We are half-way through the campaign and here are my verdicts of the season so far. It all started positive with 2 wins out of 3 and the only loss was away against city in a match we played well in until the first goal.
In my opinion it all changed when sturridge got injured, and Rodgers made a lot of different changes that never succeeded. It looks like Balotelli and Lambert doesn't fit the liverpool way of playing football where everyone has to work hard all the time and never give up.
It is easy to say this now, having seen Balotelli being a flop, but I would rather prefer Aspas to be Sturridge alternative rather than Balotelli. Aspas would at least work his ass of, and there would be no complains about that.
But looking at the team, I have to say that my biggest worries is about the goalkeeper. The need for a top-class goalie is really needed, and I don't think we will be in the champions league next year if we don't have a decent goalie by the start of january.
Mignolet seems to be really unsure at the back, and it is a problem when you analyse the goals going against and ask yourself if you believe De Gea, Courtois, Cech, Lloris and even Forster would have stopped that shoot. Cech would be terrific for us in january.
In defence, Skrtel is world class, and I really hope he and Sakho will be played alongside each other in the future, with Lovren as a decent back-up.
Moreno at left-back has a great future ahead of him, and enrique is a decent back-up. We do need a new right-back, but I do look forward to see Flanagan back soon, in my opinion, he could be the new Carragher in terms of cosistency and being a solid player.
In the midfield I do love Henderson and Coutinho. Lallana has proven himself to be a good player and I believe Markovic will be a great player in a few years.
Up front I really look forward to get sturridge back, and Sterling is of course a great player. And knowing Origi is joining up in the summer, do we really need a new striker in january?? I don't think so.
Ballotelli and Lambert are back-ups for now, and maybe the young Jerome Sinclair should be given a chance?
But, at this point, the most important player for me is Lucas. Not a great creative midfielder, but the way he gives the team a balance he is really important. Yes, he makes a few freekicks to many, but one to many rather than no one. When he is on the pitch, the other midfielders and attackers do not have to worry so much about the defence. Lucas is there, and that will give the attackers more room and oppurtunities to create the goals up-front.
The defensive midfielder is more important than people seems to believe.
Do you remember the Real Madrid team back in the days with Zidane, Figo, Raul. Morientes etc.?? Great team, but what happened when Makelele was sold??
Hopefully Emre Can can be a better Lucas than Lucas is, and I do believe he needs to get a few more chances, only time will show.
Another thing that has been hard to understand for me this season is the way Rodgers is changing the team in many ways all the time. To many players are playing to little. 8-9 players should start every game and only be rested sometimes in between. (skrtel, moreno, sakho, henderson, gerrard, coutinho, sterling, sturridge). And never a lot of players at the
same time. You don't see chelsea change to many players, not even arsenal or city who has a way better bench the we do. Hopefully Rodgers will learn from this, but I am not sure.
Looking forward for the game against swansea, but I do believe it will be a draw.
In my opinion it all changed when sturridge got injured, and Rodgers made a lot of different changes that never succeeded. It looks like Balotelli and Lambert doesn't fit the liverpool way of playing football where everyone has to work hard all the time and never give up.
It is easy to say this now, having seen Balotelli being a flop, but I would rather prefer Aspas to be Sturridge alternative rather than Balotelli. Aspas would at least work his ass of, and there would be no complains about that.
But looking at the team, I have to say that my biggest worries is about the goalkeeper. The need for a top-class goalie is really needed, and I don't think we will be in the champions league next year if we don't have a decent goalie by the start of january.
Mignolet seems to be really unsure at the back, and it is a problem when you analyse the goals going against and ask yourself if you believe De Gea, Courtois, Cech, Lloris and even Forster would have stopped that shoot. Cech would be terrific for us in january.
In defence, Skrtel is world class, and I really hope he and Sakho will be played alongside each other in the future, with Lovren as a decent back-up.
Moreno at left-back has a great future ahead of him, and enrique is a decent back-up. We do need a new right-back, but I do look forward to see Flanagan back soon, in my opinion, he could be the new Carragher in terms of cosistency and being a solid player.
In the midfield I do love Henderson and Coutinho. Lallana has proven himself to be a good player and I believe Markovic will be a great player in a few years.
Up front I really look forward to get sturridge back, and Sterling is of course a great player. And knowing Origi is joining up in the summer, do we really need a new striker in january?? I don't think so.
Ballotelli and Lambert are back-ups for now, and maybe the young Jerome Sinclair should be given a chance?
But, at this point, the most important player for me is Lucas. Not a great creative midfielder, but the way he gives the team a balance he is really important. Yes, he makes a few freekicks to many, but one to many rather than no one. When he is on the pitch, the other midfielders and attackers do not have to worry so much about the defence. Lucas is there, and that will give the attackers more room and oppurtunities to create the goals up-front.
The defensive midfielder is more important than people seems to believe.
Do you remember the Real Madrid team back in the days with Zidane, Figo, Raul. Morientes etc.?? Great team, but what happened when Makelele was sold??
Hopefully Emre Can can be a better Lucas than Lucas is, and I do believe he needs to get a few more chances, only time will show.
Another thing that has been hard to understand for me this season is the way Rodgers is changing the team in many ways all the time. To many players are playing to little. 8-9 players should start every game and only be rested sometimes in between. (skrtel, moreno, sakho, henderson, gerrard, coutinho, sterling, sturridge). And never a lot of players at the
same time. You don't see chelsea change to many players, not even arsenal or city who has a way better bench the we do. Hopefully Rodgers will learn from this, but I am not sure.
Looking forward for the game against swansea, but I do believe it will be a draw.
Y
NWA,
Steinar
PS! Steinar I got this 20 mins before the game and did not see it until after so apologies for late submission to the blog. Well written fella.
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