So does Agger & Lucas... My feeling is Wisom/Kelly are alright understudies for Johnson but if he;s out long term, like he is now, neither are good enough to make that slot their own, because neither are good enough attacking wise therefor don't provide the width to stretch teams in the same way when Johnson plays.
Does it count as stretching teams when you cut inside every single time and blaze the ball over from 30 yards?
Yep, and I pointed them out previously too along with Downing, Reina and Skrtel. Two have gone and (biased aside) I think the third will join them in due course. Agger and Lucas are slightly different. They were both around when we won the CL. Plus, I said the majority of that era needed to be moved on the change the mentality in the squad, this has already started to happen IMO. If we got a good offer for Agger next summer then I'd consider it. However, I'm not sure it would be wise to lose Johnson, Skrtel and Agger at the same time so it would depend on two of Toure, Sakho and Ilori settling.
Stretching teams generally means providing width making the pitch wide which in turn should create space in the middle. However, if a team defends properly then the width you create out wide is irrelevant when it comes to the middle. A team should defend the most dangerous areas, we are dangerous through the middle. I think we'd crossed the ball the least teams in the league prior to the Swansea game! I agree with TGOA though. Its not about stretching sides, its about being unpredictable. That means flexibility and variance.
I'd like to see Alberto start tomorrow. He had a very good game midweek and bagged a hatrick. I don't see why we would spend close to 7 million and not use him even as sub. While Countinho's out, should be a good opportunity for him to step up and show what he's got. Also Henderson is wasted playing on the flank. He doesn't offer much going forward, his energy and pressing is best used in midfield. I'd like to see him in either of Lucas or Gerrards role, even if he doesn't start, could be very useful coming on in the 2nd half. Aspas is played out of position aswell. Throughout Preseason and the Stoke game, he started in RW, and did a decent job. He's been awful since then. I don't think he particularly enjoys playing in the AM role.
I hope Rodgers brings in Aspas for Coutinho and puts him RW and brings Henderson into AM, where he can put his energy to good use.
Mini-lay has already proven himself a good buy. Toure definately a good option. Moses is looking promising after just 60mins. The other summer signings need to also prove their worth as they work their way into the team. So far Aspas is in prime contention for the "Charlie Adam" award but too early to rule him out, he could improve.
Wouldn't mind either of Alberto or Henderon in the AM role. Even if Henderson doesn't start, he could be very useful coming on for Gerrard or Lucas,both of whom tend to run out of gas in the 2nd half.
This could be a tough game. Remember what they did to us at their place in March. We were never in that game. I hope Agger is fit we will need him and Toure at the back against Lambert. As to who replaces Coutinho if it is Aspas we will struggle, Henderson in the middle with Sterling/Ibe starting would be better.We also need to score more than one goal as Lambert will always be a threat and we have been lucky so far this season that when we have faded badly in the second half the opposition have not been good enough to take advantage/or have been unlucky not to score. If we can play for 70 minutes we should win this one.
I'd like to see: ---------------Migs--------------- Wisdom-Toure-Agger-Enricky ---------Lucas--Gerrard--------- -----------Henderson------------ --Ibe-----Sturridge----Moses-- Sterling has not impressed me so far with his (albeit limited) cameos and has been ****e for a long time now. Would maybe play Alberto instead of Ibe and have Hendo out there but we'd lack some width. I fully expect Allen to slot in though -.-
The Reds XI in full: Mignolet, Toure, Sakho, Agger, Skrtel, Lucas, Henderson, Gerrard, Aspas, Moses, Sturridge. Subs: Jones, Kelly, Sterling, Enrique, Wisdom, Ibe, Alberto. Surprises. No fullbacks!
