With Danny Graham being out today we got to see what Lita could in the Prem when starting a game. Am I the only one who thinks he was absolutely amazing? When he joined the club from Middlesbrough there was alot of talk about him having the wrong attitude and him disrupting the camp, but the way he played today and the effort he gave really shows that he has changed, he gave 100% at all times and was rewarded for doing so. Lita looked great in the air, which he is renown for being good at, his header for the goal was nice, and his header to set Dyer through for the 3rd goal was amazing. But now Brendan has a scenario, When Graham returns to fitness, what happens to Lita? We seen it with Luke Moore, He had faith in the player to get his first goal, I'm not sure how many game it took Moore but he got the goal. What I'm trying to say, is if he take out Lita and puts in Graham, I think that will piss Lita of a treat, it would also piss me off. Graham has had plenty of opportunities to get us points and to get us goals - most noticeably against Arsenal. But when Lita is handed the same chance, he grasps it and scores and gets an assist. For the Chelsea game, if Graham is back from Injury, I would like to see Lita start and Graham on the bench, Lita has me excited. Great game overall, so many positive signs, if we can play like that every week and we can dominate teams for long periods like we did against WBA, we can stay up this season. The lads did the Miners and Brendans dad broud! S.T.I.D
Lita had a great game today, but to rule out Graham is unfair. Both players will be important to us through this season
I'd go along with that, you can't drop a player on form and I thought Lita was excellent today. When fit Graham should be on the bench and have to fight for his place back, nothing wrong with a bit of competition for places
I agree, both players must play their part, I was none to happy with Lita's signing to be honest, still has my reservations, but to be fair he had a cracking game today, and he should get starts, but Graham should as well otherwise it will be a hell of a waste of his talents and the money spent on him.
I know where you are coming from. But having worked with him in the past I reckon Rodgers will get the best out of him - as appears to be the case with Augustien
I'm not ruling out Graham , but the fact he has gone 4 games without scoring, with having plenty of chances to do so, and Lita comes in with 1 start and scores and gets an assist has to mean something
That's how things work out sometimes. Think your being a bit harsh on Graham though. The injury certainly gave Lita his chance. But whose to say Graham wouldn't have got off the mark today??!! The great thing about it, is that we maybe now know we're going to have options. I do agree Lita should start the next game now though, because you can't drop someone who could be on a run of form. Hopefully by then, Graham will be fit again & will be on the bench itching to get his chance again. In a perverse way, the injury might have done Graham a favour. The longer he went without a goal from starting, the more pressure he would have felt on himself & the more likelihood of him being dropped. Destroying any little confidence he might have had left!! Possibly coming off the bench, he'll have less pressure on himself & that might just be the tonic to get him off the mark!!..... Everyone a winner!!
Lita starts next week for me. His performance earned him our confidence and let's be honest Graham has had plenty of chances to do the job. We simply cannot afford to carry anyone who isn't getting the job done on the day. In fact this team starts next week as a whole ... And hopefully Taylor will be a part of it.
They are both going to be vital for us this season but even if Graham is fit there is no point changing a winning side. If fit all 11 that started today start against chelsea. Simple
Assuming he's fit,it's surely inconceivable that Lita will be dropped in Grahams' favour,for next game. Lita should at least start,and have the opportunity to repeat his success against WBA.
Why not play both when they are fit and raring ??? These guys are new to our system and will take time to bed in, and some take a bit longer than others. Lita is obviously a frontman, but DG has been played effectively on the wing for Watford and could be a very effective attacking midfielder/off Lita's shoulder possibly.
PS....before you say he couldn't do that job, just look at what Brendan did with an underachieving winger in Mark Gower in very little time!
tbh i think my dog could have scored the goal Lita did (graham i don't know) but as previously mentioned the pressure is on Graham and Moore for the front mans spot
As things stand Jamie, I'd have to agree with you, though there's no way Graham should be dropped, and what about Dobbie, I hope he's not going to be a forgotten hero! come on Rodgers give the boy a game.............................. please log in to view this image
Horses for courses, we'll pick the right forward for any particular game. I'm certain that Graham would have scored today - it just feels like the team had grown in confidence after the first 4 games and we were always going to score a few today. Think that Graham would be the better option against Chelsea, personally. I don't think that Lita is going to have the leap or strength to successfully hold the ball up with Terry/Alex/Luiz/Ivanovic all over his back. Keep Lita on the bench and use his pace later in the game against the tiring defence. Graham has proved effective at holding the ball up, and I think he's the right choice against Chelsea. But I'll be happy whoever is picked. We've got a decent depth in the attacking positions and I know that they can all do a job. In most games, you kick off with a point in your hand. Against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, I think that we kick off with nothing. We're expected to lose, so the boys just need to go there and do their thing. If they lose, they lose - no vindication of individual players as a loss away to Chelsea is what the majority of teams in the division expect (excluding United and City).
john terry and rio ferdinand must be the 2 most overrated players in England, if i was a manager i would be hammering those 2 every opportunity i had
Musty you say some crazy things at times. I agree with you on Dobbie though - he's more of a goal threat than Routledge and Moore combined. As for Lita, it's inconceivable that a player who scores one and sets up another should be benched, but our Manager does make the odd decision from time to time. Thing is he usually ends up being proved right!
The problem is, if you put Graham on the wing, then you have to drop either Sinclair or Dyer, and against Chelsea, that would be a bad move. Their combined pace could give chelsea's centrebacks a few issues.
