The missing ingredient & LFC Player of the Season 06-07

[Guest Bernie]

So, we are only three weeks or so away from the start of another Premiership season in which we all hope No. 19 will be delivered. Assuming it happens, who/what do you think will make the difference between our beloved cup specialists of recent seasons and relentless championship winners in 06-07? In which areas are we really going to see the team take a step up to overhaul Chelsea, and most importantly for this thread, who is your prediction for our player of the season? Is it going to be the year that Stevie G's awe-inspiring displays take us to the title? or is it going to be the year that a consistent striker rescues points when we're behind away, and turns tight draws into wins? Perhaps it's going to be a new import or promoted youth team player who starts slowly and then becomes indespensible as we go on a second half of the season unbeaten run?

 

For my two pence worth, I'm getting more excited by Bellamy's acquisition, and Fowler's pre-season fitness, I'm particularly interested to see how Benitez permutates Gonzales, Kewell, Riise and Aurelio down the left, and whether our right-sided signing will balance our midfield enough to let Gerrard go back to the middle permanently. I'm wondering whether on the basis of two pre-season games, Palleta is ready to shift either of our first choice centre-backs, or if there might be too many new faces in our defence allow it to to gel into a mean defensive unit quickly enough. However, I'm really looking forward to seeing Sissoko's second season. He was immense last time round, but I think he'll really be even more special this season. iven how much football they've played in the last year, i'm expecting dips from World Cup players, but Sissoko will be chomping at the bit to show his worth alongside those guys that went to germany, and his industrious play will be a key driving force in the months ahead whether we play with three in central midfield or not.

[smithdown]

Lol

 

Go ed Bernie lad.

 

Not long now mate.

[Guest Cally77]

Lets have it!

[ifanew]

It will be interesting to see how he rotates the squad given the new aquisitions and also what our formation is going to be; whether he will stick to a paticular formation or adapt it dependent either on the opposition, or the form of particular players.

 

Whatever happens I can't wait.

[Dublinred4ever]

I'm a little worried that the defensive solidity we had last season might be compromised by the introduction of Paletta, Agger, Aurelio and possibly Alves.

 

I'm sure they're all going to be good players but last season the back four and pepe were working like clockwork, and the argument could be made, that if it ain't broke then don't fix it.

 

Hopefully my concerns are unfounded

[Stevie H]

reminiscent of the famous rashid 'war cry'.

 

though i agree that our left side is going to be very interesting with four real quality players to rotate there now.

[jimmylibel]

reminiscent of the famous rashid 'war cry'.

 

though i agree that our left side is going to be very interesting with four real quality players to rotate there now.

 

And Riise.

[Stevie H]

And Riise.

oof. bit harsh on the pasty ginger monoped there jim.

[beejay]

The first task to me is to make sure we do the same things that last year took us to our record premiership points tally. We did this by having consistent runs of clean sheets and wins to the extent that not only did we expect to win but the opposition thought so too.

 

Our main weaknesses last year were not scoring enough and failing to beat our closest rivals (1 win, 1 draw and 4 league defeats against chelsea, manu & arsenal).

 

Rafa seems to me to be trying to introduce more pace into the team so we can finish teams off - we had to cling on to too many 1-0's last year when the chances we created should have seen us run out easy 2 or 3-0 winners. The bench will also be pretty strong this year with more options for tactical change.

 

I would be well happy to hear the press giving us a hard time as being clinical & ruthless as we put a stranglehold on the opposition and grind out wins. Then once we come to the big games to play without fear and take our chances.

 

We have a tough first month so we need a bit of luck to kick us off.

[Guest Bernie]

reminiscent of the famous rashid 'war cry'.

 

though i agree that our left side is going to be very interesting with four real quality players to rotate there now.

 

War cry? Skipper's face says all you need to know about our intentions this year.

[Huyton_Red]

 

We have a tough first month so we need a bit of luck to kick us off.

 

We had a sh'te start last year and that cost us the league title, first eight games we dropped 14 points, won 2, drew 4 and lost 2. That allowed Chelsea to coast all season with no pressure on them

 

We need to keep constant pressure on Chelsea this season, I think they will be easier to beat, he is going to change his system to a 4-4-2 to accomadate the superstars he has been forced to buy and that will involved lampard and ballack in central midfield which is horribly inbalanced.