You've moved forward marginally with that line up. And if that's poor, whats even worse is it falls apart beyond that starting 11. A couple of injuries and you're back to square one. Situations like that you need a match-winner to keep things ticking over. Who's your matchwinner there?
Lallana, Ibe, Markovic, Ings, Sturridge... Pretty decent options to have to make a difference from the bench if you ask me
Exactly. If that starting 11 is the one we end up with, our bench will be better than it has been for some time. Having players like the one's you've mentioned to bring on is fine, all of them could potentially be game changers with 20 mins to go.
I'd say more than marginally. For a start we'll have 11 players not 10 +Johnson. Also that 11 is assuming Sturridge isn't fit, so that's worth pointing out. Milner in is great imo and with Coutinho and Firmino we have plenty of flair. Can will be played in a more natural role too, rather than a make shift RB and Henderson thrives when not playing alongside Gerrard. For me it's a far better team with so much more balance and energy in it.
Meh Thats kind of my point about the starting 11 being marginally better. So the backups look reasonable but only bcos you're comparing them to the starting 11. I'd say Ibe and Markovic show promise but that still doesnt cover enough. Defensively in midfield and at the back, and up front you lack depth. Basically the same problems as last season when you scratch the surface.
No, just laughing at the player who was to set the tone for Rodgers transfer deals/time at Liverpool. A player the fans would love.....to hate
Can looks promising in midfield. Milner is decent enough but to me still a slight improvement. Imagine what you'd think of him if he'd gone to spurs...solid enough but workmanlike? Firmino atm is pure hype. Somewhere from him signing to this point he's suddenly become a great player. Coutinho is quality but he was there last season. More importantly, the team as a whole. I think you've improved in the starting 11 at RB, DM and that's about it atm.
Milner and Clyne for Johnson and Gerrard is a huge improvement. We have 11 players who can run now meaning no gaps and no one having to do the leg work for others. Team balance is far better, regardless of if Gerrard had more ability, and many of us have wanted that for a while.
De Gea - a GK that doesn't want to be at the club anymore. Can he still perform when his heart isn't in it? Darmian - Untested at this level. Imports from Italy seem to struggle initially. Smalling - Same as last year Jones - Same as last year Shaw - If stays fit could be an improvement on last year Schniederlain - Another Lovren? Can he make the step up? Looks promising though Schweinsteiger - is decent enough but injury prove 31 year old who hasn't completed a full season in last 3. Carrick/Blind - good players but were there last season. Depay - atm is pure hype. Somewhere from him signing to this point he's suddenly become a great player Rooney - is good player if played up front but was there last season. Di Maria - Never know how he's going to go this year ater throwing in the towel last season. Overall I'd say very similar to last season and marginally better unless your key player from last year (De Gea) doesn't match up to last seasons standards
I don't disagree about Clyne which is why I said your RB is an improvement. Milner is as I said in my previous post - a workman. Not trying to sound harsh on him. A decent signing. Agree you've got nobody will be carrying anyone, I also think with Can there, Henderson can have the freedom to go where he wants. But for me you lack a matchwinner in all of that. Your strikers are still suspect, you seem even more reliant on Coutinho to run past defences now Sterling is gone, and if Can is injured you either have no decent cover or Rodgers will rearrange the whole of that midfield. I'm getting way too drawn in to this
You set yourself up for it But on a serious note, you can say the same about every team. Every team is the same as last season plus new signings who you don't know if they will succeed or not. I think we've both addressed issues that were a concern. We needed a CF, a RB and some more creativity, we've signed Ings & Benteke (if he does sign) for up top while getting Firmino in to add creativity and one of the most consistant RB's of the season last year. You guys need a CB & CM and a new striker... you've signed the midfielders and I think Scheiderlan will be top signing, but you certainly need a quality CB and CF to compete with Rooney.
The difference is though we finished 4th so any improvement so far will help us climb a couple of places. (if we buy a quality CF imo I think that makes us title challengers. With the cover we have defensively in midfield I think we can manage without another CB). The improvement so far for Livpl makes you climb but still only gets you slugging it out for 5th (if you buy a quality CF and add a bit of depth defensively in midfield that makes you realistically aiming for top 4).
