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From: "Stian G. Andersen" <sga555@gmail.com>
To: "Stian Home" <sga555@gmail.com>
Subject: Verdict LFC and signings (Brendan Rodgers is saying he is close to two)
Date: Sun, Aug 18, 2013 21:18
It was great to finally have footie back this weekend and I must say I saw 8 games all together and watched Match of the day at the end of the weekend.
I thought the frist 70 minutes we played well. Although on crosses and in the air there was times where we looked slightly suspect. Mignolet struggled in the air early and with his feet he seemed to take too long on the ball but showed later in the game he is an excellent shot stopper and great one on one.
Last 20 we stand off them a little more and let Stoke take the game to us after having the initiative the whole first half and beyond. Henderson had a few chances he should have put away and to be fair to him he worked tirelessly and got himself in many positions. He has come on a lot and deserve his first team place. I just wonder if he is a bigger talent than Shelvey. It remains to be seen after Shelvey gets a first full season at Swansea.
Sterling came on and did alright but he is not as direct as he was when he started his career at LFC. I remember him when he came on against City and it is a shame he has lost some of that flair.
What bodes well is that Apas has hit the ground running but man of the match for me was Coutinho who keeps showing with his technique, dribbling and excellent through balls and choices that he is going to be perhaps our key player this year. I hope he stays fit.
Gerrard had yet another great game with a lot of touches on the ball. I thought he and Henderson both tired towards the end and I would have liked to see one of them subbed just due to Allen on the bench who is fantastic at holding the ball within the team when he is at his best.
Lucas had an ok but pretty average game in my opinion and our defence was decent despite defending crosses and corners. Agger also had a big blunder and why he raises his hands for that penalty is beyond me. I just do not get it. We are comfortable and probably should have been 2 or 3 up by that point.
I actually think we look more of a threat without downing at the moment. Yes we miss Suarez but not that much due to Sturridge. With Apas a great link up player (I would have liked to see more shots from him) and one who could get goals as well I think we have more goal scorers in the front 4.
Most of the chances yesterday fell to Henderson and Sturridge and luckily Sturridge finished one. A great finish by the way and he was good throughout. I think he will get in or around 20 goals for us this season. What I am more worried about is central mid and centre D.
If Gerrard or Lucas get injured I do not think we have the cover we need now. I would like us to go after a player like Essien (who will be stuck on the bench a lot at Chelsea) or Diame at West Ham. Both are experienced PL players with physicality in that central midfield, they can play defensive mid but can also shoot from distance and offer a goal threat even if they play further back in the field.
Ross Barkley is another talent who had an amazing first game Saturday by the way. Everton has a real talent on their hand there but he has been injury prone so I guess one will have to give him time.
I thought we could have made more changes than just sterling for apas and maybe earlier. Allen for Gerrard perhaps or someone with more defensive discipline like Kelly in for Apas and push Johnson to right wing I would have liked to see when we could not get the second goal.
It should be said that Begovic was amazing on the day and he was part of the reason Stoke stayed in the game.
With the lack of a goal the Stoke kept pressing but did not look all that dangerous other than in the air. Agger is trying to jump but why he lifts his one arm is beyond me. He is one of our best defenders and I hope he stays but that was not impressive. Other than that it was a very good game from our vice captain.
Since Skertel is out of favour (and he is also carrying an injury) I would like to see us bring in another top class defender to keep the pressure on Toure and Agger who both had great games.
Toure was unlucky not to score on his header and I hope he becomes a threat more often going forward on set pieces.
Now we just need a signing or two. Diego Costa scored two for Atletico Madrid today by the way and David Villa got no goals.
I have not seen them but I would like us to sign that guy.
I know little about Willian who we are apparently after but we will just have to wait and see. Rodgers said in the interview that we are looking to bring in one or two. So far net spend is almost negative considering 15M for Carroll, 6M for downing and 6M for Shelvey and 1.5M for Jay Spearing.
The only one I would have liked to have kept and maybe sent out on loan was Shelvey. Maybe pace is an issue but I think he may be a future star. Bold prediction for the season is: Shelvey to get at least 10 goals from his defensive mid position this year.
Enrique had a great game and came close to scoring, and Johnson also almost broke through on a few occasions.
We will have to keep watching but great start to the season, I think there are things to work on but we got three points. With improvement on set pieces and clinical finishing this could turn out to be a good season (meaning 5th).
One or two top class signings could see us fighting for 4th.
YNWA,
Stian
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