It's so great they sold Suarez and replaced him with Lambert.
They're significantly weaker, we're the most improved squad in the world this summer.
They're significantly weaker, we're the most improved squad in the world this summer.
Liverpool 2014/15 | WARNING: Contains strong amounts of Scouse nonsense
- Thread starter Wumminator
- Start date
I actually didn't mind Hodgson while he was at Pool. Wanted him to be given a chance to show if he was good enough and couldn't understand our vitriol when he kept coming out with inane comments.
But now I find him repulsive. NOW he is doing more damage to Liverpool than he ever could while he was there. He's also fcking up the English national side which is a shame to an extent.
Yes, karma will drop it right on your foot when you least expect it.
Indeed, all that gloating 3 games in with United harbouring injuries, you should get that foot looked at.
My feet look fine. You may want to comb all my posts for mention of injuries though. Not like you to be making stuff up*
*just like you to be making stuff up
When did I say that you mentioned injuries ?
You did enjoy the gloating through the opening 3 games despite United fans pointing out we had 10 of them though, like you said karma is a bitch.
Why should that be an issue, after all you have LvG now and he's the answer to all your problems. Despite a huge squad, Arsenal had almost twice as many injury 'days' as both United and Liverpool last season and still managed 4th, Liverpool almost the same number of injuries as United however with a much smaller squad. Using injuries is a pretty lame excuse in general for a top club, though it can be viable in certain circumstances, overall they really should be abler to cover most injuries.
As far as this season is concerned, currently United have 7 x 1st team squad players out and Liverpool 6. United have lost 31 (highest in the PL) x player match days to Liverpool's 22 (3rd highest, Newcastle have had 28). It's just we've covered the loss better because despite all United fans' assertions to the contrary, it seems we have a better squad.
Don't really disagree with any of that, though I think certain exceptional scenarios can be strongly impacted by injuries. There was some table showing how United had the most matches lost to injury in 2011/12, and City had the least. Given they won the title that year on goal difference, it's perhaps reasonable to assume that United would have gained at least one point by having Vidic or another star player available. I'm sure there are other examples, but that's an extreme one that comes to mind.
I would say you have a superior playing style/system/whatever than us right now, the product of good coaching over a sustained time period. I don't think I'd agree that you have a better squad however. Which goes to show that you can buy all the talent you want, but without proper organization it's all a bit futile.
There's a new coach at the helm of United who is implementing a new system and unable to use any of his signings due to one reason or another. You want to use those opening 3 games to reassure yourself that Liverpool currently has a better squad that's fine, it's just not very convincing in the real world.
Injuries have a huge impact in general and using Arsenal who have a title challenging squad finishing fourth merely backs that up, especially when you factor in the longevity of the manager and his system, the only point you can make is that Arsene should have sorted it by now. Liverpool did fantastically well with injuries last season, the timing of losing Sturridge and keeping your core players fit for pretty much the whole season gave you a platform on which to cock up a title race.
All that without even mentioning Champions League.
or the FA instructing the refs to give as many penalties as possible and to not book Suarez for diving so Liverpool could win the league. maybe
Thats chelsea.
Correct. I can see them sweeping the board this year.
I would agree with you on the coaching aspect, it's interesting to read Suso's words in the Echo this weekend, referring to BR's style of coaching being very 'Spanish-like' and that it took some time to implement. I've no doubt LvG will follow a similar path coaching something a little different to that which most of the United squad are used to.
When I talk about a 'better squad' what I'm referring to is strong cover for every position. United have better cover in certain areas (Strikers) but are weaker in others (CBs & FBs). In fact probably our weakest area for cover is GK, hopefully something it looks like we are going to rectify next month. The fact that Gasmanc is crying poverty above, again, just goes to endorse my opinion (which isn't a dig, just a perceived fact) that overall my assessment of the relative squads is accurate.
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2013/14 1st Team Players, starts out of a possible 38 games : Enrique 6 (replaced by Cisshoko 12 games and Flanagan), Agger 16 (replaced by Sakho 17 games or Toure 15), Lucas 20, Coutinho 28, Sterling 24, Sturridge 26. For a small squad there were plenty of absentees, in fact around the same number as the whole of the much larger United squad, so yeah, fantastically well - you just didn't hear us moan about them as much as some.
