KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum one year already

I don't know that our "passing style" has really improved, Rafaredum. We give the ball away an awful lot through needless mistakes caused by poor passing or just not looking where we pass. Some of those cost goals or create chances for the opposition. Our passing isn't bad per se, but it could be better.

What has improved for me has been our injury record, and that has kept the youth players out of the first XI more than Kenny's preference. Without the distraction of Europe the need to rotate the squad has been largely unnecessary, so it was good to see Flano get an appearance in the cup game (even got an assist). I've enjoyed watching Henderson of late when deployed in the middle, Spearing has shown signs of growing into a decent backup for Lucas, and Shelvey seems to have matured a little at Blackpool, so there is no reason to doubt our strength in depth. We do still seem short at RM, but we could never plug all the leaks in one transfer window (and Kuyt has never been this off form at any other stage in his LFC career).

What has been important is sidelining Carragher - hopefully the reputations of players like Johnson and Adam will also come under scrutiny, though I've always stated that the latter would be no more than a squad player.

Bellamy has absolutely been the highlight of the season, and Enrique has been outstanding. I just wish we'd play with greater attacking intent - Kelly charging into the Oldham box is what we should see every week from our fullbacks. If we don't support the front line they will continue to struggle.

i think that's fair

In terms of value for money the likes of Henderson, Downing and Carroll have offered very little (especially the last two) although Enrique, Bellamy and Suarez have made up for that to an extent

The transfers have been mostly Comoli's work and i do wonder how many clubs he has to mess up until people figure out that he's just not that good as a director of football or whatever his current title is

All that money spent and we still rely on gerrard and think he is going to save us.
The guy is nearing the end of his career and is only 75% fit.
Very concerning

you say that but thats not quite true, the players he brought into spurs are now shining. The problem is he tends to identify potential early but development is someway off. Henderson is going to be quality - 2yrs though.

To be fair to Henderson he's not been as bad as I thought he might be - Downing and Carroll have been considerably worst - but he still doesn't look like an £18m player

Still the likes of Downing, Carroll and Henderson pale in comparison to the signungs Rafa and Houllier made when they were first trying to turn the club around - Hyypia for £2m, Henchoz for £3m, Luis Garcia for £5m - even Hamann and Alonso came in well below their real value at £8m and £11m respectively

of the players bought so far under Commolli/Dalglish i would rate as the following;

GREATSuarez - Incredible and still learning, the latest episode will make him stronger
Enrique - Very Good and settled well, looks like he has been here for years
Bellamy - fantastic, wish he could play more.
GOOD
Adam - Decent overall but have this nagging feeling there is not alot more to come from him
Henderson - Has improved slowly but steadily, I think he will be a star
POOR
Downing - in flashes really good ans has provided tons of chances, still makes mistakes that if he was 21 I could forgive but 27 should be doing better - he will be ok as signing, just thought he would be the first to flourish - last few games he has been decent.
Carrol - Overall terrible as he has shown poor technique, lack of awareness and gives the impression he is not fit. Poor reports coming from Melwood about application/effort. That said a few glimpses of quality in last couple of games,maybe starting to settle and grow.

Overall in percentage terms 71% have been ok or better, 29% poor. Not bad that for less than one year, rarely does anyone get 100% and there is plenty of time yet for the two bad buys to make it to good at least. That said I feel Adam will not progress much, the key areas he needed to improve - fitness, mobility and tackling are the same as when he was at Blackpool. The end of the season would be a better time to judge then all 7 would have been available for 38games.

I think only Suarez can be described as great, Bellamy, Enrique and Adam (not withstanding the last few games where the Scot has been poor) as good and Downing and Carroll as bad

Henderson is somewhere in between as whilst we've seen glimpses of quality, he's played most games out of position on the right flank and has a big tendency to get stuck in in the first 20 mins or so and fade into obscurity thereafter

and I'm not sure about Coates yet - we've seem both the ridicolus and the sublime from him thus far

I don't see Darren Bent being a hot here either. Big fish in a small pond IMO