James Pearce Q&A

#stato

 

Using Kuyt as an example - you;re right, he was a striker who played RM. But he was a striker because up until Liverpool, he actually played as a striker for around 8 years prior to joining us. He was a striker.

You're saying Milner is a CM based on half a season at Villa and ignoring the rest of his career, both before and after Villa where he was largely played on the wing.

 

No, I'm saying he showed he could play CM during that time and in my opinion that was is best season to date. I'm also saying he isn't a winger (the initial topic of conversation) but, much like Beckham, he can play right midfield to a very good standard. In my mind, a winger is someone that hugs the line, has reasonable pace and is able to repeatedly beat their man as well as contribute a decent amount of goals/assists.

 

Summery of the last 39 posts?

 

I hear what you're saying - it was just your wording that he's a CM who can play RM which I don't agree with because he is a RM first and foremost.

And Downing showed he was a good winger at Villa, Adam showed he was a good CM at Blackpool etc etc.

Showing his ability at CM at Villa is good but he never translated it at a higher level. Hardly noticeable in that role at City and he was poor whenever he played there for England.

RM is his best position IMO - I actually would like to see him there for us because his crossing is excellent, perfect for Benteke.

 

Fair enough if you don't agree with it but its down to opinion

Downing was and is a good winger if used correctly. Adam is a good CM. However, neither are good enough for top four. Time will tell if Milner is good enough at CM for a top four side. Since I believe he's a better CM than RM and he held his own playing rM for Man city, I obviously believe he is good enough at CM for us.

I think Milner will end up playing on the right of a diamond if we ever get Studge fit again. I don't think Milner is playing a holding role either, he is alongside Hendo in the two but I think he's got the licence to roam and get forward whilst Hendo holds.

 

Agreed.

 

Well my initial thought is Sturridge needs to prove his fitness before BR even thinks about playing him. If Benteke and Firmino perform then Sturridge has to fight for a place. Why drop anyone until he proves he can stay fit for more than a month? Sturridge should only come straight back in if one or both of Benteke/Firmino are struggling for form. If they are then Sturridge acts as their replacement, if not then he uses Sturridge as a sub or when resting the others (seems harsh as we all know how good DS is but it might actually benefit him in terms of his injuries if he's used as a bit more sparingly for a while).

I'm not sure Milner does offer more centrally than Hendo yet as he hasn't played anywhere near enough for Liverpool to judge. What I do know is that Hendo offers a lot more further up the pitch than he does defensively so given a choice between him and Can deepest in a 3 man mid I'd certainly give Can the spot for now.

I agree no-one should be undroppable...but in the real world we know Rodgers won't drop his captain so thinking about a team without him is interesting but pointless. I think he'll either persist with Hendo and Milner as a two or he'll utilise those two with Can behind (my prefered option as of right now). I also think we shouldn't be too quick to throw Firmino an "automatic" spot until we've seen how he performs week in week out in the Prem.

 

Jimmy is right here imo.

Milner's best football has been placed on the right hand side of midfield, as he's a good crosser of the ball and he provides solid defensive cover on the flank.

In CM I don;t think he offers as much

 

I wonder if Milner is in the unfortunate scenario of never finding his best role, but having a preferred role.

One thing I will add. Imagine Benteke on the end of this cross.

 

This may seem dated now but could we be best suited as a 442/4411 team?

Mignolet
Clyne Lovren Sakho Gomez
Milner Henderson Can Coutinho
Firmino
Benteke
​

 

We might very well be

I like coutinho wide on left and closer to goal. I don't like him so deep as i don't particulalry think his passing is all that.

He's got great feet and a shot on him. left forward suits IMO.

Milner? I dunno maybe out there.

I would also like to see firmino up top with benteke.. he looks a busy player.

 

IMO, Coutinho is our star player so whatever we do we should be looking to get the best out of him. He is wasted out wide left so I would go for what you posted. If we were to play that formation then Coutinho needs to be the one behind Benteke with Moreno or Markovic playing LM instead. Personally, I wouldn't go four a flat four across the middle nowadays.

Controlling the game is important, especially in the modern possession game, therefore I'd always look to try and have three in the middle. I also think both Benteke and Studge are better with partners so once the latter is back we should be looking to have a front two. Lastly, I wouldn't move away from a back four. Therefore there aren't too many options IMO. We could play the diamond (41212), try 4312 (very similar but no designated DM) or for slightly different approach 4222 but I can't think of too many other possibilities.

 

Once Sturridge is fully fit, I would definitely look to fit him in - he's quality and he's our best striker.

Still dreaming of seeing Sakho, Can, Firmino and Sturridge in the team - that's a strong spine in itself.

 

You won't like it but our spine is Migs, Skrtel, Hendo and Coutinho. Milner may well be added to that. Can, Sakho and Studge aren't a first choice picks (latter because of injury) and it's early days for Firmino.

 

I would have to say rafa was let down a bit out side. Risse's level dropped quite a lot really over the period and i still don't know why he hated finnan so much but the replacmeent with johnson didn't help.

The LW slot was never sorted and RW with kuyt was effective but not all that.

in short reina, carra, hyppia, gerrard, mascherano, alonso, torres.... thats the spine... the last three engineered moves and ended up with medals. hyppia retired.. reina was actually too loyal given the ****e rodgers did should have gone in 2010.

right now out strengths are: clyne (new siging) Ibe, coutinho, firmino... then henderson and benteke in the middle.

I think lovern and milner will be effective for us but we won't see those days again until rodgers is given the boot.

 

s'not though.... sakho is positionally worrying. Can needs to develop. compated to matic he is not fit enough, firmino is the one i want to see badly but he needs to bed in and sturridge is ****ed imo...

I'm happy with firmino and benteke.. thats a good combo IMO.

 

Sorry but you're completely wrong about Sakho positionally.

 

You're right - I'm not happy about that. It's actually mid-table level with the exception of Coutinho.

 

he worries rodgers all the time. you can see rodgers up telling him to stay back... now we are 4 at the back he's dropped him... clearly he favours lovern but why? its not raw ability... he thinks he can get a better partnership out of the two he picks.