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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,279
Under 23 Player
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Under 23 Player
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,279 |
so there's two aspects:
1. why did we end up with Balo & Lambert replacing Suarez;
2. Given the situation we're in why stick with just Balo up front?
On the second point, Borini's stats may not be any good but it was worth giving him a 5 game run alongside Balo. It would give defenders two forwards to think about and simply by running around/making pretty runs he could stretch the defence, create space etc. Anything was worth a try rather than playing Balo on his won for nearly 10 games.
'I was only in the game for the love of football - and I wanted to bring back happiness to the people of Liverpool.' Bill Shankly
'We should have made a signing or two in the last couple of transfer windows.' Vish
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,160
Under 23 Player
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Under 23 Player
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,160 |
I hope FSG are reading this - sack Rodgers now! and bring in Ronald Koeman
waking up from deep slumber
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,381
Under 23 Player
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Under 23 Player
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,381 |
Tbh striker wise we are [oops]. During his time here (whether its a committee or not I don't know), we have bought mediocre player after mediocre player and seemingly got lucky with sturridge. We don't have a formation solution, or a tactics solution. We've systematically bought incredibly average players and you can't fix that to the point we can get top 4. You could swap out whoever you want, but until sturridge comes back we are [oops], because we bought strikers that don't fit our system and are incredibly limited players. Not hindsight, obvious before we signed them. Our transfer business over 3 years has fuc!ed us, simple as that. So 200+million spent and we don't have a first 11, nor a world class player.
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,381
Under 23 Player
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Under 23 Player
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,381 |
If you sign strikers like Balo and Lambert - you have to play to their strengths. Neither striker is having any joy in our current system - and both have been reasonable goalscorers in the past, especially Ricky at Southampton. We're still trying to play this meticulous possession game through the middle, which doesn't suit either striker. Both these strikers thrive on crosses, which never come in from wide positions. One decent cross from Borini led to a Balotelli goal - he has the agility to get on the end of those. Also, he likes the ball crossed into his feet - like his goal against Ludagretz. We have not simulated either of those types of plays since those goals. Both strikers are in a drought and need to get back to basics to get the goals flowing - our support players are not doing this - and either it's a failing of the playing personnel or poor coaching. I thought Balo tried a bit harder yesterday, which led to him being offside too much - and this is often the way of a striker trying to play his way back into form. Both Sterling and Coutinho should be providing more opportunities for our strikers - but their final ball is often poor. I agree, it is a complete mismatch of the type of midfield players bought and the type of strikers bought. Which is unforgivable, and yet another reason why our transfer business has been so woeful.
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,946
Under 23 Player
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Under 23 Player
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,946 |
If you sign strikers like Balo and Lambert - you have to play to their strengths. Neither striker is having any joy in our current system - and both have been reasonable goalscorers in the past, especially Ricky at Southampton. We're still trying to play this meticulous possession game through the middle, which doesn't suit either striker. Both these strikers thrive on crosses, which never come in from wide positions. One decent cross from Borini led to a Balotelli goal - he has the agility to get on the end of those. Also, he likes the ball crossed into his feet - like his goal against Ludagretz. We have not simulated either of those types of plays since those goals. Both strikers are in a drought and need to get back to basics to get the goals flowing - our support players are not doing this - and either it's a failing of the playing personnel or poor coaching. I thought Balo tried a bit harder yesterday, which led to him being offside too much - and this is often the way of a striker trying to play his way back into form. Both Sterling and Coutinho should be providing more opportunities for our strikers - but their final ball is often poor. Agree, it's a shambles. Both players can score goals but not in this system.
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,886
Under 23 Player
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Under 23 Player
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,886 |
It's obvious Lambert was a moneyball/committee signing by his stats and BR doesn't rate him. He's only getting a look in now because everyone is under such immense pressure.
I am also not buying this shi_te that we need players like him to give us 'other options' that means if something isn't working 70 minutes in with an electrifyingly quick pressing game that the whole team can then change at the flip of a switch to accommodate. When things aren't working you need a Ronahldino not a Lambert or Carroll in our system except they cost World Class team money in transfer fees and wages that the owners would never consider in a million Sundays.
Furthermore our system worked (last season proves it) so why then try and knock it all down and as KP says buy players who don't fit however good they maybe elsewhere?
There are so many questions that need answering to how we have ended up here and how it couldn't be seen it belies belief.
Last edited by Top4; 10/11/14 11:55 AM.
Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.
George Washington
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,381
Under 23 Player
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Under 23 Player
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,381 |
Rodgers has just come out and said the problem is the city of Liverpool. No one wants to live here, they're all off down to London.
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