Henderson's had a couple of decent performances but the jury is still very much out on him. He only played quarter of an hour yesterday and he'll have to start doing it consistently before taking anyone elses place. Lucas we know when fit starts but as for the other midfielders I can't see that any of them have earned their places this year. Gerrard's looking a tad better but still not performing with any consistency, Allen did ok yesterday but has had a poor run recently, Sahin's showed nothing of his attributes apart from against Norwich. Shelvey and Suso have lots of promise but again flatter to deceive at times and it's still too early to even know their best positions yet nevermind how far and how fast they will develop. The good thing is that there is much room for improvement. We know for certain Gerrard has the potential to play much better. Lucas is back and if we can keep him fit he instantly makes those around him look better anyway. Allen, Hendo, Sahin, Suso and Shelvey can only be judged fairly once they've had a decent run of games in their best positions. Personally I'd like Sahin to stay on as I do think he's a proper class player even if he hasn't shown much of it so far, however the ball will be in his court come the end of his loan spell. Fingers crossed he wants to return to Anfield but can't say I'll shed many tears if he doesn't.
Sahin plays ahead of the holding role, ahead of Lucas. But he is much better at picking long range passes and organizing an attack than he is at attacking. Alonso used to do that role for us. Mascherano would clean up, and Alonso would start the attack. Lucas can clean up and defend well, but he can't start attacks (though he is more offensive minded lately and I admire that). We need someone between him and the AMC. Unfortunately this means we drop either Gerrard or Allen. Gerrard should be playing higher up the pitch but that spot is reserved for Allen/Hendo/Shelvey/Suso. Basically the team should be -------------Lucas----------- ---Sahin--------------------- ---------------------JA/JH/JS/SG/S Like Barcelona do with Xavi, Iniesta and Messi. Those 5 AMC's aren't adept at the back as much as Sahin and Lucas are. Suso can possibly play on the right. Henderson and Allen can deputise in Sahin's role IF he isn't available but Gerrard and Shelvey can't. That means we have about 5 players to rotate.
Barca have a midfield trio of Xavi, Iniesta, and Mascherano (sahin, Gerrard/Allen, Lucas) and then Messi as a false 9 (suarez), I think we have the right players for to pull off those positions very well
Sounds great on paper but Barcelona play in Spain and we play in a league with a totally different style of football. Sahin hasn't shown anywhere near enough steel to have him and Allen in there too often IMO. Having three forwards and only 3 in the middle you can't have just Lucas who can tackle. If Sahin was to start just ahead of Lucas I'd want Gerrard, Hendo or Shelvey in there as well. I'm actually not sure what Sahin's done so far for him to have earned a starting place in fairness. At the moment I'd have Lucas, Gerrard and Shelvey or Allen as the three in the middle.
Little issue of having Brendan Rodgers as our manager. Lucas - Gerrard - Allen. That's the only midfield combo we'll see, baring any injuries or 'insignificant' games in the Euro cup. Sahin could player better than Iniesta and still wouldn't get a start ahead of them.
Gerrard's doing better than I thought when attacking - link. shame its not that part of his game that irritates me!
-------------Lucas------------ --------------------Sahin------ ------Henderson/Allen---------- -Gerrard---------------Sterling- -------------Suarez------------ If Allen plays there he has to get in the box to support Suarez. Personally I think the player in that role needs to be a goal scorer. Henderson can be a good goal scorer I feel. I'm not so sure about Allen.
What I find weird is Rodgers bigging up Allen for the AM role. He only ever stood in there for us, in place of Siggy/Dobbie/Gomez....he is useful going forward and does hit the target when presented with a good opportunity (not that you lot have seen any evidence of that yet!) but he is, without doubt, the up and down midfielder inbetween the anchor and the playmaker (one of you called the position "the battery" which is a perfect description of Allen). As an outsider I see your midfield options as this; -----------Lucas/Henderson------------------------- -----------------------Allen/Sahin-------------------- --------------Gerrard/Shelvey----------------------- Or Suso/Shelvey. I believe Henderson would benefit from having a clearly defined role he is expected to play (would get a lot of minutes with Lucas' likelihood of injury also). Allen and Sahin would only play in their correct positions. Either Gerrard or Suso would concentrate on the wing. Shelvey would benefit from a clearly defined role that was sympathetic to his strengths. If Gerrard went wide you'd then have 2 differing types of young AM getting lots of minutes and could switch them depending on the opposition. Tricky guile v physical goal threat. I find what Rodgers is doing at Anfield confusing. Oh, and good to see some realism on here these days...Rodgers did get lucky at West Ham. Yes I know, you had 60% of possession an West Ham are cheating long ball merchants under Allardyce...you still got lucky. I can remember lots of similar away performances by the Swans under Rodgers, but without the luck or the points!
Since when is Lucas likely to get injured? He's had one major injury and one freak unlucky one when he was getting back to fitness. That's all. He's hardly made of glass.. It's hardly a lucky win when we were denied a stone wall penalty, had the vast majority of the ball, barely got a single free kick given to us, should have saw a West Ham player red carded for violent assault on one of our players... You say luck, I say West Ham were lucky not to have been trashed 5-2. I agree with the rest of what you said though
Not sold on him to be honest - and he's not actually that young. Any idea on the value? We might be better off going elsewhere.
Let me ask you something: Jay Spearing or Nuri Sahin? Stewart Downing or Nuri Sahin? Joe Cole or Nuri Sahin? Now I know you're all jumping to furiously point out that they don't play in the same position, but in our "fluid" attacking play our philosophy is to have 6 attacking players trying to score at once, from anywhere in the oppositions half. I can tell you that I'd rather have Nuri Sahin on the pitch than any of those named above. I'd rather have him dictating play than Allen (who I rate but has been fading rapidly lately) or even Shelvey. Shelvey for one can't actually set up attacks himself. I've just realised Shelvey's like a central Kuyt without the experience. Not someone I want dictating tempo from the back or attempting anything more complicated than 5 metre pass. Lucas can't set up attacks alone as he is more defensive than Alonso was (think Masch). Gerrard can't set them up from the position Sahin is in (he's too tired). The introduction of Sahin would push Gerrard up the pitch to where he excels. To be honest I'd prefer --------Lucas--------- --------Sahin--------- ---Allen------Gerrard-- --Sterling----Suarez-- Hendo, Shelvey and Suso can continue to develop, with Suso eventually taking Gerrard's spot and Hendo covering for either Lucas/Sahin. That leaves Shelvey to act as cover for either Allen or Suso.
I still think Sahin is still a great footballer, no doubt about it. Didn't see much of him at real but I was a big fan of his at BVB. You can see he has got that intelligence and quality we need, just hasn't shown it at a consistent level for us yet. He has also on titles and trophies from a young age, as for not being young? He's 24 FFS.
I'm going round to my reporter mate's house for a meal on Friday night. I'll see if there are any more developments
I doubt a the local sports reporter for the Warrington Guardian will have many close links to the nerve centre of Real Madrid myself like
