Liverpool 2010/11 Season Thread

[Adrock]

January transfer window is a stupid time to try and buy anyone. For that reason I'd happily stick with Morgan or get a free transfer in, on a short term contract.

[Nu-Eclipse]

As much as I dislike Owen, there's no denying he can score goals, therefore he should at least be considered.

Owen hasn't been a goal scorer for years now. I'm sorry, but he just hasn't.

It's going to be a LONG struggle between now and January, methinks.

[Supergoal]

Who thinks we may struggle many matches this side of the next transfer window? Where are the goals coming from?

[Nu-Eclipse]

January transfer window is a stupid time to try and buy anyone.

Seemed to work for the Blue****e with Nikica Jelavic...

[Shozuki]

I'd post in the Arsenal thread but considering no one really reads that ( ) I'd post here, well chuffed with our performance today a clean sheet and 2 goals away from home, not sure what else one can ask for...

Diaby, Arteta and Cazorla looked brill and looks like the Pod is coming good, defensively solid even with our 3rd choice keeper, 2nd choice right back and 2nd choice centre back.

Lovely!

As for Liverpool they'll be fine I reckon - were excellent last week but we were just that good today... I honestly think we'll be hardest challenge for you this season.

[Kit]

Arsenal game was a downer. Gerrard had an absolute mare - gave away the ball for the first goal and couldn't seem to string a pass together. Also Enrique wasn't having the best of games either and in my eyes needs to go; everytime I see him play he gives the ball away unnecessarily.

I don't think Liverpool are capable, with this selection of players, of playing the sort of passing game Rodgers is after. Trying to do so seems to result in a lot of soft goals being given away.

Trying to look for the positive though, Allen looked good again (very energetic and showed off some great technical skill towards the end) and Downing, to my surprise, had a couple of decent runs when he came on.

Spearing & Carroll gone on loan (with no direct replacement for the latter, amazingly, leaving us with only two recognized strikers and raw youngsters in Adam Morgan & Samir Yesil), Joe Cole STILL at the club and a paper-thin squad with just over an hour to go.

This transfer window looks like a complete and utter shambles for us. Only Liverpool could make such a spectacular mess of it like this.

So frustrating it's unreal.

The bench looked desperate today. If Rodgers couldn't get in a replacement for Carroll he should have given him an opportunity to prove himself. I know he's not the greatest passer in the world, and that's a huge part of Rodgers philosophy (keeping the ball), but he will fight tooth and nail. Plus good or bad, it's not like Liverpool have a ton of other options.

Regarding Owen, no chance. His days of being a proper goal poacher are well gone.

[Adrock]

I don't think keeping Carroll was an option. The money he was costing the club was too much to have as a bit part, especially as sporadically as he would have been used.

Today wasn't an issue of whether or not Liverpool had Carroll as an option. Both Suarez and Borini worked tirelessly but had no quality at all on the ball. Gerrard, who was supposed to give the forward thrust from the midfield, was atrocious. Both Sahin and Allen aren't the type to get forward, which is why Shelvey had to come from off the bench.

Not being able to break down the Arsenal defence was the major issue and that was to do with the fact there was no support for Suarez in the final third through the middle of the pitch. He was isolated and the system currently being played demands the midfield get forward and help when possible.

Allen, Sahin and Sterling were all very good today. There are positives to come out of this match but there are also clear weaknesses from the team and, for me, the reliance on Gerrard is a worrying thing.

[sj33]

Rodgers would appear to think that losing Carroll is indeed an issue.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19458601

[Shozuki]

I don't think keeping Carroll was an option. The money he was costing the club was too much to have as a bit part, especially as sporadically as he would have been used.

Today wasn't an issue of whether or not Liverpool had Carroll as an option. Both Suarez and Borini worked tirelessly but had no quality at all on the ball. Gerrard, who was supposed to give the forward thrust from the midfield, was atrocious. Both Sahin and Allen aren't the type to get forward, which is why Shelvey had to come from off the bench.

Not being able to break down the Arsenal defence was the major issue and that was to do with the fact there was no support for Suarez in the final third through the middle of the pitch. He was isolated and the system currently being played demands the midfield get forward and help when possible.

Allen, Sahin and Sterling were all very good today. There are positives to come out of this match but there are also clear weaknesses from the team and, for me, the reliance on Gerrard is a worrying thing.

Good yes, Arteta however was better:

Joe Allen
Passes: 74
Completion: 93%

Nuri Sahin
Passes: 45
Completion: 93%

Mikel Arteta
Passes: 92
Completion: 95%

[rmoxon]

Gerrard just did his usual "Headless chicken/run with the ball and forget to control it" thing that he's been doing for the last 5 years. Liverpool will never be the team their fans feel they should be unless they can learn to keep the ball better. When the play is centred around Gerrard that simply won't happen as he only has one mode, which is to charge forwards like a lunatic. The game today was a stark contrast from that at Southampton where Man U were losing and patiently wore the opposition down.

Joe Allen is very much the man that should be controlling the midfield but he can't becuase he can't rely on his team mates using the ball well when he gives it to them.

[sj33]

Looks like Kop fans should prepare themselves for more belt-tightening.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19463617

[hudson]

Full open letter to fans on official

Yeah, it's a shoddy start, but I still believe we can stay in the premiership

Still not sure why Carrol had to go out on loan when potential signings were not final. I'm all for giving the youngsters a chance, but you need to keep one or two experienced forwards in your side. Whether that be a Kuyt, a Carrol, or even an Owen? Hmm, beggars can't be choosers, I suppose.

[Nu-Eclipse]

Full open letter to fans on official

Still not sure why Carrol had to go out on loan when potential signings were not final.

Seriously, Jon?

It's pretty clear that he originally had no intention whatsoever of letting Andy Carroll go unless there was going to be a replacement. It would appear that he only let Carroll go because a genuine replacement was promised. One didn't materialize. Ergo, the board pulled a double-switch on Rodgers and publicly undermined, with our squad now looking totally bereft of any firepower.

[hudson]

I think Fulham played us. Promising Dempsey, making us think it was safe to loan out Carrol, but Fulham were never going to deal with us all along.

We really shouldn't of loaned him out until a replacement was at Melwood in his undies.

[Nu-Eclipse]

We really shouldn't of loaned him out until a replacement was at Melwood in his undies.

Correct, and again, I believe it is clear that Rodgers would never have done so unless he was promised a replacement by Ian Ayre/FSG (delete as applicable).