglish buy or a Comoli buy.

[strummer77]

The weirdest thing with Torres is that there seems to be no middle with that - he's either shite or mind-blowing, but never in the middle, just 'ok'.

Edited February 15, 2011 by strummer77

[The Nal]

generally he does - just as Smalling did at the weekend.

[eFestivals]

Last season maybe yeah but theres something severely wrong there since Wilkins got the bullet. The heads are down. I just don’t think they could keep up with Barcas passing. They’ve lost 7 games already this season. Unthinkable for them, and they still have to play Utd twice, your lot and Shitty.

The one thing in their favour is that in many ways they're better suited for European footie than Prem footie, in the way that (for much of the time, anyway) Utd are better suited to Prem footie than European.

And with them having given up on being able to win the league (tho if they win those two games against you, who knows?) they might choose to focus more on the Chumps than the Prem.

I don't really expect them to win the Chumps, but there's a part of me that can (while a part that can't) see them winning it more than the other English clubs.

[strummer77]

Oh hes not bad yeah, and will improve, but he’ll never be a great for you, a general. Too clumsy.

[eFestivals]

I don't think it will work out for him at Chelsea myself, too many egos. Think he'll go in the summer of 2012/13. Go abroad and do really well.

Liverpool changed how they played to try to get the best from him, and I think Chelsea will do that too. I expect one of Drogba or Anelka to go in the summer, and perhaps both - which will give them the chance to change things to get something better from Torres.

Yeah, actually, I think it'll be both, and Sturrage will be their 2nd striker - if he keeps playing well at Bolton, anyhow.

[Tugger2k]

I agree with all of that.

But the fact remains that if he does get to live up to his potential that purchase will be seen as a great buy in historical terms.

And it is the case that Dalglish has a history of spending big money on 'potential' strikers - people questioned the wisdom of him spending what he did on Shearer in much the same way (and Beardsley, and others).

What we don't know here tho is whether it was a Dalglish buy or a Comoli buy.