Our front 4 will start firing again soon, no doubt about it.
Even ignore the defense, they'd benefit massively from a midfielder who can do their job; stopping those through balls, filling in gaps on the flanks and dropping in between the CBs as needed.
Coutinho, I would say, has been one of our best players without the ball lately despite his roaming around! Always seems to be back, chasing and getting a foot in - or at least trying. If our form continues like this, possibly missing out on CL, not getting out the groups then he's off 100%. Our best hope was a great season and persuade him that we were moving forward. Unlikely at this rate.
Our other two midfielders (any combination of them) have been awful this season though! No wonder the defense are all over the place when balls go right through them. They are ineffective in every sense of the word.
I was a big fan of Henderson and think he used to be a big loss for our team when injured, but he's regressed massively this year. He was never a leader, so ignore that issue, but he seems to believe some hype about him where he can be the all action midfielder and sit back like Xabi and ping long balls all day or dictate the tempo like a Xavi. He can't. His big strength was never being in the limelight, always filling gaps, always running, always moving the ball forward quickly and to feet. He's stopped doing most of that.
Gini is more of a complimentary midfielder - like Henderson in a sense. That's what he was good at. You can't build a team around them, but they fill in perfectly and let the others play. He's on a really poor patch of form though.
I don't think Can has never been that good, but is still rolling on the crest of that wonder goal which he could never repeat again if he had 100 attempts. He's slow, positionally poor, thinks he's Iniesta at times with these ridiculous flat footed step overs and shimies which never come off and runs down blind alleys.
Three midfielders who are all pretty average but would look good alongside others. Problem is they're alongside other bang average midfielders who can't do anything themselves other than pass to Coutinho and watch him do something.
Like a few are starting to mention and realise, Lallana is a huge miss. He got a fair bit of stick for being a 'youtube player' with pointless 'cruyff turns' or for being all 'style over substance' but he was the single best player we had at pressing when necessary and knowing when to hold his position. He set the tempo for the others and I wouldn't discount his leadership when it came to the pressing either. He was good at getting the ball, keeping it (Hello Can) and turning and moving it forward but accurately (Hi Gini) to other players whilst always being in space (Yup, Henderson) to receive it too. Not a man mountain, but important.
I know Keita is coming in the summer. I'm dreaming about Keita and Coutinho in the centre next year, but we still need a bloody DM behind them!
Then we can see how **** Matip and Lovren really are.
edit: I guess this needs a question: Who's the most suited DM at our club? Milner? Who would you sign as a DM in the January?
Even ignore the defense, they'd benefit massively from a midfielder who can do their job; stopping those through balls, filling in gaps on the flanks and dropping in between the CBs as needed.
Coutinho, I would say, has been one of our best players without the ball lately despite his roaming around! Always seems to be back, chasing and getting a foot in - or at least trying. If our form continues like this, possibly missing out on CL, not getting out the groups then he's off 100%. Our best hope was a great season and persuade him that we were moving forward. Unlikely at this rate.
Our other two midfielders (any combination of them) have been awful this season though! No wonder the defense are all over the place when balls go right through them. They are ineffective in every sense of the word.
I was a big fan of Henderson and think he used to be a big loss for our team when injured, but he's regressed massively this year. He was never a leader, so ignore that issue, but he seems to believe some hype about him where he can be the all action midfielder and sit back like Xabi and ping long balls all day or dictate the tempo like a Xavi. He can't. His big strength was never being in the limelight, always filling gaps, always running, always moving the ball forward quickly and to feet. He's stopped doing most of that.
Gini is more of a complimentary midfielder - like Henderson in a sense. That's what he was good at. You can't build a team around them, but they fill in perfectly and let the others play. He's on a really poor patch of form though.
I don't think Can has never been that good, but is still rolling on the crest of that wonder goal which he could never repeat again if he had 100 attempts. He's slow, positionally poor, thinks he's Iniesta at times with these ridiculous flat footed step overs and shimies which never come off and runs down blind alleys.
Three midfielders who are all pretty average but would look good alongside others. Problem is they're alongside other bang average midfielders who can't do anything themselves other than pass to Coutinho and watch him do something.
Like a few are starting to mention and realise, Lallana is a huge miss. He got a fair bit of stick for being a 'youtube player' with pointless 'cruyff turns' or for being all 'style over substance' but he was the single best player we had at pressing when necessary and knowing when to hold his position. He set the tempo for the others and I wouldn't discount his leadership when it came to the pressing either. He was good at getting the ball, keeping it (Hello Can) and turning and moving it forward but accurately (Hi Gini) to other players whilst always being in space (Yup, Henderson) to receive it too. Not a man mountain, but important.
I know Keita is coming in the summer. I'm dreaming about Keita and Coutinho in the centre next year, but we still need a bloody DM behind them!
Then we can see how **** Matip and Lovren really are.
edit: I guess this needs a question: Who's the most suited DM at our club? Milner? Who would you sign as a DM in the January?
. Midfield... Despite on paper being weak, I don't think is our main problem.
