Lambert's played like Robbie Keane did - very nervy and anxious to score all the time leading to not making good decisions. Lambert will be a good impact sub I also hope Sturridge can carry the burden of expectation and live up to that expectation.
well signings thus far. Manquillo... decent, but we are watching our own lad wisdom being just as decent at west brom so I SUSPECT rodgers didn't expect to use him this much at all and flanagan has now fallen down the order due to injuires and rodgers thinks he is brittle. Johnsosn is **** but rodgers no 1. Moreno..... hmmmmm very dodgy really. looks good and does good things going forward but at the back he is dire. It might help if he had one LCB partner fro a few games but at this point i'd favour playing left wing nearly in front of enrique Lovern...... trying too hard.... I dunno not overly impressed and could just as easily bench warm for me as sahko. needs to be more solid. Can.... no even got started Markovic.... really really poor start. I'd be wrapping him up like rodgers did sterling and working on him for a month in training but it seems a 20mil tag means he's going to be pitched in. Badontelly... woeful fit with our style. still don't get it Lambert... as a plan b??? not great cos he can't run fast enough to get to anything so we are yet to see much impact. 2 points v saints? If he contributes v basel he'll pay his fee off. Lallana.... woeful start, showing little signs but the huge talk around it means its too hyped. He's shown some industry bit is quite light weight, can't take a corner to save his life IMO... but the signs of where he is running into and the energy is good... have to give him that. Origi.... obviously a worldie in the french league.... what does that mean. In my view LFC best 11 won't have more than 3 of the above in it and so most are for the bench. Some developmental, some just cover.
Big expectation on Sturridge now, I think he'll like it and hopefully be able to deal with it. Back to having a main man again, once everyone settles though hopefully we wont be as reliant on him as we are right now
I genuinly believe Sturridge can handle. He seems to a confident, mature and laid back guy and has a great team spirit, which was picked up a lot by the press at the World Cup. He just enjoys it. He's had his frustrations at City and Chelsea and now just wants to make his career great.
Livtor said the other day that we're missing 'spirit' and he's right. The Suarez spirit was much more to us than simply his presence on the pitch. For example when he was suspended we played well and won games because he was still around and we knew we were getting him back, small adjustments in his absence meant the team still functioned. I think we have too many players being thrown in too soon but I also think there's not only a gap where Suarez once was in the team, there's a loss of spirit that's difficult to replace. There's a lot of intangibles like Agger's passion, Kuyt's never give up attitude that we're missing - not the greatest players but the embodiment of Liverpool FC.
I think if he stays fit we will see a revitalised Liverpool but we also need to get away from relying on one player.
Just reading through the previous posts and I can;t quite believe the level of criticism Markovic has received. He's been poor, granted but calls to sell him are ridiculous. A young lad - only 6 months older than Sterling, with no preseason, new country, language, style of play. There is a reason why this lad is touted as potential world class. He's not been helped by the changing attack as well.
At least until Johnson comes back Like you and Jimmy, I can't understand the criticism and as I said, he hasn't even played a full game yet!
I can understand him getting some stick as he has looked poor but I don't agree with the amount he's receiving, nor the writing him off so early. If I'm willing to give Mario a chance than others should be willing to give Marko one too. I actually think a lot of us are annoyed with the summer activities more than the actual players. However, Brod as brought himself time after last season so people aren't going for him like they should be. that's not to say we should all be attacking Brendan and calling for his head, far from it.
I've said repeatedly that I'm still on the fence regarding Rodgers. He has been in and around coaching for a lot of years but his actual top level managing is still in it's infancy. He had the idea we needed more players because we are now in CL - he was right - however he simply doesn't have the experience in how, where and when to deploy those players. We know the philosophy is buy young, potential at best value but there's no guarantee it will work especially when they're all thrown in together. We had a chance to replace Suarez with Sanchez, a neat deal that didn't work because Sanchez wanted to go to London and I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't like the idea of coming as a replacement or part of a make-weight arrangement [which I'm not sure it was in the end]. But no doubt he would have been a natural like - for - like player. Rodgers seems all over the place with his 'system' as well. When you look at his assistants as well, there's no experience of relevant quality in terms of coaching a CL team with all that entails, fitness, rotation etc. etc. It's hard being patient and waiting [again] for the explosive team performances that seemed to almost suddenly appear last season - was it more good luck than good management??
I think a big part of Sturridge was in relief when Suarez left because now he was the "big man" - I think Studge thrives on being the center of attention. In a mature way. (not in the Balotelli, look at me Mum- no hands, way). The more pressure the better he'll do. He wants the plaudits.
Sturridge is more than capable of handling the pressure and stepping up, problem is he will end up getting injured again in a month's time
If that's true then I want us to sell Sturridge immediately!!! I would never want a player that self centred, it should always be about the team.
Hoist the flags, as I agree 100% with this post. It mirrors my thoughts exactly, only mine would have been less articulate and a bit more sweary. I knew this day would come
IMO you don't come that close to the league with luck. I agree with most of what you say about Rodgers though and he's frustrated me this season as he's a stubborn git at times.
It was more the apparent 'esp' between the front runners that I meant by luck, you can't coach that, those players just clicked. The overall sustained effort certainly wasn't luck.
We're all a little down at the minute but if we had Sturridge to bury the chances on Sat we'd have won. And we didnt lose! Everton will certainly give other teams a good game starting this weekend V Utd On a side note I thought to myself who would I want if Rodgers left and I keep think Pullis! Rodgers wont leave though, he'll get it right
