Tuesday Notes And Thoughts
by SamFels on Feb 14, 2012 6:11 PM GMT
in 8. Midweek Thoughts
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Back from a small vacation, and with a couple thoughts.
-This will be the last time the blog talks about this, I hope. I know it'll be the last time I talk about it, even if there is news concerning it in the future. But quite simply, this whole Suarez affair is maybe the only time, other than the reign of Messrs. Statler and Waldorf, that I was sort of embarrassed to be a Liverpool supporter. Not that the other side of this didn't act like total children as well, but at some point someone has to be an adult, and it's too late to do so after everything has boiled over.
As I've said before, most of us think Suarez was harshly dealt with. It seemed the FA was piling on to an already unpopular player to win points. But that doesn't mean Suarez wasn't in the wrong at all and that the club enabled this feeling, which it did. As soon as LFC decided not to appeal, they should have made Suarez apologize for the incident. If you're accepting the punishment, you're accepting blame. You can't half ass that. Whether Suarez feels he did anything wrong or not, he's an employee of the club and they should have made him offer an apology right there and then and take the air out of this balloon. While cultural difference is something of a valid excuse, Suarez is still in England where what he said would be frowned upon, and he should have said sorry and learned from it. He didn't until it was too late. And now we're left with unhappy sponsors, the club looking foolish, and a player who may always be uncomfortable In the country, which may lead to an early departure.
This was a time for Liverpool to set an example on how to be mature in a tough situation, and they completely biffed it. I'd like to believe this is the last time this will ever happen.
-As for the match on Saturday, I can't tell you how thrilled I am that I decided to just burn right through until 4:30am on the West Coast to watch it. Decision of the weekend, let me tell you.
While I'm not as hard on Kenny as others, he got it all wrong on Saturday. No way that Kuyt and Downing should have been starting in midfield. Whatever Patrice Evra is, the one thing we can be sure of is that he's been getting torched recently defensively. Giving him a winger with no nous to deal with was not the way to take advantage of that. If Craig Bellamy could have walked, he should have been out there. Shift Gerrard out wide to give him something to deal with, anything.
As for Downing, I've been his last defender even though I was never keen on his purchase, but I've given up hope at this point. He looks completely shot, and Liverpool don't have the time or a less important match left for him to work it out in any other case than every other midfielder being tired. He doesn't provide crossing, trickery, or pace from the wide area, but other than that he's just fine. When Liverpool go shopping again in the summer, wide midfield is still going to be an area of need. Because on a Champions League or even a Champions League-chasing team, Downing is at best a squad player.
That's all for now.
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Kuyt
Agree he’s less of a threat than Gerrard all else equal, but he had just burned Evra for the game-winner in the FA cup.
That was really far more Evra screwing everything up on that play than anything Kuyt did.
His only marketable skill any more is getting in to advantageous positions, but his pace has declined so much that even that’s become a challenge at this level.
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He gets into advantageous positions still, he just can’t do it quickly. I think its his poor touch and poor crossing ability combined with his lack of pace, which always makes him a questionable selection when the counter attack is going to be prominent
"The bell that tolls for all in boxing belongs to a cash register."
-Bob Verdi
by Waldo Rastel on Feb 14, 2012 8:19 PM GMT up reply actions
Tatical Question
for those resident experts……
After reviewing the Zonal Marking match review here why did Kenny not slot Hendo back with Spearing a la the 4-2-3-1?
I may be missing something but when Spearing was struggling but these are the types of tactical mistakes that Kenny has been making lately.
I think it has more to do with Hendo
Hendo is an attacking CM. I don’t know how well he would do in that role. As we all know, Gerrard can play anywhere so I think he opted to have him drop deeper instead. Unfortunately it makes it a lot harder for him to influence games from back there.
"The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they don't know the game" -Bill Shankly
by Bromantic on Feb 15, 2012 12:20 PM GMT via mobile up reply actions
Personally
I would have much rather had Stevie playing forward and Hendo helping out back with Spearo.
Stevie IMHO is a much better forward player, especially down 2-0 why not take a shot?
