What I was going to say is, maybe Lallana is being given a chance? Just like Ibe's getting a chance atm. If were going to do that then they should be getting a run of games. Obviously, if a player is absolutely shocking after just one then you can pull them out but neither Ibe or Lallana have been shocking, they've just not been great. IMO, Lallana as done more than Ibe in the first two games but one is a young lad that as been in and around our youth teams whereas the other came with a big price tag and is an England international. (remember that I'm a big fan of Ibe too)
he certainly never bothered going left in attack for sure but he id get back late to the left back area to help gomez which wuold indiciate on some level he had responsibility to go there coutinho was move and we made a sub to help gomez too. .............................
Exactly. Look where he did go. IMO, that is the positions a CM with freedom would go. It is quite similar to Milner's positioning. We've been playing an inbalanced 433
Players that add nothing to the team (at best) will always be scapegoats. Do you think there could be a link between the two things??
Scapegoats usually are poor players but what makes them a scapegoat is their ability to attract negative attention despite not really doing anything to deserve said criticism. They may even play well and still get criticised. Lallana is that man this year (he's not done the latter yet though)
my opinion is this we have two players on the bench who are not fit supposedly. we have ibe playing due to preseason efforts but so far IMO he's been ok but only that. he is a developing talent same as gomez. I think there is one two many out of coutinho, lallana and ibe on the pitch.... there is no width offered by gomez obviously so we cannot play narrow midfield and have over alpping backs. This is the issue to my mind. Rodgers has no faith in a) markoivc (was sloppy as **** in preseason imo so not shocked) b) sahko c) moreno but what is the system he's come up with to address the fact he's gone for a back 4 and that back 4 has gomez (18) at LB filling in and doing a good job if under pressure. we started v stoke with ibe right and lallana left IMO. lallana went walkabout so the left was completely bare... did we plan to donkey it at benteke for that game or was that a symptom of the lack of options? we subbed on can and the team improved no end (for lallana) and coutinho went left he stuck ibe left win v bournemouth and he really didn't do much and lallana spent most of his time over there too... (directed to or drifted there?) we subbed on can for henderson and lalana ended up lcm and we were digging in by the end so.................... whats the plan for arsenal... we might end up with Ox-chamberalin AND bellarin (fast as ****) coming down their right at gomez on his won or gomez and ibe (18 and 19 year old) scary thought that..... thats how you can ruin a kids confidence. On the left its monreal and sanchez coming at clyne but you'd expect he can cope. then ozila and carzorla in the middle... v who? milner... hopefully can... this is not a tenable tactic IMO. we need to sort how to have at least parity of possession and put them on the back foot.
That depends on whether we want a structured or free flowing attack. Gomez at LB isn't helping with width which is why (imo) Brod switched Ibe to the left for the Bournemouth game, we know Clyne will offer width on the right leaving Coutinho to wonder and cause damage with a central three of Hendo, Milner and Lallana.
But why is Lallana the one given the chance and not Markovic? This is the issue I have about the whole meritocracy. Also, I don't agree that Lallana has done more than Ibe. Ibe has not been great but at least he's tried to make things happen. Lallana has played it far too safe IMO.
cos markoivc did precious little in preseason? I mean all we really saww as games not day by day training but in games lallana player "ok" and markoivc gave it away time and again. I'd not give markoivc a go until league cup and europa going off that. I'd be playing can henderson and milner and be damned with fitness malarchy.
Well, someone as to play and Brod gave the chance to Lallana based on pre-season. If Markovic had been given the chance and not stood out, we'd be having the exact same discussion. I'm a big fan of Ibe but he's been terrible in the opening two games. He has tried stuff but that isn't what I'm getting at, his first touch as been none existent and he seems to be scared of running at his defender, something he usually does brilliantly.
yeah.... but.... i could have told him the left would be vacated ebfore game 1.. why did he not see it... You had a good combo of ibe and clyne and you break it up to figure out how to fix left when the answer to the left side is called coutinho... coutinho started no 10 v stoke.. then right side v bournemouth and shock his best play of the 180 mins came when he was on left cut in and shoots... hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... no lets break up the right side stick a right winger left wing where he never played all preseason makei him anonymous too....
fair... also ibe is getting a chance after all.... he is getting it based on work in preseason overall.. he was ok v stoke.. just ok but v bournemouth is was very ineffective. the games picked up several gears since preseason so he has to adapt. we forgave sterling a LOT at 19 after all... very low assists and goal. for me going to the emirates is a game for the man not the boys. Gomez and ibe and lallana would not be in my side going there. but then rodgers hasn't exactly pushed firmino nor can and now he's dependant on can so we can only hope he is ready
Agree that Ibe and Clyne worked well together but Gomez and Lallana didn't so it needed solving. If we're playing an inbalanced 433 then how do you solve it? We could have switched Lallana and Milner around so that Milner was on the left side but instead we moved Ibe who had had a poor game previously in a attacking sense. I don't like Coutinho being pushed out wide so I don't mind him having freedom. Not keen on the inbalance but again I like the freedom in attack.
I criticised Sterling quite a lot during his first and last full season for us. Only in the second season as part of the SASAS did I praise him. Agree on the comments about the Arsenal game but equally, we don't want to show too much respect, we'd effectively be rolling over and letting them tickle our belly!
first full season he was seriously over used and he was ****e after a while totally as his confidence was shot. Last year he was not trying a leg... totally agree. We can't give respect but our record is abysmal there. we need real fighters so if gomez can stand up to ox and whoever plays left can track bellarin all day fine.. but thats not lallana... no way. i'll predict if the same line up starts it'll be down our left that they break through.. and it most likely will be blamed on gomez but he will be double teamed by arsenal.
lallan scored a few in meaningless games.. markovic game goal away, did socre one but countless missed passes and mistakes. I was not impressed.... lallana was just allana.. obvsiouly the two were compared and lallana easily comes out on top. ibe did quite well and got his games as a result.
