When Is Agger back?

[Nebraska Red]

and Alonso?

How much are we missing Agger at the back, carragher looks less than half the player he can be playing with Hyppia.

 

Sami has been great for us in the past, but he is well past his sell by date and is struggling with the pace of the game and losing out in the air which was one of his strengths.

 

Without Agger to bring out the ball, we are back to misplaced passes and long balls out of the defense.

 

We should get all our players to "retire" from international play.

[Paul_LFC]

It'll probably be another month to be honest mate (for both Agger and Xabi).

[Nebraska Red]

if it's another month, we might see things get worse for our defense before they get better.

 

both Everton and Arsenal will rip the back out of Hyppia given half a chance.

 

is it time to try somebody else at the back next to Carragher, or give Mascherano the job of protecting the back 4 the way Hamman used to in the past?

[lfc003]

Carra has struggled badly all season not just since Sami came back into the side.

[Magic8Ball]

and Alonso?

How much are we missing Agger at the back, carragher looks less than half the player he can be playing with Hyppia.

 

Sami has been great for us in the past, but he is well past his sell by date and is struggling with the pace of the game and losing out in the air which was one of his strengths.

 

Without Agger to bring out the ball, we are back to misplaced passes and long balls out of the defense.

 

We should get all our players to "retire" from international play.

Keep saying it: these injuries are showing rafa rotation policy up

 

1 - He rarely rotates the defense - but this is showing we dont have the young players to sub for Carra or Agger

we actually need 2 different types of sub CH one for Carra (young) and one for Agger ( can be older) - we have neither

 

2 - Normally for Alonso we have Gerrard, for Gerrard we have Alonso- but when both are effectively out we're screwed, Gerrard maybe playing but he's in the worst form I've seen him in - I don't think he's over his injury.

 

3 - We still lack wingers, Pennant doesnt score goals, Benayoun is not a winger, he's an average link striker, Babel is a trainee striker (could be a good one), Leto is not ready, Kewell ( probably wont be back)

 

4 - Strikers - Torres looks the real deal but needs time, Voronin (good worker offers options doesnt score enough), Kuyt (good worker offers options doesnt score enough) Crouch ( I think we've outgrown him!)

 

Basically Rafa had 2 choices when it came to rotation

 

1 - Go for variety

2 - Like for Like

 

BOTH require the players be good enough, in this case I doubt the players are good enough, either through talent or timing( ie its too soon for them)

 

Summary:

 

We need better quality attacking players and more cover in defense

[alias75]

id be tempted to go with 2 more defensive type midfielders until hes back, Mascherano plus either Sissoko or maybe even Lucas with Gerrard wide right. Have the 2 protecting the central defence allowing Gerrard the freedom to attack without having to worry about exposing Hyppia and Carragher.

[Nebraska Red]

Sissoko!!

 

after Wednesday's game, I would not let him near the pitch for a long time. he needs to sharpen his game in the reserves before he is ready to get back into the first 11.

 

ditch Riise at left back, put in Arbeloa.

 

play Mascherano just in front of the back 4.

 

Babel on the left of mid, Gerrard and Leiva in the middle, Benayoun on the right with Torres on his own up front.

 

not for the whole season, but at least until we get one of Agger and Alonso back in the side.

[Zoob]

Agger is a huge miss. Carra and Hyypia both hoof the ball too much. Once Riise was moved to left back 3 out of our back 4 were hoofing it.

[Mike]

seen agger with his rather attractive beau in the directors box today. thought he was back in a few weeks and boy do we need him.

hyypia today...horror show.

[Magic8Ball]

id be tempted to go with 2 more defensive type midfielders until hes back, Mascherano plus either Sissoko or maybe even Lucas with Gerrard wide right. Have the 2 protecting the central defence allowing Gerrard the freedom to attack without having to worry about exposing Hyppia and Carragher.

yup 4231 till we get our players back

[Nebraska Red]

Agger is a huge miss. Carra and Hyypia both hoof the ball too much. Once Riise was moved to left back 3 out of our back 4 were hoofing it.

 

after our game was over, I watched the Barcelona game and it was the complete opposite of our game.

 

Barca have not got a stellar defense, but they have players who are comfy on the ball, can make a simple pass and they are supported by a midfield that is happy to come and get the ball deep in their own half.

 

i don't recall seeing the ball hoofed by anybody in a barca shirt , other than the goalie.

[Nerik]

Agger and Alonso have been out 2 1/2 weeks and diagnosis was 4-6 weeks total with Rafa saying he hoped for 4 weeks seeing that we have a good medical team. 4 weeks would make them available for Everton. We need them against Arsenal. Against Everton it will be more blood and thunder and they will not be missed as much as we think IMO.

