Liverpool 2010/11 Season Thread

[SharkSkin-Man]

Actually thinking about it, Maxi came in for a couple of games instead of Veron in that kind of role for Argentina. I actually wouldn't mind giving him a punt in centre midfield, very neat and tidy, good awareness, doesn't lose the ball a lot...could do worse.

[hudson]

Yeah defo. Defo need more creativity coming from the centre. We looked a bit clueless at times last night. I thought we might see the last of the Carra long ball when Roy came in. He's our Xabi?

[SharkSkin-Man]

Carra - A Libero for the 21st century, our Beckenbauer.

[Scythe]

To me its all about fluidity of role changes, if one moves up the other covers etc.
We have to get passed Alonso now, he's gone and I wish he'd stayed but we have to play more intelligently with our off the ball positioning as we can't depend on inch perfect 40 yard balls any more.

One touch, pass and move should be the liverpool way anyway surely?

I'm worried with the way we are looking a little more static these days although pressure of the ball has been good the defence seems to be sitting too deep (maybe as a side effect of a lack of pace in defence).

[SharkSkin-Man]

Played very deep against Arsenal too, with Carra as the only slow player in defence on that day. It just looks like Hodgson likes the security of a flatter, deeper line of 4 at the back at all times, not unlike Ged.

[mr_sockochris]

Not sure i'd fancy him in the middle in a 4-4-1-1, he's a bit lightweight for that.

You say that but Spurs seem to do pretty damn well with Huddlestone and Modric in the middle and even the most defensive of the two (Huddlestone) is hardly known for his tackling. Two from Gerrard, Aquilani or Cole with Lucas/Poulsen would have made much more sense last night than what we saw.

[Adrock]

The deal for Aquilani wasn't 20mil outright was it? It was largely based upon him being fit and actually playing games.

Maybe if they get rid of him on loan they dont have to pay any extra money. It could be a financial thing. Either that or Woy is stupid, I've read/heard Poulsen is a lot better than say Mascherano or Lucas with distribution so maybe he could do a role in there as part of the pair breaking things up.

If we sell Mascherano and loan Aquilani out we're left with Gerrard, Poulsen and Lucas to choose from. Thats a concern when it comes to injuries, Spearing is obviously about too but I've never really seen enough of him to make a judgement.

Ah well, at least we have that Chinese takeover....oh wait..............

[abigsmurf]

I'm intrigued to know what keeps causing these people to pull out mid negotiation.

It can't be cheap to get to that stage (plus it must be time consuming for people with very little spare time). Is there something especially toxic about Liverpool from an investment PoV that isn't being revealed in the public figures? They must have a good idea about the current debt and outgoings before they begin talks.

[hudson]

A mixture of bluffs, back-firing bluffs, and better bids. Maybe Huang as gone with his tale between his legs?

[mr_sockochris]

Aquilani has gone to Juventus on loan

If Gerrard gets injured now, which he always does at some point, we have NO cover whatsoever in terms of creativity.

[SharkSkin-Man]

The deal for Aquilani wasn't 20mil outright was it? It was largely based upon him being fit and actually playing games.

Fee was 20m Euros (NOT pounds as is always reported). So £16.35m.
Spread out over 4 payments/2 years.

Add-ons:
300,000 EURO for every year Liverpool qualify for the Champions League from 2010/11 to 2014/15

250,000 EURO everytime the player reaches 35 appearancs, 70 appearances, 105 appeances and then 140 appearances.

1 million EURO the first time Liverpool either wins the Premier League or Champions League by 30 June 2014.


Edit: Also, out of Lucas, Mash and Poulsen I would suggest Lucas is far and away the best passer of the three.

[Nu-Eclipse]

Also, out of Lucas, Mash and Poulsen I would suggest Lucas is far and away the best passer of the three.

Not trying to be funny, but we're in more dire straits than Mark Knopfler if that's the case.

Lucas' passing ability is rank average on a good day, surely? And this is coming from somebody who actually appreciates him as a player overall. Box-to-Box (if allowed)? Yes, definitely. Expansive and creative passing? No.

[SharkSkin-Man]

I guess it depends what one means by 'good' when talking about centre mids.

With everyone fit it looks like one of Lucas, Mash or Poulsen will play next to Gerrard. So for me in that situation 'good' is simply not losing it, and moving it on quickly and generally being a steady player, holding your position - leaving Gerrard to do what he does.

Lucas is no Alonso in terms of vision and range of passing, but if you sit and look through the (slightly boring) pass completion stats for our games he is more often than not top of the midfielders, often around the 90-95% mark.

Mascherano is normally very good, so I was perhaps being a bit harsh on him, but he does have the occasional erratic game where his passing is all over the shop.


In terms of creativity, it's now Gerrard or nothing in the middle really.

[Adrock]

I agree with Sharkskin, Lucas is one of the most efficient player we have with the ball. He wont set the world alight with raking defence splitting passes but his job is to get the ball and recycle it.

He needs to get it to the more creative players and let them do their job, thats the exact same role Mascherano and Poulsen (by all accounts) do. Our problem is obviously the lack of creativity if and when Gerrard is unavailable for selection. That was also clearly shown at Trabzonspor.

Tonight should be interesting, if they start with Balotelli up top I think it'll be doing Liverpool a favour. The Italian game is miles behind the Premier League when it comes to pace so I'm hoping it'll take him a while to adjust to the game in England, which Liverpool may be able to use to their advantage.

[paul]

Not trying to be funny, but we're in more dire straits than Mark Knopfler if that's the case.

Lucas' passing ability is rank average on a good day, surely? And this is coming from somebody who actually appreciates him as a player overall. Box-to-Box (if allowed)? Yes, definitely. Expansive and creative passing? No.

Maybe the truth is somewhere in the middle. He's no Alonso, but there again I've seen him play plenty of quality balls further up the pitch. So I don't believe it's true to that he's lacking in that department.