Splendid game today, I must admit I was chuffed when I saw our defensive line up(we wouldnt want to score now would we) So all in all a great, even super point again today. Am I a real fan now that I havent criticised the team,management, or plain ****ness of today ?
Got to agree. The way we went in with five defenders at home against a unlikely-to-threaten team was brilliant. Slightly dissapointed at Glen Johnson and Enrique for pushing so far forward but the decision to bring on Andy Carroll for the no-chance-of-defending Stewart Downing was a brilliant switch from KK.
If I was Kenny I would of gone for a 9 man defence, with Carroll all alone up front bumbling around falling over his ridiculous 90's ponytail.
Nah Reina upfront. He has better feet than Carroll. And Carroll in goal, his shot blocking today was superb.
**** that chuck Carra upfront alone. With Carroll playing the ground role (a new position invented, basically you have to keep falling over whenever the ball comes within 5 feet of you). Have Everyone else lined up along the goal line - with Reina playing RW. Guaranteed goalless home draw every time - perfect
Yeah I have to admit this is the third year in a row we have been poor. Hard work suporting us in this period - so underachieving and generally average. It will never be worse than last year though. I'm pretty fed up really. Been supporting us since around 93/94 so have never experienced us winning the league, just nearly a few times. We're like macro economics to be fair. We go up get very good (peak), just miss out being the best, and then nose dive and then than happens over again. About a 5 year cycle. Like our economy we're in an unprecedented low point/bottom of the trough. Very much on the point of the recovery. I'm used to us failing in the league now though. We really ****ed up by not winning it in 08/09 - we won't get a better chance probably in the next 5 or so years. Oh well. As you were. This is nothing new!
Sami Hypia was in the crowd today, We should of bought him on too with a 4 Cb's and Johnson and Enrique either side, also was a stroke of genius putting Kuyt upfront on his own considering his lack of goals this season and his hard working! Another point towards safety!
You can see the logic in it, play three at the back, get Coates height in there and allow the fullbacks to bomb forward, dominate the midfield with three men allowing Stevie to push on in support when in possesion. My biggest problem was Kuyt up front on his own, our biggest goal threat(s) where sat on the bench (Carroll, Bellamy) Still Stoke are a very well organised side and we won't be the last to drop points to them....
Players arnt good enough is the reality here guys, downing is showing why hes not a top winger as he cannot beat anyone (not even gonna joke). Carroll isn't mobile enough. Adam aint good enough but thinks he is. Kuyt wasnt good enough 5 years ago ! Were a best of the rest squad. The sad reality is seeing as we only just spent this huge amount of money we cant just dump them so im afraid these players will carry on underperforming for the next couple of years untill we HAVE to dump them & unfortunately this is how Kennys legacy will be defined by.
No, am actually a Carroll fan, I know most people will think I am mad, but I believe the lad needs a run of games. It can take some new players a while to settle and I think Andy will come good. I said the same when Skrtel and Lucas used to get slated. Kenny is in the first phase of a rebuilding programme. The first part was to trim the dead wood, players who where simply where not good enough (Konchesky, Poulson, The Greek) or players with the wrong attitude, who did not want to be here (Torres, Merelles, Aqualani) This had to be done quite quickly due to the restrictions with transfer windows The signings have not been so bad as some make out, Enrique, Suarez and Bellamy have been first class, Charlie Adam and Henderson are not bad, when Gerrard and Lucas are fit those two might find themselves on the bench, but it's good to have a decent bench. Henderson is very young and if you watch closely, you can see an improvement in his game week on week, his speed of passing is very good, he has a quick brain, he can only continue to grow as he gains confidence, Same with the Shelvey lad. Carroll and Downing seem to come in for the most critisism, but I don't think they are so bad as people make out. It would be fair to say we have a strong squad now, almost two good players for each position, our bench looks very strong too, so the seccond and third phase of the rebuild will be to improve the first team, this is going to take some serious investment, but we have the owners who are looking to build long term so it should be no problem. We are not the finished article, we are in the first stages of a rebuild that could take several years to complete, we will need to be patient, but we will see improvement and eventually success IMO. We have the right structure for that. Good owners and a manager who is a football man with LFC in his blood.