I like pochettino. The performance this last weekend was the most cohesive I've seen them play for a long time.
Liverpool 2014/15 | WARNING: Contains strong amounts of Scouse nonsense
- Thread starter Wumminator
- Start date
Yup, they've looked like headless chickens for ages, now they actually look like they're training as a team during the week. They've got a good squad overall, it was always a danger that a good manager would come and do well with them. Obviously it's too early to tell whether they'll be consistent over the course of a season, but in any case they look better drilled, and Pocchetino strikes me as a sensible manager with a certain philosophy.
Seems to me Rodgers doesn't really rate Sakho, so I expect Skrtel and Lovren to continue. Can't say that really fills me with any glee.
You sure you're thinking of Alberto Moreno there? Haven't seen a replay but I think it was Lovren you're describing there, not Moreno.
Wasn't it him who signed sakho?
I don't think he (Rodgers) knows a thing about defenders or setting up a defence. If he did, Sakho would play and Johnson wouldn't.
His Swansea team were defensively sound in the PL.
This is possible. I've seen Moreno being blamed for 2 goals?? Still think 7 is a little bit generous. It's criminal faffing and waiting for the 1st goal - not that he wants to have the ball but even so... (6)
Yep, but he doesn't seem to trust him to be a first team regular.
I'd agree defensive coaching certainly doesn't seem to be his strength. The same defensive frailties have existed for two years, though it does have something to do with how we play.
Might have been a transfer committee signing, but it was under his regime.
If you guys were as good defensively as you are going forward, you'd win the league.
On Moreno :
There was certainly enough there to suggest that Liverpool have acquired themselves a good footballer.
In the first half, with his side the more assured, he looked comfortable in possession, and had both the speed and willingness to get forward and try to influence the game in the final third. One run, in particular, saw him burn Samir Nasri for pace, delivering a low cross that eventually won the Reds a corner.
And even in the second period, as things unravelled, there were flashes of quality. He linked up neatly with Lazar Markovic, another debutant, in almost providing Jordan Henderson with a sight of goal at one end, and denied Edin Dzeko with a smart covering challenge at the other. He is quick, has a good touch and can travel with the ball.
He showed character, too, to continue despite clearly, and painfully, rolling his ankle late on. A small thing, perhaps, but one which will help endear him to Reds supporters.
Make no mistake, Moreno is an important signing for Liverpool. Left back has been a problem position for longer than most would care to remember, and the club worked hard this summer to thrash out a deal with Sevilla for their top target. They know there is plenty more to come from him.
There was certainly enough there to suggest that Liverpool have acquired themselves a good footballer.
In the first half, with his side the more assured, he looked comfortable in possession, and had both the speed and willingness to get forward and try to influence the game in the final third. One run, in particular, saw him burn Samir Nasri for pace, delivering a low cross that eventually won the Reds a corner.
And even in the second period, as things unravelled, there were flashes of quality. He linked up neatly with Lazar Markovic, another debutant, in almost providing Jordan Henderson with a sight of goal at one end, and denied Edin Dzeko with a smart covering challenge at the other. He is quick, has a good touch and can travel with the ball.
He showed character, too, to continue despite clearly, and painfully, rolling his ankle late on. A small thing, perhaps, but one which will help endear him to Reds supporters.
Make no mistake, Moreno is an important signing for Liverpool. Left back has been a problem position for longer than most would care to remember, and the club worked hard this summer to thrash out a deal with Sevilla for their top target. They know there is plenty more to come from him.
I thought Moreno showed a lot of potential. He just made one mistake that cost them a goal, but he'll learn from that. Seems to have a lot of pace about him too.
I thought he looked good as well, the only thing I'd say in mitigation is that Nasri didn't seem to want to help Zabaleta out many times, leaving him exposed down Liverpool's left hand side (which is why I'm surprised by Rafateria's comment about "burning Nasri for pace", it maybe happened but definitely wasn't a constant of the game as Nasri often wasn't anywhere to be seen). He won't have many games with as much free field to run into, but he's definitely promising.
For all the mistakes Moreno has made against City (actually one major mistake), he is by far Liverpool's best buy this summer. He is a good player and I wouldn't have minded him at United instead of Shaw.
Liverpool's other signings however still confuse me very much. Don't know what Rodgers was thinking by buying that many average players. Maybe with CL he thought he needed them in order to have a big squad, but they won't make it far in the CL with these players.
Liverpool's other signings however still confuse me very much. Don't know what Rodgers was thinking by buying that many average players. Maybe with CL he thought he needed them in order to have a big squad, but they won't make it far in the CL with these players.
Lambert (granted, you can probably have this one)
Lallana
Markovich
Can
Origi (not really to be judged yet)
Manquillo
Moreno
Balotelli
If we take a barometer of Cleverley or Fellaini as average please rate the above as honestly as you can. If you think Cleverley/Fellaini are below average then please list one or two of your own players that you think are average and can compare against.
