I doubt very much if there is anyone who could honestly say that KIO. But it needn't be the end of the world if we do get relegated. By next season we'll be free of all external debt, and we'll have parachute payments to bolster the funds available for strengthening the team. The single most important thing if we DO go down is that we remain united, with our belief intact, and in good shape to make a quick return to the top flight. The last thing we want is to go down as a club in disarray, with players desperate to leave and no-one wanting to join. I think we fans have as big a responsibility in this respect as the club, the management team, and the players. I also believe Superman is right when he says Hughton has been brought in, and accepted the job, "for the long-haul", irrespective of whether we survive this year or not. IMO it is important to keep the bigger picture firmly in mind rather than letting the performance in the last match dominate one's thinking and reactions. PS In view of your post on the "Reasons to be Cheerful" thread, no reply expected until tomorrow .............
Remember that our initial 7 year plan, which we must be ahead of by at least a season, was to become an established Premier League side. This seven year plan includes the event that we may get relegated from the Premier League with the intention that we bounce straight back up. I'm sure that if we were to go down that there are plans in place to try and get straight back up.
Look at wolves, they lost there 2 best players for 24mil and kept the rest of the squad together and arent doing too bad, so was the worst to happen and we managed to keep the majority of our squad in tact we qould be in a much better position to bounce back than we were last time! As for next line up I would go 4-1-4-1 Ruddy Martin Bassong Barnett Garrido Tettey Bennett Fox Hoolahan Pilkington Holt With this we would have the protection of the back 4 that we have missed so much in tettey, plus the craft of Hoolahan and fox in the middle but Hoolahan could push on and play in the hole behind Holt. I for one thing though never want to see our so called wingers play so centrally again though I've never has surman down as a winger anyway!
I felt that Tettey provided very good protection off the back four when he came on and showed his importance to the midfield. It also showed how important Fox is important to the midfield.
For what it's worth, the 7 year plan was: 09/10: Promote to Championship 10/13: Championship, culminating in promotion in 12/13. 13/14: Premier League, ending in relegation 14/15: Immediate return to Premier League 15/16: Become an established Premier League club and not look back. So yeah, if we relegate this season, we'll be ahead of where we planned to be, and with extra money as we'd have spent one of the championship seasons in the PL.
This is a good piece. From a Liverpool point of view I'm obviously happy we've won, never mind the result... BUT - it could have been very different. Certainly if you'd scored that chance at the start of the second half the whole complexion of the game could have changed. It was obvious that you need to play a holding midfielder - we had far too much time on the ball. The centre-backs were lax and left the back line full of gaps - Sterling broke through several times with a simple pass to release him. Suarez could pick the ball up anywhere and have time to take a touch and pick his option. I agree wholly with what you said about Allen - a terrific player who will have his name in lights very soon. He works very hard and never, ever loses the ball. He can drop his shoulder and ghost past players too - as he did against I think Howson in the build up to the third or fourth goal. I think you'd look a lot better in a 4-2-3-1, with Howson allowed to drive forward, Holt up front and a more creative player in behind him. Surman and Snodgrass on the flanks. You played some good stuff - a little steel and you'll be fine. PS. What happened to Daniel Ayala? Always liked him.
PS. What happened to Daniel Ayala? Always liked him.[/QUOTE] Dani has gone on loan to Forest to regain his fitness after a bad injury last season! We all like him, he's very comfortable on the ball and hopefully has a big future here!
Tettey and Fox would be an interesting combination, I think it would give Fox a lot more creative freedom having a defensive midfielder by him. Agree with whats being said about Surman his probably the most frustrating player to watch, he can be absolute brilliant or he can totally go missing and seems to get away with it. Unfortunately I think we're held hostage tactically by Holt as he cannot play up top by himself. The midfield as our strongest area in my opinion and we have to play Fox and Hoolahan as they are the architects the others we have at our disposal are excellent, but no one has their creativity they both see the game differently.