Basically what your saying is that Sterling Coutinho and Sturridge started the vast majority of your games and the likes of Agger (sold) and Enrique being replaced by Cisshoko who only started 12 and your highly rated Flanagan started 23 (isn't he your proposed starter?). We can all pop over to whoscored and drag up a few pointless stats but stats don't take into account the clubs managerial situations or if the club is fully settled.
Gasmanc isn't "crying poverty", as you put it, but trying to get into your head that injuries play a part in league seasons has left me pissing into the wind, I have pointed out on various occasions that we are 3 games in and your comparable is last season where United under Moyes and a settled Liverpool under Rodgers have no basis for comparison whatsoever.
I don't ignore anyone on this site as it stands, the ones that were on my list are now banned, you and dumbstar with his comical Falcao bitterness are right up there though, terrible posters but at least dumbs has his comical moments.
But yea if your not willing to accept that injuries do play a major part then perhaps don't persist with the posts you've only just recently made be-moaning "the owl", just get on with it, you've plenty of cover for Henderson and Sturridge right.
ROFL ! You really are absolutely full of yourself aren't you. As if being on your 'ignore list' is some sort of humiliation. Someone really should strike a line through 'corn on the ..'.
What really pisses you off, and leaves you decrying them, is any poster that doesn't agree with your opinion and subsequently tones down their responses to form some sort of consensus. This obviously really gets to you, and not just in this thread, others offering a viewpoint contrary to yours which you refute and they then have the temerity to fail to accept your acumen, how dare they ! When that doesn't work you end up throwing in some totally unrelated wummery, usually including the words 'slip' or 'bottled' (or words to that effect) or a personal attack, into the post just to try and get under their skin.
Flanagan (who was a novice at the beginning of last season) started 23, but that was covering at both LB & RB, and I doubt anyone, except you, sees 1st teamers getting to play in only 63% and 68% of matches as irrelevant (esp. in a small squad which you conveniently and consistently fail to mention). Agger started last season as the incumbent, and newly appointed vice-captain, until injured, so you pointing out that he was sold this Summer is completely irrelevant to the point being made.
And I didn't mention anything about United's 3 games per se, in fact I stated clearly that injuries can play a part .. but don't let that spoil your party, just redact anything which doesn't suit your agenda.
I stated this season and last season's injury records and said that injuries should not be used as an excuse except, especially for a team with a squad the size of United's, in extreme circumstances, e.g if RvP and Falcao or maybe Evans, Smalling and Jones, were all out at the same time. That aside you'd expect managers of the quality of LvG and BR, both now with large squads, to be able to make formational, positional and personnel changes that can cover the absentees. However do continue 'crying poverty', until the shoe is on the other foot of course.
Brilliant post would read again.
Especially the part where you pretend you know what pisses me off, perhaps I try and get under your skin because you post complete nonsense, your tagline "full member" is best left 'well alone.
Your claiming you didn't have a fortunate run with regards to injuries last season and yet retort with a post where your three of your best attacking outlets played the majority and all this without the mention of your talisman and captain and lets not forget one of the World's best performers who you also failed to mention because he's simply never injured.
Injuries can be crippling (ba dum tish) and it isn't just the amount but the timing can also be cruel or kind depending on how they fall, this is why your getting your hair off (your stats don't help) your wrong and can't admit it.
I think LvG will get the best from this squad but can he first have it available before you go off gloating how superior your extremely light looking squad is.
Cheers
You might have a more balanced squad, though unless I'm forgetting someone aren't your only CBs Sahko, Lovren, Toure and Skrtel? Don't see how that's any more cover than Evans, Smalling, Jones and Rojo tbh. Certainly greater depth at fullback after the two acquisitions from Spain (Moreno looks a player), central midfield, and possibly in wide positions. Basically Liverpool's squad looks to me like the product of Rodgers having 4 windows to gradually shape the playing staff to what suits him. Much closer to a final, ideal product. Also it's hard not to admire the overall youth of Liverpool's squad and key players (Gerrard aside). United's looks that of a team who have seen 3 managers in 16 months. I think we have more star power than Liverpool, but unfortunately a good chunk of that talent is tied up in 3 players who all share the same position.
As far as the injuries question... I'm not one for crying about them since they're inevitable and every team has to deal with that challenge (except Chelsea seemingly) , but I do think its best to reserve judgement on the potential of united''s squad until our 6 first team signings have played more than about 100mins combined.
You forgot Blackett btw
so that's 5 and the less demanding fixture list too, you can't tell them though Who did Chelsea being in?
