I read a stat the other day that he has the shortest time between assists in the PL, better than Fabregas, so he must be a pretty useful player.
Been back about an hour and I think I'm over it now. We were pretty awful but you have to give Palace credit for being organised and exploiting our non-existent midfield. Cork can play well alongside Morgan or Victor but to stick him next to Davis was asking for trouble. As has been said, Gardos was a bit slow to react to Chamakh and Sanogo's runs, and Fraser really should have held on to the shot that led to Chamakh's first goal, but I thought that was Davis's worst game for Saints. Anyway, what an amazing day of Cup football! It really is a magical competition, shame we're out of it
Is this that bloke who captains the England under 21s and slipped a wonderful through ball for Elia's first goal last week?
And if you watch the highlights from today, he chips a delightful ball over the Palace defence for Bertrand to cross for the 2nd goal. Everybody has an off-day. Saints had an off-day.
I don't think JWP will turn into a "top" player (not based on today, but the last few seasons), but I think he still has good qualities with set-pieces. He does need to improve his tackling though and could chip in with a few more goals.
I still think JWP will turn into a top, top midfielder. But at the same time, I wouldn't be surprised if he just turns into the next Seb Larsson.
I have been so impressed with JWPs development as a footballer over the last few seasons that I can't predict how far he will progress. His game is constantly improving and he is slowly ticking off those question marks. As he gets older his strength will improve and lets not forget that he is constantly having to change his role in the side across the midfield. How many of you remember the League One Morgan Schneiderlin? Who couldn't tackle, got booked every week and never scored
Spot on....and a certain Adam Lallana had only just broken into the first team at 20, JWP has made 77 appearances already. He is never going to be a 15-20 goals a season player and he is not a midfielder enforcer like Big Vic, He is a playmaker and his strengths are his passing and vision, his deadball delivery is a bonus. I think that he will start contributing goals and I would like to see him take more direct freekicks at goal.
If Liverpool get to the League Cup final, and the FA cup & Europa League SFs, their midweek games from now until the end: Tues 27th Jan - Chelsea LC Weds 4th Feb - Bolton FAC Tues 10th Feb - Spurs PL Thurs 19th Feb - Besiktas EL Thurs 26th Feb - Besiktas EL Weds 4th Feb - Burnley PL Thurs 12th Mar - Possible round of 16 EL Thurs 19th Mar - Possible round of 16 EL Tues 24th or Weds 25th Mar - Probably rearrangement of City PL match should they make the LC final on 2 Mar, or maybe an FA Cup 5th round replay Tues 31st Mar or Weds 1 Apr - International week Tues 7th or Weds 8th Apr - Possible week off, but could be an FA Cup 6th round replay, or the above rearranged City PL game Thurs 16th Apr - Possible QF EL Thurs 23rd Apr - Possible QF EL Tues 28th or Weds 29th Apr - Probably rearrangement of Hull PL match, should they make the FA Cup SF on 18 Apr Thurs 7th May - Possible SF EL Thurs 14th May - Possible SF EL Tues 19th or Weds 20th - Free week at last! Right at the very end.
I personally don't see Ward-Prowse offering a great deal during games. Yes, he sometimes assists (not down talking that at all), and can put a good ball in the box, but he loses possession in 50/50s very easily, and cannot finish a bag of crisps. Very frustrating player, because he works very hard. Honestly thought Cork had a better game than him today.
Starting to see the rough outlines of his developed game, though. His passing is much more incisive, and while his finishing has been fairly poor, getting his first out of the way may improve that, and his ball-striking skill isn't in question. Right now, he's caught between being a central mid and an attacking one, lacking a little for either role; if those two aspects above develop, he becomes a near-ideal central spearhead in the 4-3-3.
Just got in from work ... pretty pissed off with it if I'm honest, especially after seeing results elsewhere. As for those saying glad to be out of a cup? How about a winning mentality? The feelgood factor would have been amazing!
Glad you are out, you've got your due bad performance out of the way and now you can concentrate on breaking the 'big club' barrier without a fixture pile-up due to cup games. Plus, along with other favourable results, it's a strong team out of the competition, now that we (West Ham) have lost too much ground we can look to a seriously EPL depleted FA cup (unless we follow on from today and go out to Bristol)
I'd far rather have a "one loss in the cup, which is a shame" mentality (as per SU game) and a fit and energised squad for the league this season. We just don't have the squad depth right now to compete on multiple fronts, realistically, so take your pick.
