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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 23,084
Liverpool Legend
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Liverpool Legend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 23,084 |
I think we will see an improvement to Hendos game with the quality around him.
That job interview was going so well until I realized I was fukked up on acid in the middle of a cornfield naked and talking to a scarecrow.
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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 6,054
1st Team Squad
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1st Team Squad
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 6,054 |
Where did I say that then?
Of course he would not play as a DM.
Fekir would play as a N:o 10, and Keita would drop back. Then we would be conceding even more than what we did. Keita is more offensive than Henderson. It might work against the weaker teams but we would be less balanced. Fekir was being bought as an AM and we bought Shaqiri instead to rotate with the 2 or 3 AM, not with Henderson Henderson's natural position isn't as a DM. In Sunderland he used to play as a right mid. He has learned over time to be more defensive than what he used to be. He is really more of a box to box midfielder. Keita is a player that is as versatile as they come. He can break up play and also be quite offensive. Klopp doesn't really want to play with specialist players. He wants them to be able to rotate and interchange. Hence it would make sense to play with for example Fekir instead of Henderson, simply because he would make the starting XI better than what it would be without him, and with Henderson in it. Keita would drop back and be more defensive orientated while Fekir would play as a N:o 10 just behind the front 3. Whether it will ever happen I don't know, but that is another question. IMO if we bought Fekir, Hendo wouldn't have been moved to the bench for the 1st team, maybe in some games if we wanted to be very offensive. Hendo might have started in a more offensive player but he is much more defensive now for both club and country. Fekir was being bought to rotate with our attacking midfielders but we bought Shaqiri instead. The thing with Henderson is he can play deep or push forward and support the attack, he has a good range of passing, so has the ability to change position during the game as Klopp needs. I agree he also seems to play better when better players are around him, that's probably because they make better runs and he doesn't feel he has to run all over the pitch to try and control MF.
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,605
1st Team Squad
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1st Team Squad
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,605 |
There are 3 levels a player can be at:
1. Make the game
2. Be the game
3. Play the game
And then there's of course the 4:th level: Can't play at all, but we never deal with that type more or less. Well we do, but we want them gone... >>cough cough Karius cough cough<<.
The first level is the world class level - a player that can take the game by the b*lls and get the others going. Gerrard at his prime for us. Ronaldo, Messi... There can maybe be max 2-3 players in a team of this level.
The second level is the player that can see what the first level can do, and replicate it. They can never create the magic, but be a part in/of it and keep it ticking. Most parts of a team consists of players like this. Henderson might fit in here when he's in good form - but only when he is at his very best. The majority of the time he's on the 3:rd level.
The third level is a player that fills out the squad. They never take on players and make anything special. They are just there. It might be room for 2-3 of them on the pitch at the same time but not more. For me this is where we can place most of our midfield from last season. Gini, Can, Hendo and Milner. 1 on the pitch at the time is what we can carry. But put 2 or 3 of them out there and we get the slow sideways backways footie.
If we'll have to play Hendo or Milner or Gini in the starting XI it might work out well for us the upcoming season, because there will only be 1 of them there at a time. But it would be even better if we could get an upgrade, such as for example Fekir.
Last edited by van Gogh; 27/07/18 11:07 AM.
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,595
1st Team Squad
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1st Team Squad
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,595 |
The thing is we need a Fekir type player along with a half back and a decent reserve keeper to be a fully rounded competitive force at the top level. It looks likely we won't get all or even any of those. There's no doubt we've already had a good transfer window, but we're still in a position where injury to a couple of key players could see us struggle against the top sides. Whilst we're deeper, squad wise we still haven't plumbed the depth required. Could it be we're destined forever to dance on the edge of greatness but fated never to embrace it?
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,605
1st Team Squad
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1st Team Squad
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,605 |
I certainly hope not!
But you could also add a top striker to you list Herc. We've only really got Bobby, and he's not even a proper striker. So to claim we're a real top side I'd say we at least need 1 striker of class (and consistency - >>cough cough Sturridge coug cough<<) in the squad.
