There's a couple of things wrong with that 'truism': Firstly I was talking about Alberto not Borini I think Borini should be sold as I think that it's in both his and our best interests. With the demands of our next season everybody will have to be 'good to go' all of the time - selected or not
I'm a bit confused now because I was replying to what you said earlier: "Concerning Borini there is a big question to ask. OK so he did well for Sunderland but can he consistently score goals for us." Although I am very easily confused these days
If Borini stays it may be hard to judge him effectively. He's not going to start regulary. It's hard to judge someone when they only play coming off the bench*- hard to be consistent as a substitute. * Unless you're REALLY bad- as in Aspas. Or really good. Case in point. David N'Gog. Didn't look that good coming off the bench, but was absolute dynamite when had a regular spree in the starting team**. ** I don't really believe that sentence- I just posted it for MITO's benefit.
Borini, for me, needs regular football. If he stays with Liverpool, he'll be on the bench alot and will end up making the same impact that Allen does from the bench. Nothing game changing, just some pressing and ball retention but ultimately, doing nothing. If he wants to move on with his career, he should considering moving to a club who'll offer him more game time. I like him, but he's not going to break into our first XI and, imo, we need players who will be pushing into contention and putting pressure on the manager to earn a start. I think Rodgers will keep him if Fab wants to stay. I'd love Johnson to go, but Rodgers seems to rate him so he'll stay. Rodgers will try to flog Reina, Coates, Aspas, Kelly, Assaidi, Agger and perhaps Lucas. I do think that RHC's mate is rarely correct though..
I agree with you on Kelly. Coates is a different story, bad injury preceded really poor performances. Remember Oldham when he was bullied by a L1 striker. Honestly think he was bought to keep Suarez happy and on the hope he might be a decent player. What's with peoples willingness to get rid of Kelly? Is it his injury record?
It's what his injuries seem to have done to him. Nothing against the lad but he's supposed to be fully fit now but looks like he now runs in slow motion. Have watched him a few times this year hoping it would come back but he actually looks worse.. each game. Take tonight, a whole season with the reserves and not only does he still look unfit, he looked like he'd still not gained any positional awareness as a a CB...against Shamrock Rovers. You talk about L1 with Coates.....? He's 24 and younger guys in the academy are quickly catching up and overtaking him.....shame but why keep paying Jim when he's clearly not going to make our first team anymore? Edit: or paying him even. We can keep paying Jim......
Must admit haven't seen much of Kelly this season. Shame if he is finished, looked so good when he first came up. Just wondered why everyone was so For getting rid.
I have a horrible feeling he might want to keep 'magic' Johnson. I won't include on-loan player here. Think they could be: 1. Aspas 2. Assaidi 3. Agger 4. Reina 5. Coates 6. Toure 7. Kelly I'd sell all of the above and Johnson, and bin off the loan players Cissoko and Moses. Undecided whether it is a good time to cash in on Borini or give him another go. Maybe the former might be wiser.
To put it into context, Kelly is the same age as Sakho. It's a shame how his career is going but that's life. I agree that Alberto is a good player but the lad must not be putting in a shift on the training pitch to warrant a place in the team. I would definitely persist with Borini - excellent movement, scores important goals and thrives under pressure. We need a striker who is happy to play 3rd fiddle to Suarez and Sturridge.
My 7 to get rid of (not including Cissokho or moses would be) Reina Aspas Assaidi Kelly Coates Lucas Toure
Borini, 2012-14: 40 appearances (29 starts, 11 subs), 10 goals (6 open play, 4 penalties). An attack-minded club like ours needs to leverage that strength further - we should have a fantastic attack from top to bottom . Kono, Shaqiri or Tello would provide greater width, more assists, more midfield and defensive work, and a similar goal tally. And they can sub for Sterling or vice-versa, which Borini can't do (would make us too narrow and unbalanced). Michu, Remy, Morata, Bony or Muriel on the other hand would be better options at the upfront position as they'd score more than 1 in 4 or 5. Where should that leave Borini? Sold, I say. As for 'movement', it is useless if the defender is not threatened by it. Aspas can shake and bake all day - it don't matter cause the CB will suss him out.
Coates, Aspas, Assaidi, Reina - Easy bit Other three could be Kelly, Jones, or any center back, he may not be sure who yet though. Could it be Robinson, N'goo, Ward, Coady and other not so young youngsters?
A 29 year old one season wonder who has suffered huge injury problems recently? No thanks... 10 goals from Borini is 1 more than Sterling this year and that's in a team that were bottom for most of the season and created very little. Borini is happy to make runs in behind defence, which is different to Suarez & Sturridge who both like to come short (although Sturridge is more dangerous when playing on the shoulder). Who ever we get in is going to be a 3rd option behind Sturridge & Suarez unless we pull out a world class signing which I can't see happening. That means we need to spend at least £10m on them for them to be any good which then has the problem of them possibly being "another Aspas". Borini at 22 is young. He's 2 years ounger than Henderson who has really developed this year after looking a lost cause when he came. What's to say that Borini will improve having a years Prem experience and now training under Rodger's. His first season was disrupted by injury so didn't get the chance to train as much. If he improves as much as Sterling/Henderson/Flanagan have under Rodger's then he'll be a very good squad player for us and in 2 or 3 years could be a very good 1st choice striker.
