I highly doubt "everyone" is saying Can because of "one good game in which he scores", unless you assume that we're all incredibly impressed by deflected shots which end up in a completely different side to the goal to which he was aiming
Can has showed plenty of glimpses of quality - physical, powerful drives, composure on the ball. Lallana has been average in my opinion - not done much of note bar a well taken goal.
Personally I'd like to see Can and Markovic start for a couple of months. I think there can be a lot of joy from those two in with some of the other regulars. Both have shown glimpses but are off the pace mainly because they just don't get enough game time and adjust to the PL pace, both suffer from having more time on the ball in their previous leagues For me Gerrard should now be used sparingly, I think he is a liability now, his passing is not enough justification for his place any more and defensively he really is not up to it over 90 mins against a mobile opposing midfield. The best thing he could offer us right now is getting into the opponents 18 yard on attacks but that alone is no justification. If we are not going to get into the top four them we might as well press on with the clearout and give all those new players a chance. Sterling needs a few games out to fire up his hunder again, Kenny used to do that with Beardsley and it worked. Cout, looking better and better, I'd play him right behind Badonteli because he can beat a man change pace and cause damage, just what we need in the hole and go with a more solid midfield set up, Can's level can and will be raised, he's definitely got the quality but needs to develope into the PL box to box, if he has a pass on him and a tackle, bye bye Gerrard.
you'd play Balotelli? I agree on Gerrard. I think Gerrard should become a utility midfielder who fills in for absences when needed or comes on to add another number in the midfield late on. I think we should go: DM - new signing, Lucas BTB - Henderson, Can Play maker/ball player - Coutinho, Allen Extra back up for all - Gerrard Every thing nicely balanced and covered.
Yes I would if Studge is injured which he is manquillo Skrts Lovren Moreno ..........Lucas .............. ..Sterling\Mrkvc..Can..Cout\mrkvc ..........Bad ....Studge Cout's job would be fairly free roaming across that line with overlaps from manq and Moreno and Can driving from the centre with bad studge up top. Lucas solely there to defend and occupy the midfield and track runs and keep the ball moving, it must be a disciplined performance in that position johnson to make the orange drink.
I feel Coutinho's play is more effective with a runner up front. Borini, though no Sturridge, is a runner. I'd play Borini.
I like a diamond with someone smack bang in the middle of it. otherwise when we are isloated out wide as sterling and Moreno get a lot, it provides the extra man to overload areas of the pitch, Can is young enough to have the legs for that kind of job. Other managers have cottoned on to BR and we don't have studge and Suarez to bail us out imo.
Maybe.. unsure tbh, but with Cout having a free role across that line he can have a run from where he likes, mostly from a more central position though him and manquillo can create space in the centre just by being out wide and drawing playes out, Cout will draw 2 players to him now, maybe even 3 as will sterling at times A free cout will give is the ability to overload areas of the pitch in attack instead of getting it deep and running with literally nothing to aim at, the closer he can get the ball to goal the better because he has the ability to waltze past a man or two
I don't think there's much 'cottoning' on to be done. Our attack is static or a single player so the opposition has more bodies in midfield to shut down out creative players (when they get picked). Put your striker on Gerrard closing down duty since he can't run. Attack down the left since Johnson is ****. It's hardly rocket science. It's just awful team choices by Brendan.
He actualy played well in a couple of pre-season games and played well v Madrid in the midfield 3 of Lucas & Allen and looked good in a couple of cameo's earlier in. Not saying he's the messiah, in fact some would say he's a very naughty boy , but he offers us something the rest of our midfield don't which is power and drive. None of the rest of our players can pick up a ball and drive forward from the middle with pace and power like say Matic, Toure can.
Yes he does. As good as Henderson has been for us, if we want to become a top class team, then we should have a have a squad where he is a useful squad player (i.e. a Milner type). I'm a big fan of Markovic - I've seen a lot of his games last season and the lad is a special talent. As with the rest of the attacking signings, it looks like he was signed on the basis of Suarez staying. What I mean by this is that I believe Markovic would be used sparingly this season, let him adapt to a new country, language etc with the view of tearing it up next season. Unfortunately, we've had to use him a lot more than we desired. Having said that, I still expected him to have had more of an impact - he does look lost and playing with fear, which isn't good. But, give him another 2-3 years and I think he'll be better than Sterling such is his potential and ability. He could be the player we build our team around in the next 5 years (i.e. the next Suarez).
With the exception of Balotelli, all our signings would have been made regardless of Suarez leaving or staying - Rodgers said that in the summer. Which leads me to believe we have a lot of money left to spend, problem is finding those wonder players who actually want to play for us, and would rather not walk into a title winning side for an easy ride.
I disagree - I think our plan was solely based on his staying: Lallana - a player to rotate with Coutinho. A creative player to link with SAS Markovic - player for the future. Learn from SAS Lambert - plan Z, won't get much time with SAS Mario was a panic buy once suarez left.
Rodgers was saying he wanted 2 versatile wingers from ages. We big for Willian, Salah, Konoplyanka and Ince, so he obviously wanted those players in to join the existing squad (that contained Suarez). I can only see Lallana playing wide for us and Markovic is a proper winger. I think Lambert was a smart buy. He's just ended up having to do a lot more than he was meant to.
That was before he stumbled upon a successful formation i.e. the diamond. I disagree on Lambert - No other top team would ever consider signing him. He's just ended up having to do a lot more than he was meant to. - you mean contribute to our attacking play, score goals, pass a ball? It was a pointless signing.
Lamberts passing is very good. i believe Lambert was signed to be the guy who comes off the bench late on to add physical presence in the opposition half. He was used to good effect against Southampton and Man City, but then Sturridge got injured and he had to become the main striker cover.
Fair point and I do agree with that somewhat. But I don't think signing backups was the priority this summer.
