Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has faith in his ability

[Mike.]

Wish people would stop saying Torres is useless and doesn't look interested etc. If we gave him some half decent service further up the pitch and gave him support then just maybe we'd see something from him.



Be English I'm afraid.

agree with this about torres, stick him at united and he'd be filling his boots, any striker would be miserable with the supply at liverpool right now, especially away from home

 

[Broyston]

This year, its not a case of how good a player is, but how not bad.

Sadly true, and yet another team not so far from us has probably their most mediocre team in years and still sit top of the table.

 

[Mike.]

Cheers Jones and Godcubed, it merely confirms my feelings about the liverpool central mid. As long as Roy is there i cant see liverpool going forwards, if you cant win away from home you cant make the leap into the top 4

 

[*Jones*]

Wish people would stop saying Torres is useless and doesn't look interested etc. If we gave him some half decent service further up the pitch and gave him support then just maybe we'd see something from him.



Be English I'm afraid.

I hope you don't mean me about Torres? Obviously the service has been dire, but what i'm saying is, when a Babel/N'Gog partnership seems to be working, why change it?


I also don't get the last bit? "be English i'm afraid"?

 

[Mike.]

I hope you don't mean me about Torres? Obviously the service has been dire, but what i'm saying is, when a Babel/N'Gog partnership seems to be working, why change it?


I also don't get the last bit? "be English i'm afraid"?

Pacheco isnt getting the breaks becuase he isnt english, is what Lee is getting at. I can see you losing him soon

 

[GodCubed]

I also don't get the last bit? "be English i'm afraid"?

In answer to "What does Pacheco have to do to get a game". If he were English he'd be getting played left right and centre...

Pacheco isnt getting the breaks becuase he isnt english, is what Lee is getting at. I can see you losing him soon

Unfortunately yes, and equally unfortunately most likely to La Liga. Never really saw him play, but I hear from Liverpool fans that he's absolutely quality, and he did well at the U21s internationals not so long ago.

 

[Lee]

I hope you don't mean me about Torres? Obviously the service has been dire, but what i'm saying is, when a Babel/N'Gog partnership seems to be working, why change it?


I also don't get the last bit? "be English i'm afraid"?

Not just you Jones, but everyone in the entire world. Everyone seems to have PHDs in Psychology and are specialists in body language. Simple fact is Torres is playing a lot deeper this season and has less support.

Rumours and mumblings that Hodgson favors the English Reserve players ahead of the foreign kids.

 

[Broyston]

Quality should be more important than nationality, but as an Englishman I would in theory like to see more local/English players in the first team, but given the choice of Messi or Carlton Cole I know which I would choose........

 

[NunoPeixinho]

Not just you Jones, but everyone in the entire world. Everyone seems to have PHDs in Psychology and are specialists in body language. Simple fact is Torres is playing a lot deeper this season and has less support.

Rumours and mumblings that Hodgson favors the English Reserve players ahead of the foreign kids.

If the reserve players are ****, he would still put them instead of the foreign youngsters like Daniel Pacheco?

 

[*Jones*]

Pacheco isnt getting the breaks becuase he isnt english, is what Lee is getting at. I can see you losing him soon

I thought thats what he was getting at, and i said the exact thing to my dad when I saw Ecclestone was in the starting line up and Pacheco was on the bench! So annoying.

He's just signed a long term contract though, and he's said he wants to go out on loan

 

[Ben]

He's just signed a long term contract though, and he's said he wants to go out on loan

Aye, hopefully he won't do a Nemeth and get lost somewhere in Greece.

 

[vict0ry7]

When Gerrard comes back, he has to play behind the striker or on the right. Preferably taking Dirk's place, who hasn't performed in ages. I think a Gerrard/Johnson partnership on the right would be amazing.

 

[Ben]

When Gerrard comes back, he has to play behind the striker or on the right. Preferably taking Dirk's place, who hasn't performed in ages. I think a Gerrard/Johnson partnership on the right would be amazing.

Who'd cover at right-back then? Fact is, even though Kuyt doesn't look like he plays particularly well, it is often because he is working so hard covering for Johnson. He gives a lot more to the team than most people think.

Reina
Johnson-Kyrgi-Agger-Aurelio
Meireles-Lucas
Kuyt-Gerrard-Maxi
Torres​

That'd be my current side, with the right tactical approach could be a top 4 side. Obviously Woy wouldn't have the balls to drop Carra or Konchesky seeing as he was his own signing. Give Torres better support and service with Gerrard up behind him he should recover some form. Kuyt, Maxi, Lucas and Meireles have the work ethic and quality to dominate the midfield and help Johnson and Aurelio out and Kyrgi and Agger would be a bit more comfortable than Carra and Skrtel at the back.