I think he was more worried about going further down
At which point the game would have been out of reach. Spearing wasn’t that bad at shielding the defense. We only remember his one poor decision that led directly to the goal. Overall though, United didn’t have a ton good chances from open play.
"The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they don't know the game" -Bill Shankly
Spearing
It also looked like he lost Scholes on that header but apart from that and the giveaway that led to Man U’s goal I agree that neither he nor the basic defense was the problem. Man U scored on a corner and a fast break, and they didn’t have many near misses.
For an "attacking mid"
Hendo doesn’t do much. How many assists does he have? How many good crosses has he played in? How many runs has he made or filled in to clean up chances? He’s on the pitch, working hard, is about the best I’d say about his season. He hasn’t been horrible (like some recent purchases), but he hasn’t made anything happen either. I’m in full agreement with Nole, that it should have been Henderson deeper, with Gerrard further up the pitch.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
Hendo hasn't been awful
As an attacking mid, he is usually good for a few beautiful through balls a game. Now, usually no one is quick enough to latch onto them, but he plays them like he is supposed to. Again though, I don’t think you really want him in a holding mid role. He doesn’t have the mindset for it. You might as well have put Carra back in there again then.
"The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they don't know the game" -Bill Shankly
I think that's a big part of the problem
team speed. Aside from Bells, who has it? Suarez is exceptionally quick in tight spaces, but he’s not gonna outrun anyone in the open field. Carroll may be faster when he gets going, but that takes a bit, and it takes him actually knowing what he’s trying to do to get going, which is rare. Kuyt? Gerrard? Henderson? Maxi? Downing? We have absolutely 0 speed in attack, and that is why I’d love to add Lucas from Sao Paulo, among others. He can fly. Add a right wing with speed. Add a striker with speed, 2 if we sell Suarez (or Kuyt, or Carroll).
We really need some speed in attack, and just don’t have it at all right now. I think that gives other teams confidence that they can play a higher line, without the fear of anyone being able to burn them for doing so. I thought that was definitely the case against Man U, where they simply had no concern about not being able to get back and recover even if we were able to make a break. Because when we did, who was gonna burn them for it?
http://sportsandgrits.com/
I think you are spot on
Your assessment of how teams play us is also 100% right. They only give us that space when Bellamy is out there.
"The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they don't know the game" -Bill Shankly
by Bromantic on Feb 15, 2012 4:26 PM GMT via mobile up reply actions
Which is probably why we look better with him than without
not only does he give the threat that he’s capable of being, but he opens up room for others to operate better.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
Agreed
Hendo’s work rate is fantastic. He would have been my choice playing deep because Stevie G is capable of anything at anytime playing forward. Look at his run against MCFC. While Hendo is solid going forward but he is not world class like Stevie!
I'm sure I will get crushed for this
But why do we not play Carroll and Suarez together with Gerrard more? I know injuries and Suspensions have limited that. But those were our only real chances. maybe throw Glen in the RW slot and Bellars in the left. Gerrard up top in a 4-4-2 diamond with Spearing behind him? This should solve our creativity issues, and also why do we let Shelvey rot on the bench if we are seeking a creative strike type? He has the qualities to be a great attacking mid, but maybe I over rate him.
Love to all in Liverpool nation
You answered your own question initially.
The injury to Gerrard is a lot of it and then Surez’s suspension. However, I’m not 100% sure this would be extremely effective. I think Carroll would just become a bystander in a formation like this. He seems to lack the vision, understanding and movement that Gerrard and Suarez share. I think they would end up just playing around him. At that point, you might as well have Bellamy or Kuyt up there instead to pounce on the scraps.
If Gerrard is played with just Carroll, at least Gerrard can then tailor his game to finding Carroll’s head.
"The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they don't know the game" -Bill Shankly
Sadly Stew Downing needs to sit for a long and maybe come back strong next season
but right now it can’t be justified starting him in league games.
If there was one game we needed Bellamy’s resurgence for, it was the ManU match.
"By far the worst performers on the (R*dskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
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