No you weren't, they were both completely out of position most of the game, at one point Martin ran into the middle totally ignoring the Liverpool player on the touch line, and when the ball went to that player, he was at least 20 yards away from him, Garrido was guilty as well, on one occasion Stirling mis-controlled the ball it went under his foot and rolled slowly towards the touchline, he actually had time to WALK after it, got it back and still no one came to tackle him. They both had stinkers!!!! We were so packing the centre midfield that Liverpool just ran round us down the flanks, which if we had had our two wide players we would probably have stopped that happening. Why no Bennet? Why no Hoops? Why no Ward? Why was Howson left on, Why was Johnson left on? I can't agree that Liverpool were fantastic and such a better team than us, WE WERE JUST SO BAD on the day that a team of Granny's would have scored 5 against us. It doesn't matter how you wrap that game up, from our point of view IT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH. **** I'm disapointed!!!
I like that team. Personally, I'd go: Ruddy Martin Bassong R Bennett Garrido Tettey E Bennett Howson Pilkington Snodgrass Holt That leaves us with options to bring on Fox if we want the game slowed down or Hoolahan I we want to try to nick a goal
I don't entirely agree with this, I think he could do it if we actually played with wingers on both sides, whipped crosses in regularly, and he had support from an attacking midfielder. Normally I'd suggest Hoolahoops, but if we're playing down the wings, a bit more aerial threat would be beneficial, so perhaps Howson in a more advanced role, or Butterfield (although I haven't seen him yet, so I've no idea if he's tall/any good in the air).
Dani has gone on loan to Forest to regain his fitness after a bad injury last season! We all like him, he's very comfortable on the ball and hopefully has a big future here![/QUOTE] No idea why Kenny let him go. Would rather have him as 4th choice than Carra or Danny Wilson. We let another Spanish CB go called San Jose and he's starting for Athletic Bilbao these days
Have to say I think Holt will work up top by himself, with the right midfield combination I think he will get some chances. Completely agree Howson needs to play a more advanced role, he can't get as involved playing deep. Tettey and Fox I think will really work, shame Johnson to be dropped as he has had a brilliant season so far in my opinion. As the Liverpool fan above said (which was a good post) if we'd have scored that goal seconds in to the second half could have been a different game as we would have gained momentum and found confidence going into second half. I personally don't at all think it was as disastrous as some people have made out.
Yeah, I'd like to see: -----------Ruddy----------------- R.Martin--Bassong--Barnett-Garrido -------Tettey-----Fox------------ Bennett-----Howson-----Pilkington -------------Holt----------------- Then have Hoolahan on the bench if we're lacking creativity, Snodgrass as cover for both wings and to bring on later on, Johnson for Howson if we need to defend more, and the rest of the usual cover. I'd like to see R. Bennett maybe get some games alongside Bassong too.
If we do go with Holt on his own, then I think we need to find a place for Hoolahan. He isn't always on his top game I know but that little bit of flair or the unexpected would be just the foil needed.
Exactly, which is why Garrido and Martin were made to look so bad -- as several people have pointed out already. Re. Ward, he can't play in the league games because he is not in the 25-man squad. (I'm just waiting for people to come on here now saying he should be in the squad, when the vast majority were telling us he is -- to use a topical expression -- a donkey and should be sent back to League 1).
I too think this is the formation we should be using. The three advanced midfielders can be shuffled, any three from Bennett, Butterfield, Howson, Surman, Snodgrass, Hoolahan, Pilkington. They could also be encouraged to swap around, as Hazard, Mata and Oscar are doing now at Chelsea.
How come Howson seems to have an unflinching place in the squad!! Is he this magnificant player that everyone bangs on about, because ive failed to see him play a 'great' game for us yet. Perhaps its time to look for a change to our leeds midfield, there was a reason they are stuck in the championship!!
the 'leeds midfield' worked brilliantly against spurs. the reason? spurs played two holding players, therefore giving them loads of the ball. it doesn't work when they are pressed high up the pitch and have no time, a la liverpool. howson is a quality player, as is snodgrass, but you have to play to their strengths and at the moment that isn't happening. snodgrass requires the freedom to roam and not defend so much, howson needs to play further up the park and not sit in front of the back four. playing 4-5-1 is so obviously the way forward - it means players can play in their best position and have the license to play to their full potential. this nonsense about holt not being able to play up on his own needs to be clamped down on - he can play brilliantly up on his own (swansea away last year anyone?) but he requires good width going forward and someone who he can link up with in the hole, be it jackson playing deep, hoolahan, butterfield, howson...
