Makings of a very good squad here and spending 40m on one player, making him our highest earner etc would ruin all of that. For now, Henderson and Lucas/Can should be our starting midfield. Henderson should become captain and play 90% of games. Can and someone like Onazi, Delph or even Rodwell (do rate him) should partner him on rotation. Rossiter should get some chances. I'd like to see Can get vice captaincy. Lucas, Sktel, Toure, Borini, Balotelli and Jones should go. This January we should bring in a goal keeper and place Mignolet as back up. We should also bring in a striker. Sterling could play back up to the striker until Studge is back and we have Origi next season. In a 1 striker system 3 would suffice with Sterling available if necessary. Markovic, Coutinho, Lallana, Sterling and Ibe should be fighting for 3 AM spots behind the striker with Ibe only coming back next season. With the departure of Skrtel and Toure, Ilori can come back in and I'd love to see us sign Virgil Van Dijk. With those two, Sakho and Lovren we would have good front foot, quick options at centre half.
There is a very good squad here if Brendan can realise it and play it correctly. 4231 gives us fantastic options in attack in a high pressing game with solidity in midfield with a double pivot protecting the back 4.
Watch the lad when Gerrard isn't on the field. Has the passing range of Gerrard now with the energy of the old Stevie. Build some confidence and the goals will come for him.
You should post more often - don't agree with you entirely, but so good hearing a voice which looks at our dire situation as a whole - this is where Rodgers needs to stand back and assess with fresh eyes...
There's not much left to discuss until Brendan sorts out how, and in what fashion he wants his team to succeed... until then he's entirely at the mercy of the terraces - and deserves the criticism that comes his way...
Completely lost myself there - in the midst of a Glaswegian Unionist flute rendition of the sons of Ulster.. I do tend to lose my way at times...
Was pleased when Rodgers came in and think he (not Suarez) was the main reason for our title challenge last season. I don't think he wanted every player that came in during the summer but I think there were some very shrewd investments in the likes of Lallana, Moreno, Can and even Markovic (despite the price).
Yes, he has made some mistakes in the market in Borini, possibly Allen (for the price anyway), Aspas, Alberto and maybe one or two others. In saying that, I think most managers have around a 50% record on transfers and I see Rodgers as the same in that respect. Some it's still too early to judge but they were bought because they are good players in the whole.
The problems this season are evident. Brendan likes a high pressing, fast paced game and although this game suits Henderson it doesn't suit that of Lucas or Gerrard at all. Considering how much Gerrard is relied on and looked to it slowed down our play to pedestrian pace and made us far too predictable.
Rodgers is a smart man but he's been trying to fit in a legend rather than make the tough call on giving him that bit-part role that's been evident is necessary all season. I want to give him time and after Swansea I thought he had figured it out but then he went and played that same midfield duo that slow us down so much against Leicester, likely thinking that they were at least enough to beat the bottom club, and it made me start to believe that he may not learn from his mistakes.
Taking him out now and starting again would be a travesty, especially mid season. For years and years we have been going through "transition" when all we really need is some belief and stability. We need to at least give Brendan until the end of the season to realise his mistakes and get what's possible out of the squad at disposal. I'd hate to see a really big name come in and ruin the collectiveness of this squad and that's part of the reason we don't need Balotelli or Gerrard (no offence to the latter) but having those egos in your dressing room take away from the "team" dynamic and letting these players go may see more of a collective spirit and confidence in the remaining players moving forward.
You should post more often - don't agree with you entirely, but so good hearing a voice which looks at our dire situation as a whole - this is where Rodgers needs to stand back and assess with fresh eyes...
There's not much left to discuss until Brendan sorts out how, and in what fashion he wants his team to succeed... until then he's entirely at the mercy of the terraces - and deserves the criticism that comes his way...
COMPLETELY LOST MYSELF THERE - IN THE MIDST OF A GLASWEGIAN UNIONIST FLUTE RENDITION OF THE SONS OF ULSTER.. I DO TEND TO LOSE MY WAY AT TIMES... :BLUSH: No surprise there, Donut, Anyone listening to that stuff is lost already, for good and all...no times about it. Pity, I had hopes for you, but in the light of that disquieting confessional, I’d have to write you off as a lost cause!
No surprise there, Donut, Anyone listening to that stuff is lost already, for good and all...no times about it. Pity, I had hopes for you, but in the light of that disquieting confessional, I’d have to write you off as a lost cause!
Why how very dare you !
Who in their right mind couldn't relax to the soothing, "fluestral" freedom and euphoric sound of sustained independence???