Surely the difference in our squad is huge.
Going from Cleverley to di Maria in midfield, Carrick to Herrera, and Fletcher to Blind, Hernandez to Falcao, Evra to Shaw, aging Rio to Rojo, that's a whole lot of squad improvement.
You must be referring to how much better their first XI has played this season, but that's not the context I'm using for the term "improved squad".
We brought in a worldclass striker in a position where we are already over stocked with two of the best strikers.
Brought in no wingers, in midfield yes we improved but it remains to be seen if we did enough. I think we could have got in another striker. Carrick of a couple of seasons ago is better than herrera so thats not a significant improvement as I feel we should do better than carrick as our first choice midfielder.
In defense, we lost vidic and have bought no one of that quality so our CB options have actually gotten weaker. It remains to be seen if shaw can effectively take over from evra though.
Chelsea on the other hand have significantly upgraded their strikers. From torres, etoo and ba to costa(not far off from falcao and younger), remy and drogba.
In midfield, they have fabregas. A better player than any of our midfielders who will help take them to another level but due to quantity you can give it to us.
In defense, they have signed a better player right now(shaw can be better in future) in luis.
So while we both upgraded our strikers, they needed it more so have to give it to them.
In midfield, they signed one worldclass player while we signed a worldclass midfielder/winger hybrid and two good players so can give it to us.
In defense, both of us strengthened our leftbacks but our defense got weaker while theirs got stronger.
Not to mention the upgrade of curtois over cech as well for them. All for a netspend of close to zero.
I was very impressed by Sterling lastnight. He didnt have a great game and was targeted for a bit of hefty physical treatment but kept at it and was rewarded. Henderson also gave a good performance in the middle of the park. I hope neither are carry any knocks out of that game.
Sturridge is one or two weeks away from being back according to Rodgers.
Who do you play balotelli with or do you go with a coutinho sterling support behind balotelli?
Coutinho - Sterling support for me personally. Coutinho lost his place in the team after some average performances so hopefully that'll be the kick up the arse he needs to find his pre-season form, which was brilliant.
I'd give Lambert a chance. I think we need to do everything possible to keep Sterling central.
When Sturridge, Balotelli and Sterling are all fit what is the go to formation at Liverpool? The diamond?
The diamond like at Spurs. My hope is that when everyone is fit that we go with (I know this concept is flawed as we'll have to rotate): Mignolet (Valdes if he signs); Manquillo, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno; Gerrard, Henderson, Lallana, Sterling; Sturridge, Balotelli.
Yeah I would do that myself. Coutinho to pick a pass for a good running Sterling or Balotelli as a target man.
Sterling would be central behind Balotelli for me.
I like that team a lot, to be fair. Lots of energy and very flexible.
Who do you replace Sturridge with?
Nah, hope Lambert doesn't start against Villa. He's had a few good cameos off the bench, that's where I'd keep him for now.
Either try Sterling up front alongside Balotelli or go with Mario on his own in a different formation.
Either try Sterling up front alongside Balotelli or go with Mario on his own in a different formation.
Harsh on Lambert. If you're not going to start him against the likes of Villa at Anfield then when does he get his game?
Where does the 20milion pound Markovic fit into this system?
A hell of an expensive sub?
A hell of an expensive sub?
Cup games mainly. I don't think he'll start many league games over the season unless we have bad injury problems.
Not sure what Rodgers will do against Villa though, could well start him.
I do like the way Rogers is playing. 3 quick forwards and counter-attacking football. Quite deadly when it clicks.
Can see Wenger trying to emulate it with Welbeck, Sanchez, Walcott etc.
Can see Wenger trying to emulate it with Welbeck, Sanchez, Walcott etc.
Emre Can out for up to 6 weeks
Sturridge as we know out for up to 3 weeks too. Also, Johnson, Skrtel and Flanagan all still out so back 5 is easy enough to guess against Villa.
Sturridge as we know out for up to 3 weeks too. Also, Johnson, Skrtel and Flanagan all still out so back 5 is easy enough to guess against Villa.
Emre Can out for up to 6 weeks
Sturridge as we know out for up to 3 weeks too. Also, Johnson, Skrtel and Flanagan all still out so back 5 is easy enough to guess against Villa.
Rodgers said on talksport this morning that Sturridge will be out for one or two weeks. Apparently Allen is questionable as well (he seems to get injured every time he finds form).