Friday, August 24, 2012

Game verdict vs. Hearts and Nuri Sahin - more info and some videos

LFC vs. Hearts

Liverpool beat Hearts in a in a 1-0 win. Great result all things considered and I thought we played ok even though we put forward a proper line up. 

Many had decent games but it becomes more and more clear which players we will need to get rid of. Carragher depsite captaining and not conceeding gets worse and worse. It surprises me that he gets so many games still considering age and lack of pace and composure. To me it is time to give Danny Wilson and Coates time on the pitch when we can to improve. Even though they may not have played that well there yet. Carra is past it and should become a coach. 

Spearing had an ok game but is not the terrier we used to see under Dagliesh when he took over as caretaker manager. for Roy Hodgson. I think he needs to go. He is 24 and has over the past year and a half had more than enough chances. He is a local lad and I normally are inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt but in all honesty he is simply not good enough to cut it in the PL. Send him to championship where he can cut it and get rid of him.

Sterling was man of the match and he looks wise beyond his years. He was by far the best player on the pitch and reminds me in some ways about Gareth bale in the way he takes players on down that left side. He is however right footed and comes inside in Ashley-cole-style and shoots well. He did that on serveral occasions against Hearts and and I say we should give him more minutes against city on Sunday.

It may not be wise to start him although he is that good we probably could. When you see him play it is easy to forget he is only 17 years of age. He looks a much more mature player but give him 25 to 30 minutes probably would not hurt if we need a bit of pace and flair down the side. I think he could create a lot of problems for Zabaleta on city's right back. 

I think Sterling did excellent when he intercepted a cross field pass in the second half to break through their defence and set up Fabio Borinio for a 100 % chance that he failed to score on. One cant say it was a terrible finish but hitting the post with power just isnt good enough there. Take a bit of weight off and make sure you get it inside the post. Many would claim it was unlucky as well. 

I though henderson did well on the right in the midfield 3. It changes a bit when you play a 4 3 3. The midfield 3 are able to pull in a bit more centrally and I think it fits Henderson better. Yes he can pull out wide at times and Rodgers probably would want him to at times to get width but for the most part I maintain that he has more potential at central midfield. I hope that Brendan Rodgers can get the best out of him and Downing and get some return on the investment. Henderson also set up borini very well with a cross in from the right. It was an awkward bounce for Fabio but he should have got contact on the ball. 

I will give Borini credit for pressing and causing the own goal that won us the game however. I do not think he got contact with the ball but he disturbed the defender enough to deflect it into his own net. Nice cross from kelly as well and if he continues to play left back he should keep trying to get forward into those positions and get crosses in. I like that Rodgers is playing him a lot and would like to see that continue.

Much of his first season success will be judged on how he can work with players that maybe do not have all the qualities that Rodgers would like in a player. I would put downing, adam, carroll and one or two others in that category. If he can get these players to work and get better in a system that will have to be fluid depending on injuries and type of opposition (Stoke for example plays a more physical game and tactics will likely be changed slightly), I think he has a better chance of having success in his first season.

Suarez and Borini ability to finish well will also make a big difference to his success.  I hope after the first PL game that we work on that on the training ground. 

Second half we let Hearts into the game and despite it being an intimidating atmosphere I think LFC with the quality of players and personnel that was on the field could have done much better in terms of winning the ball back and retaining possession. To Hearts credit their players did well, applied pressure and actually passed it around quite well. They also had several decent strikes from distance and probably deserved a goal in the tie. 

The fans impressed me at Tynecastle and they made a decent amount of noise. The athmosphere for jack robinson, sterling and a few other young ones like shelvey and morgan would have been intimidating and they played well. 

I would probably say that this was not Shelveys best game but he did ok. It thin with more playing time he can only get better and I have spoken before about his mobility and shooting ability and I think it will come more to the fore over time. I like that he has gotten a lot of playing time and suspect if if Lucas or Allen would get injured Shelvey would come in and take their place. It depends on if henderson gets considered as a defensive midfielder as well. 

Jack Robinson had a terrific game I thought. He keeps improving and considering Agger is out on the weekend and if Enrique is still injured I would be open to play Robinson on left back and move Johnson to right back and Kelly to centre back next to Skertel. Downing came in and played left back for Robinson and did alright. I would like to see him at right mid but if it doesn't work and we have enrique back for City why not try johnson at right mid and give young Jack robinson some minutes at left back. I think he will only grow with playing time.

Kelly has played centre back at reserve level coming through the ranks and although he is a great right back I think he would do a job through the middle against city. He has got more pace than Carragher and a good football brain. He is also physical and can play a pass so why not try him there. Although he does not have the organizational of Carragher I would prefer giving him a chance on the weekend. 

I say this consindering that Coates or Wilson did not get any minutes yesterday against Hearts so I wonder if this is a sign of things to come going forward. It is a shame because I think both central defenders have potential if given time and coaching by Jaime Carragher and the rest of the coaching staff at Anfield. 

Speaking of Anfield  I expect we will beat Hearts more handily and Rodgers may be inclined to use Suarez early to put the tie to bed.
 
I hope Sterling still gets a chance and it could be good tie to see how Suarez functions coming in from one of the winger positions. As mentioned in my last post I think Borini is a better finisher and hence may be a better man to play up front on his own. 

If not playing suarez just behind borini would work as well in a 4231. 

3 other signings of note today - Steven Fletcher (12M). It is a bit steep but he would have been a decent signing for that money and will score goals if gets playing time. Sunderland needed a striker next to Frazier campell and they will complement each other. Although he probably overpaid a bit that is good business. 

 Matt Jarvis to Westham is also a decent signing. I said I would have liked to see him at Liverpool but after today I think Raheem sterling and Downing can play that left wing or mid position well. 

I think Adam Johnson would be a fantastic signing for us (as it would be an improvement on Downing) if we could get him for 10M. Having said that if we can beat City to Sinclair for 5M that may be better business. 
Also be interested to see his new guy Oussama Assidi play for us on the wing. He seems a decent talent as well. Perhaps we get to see him against hearts next week. 

I do not know much about this guy but seems decent value at 7M. Perhaps Ivanovic is still first choice at Chelsea but after letting Boswinga go I think they needed back up and I think they wanted to use Luis centrally primarily. Look forward to seeing Azpillcueta in action. Chelsea have spent a lot of money now. Considering what they have spent would Michael essien be available (he is not getting a start) and considering how injury prone he is as well he could be available for a decent price.

Again we have got to give Brendan Rodgers time to excel. He will come up good eventually and we are starting to see signs. 

Excited about City game on Sunday. Below are some extra info, video and such on Nuri sahin as well. 

Comments and thoughts are welcome. 

YNWA,
Stian

sga5555


Nuri Sahin

Looks like he will be ready by tomorrow. Fingers crossed. Many are saying he already is but I have not seen the confirmation. 




Check out the videos of Sahin at Dortmont. Looks like a quality player. Would he get a start on Saturday if gets ready tomorrow. 

Game against City is probably going to come a bit too soon for him but who knows.. Maybe he will be revealed at half time. 

Would be brilliant. I still think we need to get rid of Spearing before the end of the season. 

Getting in Dempsey with Adam would be another great signing despite the age gap. These are the players we will have to go for and hard decisions that have to be made if we are going to take steps forward. 

Things are looking up and I am optimistic after todays game. 

at

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