Prior to last week, we found ourselves in quite a difficult place. No wins from our first 5 games, leaking goals and still struggling to score goals. The performances were there but the results weren't. Since then, we have lost some good players through injury and suspension. Kelly injured. Wisdom In. Whilst Enrique continues to struggle at LB, Johnson is being used to cover. Kelly is a good defender but is technically suspect. Possess great speed and strength but does he fit into BR's style of quick passing, and composure on the ball? I'm not so sure. Wisdom has come in and provided this - not only is he strong and quick, but the lad can play football. Shelvey Out. Sahin In. Shelvey will be an exceptional player when he's older. He's head and shoulders above the u21's however I feel he is not quite ready for first team. He is a very raw talent but lacks game intelligence at times. His suspension has allowed Sahin to come in who is a top class player. Again, he provides more technical ability in a very important area of the pitch. Not only this, he is calm, composed and can dictate the tempo. He has added goals from the midfield as well creating chances. Borini Out. Suso/Assaidi In I like Borini - he has the hunger and desire to win. However, he is still adapting and it doesn't help with him being played out of position. His injury has led to the inclusion of Suso and Assaidi as the 'winger'. Just like Sahin and Wisdom, Suso is another technical player who oozes class on the ball. He's the type of player who will demand the ball even if he has 3 players around him, such is his confidence and ability to control the ball and then do something with it. Along with Sahin, he can create chances and pick the right balls. Assaidi has shown us he has pace to burn and can actually cross the ball. I'm sure we will see more of him but he too looks like an intelligent player who knows when it is right to attack and when to play it simple. ----------------------------------------------- Shelvey, Kelly and Borini are our work horses who bring hunger and desire to the team. However, they lack the intelligence and the technique to really impose themselves on the game. It is something that I'm sure they will improve on in the future but if we look at their counterparts in Suso, Sahin and Wisdom - not only are they 'able' replacements for the injured and suspended, but they are better players than the ones they replaced. They represent the modern LFC player - hard working, intelligent, technical and hungry. To make it sound even more impressive, they do exactly the same on and off the ball. Will Shelvey, Borini and Kelly struggle to get back into the team? I know it's only 2 matches but it's really shown the types of players required to make this system work to its potential. I'm not saying these 3 aren't used to the style or that they won't improve - but at the moment, I think there are better suited players at this moment in time.
Sahin has been providing some Alonso type flow to midfield, linking up the play where we've been failing, between midfield and forwards, there our play has been awful until of late as in the first game. He has kept play going where all too often we'd lose the ball via rubbish passing. We are good on the right with possession and passing and pacey on the left with sterling, we have wide options, and we've not had them since 2009.
Lucas yet to come back, Gerrard can get rest with Shelvey as cover. Starting to feel a bit better about our transfer crisis. Think we will manage to do ok till Jan at least.
Wisdom has played well, looks solid and confident but until he's faced some top quality wingers week in week out I think we have to reserve judgement. I think you're spot on with Shelvey. He's a great young player and as with a player like Suso he is always looking for the ball. He just needs more experience to iron out the slight "headless chicken" nature to his game. That will come with a greater experience of the system. As for Borini I think his injury has come at the right time for him and us. Its always tough to come in to a new club and then to play out wider has limited his opportunities to score more. A couple more weeks to settle in then if he comes back when we are playing much better he should be able to relax a bit more, maybe get a few games in the Europey and COCup to give him some slightly easier opposition and hopefully get confidence levels up.
Good point. We were hoping Aqua or Adam could fill this role but didn't work for obvious reasons, and it showed us how much we really missed Alonso or an 'Alonso type' player. ---------------------- Billy - we'll definitely face tougher opposition and that will be a good test. Sterling has faced Arsenal, Man City and Utd and has looked unfazed. Suso had a nice cameo against Utd and impressed. Let's hope they continue impressing
i feared a Norwich win would give us hope prematurely, i think we need to prove against stoke that we have turned a corner. -Although i did not foresee 5 goals, so maybe there is more to be positive about... someone on here said awhile ago, that mourinho used to tell his chelsea team that to win the title they had to concentrate on beating the smaller clubs; the teams they "should" be beating. i for one would like to see liverpool adopt this tactic, too often i can remember us losing ground to the old top 3 because we would draw at home to stoke or sunderland etc. maybe Saturday is the start of us handing out drubbings to teams we "should" be beating?
Sahin is getting better and better with each game and I think he will become a very important player for us this season. Borini for me has looked average at best since joining but he only young so he needs to be given time, his injury might be a blessing alright but Kellys is a disaster for me it will set his development back a lot.
