Liverpool 2010/11 Season Thread

[hudson]

I have to say Spurs defending was excellent. I'm kind of happy we were put in our place a bit today. Shows that we still need some quality signings in the summer. We played well, but wasn't our day at all. Second balls just never went our way

[EJG1980]

I'll be interested to see MOTD tonight. The BBC match report said Spurs were the more dominant and the win was well deserved, the F365 report said Liverpool were the more dominate and it was mainly the ref and luck that got Spurs the win! Just goes to show you need to go to the match yourself to really know what went on

Not over yet though, we still need a win against Birmingham next week and putting away teams at the bottom of the table has been our Achilles heel this season.

[hudson]

I watched the game in a bar. It was all Spurs up to the goal and then some. Then apart from the soft pen, we had a lot of possession, but few chances due to some very good defending. We had an excellent chance to level it but Carrol get his header wrong big time.

[prinnysquad]

Terrible penalty decision! Absolutely appalling. Shoulder to shoulder, nothing in it.

[Supergoal]

I stayed up will 4am to watch this game. Oops...

[ShadowDancer]

Just a shame couldn't score at home after putting away so many in the week away from home.

Still think the squad needs a shake up....nothing too drastic, Im not entirely convinced.

[tokyochojin]

Although I'm a Liverpool fan I'm kind of happy about this result. There are those that are getting carried away and saying we can win the league next year, but we need to keep our feet on the ground. We are still lacking quality in defence and have no real wingers to speak of.

Hopefully this wil be addressed in the near future. One thing I have been pleased about is Kuyt's return to a striking role. It gives us more options upfront as at the begninning of the season we had a choice between Torres & Nogood, we now have Carrol, Suarez & Kuyt with Gerrard also waiting in the wings as tbh honest Lucas and Merieles do not deserve to lose their places.

Still, i'm excited about next season and won't be too dissapointed if we miss that piss-poor competition that is the Europa league (why ever did they mess around with the old UEFA cup format?).

[Adrock]

Still, i'm excited about next season and won't be too dissapointed if we miss that piss-poor competition that is the Europa league (why ever did they mess around with the old UEFA cup format?).

Same reason for all the changes that occur in Football, money. The Europa League format currently guarantees a certain amount of group games for clubs to get TV and gate money. Its a shame the competitions are being watered down so much to accomodate the economic benefits but thats the main aim of football right now. Regardless of all of that though I'd still prefer a Champions League format for the elite competition as opposed to straight knockout European Cup. The Europa Leagues problem are the crap teams in it, so a knockout best suits that competition.

As for Liverpool. Carroll is a problem figure at the moment, for me, he hasn't hit it off with Suarez like Kuyt has and the team have played better when he isn't in it. For all of that though he can clearly give the team other options and will certainly improve in his link up with Suarez. Its gonna be an interesting dilemma and I'm looking forward to Dalglish's answer to it. Suarez was stuck out wide left for the last 15-20 minutes and he disappeared. All in all though the biggest problem was the lack of Meireles, when he plays the link up between the midfield four is very slick.

And as for Gerrard, where does he get into the team? Lucas and Spearing are doing a very specialised role that I've not seen Gerrard ever excel in. Suarez and Kuyt have been sensational. My opinion is cashing in on the 30 year old would be the best thing the club could do.

[Street Turk]

Been a bit quiet on here of late...

So:

Henderson in...not sure how I feel about it but time will tell.

Rumours keep linking Raul away as well....and bringing Diego in. Will see. Diego seems a bit spoilt but Suarez arrived with a bad rep and yet appears ok.

I hope we get Adam as I can see him doing the Mcallsiter role i.e. important freekicks and getting the team going. Would like to see a wide player or two and a defender.

[Adrock]

Adam is a player I'm not convinced about at the moment. Whilst he clearly has some superb talent in his repertoire where does he fit into the squad? With Lucas and Gerrard the likely midfield pairing centrally that leaves Henderson, Spearing, Meireles and Adam fighting for 2 spaces.

Of course, the lack of out and out wingers could be the method Dalglish is currently favouring. That'd mean space for players like Meireles to start out wide and move centrally when the need arises. Adam supposedly can play left wing and Henderson has previously played wide too.

[Kit]

So what do you think of Liverpool?s chances this season, folks?

Talk of challenging for the title has surprised me tbh. Top four after the last few years would be a decent enough accomplishment.

[hudson]

Who saying we're favourites for the title? Nah, top four should be the target. If we do that, I'd be chuffed, but this league is growing harder and harder, so I'm trying not to get too carried away.

[abigsmurf]

Top 4 for Liverpool will probably come down to the strength of Arsenal as they seem the most vulnerable of the big four at the moment.

The thing that would make me uneasy as a Liverpool fan would be Dalglish stuffing the midfield. He did it a few games last season and they're not the most entertaining games to watch in the world (dull as a neutral, tense and nervy as a fan). As Liverpool have a rather sizable selection of mid field players now it could mean he intends to ramp up this side of things.

[hudson]

I think our performances perked up a lot after the arrival of Suarez. Hopefully with the new added width we can add a bit more needed spice.

Really hope we keep Aquilani. I would like him to start out as playmaker whilst Gerrard is out. Somehow, I think Kenny isn't looking to start the new season with him

[Adrock]

Adam is the playmaker. That much is obvious. Aquilani is a player I like so its a shame he'll be on his way one way or another.

I dont think Liverpool are gonna pack the midfield, not with Suarez and Carroll both starting. Suarez on the left and Downing on the right is what I think will be the front three. That'll leave Adam, Lucas and Meireles at the moment with Gerrard slotting in for Meireles once he is fit again.

Or in a flatter 4 man midfield Lucas and Adam with Downing and Kuyt or even Meireles again operating on a wing. Henderson, I hope, will be used sparingly this year. Aquilani is going, Spearing is a squad player and Meireles is rumoured to be on his way too. That doesn't exactly leave a wealth of talent in the squad.

By all accounts (I didn't get to watch it) Downing was a big plus from the friendly against Valarenga. Also Agger was back, he is definitely the best defender the club possess. I am still concerned as to the full back situation though, a left full back is needed asap unless Johnson is being deployed there with Kelly/Flanagan carrying on their excellent work down the right hand side.

All in all I think right now is a positive time for the club but expectations need to be tempered slightly. Top four would be an excellent result but I have a feeling its gonna be very difficult.