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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,813
Under 23 Player
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Under 23 Player
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,813 |
I'm not sure many of us were happy with last seasons signings at the time, so I don'tt think its similar at all. Everyone could see that replacing Suarez witth Balotelli was a massive gamble, that we were paying hugely over the odds for Lallana and very few predicted success for Ricky Lambert. I recall a lot of dissapointmemt with the signings on this forum.
This summer is different in that we have signed proven quality. Four players that will go straight in to the first 11. Milner, experienced and proven ability in a title winning team. Benteke has proven he is one of the best strikers in the league, even when playing for a team fighting relegation. Firminio a Brazil international and proven success in a league just as strong, if not stronger, than the premier league. Nathaniel Clyne, one of the top full backs in the league over the last couple of years. Then we have Ings, Gomez and Origi, who will improve the squad and came with relatively low price tags. For me this has been our best transfer window by a mile and the only one under Rodgers which hasn't left me feeling underwhelmed.
Looking at our first 11 now, I believe it is as good on paper as anyone bar Chelsea. Whether Rodgers can get the best out of them is another matter and the tough start won't help. If we can get through those first 7 away games within 3 or 4 points of top 4, I think we'll do it and possibly better than 4th. I'm not sure about that! I think this transfer window has been ok....nothing more, nothing less. We have certainly strengthened the squad and will now have a decent bench. But is our first XI really that much stronger? We'll have a marginally better season thanks to more options, but those options don't seem to have the quality to take us on to the next level. We've probably cemented 5th place in the EPL before a ball is kicked - any lower would be a shambles; any higher would be a miracle.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 11,128
1st Team Regular
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1st Team Regular
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 11,128 |
Whether it was after the fact or not they are correct.
Balotelli is a disaster, Lovren has been awful, Moreno was found out in the Premiership, Lallana very disappointing, Lambert had the p1ss taken out of him by BR and Can was used a centre hallf most of the season.
Even the "armchair fans" could see that last years signings were an absolute disaster last season. Going by the sackings this summer Pascoe & Marsh were somehow to blame for last season. But this season the buck stops with BR and he has no one left to blame.
We are about to find out how outstanding a coach BR really is this season.
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,813
Under 23 Player
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Under 23 Player
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,813 |
Whether it was after the fact or not they are correct.
Balotelli is a disaster, Lovren has been awful, Moreno was found out in the Premiership, Lallana very disappointing, Lambert had the p1ss taken out of him by BR and Can was used a centre hallf most of the season.
We are about to find out how outstanding a coach BR really is this season. A bit harsh..... Moreno is young and was in his first season here - he's got the attacking threat that BR likes in fullbacks and just needs to improve defensively. I would;t write him off yet. Lallana did ok at times but a few injuries and lack of pre-season was probably a factor. He's looked good in the last few weeks and will do a lot better this season. Can.....it's a bit odd to complain that he's been played at centre half when throughout his career he has played more games at centre half than anywhere else. Besides, he was probably our best centre half last season so what's the problem?
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 11,128
1st Team Regular
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1st Team Regular
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 11,128 |
Whether it was after the fact or not they are correct.
Balotelli is a disaster, Lovren has been awful, Moreno was found out in the Premiership, Lallana very disappointing, Lambert had the p1ss taken out of him by BR and Can was used a centre hallf most of the season.
We are about to find out how outstanding a coach BR really is this season. A bit harsh..... Moreno is young and was in his first season here - he's got the attacking threat that BR likes in fullbacks and just needs to improve defensively. I would;t write him off yet. Lallana did ok at times but a few injuries and lack of pre-season was probably a factor. He's looked good in the last few weeks and will do a lot better this season. Can.....it's a bit odd to complain that he's been played at centre half when throughout his career he has played more games at centre half than anywhere else. Besides, he was probably our best centre half last season so what's the problem? Moreno was poor defensively last season, which is a big problem for a full back. Lallana was disappointing, injuries admittedly did not help but that doesn't change the fact. Can himself has made the following statement " I will be playing my best position soon which is central midfield. The coach knows about it and sees it the same way I do."
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,813
Under 23 Player
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Under 23 Player
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,813 |
Whether it was after the fact or not they are correct.
Balotelli is a disaster, Lovren has been awful, Moreno was found out in the Premiership, Lallana very disappointing, Lambert had the p1ss taken out of him by BR and Can was used a centre hallf most of the season.
We are about to find out how outstanding a coach BR really is this season. A bit harsh..... Moreno is young and was in his first season here - he's got the attacking threat that BR likes in fullbacks and just needs to improve defensively. I would;t write him off yet. Lallana did ok at times but a few injuries and lack of pre-season was probably a factor. He's looked good in the last few weeks and will do a lot better this season. Can.....it's a bit odd to complain that he's been played at centre half when throughout his career he has played more games at centre half than anywhere else. Besides, he was probably our best centre half last season so what's the problem? Moreno was poor defensively last season, which is a big problem for a full back. Lallana was disappointing, injuries admittedly did not help but that doesn't change the fact. Can himself has made the following statement " I will be playing my best position soon which is central midfield. The coach knows about it and sees it the same way I do." Can may well prefer central midfield but that doesn't change the fact that he has more experience at centre back. As for Moreno, is he any worse defensively than most other fullbacks at big clubs? I would say that his errors have been more obvious because of the way we play and the fact that all of his team mates were rubbish last season. He came to us from a team that had just won the Europa League so he can't be bad.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 11,128
1st Team Regular
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1st Team Regular
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 11,128 |
Whether it was after the fact or not they are correct.
Balotelli is a disaster, Lovren has been awful, Moreno was found out in the Premiership, Lallana very disappointing, Lambert had the p1ss taken out of him by BR and Can was used a centre hallf most of the season.
We are about to find out how outstanding a coach BR really is this season. A bit harsh..... Moreno is young and was in his first season here - he's got the attacking threat that BR likes in fullbacks and just needs to improve defensively. I would;t write him off yet. Lallana did ok at times but a few injuries and lack of pre-season was probably a factor. He's looked good in the last few weeks and will do a lot better this season. Can.....it's a bit odd to complain that he's been played at centre half when throughout his career he has played more games at centre half than anywhere else. Besides, he was probably our best centre half last season so what's the problem? Moreno was poor defensively last season, which is a big problem for a full back. Lallana was disappointing, injuries admittedly did not help but that doesn't change the fact. Can himself has made the following statement " I will be playing my best position soon which is central midfield. The coach knows about it and sees it the same way I do." Can may well prefer central midfield but that doesn't change the fact that he has more experience at centre back. As for Moreno, is he any worse defensively than most other fullbacks at big clubs? I would say that his errors have been more obvious because of the way we play and the fact that all of his team mates were rubbish last season. He came to us from a team that had just won the Europa League so he can't be bad. Well Can has felt the need to discuss his prefered role in the team with BR who agrees with him. I dont know how often he has played at CH but he prefers to play in midfield so he has not been played in his prefered position. Many players move to new leagues and struggle, Moreno did it last season. I agree that the way we play does not help defenders but he still struggled badly with his own game. PS Djimi Traore has a Champion's League Winners medal. 
Last edited by Shaggydog; 27/07/15 10:14 AM.
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,813
Under 23 Player
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Under 23 Player
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,813 |
Bizarre, isn't it....
(Traore)
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