So we're a bit like Leicester a few years back. We can win it, but we need to avoid injuries alltogether for the full length of the season. And just how probable is that on a 10 grade scale? 1?
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,595
1st Team Squad
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1st Team Squad
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,595 |
I certainly hope not!
But you could also add a top striker to you list Herc. We've only really got Bobby, and he's not even a proper striker. So to claim we're a real top side I'd say we at least need 1 striker of class (and consistency - >>cough cough Sturridge coug cough<<) in the squad.
So we're a bit like Leicester a few years back. We can win it, but we need to avoid injuries alltogether for the full length of the season. And just how probable is that on a 10 grade scale? 1? Yeah I agree van, our first eleven look capable of winning the league, on paper, however you have to factor in Klopp's training regime and the consequent tiredness with its injury potential as the season progresses.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926
Liverpool Legend
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Liverpool Legend
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926 |
The thing is we need a Fekir type player along with a half back and a decent reserve keeper to be a fully rounded competitive force at the top level. It looks likely we won't get all or even any of those. There's no doubt we've already had a good transfer window, but we're still in a position where injury to a couple of key players could see us struggle against the top sides. Whilst we're deeper, squad wise we still haven't plumbed the depth required. Could it be we're destined forever to dance on the edge of greatness but fated never to embrace it? I don't think we need Fekir as we have 4-5 Good attacking players, namely Salah, Mane, Keita, Shaqiri and even Firmino who has been a n10 for a long time. I do think we need a top cover for Firmino though and I don't think Fekir is that type of player.
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,595
1st Team Squad
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1st Team Squad
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,595 |
The thing is we need a Fekir type player along with a half back and a decent reserve keeper to be a fully rounded competitive force at the top level. It looks likely we won't get all or even any of those. There's no doubt we've already had a good transfer window, but we're still in a position where injury to a couple of key players could see us struggle against the top sides. Whilst we're deeper, squad wise we still haven't plumbed the depth required. Could it be we're destined forever to dance on the edge of greatness but fated never to embrace it? I don't think we need Fekir as we have 4-5 Good attacking players, namely Salah, Mane, Keita, Shaqiri and even Firmino who has been a n10 for a long time. I do think we need a top cover for Firmino though and I don't think Fekir is that type of player. I said a Fekir type player, i.e. a creative attacking player in the Coutinho mould, capable of playmaking and scoring. I'd settle for that in addition to a halfback and backup keeper. We have Sturridge as a backup striker and for once looking fit.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926
Liverpool Legend
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Liverpool Legend
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926 |
The thing is we need a Fekir type player along with a half back and a decent reserve keeper to be a fully rounded competitive force at the top level. It looks likely we won't get all or even any of those. There's no doubt we've already had a good transfer window, but we're still in a position where injury to a couple of key players could see us struggle against the top sides. Whilst we're deeper, squad wise we still haven't plumbed the depth required. Could it be we're destined forever to dance on the edge of greatness but fated never to embrace it? I don't think we need Fekir as we have 4-5 Good attacking players, namely Salah, Mane, Keita, Shaqiri and even Firmino who has been a n10 for a long time. I do think we need a top cover for Firmino though and I don't think Fekir is that type of player. in the Coutinho mould, capable of playmaking and scoring. I'd settle for that in addition to a halfback and backup keeper. We have Sturridge as a backup striker and for once looking fit. We have bought Shaqiri, had Salah, Mane and Lallana. That's 4 players for 2 positions, so forget about it
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,542
Under 23 Player
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Under 23 Player
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,542 |
In an ideal world we'd have a CB and striker/AM, but within reason and a budget, we've had a great window.
City's squad is clearly much better, but we can match them 11 vs 11 and we do have some quality depth, if not in all positions.
If 2-3 key players avoid major injuries, I expect a real title challenge this season.
Spurs are sticking to their yearly budget of nothing, Mourinho's a spent force, Chelsea aren't looking too hopeful.
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