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How far is the team away from being complete

Rory Fitzgerald

By Rory Fitzgerald
in Liverpool FC

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Rory Fitzgerald

Rory Fitzgerald

Posted
Posted

I was thinking last night what area's of the pitch needed improving. Assuming Sheik Your Pockets and Listen to the Jingle gets hold of the club, where on the pitch would Rafa channel the funds. I tried to see who would be considered strong and weak and where funds are badly needed. I know most of us do it by gut but I tried to 'rank' the players by % of how good they are in terms of being of enough quality to be in a winning team:

 

Reina (90%)

 

Finnan (85%) Hyypia (90%) Carra (95%) Agger (90%) Riise (90%)

That defence has shown in the Prem last season and in Europe that they can live with the best, no need to tinker here I think, though Hyypia will inevitably need to be replaced in the short term

 

Pennant (70%) Gerrard (100%) Alonso (95%) Sissoko (90%) Zenden (75%) Gonzalez (75%) Garcia (80%)

This is where the dilemma comes. At the moment Gerrard, Alonso and Sissoko are our three outstanding midfielders. The others are not worth a place on a consistent basis IMO. I can see the reason why Rafa tries to play Stevie elsewhere, because Gerrard is the player he is, if he can get him to play to his level by playing in a different position then we get to play our 3 consistent midfielders. However, by only playing 2 of those 3 in the center, we are sacrificing a player that we know can play at the level we want in order to fit in two wingers that just are not up to the level (yet). I thought briefly about the strengths of each player

 

Gerrard

  1. Athletic
  2. Good passer of the ball
  3. Can tackle
  4. Likes to drive forward

Sissoko

  1. Great engine
  2. Good tackler
  3. Plays better chasing the ball, passing is still erratic though getting better

Alonso

  1. Great passer of the ball
  2. Always makes himself available
  3. Plays well in front of the back 4 but rarely gets ahead of the ball when we attack like Gerrard

I can see how Benitez would try and play Sissoko and Alonso in the center and let Gerrard come in off the right wing but that hasnt happened this season and if you are going to play Gerrard in the center I feel its awfully difficult to drop Sissoko or Alonso and play Pennant or Gonzalez. Garcia I believe should be ahead of either of these on the wings. The guy can be anonymous in games but he can also provide that killer ball or drift in from the wings to score goals.

 

Sissoko and Alonso combination gives energy and drive off the ball combined with Alonso's willingness to get on the ball and link defence and attack. Gerrard in the center tends not to sink that deep and can drive forward looking for passes and create options, though support for the back 4 is limited.

 

Are we going to have to bite the bullet when Sissoko gets back cause Gerrard is playing very well in the center? And I dont mean given Sissoko the bullet cause the guy is an animal but what would you do especially considering that the wide men arent up to much ?

 

Kuyt (90%) Bellamy (80%) Crouch (85%) Fowler (75%)

I feel Kuyt is a very strong player for us. He is willing, makes himself available, strong, good in the air, clever with the ball at his feet and a willing shooter. I think Bellamy could be getting there but at the moment Crouch is slightly ahead of him for me. Fowler lacks an engine, I think he is a great option off the bench if we need a goal as we are likely to be in the opposition half alot so Fowler's movement would be restricted to the box area rather than a game where we sit back more and its thumped forward with Growler chasing ball from flank to flank and back to the keeper.

 

But midfield was my main question.

 

 

 

Sorry, my brain in mush. I am trying to say something meaningful but cant get it across right :(

Rimbeux

Rimbeux

Posted
Posted

Our issues are still out wide if we want to play functionally, if we want to add some real creativity and variation, we need a number 10. At the back, in central midfield and leading the line, I think we're good enough.

crisps

crisps

Posted
Posted (edited)

Reina (90%)

Finnan (85%) Hyypia (80%) Carra (85%) Agger (85%) Riise (80%)

Pennant (30%) Gerrard (100%) Alonso (90%) Sissoko (85%) Zenden (40%) Gonzalez (45%) Garcia (65%)

Kuyt (85%) Bellamy (70%) Crouch (55%) Fowler (50%)

Edited by mikeyj
Benitez

Benitez

Posted
Posted

OK, don't see the need for %'s like, this is football not maths, not sure how you can do that!

 

I think more than anything we are missing a spark. IE, maybe a couple attacking players who have that bit of magic.

 

And these players tend to cost money, which may be why we are missing them!

 

Look at the Mancs for instance. I really wouldn't swap any of our defenders (apart from left back maybe ;) ), goalies, or central midfielders for any of theirs. And I wouldn't swap Kuyt for Saha, cos Kuyt has a stronger all round game. And I wouldn't swap any of our squad players for theirs. But, and it's a big but, what they have is 2 players in Ronaldo and Rooney who have that something extra. And thats the kind of thing we are missing imo. And that is what can make all the difference.

