Arsenal will be 4th, as for the top 3 City and Chelsea and but not Man Utd. Good to see they have a lousy defence. Someone from last season's top 7 will drop out. Maybe two will!!!
So one or two of Liverpool (would have to be a bigger drop than 2nd to 7th we previosuly achieved), Man Utd, Spurs or Everton will drop out, who is replacing them...? Southampton?
It seems fantasy land, I agree with you but who would have thought Kishikori would beat Djoko and reach the US Final, who would have imagined that Atletico would break the mould of Barca and Real, and reach the CL final??? Not top 4, but one from outside last season's top 7 will be there this year!
OK Gerrez!! Spurs will drop out of the top 7!!! I would love to see Man Utd completely implode as well. Look at the body language between Giggs and LVG!!! Who will get 7th - Swansea, or Aston Villa if they can win at home, or WHU, or maybe Southampton.
Dream on! Us open? You clearly missed athleticism consistent year on year improvements which included cup and Europa league wins! Hilarity, honestly..... Best of luck with that
The opportunity is always there for less fancied teams to break the mould. However, from what I've seen from all of those "less fancied teams" so far, I don't see any of them lasting the course.
Last season when Sakho got a fair run of games he was brilliant, mainly partners with Skrtel (I think). He had a pass suceess rate at an average of 93.6, plus over defensive stats were head and above all our other CB's. He's played 2 games and has not yet settled back in, but that will come. I'm certain that once Lovren and Sakho get that understanding, they'll be a great CB pairing. Whereas, you guys other than Coleman and Baines have a shocking back 4. Howard is so error prone the CB's have to cover him or bounce ito action when a mistake is made and neither do any of that. They're slow and static - so Tobes take a look at your Defence, before slating ours
Sakho hasn't been perfect this season but the amount of criticism he's received from both fans and media is ridiculous. Lovren and Skrtel have been directly involved in far more goals conceded as a result of errors but yet Rodgers yet thinks Skrtel is one of the best defenders in the history of the game. And re. that passing stat - I'm not usually a fan of that stats because it doesn't take into the consideration the difficulty of the pass, if the pass causes any pressure on the recipient etc. For example - Skrtel has a high completion rate but that's because he passes to the full backs and Stevie. Very low risk passes. Compare that to Sakho who is certainly the most comfortable CB in possession will always try to play the ball, even under pressure. His passes are quick, direct and always looks to attack. --------------------------- What Rodgers needs to do is stick with a settled line for 10 games. Bringing Skrtel back was ridiculous when Lovren and Sakho hadn't conceded that many and looked as if they might actually form a relationship.
Really? I dont remember the rave reviews for these 'brilliant' performances, I do however remember seeing a porous defence that ultimately cost you the title though..... Time will tell if he forms a quality partnership with Lovren, but the initial signs don't look overly positive. As for my teams backline, read my posts love, I've said we've been awful at the back so far. Your comments about Howard are nads though, he's a top drawer keeper, sure he makes the odd error but so does every keeper.
Gerrard slipping cost us the title. The defence was dodgy at times but we all know what cost us the title. Lucky it was Gerrard really as anyone other than him would have been hunted down and killed.
There's nothing too much wrong with the defensive personnel that we have (I'll leave GJ out of that) all of them bring something to the party. What spoils the party is that we very rarely appear to get a settled line. On top of that is our defensive organisation. It's not Lovren's leadership ability it's been going on for far too long for that. For almost a decade or more we have been 'pants' at defending set pieces. At the moment we appear to trying to employ some strange mix of man to man with elements of zonal marking - well that's how it appears! It was always going to be a difficult season after Suarez's departure. Therefore all of our new players have had to be assimilated into a new pattern of play that even our 'regulars' have been unsure about. Therefore at times we have appeared to be a complete and utter mess! We've also had injuries and that hasn't helped the process. However, thank goodness those injuries have occurred this season and not last because we'd have really been in serious difficulties! I really think that BR will sort it out.
depends what you call "good" is this top 10 prem or top 4 prem. I'm not so sure manquillo is top 4 cos frnakly if he was he'd not be on loan. He's got potential. I think top 4.... moreno aint that yet. at 20 he can be that with experience but right now he's got a lot of potential. Lovern, shako and skertl for me are all on a par. I'd not pick one out and say he's worse than the others but neither is one head and shoulder top 4.
Yaeh he's defo up for debate. Lovren is a very good defender and top 4 quality easily imo, same goes for Moreno, Manquillo has potential but comparing him to other RB's again there's not many I'd rate above him.
I'd go as far as saying that Manquillo has been more reliable and consistent performer in our defence this season. Lovren has been directly involved in most of the goals we have conceded this year. And seem to concede a lot more when Skrtel starts. HOWEVER - in their defence, it doesn't help that they have a very indecisive keeper behind and a poor midfield in front of them.
you only have a few data points to go on mind. i think there's a few items: 1. lovern needs to learn not to jump over others and let them do their job. the nutter. 2. manquillo would do better by standing up in the challenge more but one feels if he becomes a target at the back stick we will need to work on him. 3. sahko or skertl meh. i can see a case that if lovern was sent to just go attack crap and skertl swept up behind fine 4. mingolet. is basically now for me no more than average..... we can buy better
