Just finished watching LFC vs. City and I am as encouraged as I have been in a long time.
Firstly I was just happy Coates came into the team instead of Carragher and Sterling came in instead of Downing. It was clearly the right move. It shows he has faith in ability ahead of quality and he can back it up.
Initial reaction is that we should have won the game. Skertel backpass that leads to my the Tevez goal lost us the game. There was a moment when Allen was under pressure in a similar position but he actually lifts his head. Skertel was cursing himself after the game and he knows the mistake he made there.
It was a shame because I think Skertel was alongside Allen in contention for man of the match award before that. After all is said and done one can't fault his performance and I am personally delighted that he has signed a new long term contract.
Initially today when I went and check the line up I was hoping Carragher would not be in the team replacing Agger. To my delight I saw that he was not and I was extremely happy to see Coates get a start and do well. In the end hopefully Coates can keep getting playing time and will keep progressing. I think it was a huge step in the right direction today.
That Sterling was also in the team after a brilliant game and man of the match performance from him in the hearts game I was surprised. Having said that I just found this out about him. He does not lack confidence: http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/brendan-rodgers-give-raheem-sterling-a-tongue-lashing-in-sneak-peak-of-being-liverpool/ and he needs to put in his place at times. There is always a danger when a kid at that age gets this much confidence and learns this quickly it can go to his head and I hope that Brendan Rodgers and his parent makes sure that does not happen.
Start is promising but there have been numerous chances where we have seen kids fall after a promising start.
When Shelvey came on for Lucas that would have been probably the most disapointing thing for me today. It looked like he pulled up with a hamstring injury which may leave him out for a 3-4 weeks. Lets hope it is just a slight tear and that he comes back more quickly than that but all in all one has to be delighted with the response and play by shelvey who came into the team for him. Just read the news that he now can be out for 2 months.(wrote the start of the blog right after the game and now going through it to complete it). http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/aug/27/liverpool-thigh-injury-lucas-leiva
What a talent that man is. I think long term he can be the new Gerrard and I like to see that Brendan Rodger plays him ahead of Jordan henderson. I think this is a sign that he is putting quality infront of age and experience and today it worked for him. Sterling, Shelvey, Allen and Kelly are all young players that will only get better with playing time. The same can be said for Borini who I thought had a tough 1st half today (probably one of the poorest performers) but came back in second half and showed some good touches and came close to scoring when making a great run infront of Kompany to meet Sterlings stellar cross (1st half perhaps).
I think we now realise why Rodgers have been raving about him, Joe allen that is.
Steven Gerrard had a better game today and was closer to his performances in the Euros. He had some meassured touches and some shots on goal but I think one can see that he is lacking some match fitness and some industry. To me he used to be a dynamo and that box to box player that we loved to see. There was many times after LFC lost the ball today where he did not chase back as quickly as I would have liked. Whether that is down to his mental attitude, him getting older or just lack of match fitness I do not know. Luckily we had enough men in midfield doing the running for him but I would like to see perhaps Sahin coming in and giving him some competition for that place in the squad. It will ensure that he does all the running necessary for us to win games and keep the pressure on throughout the 90 minutes.
Allen was deservedly man of the match today and the player that impressed me the most. We started to see tendencies of what he can do against WBA in the first half and he grew more confident today. Not only in possession he was terrific but he really did well winning back the ball and it happened on at least 5 occasions in the game. It is a quality we definitely need especially today, considering Lucas went off so early and you have to give credit to Allen for stepping up in this manner. It was just a shame we did not go on to win the game when we overall just about shaded it I though in terms of quality and chances.
Kelly was unlucky on the first goal we conceded. He tried to bring it down on his thigh and just needed to be facing more away from the goal when he did that. It is harsh to criticize him after such a decent game however. I like the way he played and how he managed to control tevez and ballotelli when being one on one with them several times.
City struggled to hold on possession today because of pressing game and partly because of the players we had in the middle of the park. The reason it worked so well may be because of the personnel they employed in the centre of the park (de jonge and yaya toure). Toure is better in possession than De Jonge and is more a man who is accomplished at tackling and winning the ball back. When Silva came on towards the end of the second half they started gaining more of the possession and he holds onto the ball much better and finds gaps in spaces that many others do not see.
I think he will be back in City's starting 11 by next game and that Toure will also play further up the pitch than he did. Rodwell came on and did well as well but Silva was the one who really changed things.
Enrique came in and shored up the defence towards the end and the silly mistake from Skertel is the only reason we do not come away with point in this one. Thought all in all the defence was solid and I hope we continue with Kelly at right back mainly because I think he is a better defender than Johnson.
I remain convinced that Johnson can do an amazing job in midfield. His run into the box where he should have been given a penalty when taken down by Kolarov shows where his best qualities lie (offensively), so why not use that to his advantage at times and play him in that right winger position in a 4231 or in a 433 as part of the forward line. Borini could use a rest and there is not that many other alternatives I think.
Likelyhood of that happening is not great however but it is good to see that we have options now. Downing must realise that he needs to step up his game. I also think Johnson can work on his crossing at pace when up against a defender. Too many times there is a not proper target.
Scott Sinclair just signed for Man City for 6.2M according to Sportsnet World. We could have done with him as I think he is a bigger talent than Downing and for that price he is a bargain. Unfortunately he looks lost to us though. Rodgers must have tried without being able to convince the man and to be fair to him today he is probably joining a better team. I just wonder about playing time. He would get more at LFC.
If anyone saw his goal last weekend (no. 5 vs. Norwich was it) it was brilliant. He will likely play some at City but probably not as much as he would have liked.
I just also saw this.
They are correct and much needed signings for Tottenham in my opinion. It is just a matter of time before Villas boas gets it right at that club I believe.
I now wonder if Sterling starts against Arsenal or United, who ever we come up against on the weekend. Perhaps it would be better to give him the Hearts game then play downing on the weekend with Sterling on the bench. Burn out is possible.
I think agger is out for 3 matches but if he isnt I still think he should come back in the team.
Comments and thoughts are welcome..
YNWA,
Stian
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