 

[Alex]

Cheers Jones and Godcubed, it merely confirms my feelings about the liverpool central mid. As long as Roy is there i cant see liverpool going forwards, if you cant win away from home you cant make the leap into the top 4

I agreed with you at the post on the bottom of the last page

 

[Zebedee]

Unfortunately yes, and equally unfortunately most likely to La Liga. Never really saw him play, but I hear from Liverpool fans that he's absolutely quality, and he did well at the U21s internationals not so long ago.

Reminds me a lot of David Villa - especially the role Villa plays for the Spanish national side just drifting in from the left hand side. Not a pigeon catcher winger by any stretch of the imagination, and definitely not going to be a player you'd want to punt long balls to down the channels, and so not really fitted to how Mr.Hodgson currently feels Liverpool should be playing.

 

[Mally]

If the reserve players are ****, he would still put them instead of the foreign youngsters like Daniel Pacheco?

No were just not developing him probably because hes not a young English talent. For example why didn't he start last night? All the youngsters that started last night were British and I think Pacheco is alot better than Ecceleston. Ecceleston played because hes quick and we like to play balls over the top into channels.

As soon as Pacheco came on he was drifting about and linking up with Cole an Babel an looked very promosing with a few through balls an turns. Then we started hitting hopeful balls to him which he was struggling to control under pressure which is understandable for a young lad.

We have loads of flair players coming through, people like Suso, Pacheco and Silva but I can't see them breaking through with the current way we play. Simple as that.

 

[Broyston]

Who'd cover at right-back then? Fact is, even though Kuyt doesn't look like he plays particularly well, it is often because he is working so hard covering for Johnson. He gives a lot more to the team than most people think.

Reina
Johnson-Kyrgi-Agger-Aurelio
Meireles-Lucas
Kuyt-Gerrard-Maxi
Torres​

That'd be my current side, with the right tactical approach could be a top 4 side.

Agreed, the side looks fairly soild. Kuyt provides good cover, but neither he or Maxi are especially creative (although Maxi has been playing better of late). The reason I think Gerrard/Torres worked so well a few years ago was Alonso, he could find them with astute passes, can Meireles? Lucas already proved he can't last year. Where is the flair? Slightly contrary to this argument is I still think we need a "twatter" in midfield, that's why I think Spearing is a better bet currently than Lucas. Lucas may be slightly more rounded, but Spearing will stick those tackles in, and thats what we need, especially away from home.

 

[Lee]

Agreed, the side looks fairly soild. Kuyt provides good cover, but neither he or Maxi are especially creative (although Maxi has been playing better of late). The reason I think Gerrard/Torres worked so well a few years ago was Alonso, he could find them with astute passes, can Meireles? Lucas already proved he can't last year. Where is the flair? Slightly contrary to this argument is I still think we need a "twatter" in midfield, that's why I think Spearing is a better bet currently than Lucas. Lucas may be slightly more rounded, but Spearing will stick those tackles in, and thats what we need, especially away from home.

Tackling players is over-rated. Pressuring players and Interceptions are more important, something which Meireles and Lucas have the athleticism to do. Lucas' passing can also be pretty expansive, I think maybe you're just choosing to selectively ignore this part of his game.

It also really pains me to say this, but Poulsen is a better option than Spearing.

 

[Broyston]

Tackling players is over-rated. Pressuring players and Interceptions are more important, something which Meireles and Lucas have the athleticism to do. Lucas' passing can also be pretty expansive, I think maybe you're just choosing to selectively ignore this part of his game.

It also really pains me to say this, but Poulsen is a better option than Spearing.

OK, maybe I am am a little anti-biased (if you see what I mean) towards Lucas, and frankly most of us are after the last few seasons. But I really just don't see the expansive passing side of his game. In the games he has been allowed to get forward it is his runs that cause more problems than his passing creativity. I think tackling is important, I am not just saying a def mid should be flying in every chance they get, but a determined holding midfielder will turn a 50/50 ball into a 60/40 ball even if not going to ground. Lucas just seems to let things go past him, a few good examples in the Spurs game where Lucas let balls or players find space around him which Mascherano for example wouldn't. A true holding player would allow a Meireles or Gerrard more reign to be a creative influence.

I really feel Spearing is under rated, he has good work rate, positioning and can put his foot in. I have even seen a few very good through balls from him as well this season. Not top class but the best true holding midfielder we currently have. So we shall have to agree to disagree on this one! But Poulsen

 

[Ride The Walrus]

Thank god Damien Comolli seems to want youth players, it's no coincidence that as soon as he joins, Pacheco and Kelly, two of our most promising, sign new contracts. Kelly's been played out of position at RB, and has done great all times he's played. Pacheco is a bright star, but I fear he'll never make it here, young players don't seem to.
Suso is going to be a ******* EPIC player.
Kelly needs a PA upgrade on FM, badly.