We have all been around this about our squad. BR saying it is thin yet we barely use players like Aspas, Alberto, Kelly, Moses, etc. We have a lot of players on loan, some taking advantage, some just to be on loan it seems. You look at the start of the season and with our thin squad, just how many injuries we have had: Kelly, Suarez ( ban), Sturridge, Flanno, Agger, Sakho, Allen, Gerrard, Enrique ( massive miss for me), Johnson, etc. Yet here we are, with all of those concerns, all of those injuries and having to change shape and formation at times in the process...... 4 points off the top and still sitting in fourth. What do we put this down to? Tactics by BR? Man management to make sure everyone feels a role in the team and wants to contribute ( look at the bench when we scored the pen last night for example). Is it the chemistry of the players within the team and a general like of everyone on the team? Reason I made a thread as I was listening to a talkshow ( Sirius FC for those who have that) and an Arsenal fan came on and was bemoaning losing Walcott and Ramsey. Couldn't help but think we have lost not just players probably as valuable to our team but players miles better than those two throughout our whole season! EDIT: Lucas, thanks astro.
I love the way that Brendan has been quite ruthless with the squad, if he feels your not up to it your out and it's down to the player to work hard and prove him wrong he is then quite fair and if the effort and quality improves the player is back in. Moses is a good example, Rodgers is not playing him but has given him a chance and he simply has not been good enough. Sterling has improved tactically, physically and he's been given a chance to prove himself, he's taken it. We have a thin squad because some of the youngsters are not ready but watch this space, some will come back from loans and improve us and of course we will buy but I don't think we need to go nuts buying it's defo quality not quantity.
I've been critical of BR on a few occasions this season but if he gets this squad, with the injuries suffered and with no reinforcements in January into the top four, I'd give him the keys to the City! Winning it would be nothing short of miraculous and I would travel to the Vatican to begin applying for his canonization
Through the injuries too we have been able to see debuts to Smith, Tex, and Ibe in the process ( probably forgetting some others too).
any one welcome reina back if we got top 4? we wont get far with Jones as backup,also rb we have wisdom,johnson and flanno, lb we have enrique, so only really 2 positions i reckon need looking at as we already have reina, DM better than or cover for lucas, and Shaw with enrique covering, and flanno as well. think up top we are fine with tex,suso,alberto ,borini,assiadi etc.
Can't see him coming back to sit on our bench but agree that Jones isn't up to it. We could do with some old fella who knows his stuff but is too old for a starting place.
YOu know, for me, Reina put this all on himself. He wanted to go to Barca, he made that entirely clear to the staff and why they felt they had to move for Migs. It didn't happen as Valdes wanted another year. So Reina got a lona move to Napoli, plenty of playing time, CL, being in the mix at the top in Serie A, etc. Now let's go forward to this summer, Reina is a Barca product but it seems they are looking at Ter Stegen and Courtois ahead of Reina now! So where would he go? Napoli on a perma deal? Pay us the $$$ AC milan could use a keeper, Real are set ( but a possibility), back to Villareal if they get CL? He really left himself in a tight spot where this summer, if he wants automatic first team selection, he will need to have his agent working overtime.
Someone like Schwarzer would have been good back up, too old to play every game but a good back up to Mignolet, and certainly better than Jones.
Just love where we are at right now - as bluff said about the bench - you can see everyone is together and there is such a good chemistry there. When Dowd gave that ridiculous free kick against (Sturridge?) in the middle of the park it showed BR reaction and behind him was Aspas of all people with his arms flapping about asking 'WTF!?' - great to see. We have a very exciting project (as BR would put it) ahead of us and this could only of been dreamed about a few seasons ago
As bad as we played last night, which was not really up to scratch at all, it took a crazy Toure OG and Mignolet not calling for the ball/coming to get it/ Flanno not talking to Skrtel/ Skrtel trying to bike the ball away and it fell right to Richardson. We love giving away goals and it almost cost us all three points. Ifs and buts and all that but if Kolo doesn't pass straight to Anichebe.... well, what dreams we could really be having! I'm talking RHC daughters, tub full of oil and a midget as the ref type of dreams!
