'Arry didn't play Livermore alongside Parker for the hell of it, nor was it just because Lenon was injured. He clearly doesn't like our "soft centre" when Luka plays there, particularly against some teams away from home. So we are going to have to get used to two holding players (neither of whom will be Croatian). Either Luka and VDV work out some way of avoiding treading on each other's toes, or we start one and have the other on the bench.
Harry's decision to start with Livermore was the correct one and well justified by Jake's performance, including that key interception for our opening goal. VDV is a top class player, and we should always make room for him when fit, he was our top scorer last season and may well be again this season. I would always choose him ahead of Defoe on current and past form, but there may come a time when I see JD as the better asset. But I find that hard to believe for this season. So far there hasn't been a problem, rather we have been doing brilliantly with VDV and Modric in the team alongside Parker and Ade. Maybe in the future there wil be, but so far so very, very good indeed.
I wouldn't say we had a soft centre with Modric and AN Other in there (well, unless it was VDV or Kranjcar...) because of the way he holds onto posession - similar to Fabregas when he was playing down the road, or Xavi...for whom Fabregas is a £32m understudy at club and international level.