If you think Cleverley and Fellaini are above average, then God help you and your children.
Lallana
Markovich
Can
Origi (not really to be judged yet)
Manquillo
Moreno
Balotelli
If we take a barometer of Cleverley or Fellaini as average please rate the above as honestly as you can. If you think Cleverley/Fellaini are below average then please list one or two of your own players that you think are average and can compare against.
If you think Cleverley and Fellaini are above average, then God help you and your children.
Well to be fair, Markovich, Can, Manquillo and Moreno are newcomers and it's still too early to tell, really. And it would be weird comparing those players, Can aside, to Cleverley or Fellaini in any case. But most Utd fans agree that a lot of our squad is dross though, so I'm not sure what your point would be.
It's too early to judge our squad. Once Lallana and Flanagan are fit, with Balotelli available, Markovic/Can/Lovren/Moreno/Manquillo all settled in
we will have a better idea.
I am happy we have brought in so many players, just concerned it will break up the continuity we had last season.
Once all fit the manager will be spoilt for choice, whereas last time around he didn't have that luxury but we had a pretty settled team most of the time.
I would be surprised if a couple of players were not sold this week.
we will have a better idea.
I am happy we have brought in so many players, just concerned it will break up the continuity we had last season.
Once all fit the manager will be spoilt for choice, whereas last time around he didn't have that luxury but we had a pretty settled team most of the time.
I would be surprised if a couple of players were not sold this week.
I don't think much of Origi, Can or Lambert but the others could all be excellent signings if they continue their current trajectory. Liverpool's biggest concern would be what to expect from them this season, still a lot of rawness going on.
Peterson is off to Utrecht and there are rumours of Robinson being sold for £1m to QPR. Shame about Robinson, I had high hopes for him when he was breaking through.
That wasn't my comment mate - it was from the Echo. I should have made that clear.
OptaJoe @OptaJoe 1h
5 - Top 5 PL mins/goal at a single club:
Shearer (BR) 106 mins
Sturridge (Liv) 111
Aguero (MC) 113
Lukaku (WBA) 118
Torres (Liv) 121
5 - Top 5 PL mins/goal at a single club:
Shearer (BR) 106 mins
Sturridge (Liv) 111
Aguero (MC) 113
Lukaku (WBA) 118
Torres (Liv) 121
But Suarez.
Well to start with I'd ask you to honestly state how many times you have even seen a 17 yo Origi and a Bundesliga player in Emre Can play ?!
Lambert cost us £4m and has already shown he can do a job, being instrumental in 2 goals out the 3 we have scored so far this season ! When he came on against Southampton he forced their defence to split their attention between him and Sturridge and he did that very well, he also got into the position to force an OG from City. So although he's not a world-beater he has a very good record and is very good at what he does, which is both holding the ball up to bring others into play and creating space for others. He's a little starstruck at the moment though because he had a glorious opportunity to score against City and instead tried to make certain of scoring by crossing it.
Not there over his 3 seasons at Liverpool
That's not going to go down well with the 'Suarez was Liverpool' theorists.You realize you're basically saying his skill was... to be on the pitch?
Interpretation - it's a wonderful thing.
You're basically saying he's Andy Carroll.
And Origi is 19.
Their similarities end with the fact that they're both big and English.
Not there over his 3 seasons at Liverpool
Clearly that is an exaggeration but he literally was the making of you last season.
Conceded 1.34 a game?... I personally wouldn't call that 'defensively sound'. That's quite average if I am honest.
They conceded 51. Nine other teams conceded more, while two other teams also conceded 51.
Yes, 51 goals equates to 1.34 a game.. Thanks for clarifying that. Hence why I mentioned - run of the mill quite average. 9th best in the league would suggest (11th finish) that it is quite run of the mill. In context I guess you could say it's 'defensively sound' but if I am honest it is more run of the mill really.
It's run of the mill when compared to the top teams that spent far more on players. When you compare it to teams of an equal standing (especially ones that have just been promoted) it's really not run of the mill. For their level it's a very good defensive record.
Wait, they finished higher than 9 teams and had a defensive record better than 9 teams? Sounds pretty standard.
No actually, they finished 11th but had the 9th best defensive record, miraculously 2 places above their finish in league table. Such defence wow
Equal 9th though, according to Barneys numbers. Two teams had 51 as well.
No actually, they finished 11th but had the 9th best defensive record, miraculously 2 places above their finish in league table. Such defence wow
Oh my mistake, didn't see that post. Still can't dispute Swansea's defensive fortitude and Barney's stellar logic though.
It's not something I would be happy to report as 'defensively sound' without cooking the circumstances just a little bit. But fair play to him if he wants to do that.
No actually, they finished 11th but had the 9th best defensive record, miraculously 2 places above their finish in league table. Such defence wow