Rory Fitzgerald

Rory Fitzgerald

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Nah, yis are right Anny and Benitez. I was not thinking and my idea was to see who was far below everyone else as in who's place is under threat first. Which ever you quanify/qualify it, I think its the 2 wingers that are under threat first

anny road

anny road

Posted
Posted

Nah, yis are right Anny and Benitez. I was not thinking and my idea was to see who was far below everyone else as in who's place is under threat first. Which ever you quanify/qualify it, I think its the 2 wingers that are under threat first

 

 

just gave me the panics then as I thought I wwas back in school and hadnt revised

 

again

fyds

fyds

Posted
Posted

 

To continue with the Silly System:

 

Reina (90%)

Finnan (75%) Hyypia (70%) Carra (90%) Agger (85%) Riise (80%)

Pennant (70%) Gerrard (100%) Alonso (100%) Sissoko (100%) Zenden (45%) Gonzalez (60%) Garcia (85%)

Kuyt (90%) Bellamy (70%) Crouch (65%) Fowler (40%)

anny road

anny road

Posted
Posted

We need two game-winning, man-beating, goal-scoring, ball-flicking genius attackign players, basically.

 

One wideman, one number 10. A Robben and a Rooney. *washes mouth out with soap*

 

 

aaahhh the myth that is wayne rooney

anny road

anny road

Posted
Posted

The good one, not the fat, disinterested one with the beard.

 

Maybe a Bergkamp instead, then.

 

 

it amazes me that there is so much discussion about Gerrards form when he has been like he has this season.......

 

i was chatting to a United st holder on Sat and he was saying the same thing..he said you could count on your hands the games when he has looked up for it this season....

honourablegeorge

honourablegeorge

Posted
Posted

You get a lot more slack when you'r etop of the league. Besides, he's their darling, and the media hate us.

 

Rooney out of position (on the left, or in midfield) happens every feckin' game, never mentioned or criticised.

johngibo YPC

johngibo YPC

Posted
Posted

it amazes me that there is so much discussion about Gerrards form when he has been like he has this season.......

 

i was chatting to a United st holder on Sat and he was saying the same thing..he said you could count on your hands the games when he has looked up for it this season....

 

Its funny how those who actually watch a team can have such a different opinion than those who don't. Including Andy Gray and the like. Like when everyone was saying how great Gerrard was playing in the 2004/05 season expect those who actually went to the match.

I thought Johnson was doing great for Everton til i spoke to a couple of bluenose regulars

Guest RedIsMyColour

Guest RedIsMyColour

Posted
Posted

Agree that we lack flair, match winning players.

 

We need a Cronaldo in our ranks.

Leo No.8

Leo No.8

Posted
Posted (edited)

We need two game-winning, man-beating, goal-scoring, ball-flicking genius attackign players, basically.

 

One wideman, one number 10. A Robben and a Rooney. *washes mouth out with soap*

 

This is exactly the issue.

 

I said the other day that the major reason we're so far behind United and Chelsea is financial strength. They have the clout to go and spend £20-30m on one player if he's truly special and that is what separates them from the rest.

 

In general thrilling attacking players at the very highest level cost huge amounts of money. You can buy potential, you can buy decent but you can't buy guaranteed to change your first team for the better for anything under £10m in all honesty. Rafa's only two £10m+ signings are Alonso and Kuyt - you get what you pay for.

 

Look at United - they spent £26m on Rooney and £12.5m on Ronaldo who for me are the players that set them apart from us. That is the best part of £40m - two entire season's transfer budget for us. Saha £14m, Robben cost around £13m as far as I can remember, could have been more. Drogba £22m etc etc.

 

The players that set Chelsea and United apart from us have been bought for more money than we could ever afford. Hopefully, with investment we can spend the kind of money required to but top quality attacking players for wide and central areas. That is the difference between drawing 0-0 with the likes of Portsmouth who come to defend, and seeing them torn apart by flowing attacking football.

 

I think both Pennant and Gonzalez have potential. But to win the league Gonzalez should be making occasional appearances from the bench and Pennant should be playing when we have several injuries. The simple truth is that neither would get near the United or Chelsea sides, and I say that as someone who completely supported signing both players because they were the best options with our financial means.

 

Yes Rafa has had money to spend - but the kind of amount which means you should get 3rd or 4th, not title winning money. We'll finish 3rd or 4th at a canter.

Edited by Leo No.8
Maldini

Maldini

Posted
Posted

I think we lack a playmaker in the final third. Someone who can come up with something unpredictable. People will say Garcia is that player, but he creates chances for himself, I think we need an Aimar or a Bergkamp who can play those clever little passes in the final 20 yards.

fred milne

fred milne

Posted
Posted (edited)

Look at the Mancs for instance. I really wouldn't swap any of our defenders (apart from left back maybe ;) ), goalies, or central midfielders for any of theirs. And I wouldn't swap Kuyt for Saha, cos Kuyt has a stronger all round game. But, and it's a big but, what they have is 2 players in Ronaldo and Rooney who have that something extra.

Reina vs Van der Saar

Finnan vs Neville

Hyypia vs Ferdinand

Carragher vs Vidic

Riise vs Heinze

Pennant vs Ronaldo

Gerrard vs Scholes

Alonso vs Carrick

Garcia vs Giggs

Kuyt vs Rooney

Bellamy vs Saha

 

You can argue whether it should be Pennant or Sissoko but I don't think the difference in our points tallies is just down to Rooney and Ronaldo. At least based on this season's form, too many of our players come off second-best in a direct comparison.

Edited by fred milne

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