Liverpool's Lack of Pace

Liverpool's signings under Kenny Dalglish and Damien Commolli have brought some much needed depth to the Squad, not sure how much improvement there is to the starting XI tbh but that remains to be seen.

Last year, LFC were crying out for pace in the Team.

Having committed in excess of £100M in Transfer Fees, and at least the same again in Wages, surely this should have been addressed.

Every Player signed by this pair have ability, but none of them are quick.

Now, pace isn't everything, Kenny Dalglish is a perfect example of this, but in the Premier League, over the past decade, it is without question the most sought after asset.

Are there more signings expected that will resolve this issue, or has King Kenny got a blind spot?

 

As you say, Kenny wasn't the fastest. Didn't stop him being one of the best players in the world.
Pace is an asset, not a necessity, and a team plays to it's strengths. A slow(ish) player with skill and precision is better than a speedy one with no end product.
But thanks anyway for your continued search for areas where we're likely to fail. I'm sure Kenny etc. find your input invaluable.

 

Yes, we should've bought Aaron Lennon, even though he's not as creative as Downing. It's not about creativity, it's about running and Aaron can run. Run, Aaron, run!

 

if you play him wide right you will see henderson has lots of pace but lacks end product the opposite of downing, but hes a raw talent atm and his delivery has to improve if hes to be a top player

 

Run Forest Run.

I seem to remember this Schofield guy being a wum. So i wouldn't get to over excited with the **** he tends to write.

 

saintanton, i think we can safely say outside of liverpool kenny dalglish isnt seen as 'one of the best in the world' in players circles, ive actually never seen him mnetioned on any legends list outside of liverpool, correct me if i am wrong on that though

 

having just said that did a search he did appear in pele fifa 100, towards the bottom but never the less still top 100 in peles eyes at the time of printing

 

I know, but me mum always taught me to be polite to people-even wums.

 

You're right in that speed is important but it's not as if we need 11 speed demons. The best thing about our squad is the versatility. Downing and Suarez are both quite fast and quick off the mark. Then we have slower and technical players to compliment them. It's about finding the right balance and we seem to have that now.

I hope that the players can gel quickly.

 

Wrong.

One of many examples:

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How many players can say they won the European cup 3 times?

Just some stats that show you know nothing about football if you believe what you just said-

As a player (for Liverpool):
6 league titles, 3 European Cups, 1 European Super Cup, 1 FA Cup and 3 League Cups.

As a manager:

Liverpool
Football League First Division
Winner: 1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–90
Runner-up: 1986–87, 1988–89
FA Cup
Winner: 1986, 1989
Football League Cup
Runner-up: 1987
Charity Shield
Winner: 1988, 1989
Shared: 1986, 1990

Blackburn Rovers
FA Premier League
Winner(1): 1994–1995
Runner-up(1): 1993–1994

Newcastle United
FA Premier League
Runner-up(1)1996–97
FA Cup
Runner-up(1):1998

Celtic
Scottish Premier League
Runner-up: 1999–00
Scottish League Cup
Winner: 2000

Managerial awards
1985–86 Manager of the year award
1987–88 Manager of the year award
1989–90 Manager of the year award
1994–95 Manager of the year award

Individual Honours

Winner of the Liverpool Football Club pool: 100 Players Who Shook the Kop: 2006
Freedom of the City of Glasgow: 1986
Member of the FIFA 100: 2004
Member of the Scotland Football Hall of Fame
Inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame: 2002
Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year: 1983, 1979
PFA Players’ Player of the Year: 1983


Player Statistics
Senior Club and National Team Statistics, Period, and Team Appearances (Goals)
1969-1977 Celtic 204 (112)
1977-1990 Liverpool 515 (172)
1971-1986 Scotland 102 (30)

You wont find many better overall stats from anyone in the game since football started. So before making flippant comments think about what you are saying.

 

i think the point is well made though.

not to bash him or who is disagreeing but pace is vital.

lets set out a few examples.

1. kuyt. 9/10 times in a straight races he's beaten to the ball, it is an issue.
2. fowler would be worth 50mil if the pace he had as a kid had have reamined with those injuries.
3. carragher is dead slow and is in constant dange rof being isolated by forwards. thats an issue

now thats not to say not having blinding pace is a probelm for player, no rather my point is you need to at least compete with those you play against. Kuyt is SLOW, rieira was SLOW, downing is not slow, suarez looks quick. Carroll is not quick but can compete with any CB.

so the point is none of our players are blistering... is it an issue? hmmmm... cisse was quick wasn;t he.. useless mostly but quick... babel was a cisse clone... I think if you're good enough and have some pace to compete you're fine.

Why?

cos it all depends on how we play. are we a passing side or are we looking for one guy to knock long balls over to top at as an out ball? I feel suarez covers that and the rest offer a quick accurate passing game that can work.

At the back i'd be more worried cos there's no pace to cope there,actually i'd be more worried about having a tight defense through lack of pace than not socring enough

 

"He is one of the best players I have ever seen and one of the best players in the history of football." - Franz Beckenbauer

"Kenny had unbelievable vision and strength as a player. He was really aware of people around him. He had great balance and was a good finisher, courageous too. People often forget that the one quality great players need is courage. Kenny is as brave as a lion. He would take a kick from anyone and come back for more. Kenny is a man I shall always respect." - Alex Ferguson

"When I was growing up my hero was Di Stefano. Kenny for me was on a par with Di Stefano. That is the best compliment I can pay him." - George Best

"I learned so much from my time with Kenny. I really like him. He's a normal person who's very accessible. He says he doesn't feel like a legend but that's exactly what he is. " - Fernando Torres

 

I think we should all listen to the experienced manager - he obviously has lots of experience in the game because he often talks about Pace.

I'm sorry mighty Mr Hodgson.... I mean David Schofield, please regale us with stories from your youth about pace!

 

Kenny Dalglish was a truly great Player, but never more effective that when playing alongside Ian Rush, who was very quick.

And the game has moved on apace, if you'll pardon the pun.

 

Bozz,

You beat me to it - been in a meeting!

Lettuce. If you continue making comments like that, you risk becoming a laughing stock, not just with us, but with all other club supporters. Even my football reporter mate who's as manc as they come says he's one of the greatest players he's ever seen pill on a football shirt.

Must try harder. C-

 

I think you may have just caused your forum rep to go through the floor

 

Although I suspect Dave is wumming, he's got a point. When you're under the cosh you can just use your attackers pace as an outlet to counter attack and relieve some of the pressure on the defence and give them time to organise. In addition to that it will always mean they are reluctant to commit men forward as you've got a player who can catch them on the counter attack if left unattended.

 

i think everyone knows kenny was a true great, the point showing how rush who scored over 40 goals on season was the guy who linked with him.

the quotes lauding kenny talks about him being aware of others, who made runs.

in the end you must admit if everyone in the side is of a certain type and pace we become one dimensional... that is the important point.... AND why i think its vital to show carroll and squarez both breaking that one dimension by offering different things... I'd like to see one more quick forward come in though.

 

I think we have a lot of pace in several of the youth player's just depends whether KK can bring some of them through.

 

Not WUMming Rauuul