[Sion]

Agger and Alonso have been out 2 1/2 weeks and diagnosis was 4-6 weeks total with Rafa saying he hoped for 4 weeks seeing that we have a good medical team. 4 weeks would make them available for Everton. We need them against Arsenal. Against Everton it will be more blood and thunder and they will not be missed as much as we think IMO.

 

We don't play Arsenal for 3 weeks, that'll mean they've been out practically 6 weeks, at least one should be fit.

[Ahmed Dimwitson]

after our game was over, I watched the Barcelona game and it was the complete opposite of our game.

 

Barca have not got a stellar defense, but they have players who are comfy on the ball, can make a simple pass and they are supported by a midfield that is happy to come and get the ball deep in their own half.

 

i don't recall seeing the ball hoofed by anybody in a barca shirt , other than the goalie.

 

Barcas weakest part is their defence and the main reason they will find it difficult to win anything this year and the main reason they won nothing last year. Interesting you choose to do benchmarking with them.

 

Refering to your previous posts on this thread..I am afraid they make little sense, Carra is struggling and you blame Hyypia? Would it not be logical to blame Carragher if Carragher has a poor run in form?

Edited October 7, 2007 by Ahmed Dimwitson

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

seen agger with his rather attractive beau in the directors box today. thought he was back in a few weeks and boy do we need him.

hyypia today...horror show.

at fault for #2 and generally rubbish at most other times

[growler]

don't worry, carra now has a 2 week holiday to recover and get back into form.

[adayinthelife]

at fault for #2 and generally rubbish at most other times

 

All on his 34th birthday...

 

Carragher was woeful too I thought, which is far more worrying.

[Zoob]

Barcas weakest part is their defence and the main reason they will find it difficult to win anything this year and the main reason they won nothing last year. Interesting you choose to do benchmarking with them.

 

Barcelona's defence this year isn't too different from the one that won them the 2 titles and the CL over the last 3 years.

 

In any case, I think the point about Barca's defence wasn't made in relation to their ability to defend but in relation to how they help the team as a whole - they are all comfortable on the ball, and can therefore contribute to the attack, start moves, help keep posession etc. In the second half, and with only Finnan comfortable on the ball, Hyypia, Carra and Riise just regularly gave the ball away, either from bad passes or aimless long balls, when building from the back and keeping posession would have obviously helped us a lot more.

[Nebraska Red]

Barcelona's defence this year isn't too different from the one that won them the 2 titles and the CL over the last 3 years.

 

In any case, I think the point about Barca's defence wasn't made in relation to their ability to defend but in relation to how they help the team as a whole - they are all comfortable on the ball, and can therefore contribute to the attack, start moves, help keep posession etc. In the second half, and with only Finnan comfortable on the ball, Hyypia, Carra and Riise just regularly gave the ball away, either from bad passes or aimless long balls, when building from the back and keeping posession would have obviously helped us a lot more.

 

 

eggsackerley.

[growler]

sissoko should be no where near our team. sorry, but haven't been a fan of his ever. other than a good engine, I don't see what he brings to the team. If we did have a 12million offer for him in the summer, we should have taken it, and used the money to tie up masch.

 

makes you think too, what are we protecting Lucas from? Cesc did ok didn't he? ronaldo found his way? If he's good enough he'll fight his way through.

 

yes, we are missing agger, but its not as if we can buy a replacement. If he is a good replacement, logic would say he would want to play in the first team.

[Tim]

4 - Strikers - Voronin (good worker offers options doesnt score enough),

 

 

Erm, 4 goals in 5 starts. Not bad really.

[Beardsley]

Blaming Hyypia for the goal? Yes, he lost the header, but the fact is, Carrager didn't cover his man well enough and is more at blame. In fact, I'm loosing my patience with Carra. Usually a good defender, but he brings nothing else. Always either hoofing it or playing the safe ball over the line, giving away possession. We need better.

 

Sissoko, I still have faith. For you who claim he's just an athlete; he needs games. Started the season very well, had upped his passing (still not good enough, though), and yes, he had a prime stinker against Marsailles. But, given more games, I'm certain he will come good and be a FORCE no-one can ignore in the middle. And, by the way, the way the game is evolving with speed being of the essence, you need athletes who are also fotball players (waiting for responses a la "he is JUST an athlete....).

 

Put Gerrard on the right, Pennant on the left and Momo and Sissoko in the middle until Xabi comes back. We will be allright.

[Rimbeux]

Everton will be too soon said the boss

[realtarragona]

Not soon enough. Hyypia lost us that game today.

[IgPig]

Everton will be too soon said the boss

 

More concerned with getting him back for Arsenal, personally.