I appreciate the article and I am not totally against statistics if used in the right way. But, the statistics used on the article surely depend on the style of play the team takes up? The article looks at passing and chances created and focuses on Carroll and Suarez more than anyone else, but part of our problem last season was getting people into the box. How can either player have a high pass or creation rate if there is no one for the to pass to or create for? I have used this same argument for Downing, okay so he go zero assists but it wasn't for the lack of trying. He put a lot of good balls in over the season but it takes two to make an assist. Much like it takes two to make a pass. PS - my argument against Downing or whoever else is crossing/passing would be more about why they are crossing/passing it when there is a lack of bodies or options available. They should be holding onto the ball and waiting for the support (unless they can go alone - aka Suarez)
Football statistics rely upon some very rigid definitions and very wide-ranging assumptions. Trying to assess performance using them merely limits your options to manage both the player and the team. A classic example for us must surely be the Shots On Target rules which disallow any shot that hits the woodwork! So in terms of the statistical result our shooting was as poor as a team who hit the corner flag 33 times!!! What is the point in knowing how many miles a player ran during the game if they were never in the right position to recieve the ball/ make a tackle?
Rodgers comments on Carroll from Liverpool website. He said: "Andy is a terrific young player. I had a brief chat with all the lads and over the next couple of weeks I'll be able to speak to them with more confidence and on a one to one basis. "There is no doubt he is a terrific talent. There has been a lot of unfair criticism aimed towards Andy. "He is a player who can play in a number of styles and it was a wee bit unfair on him (for people) to say he couldn't fit into the way I would want to play. "For me, your game is based on your players, the players you have. I am here to win games. "We've got a number of very, very talented players in the group, of which Andy is one." Comments seem much more positive in suggesting that he is part of the plans and he can adapt if needed.
It is much more positive but it is too little too late. Comments should have been made over a week ago when the rumours started flooding out of the mill! This now sounds like a deal could not be reached with anyone so we have decided to work with it rather than take too much of a loss. I will be happy if the big gypo stays put though
I don't agree about too little too late. As a group, we're kinda contradicting ourselves... We want less comments, but the issue of Carroll needed more comment? Eh, not so much. I much prefer that he lets the journalists look like the idiots they are by saying we're selling this player or that only to be completely wrong. He shouldn't have to comment on any rumors...
Well the idiots (journo's) are now saying that AC will fight to stay at LFC after the same journo's were saying all that crap (selling, loaning,bust up with Brendan ect ect) I agree that get he did not have to,but it was starting to get a bit silly in the papers Like i said on another thread IMO LFC knew that AC was staying and let the media make T...S of themselves.
