http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/boss-show-me-your-hunger Good read. Shows he isn't afraid to drop players. The following quote me me laugh, pretty obviously talking about Downing too "The ones that don't put their bodies on the line stand out like a sore thumb. For me status does not matter. It doesn't matter how much money you have come for. I will play a 17-year-old if he fights and he has quality."
Thats the right atitude. Reputation should mean diddly squat. So what if Downing is an England international? Should he or any of the others don't perform, they don't play and eventually get moved on.
Agree with him entirely, and the performances of Shelvey, Sterling and Hendo have really been highlights for me because of how eager they are to play. You guarantee 100% from each of them whenever they are given the chance and that is how it should be for a footballer. Downing has been the big fish in a small pond for too long in his career and is now floundering because he has to raise his game rather than just stroll around. I really cannot stand the guy, if a 17 year old has the balls to consistently try and take on defenders then an experienced England international shouldn't have a problem.
Liverpool FC ‏@LFC Confirmed #LFC team: Reina, Johnson, Wisdom, Skrtel, Agger, Sahin, Allen, Gerrard, Sterling, Suso, Suarez. Liverpool FC ‏@LFC Subs: Jones, Carragher, Henderson, Downing, Assaidi, Coates, Borini.
This. Agger starts, that surprised me a bit. Delighted Wisdom is breaking through this season. Isn't he naturally a CB? He's done well at RB, we have some good cover for that position... hopefully we wont have to see Skrtel play there again.
Yeah i was surprised Agger made it. Glad he did, though i'm slightly worried it might aggravate the injury and make him miss out for a long time. Hopefully not. Yeah Wisdom is a CB but, like Kelly, has actually looked better at RB. He is also stronger and more naturally suited to RB than Kells.
Think he is a CB, like Kelly. Remember Carra playing LB and RB before being CB. Pretty standard stuff really. Suppose it gives them more composure on the ball?
Wisdom is a centre-back. Although he's monstrous strong and unbelievably quick, he's still got a few flaws to iron out before being used as a centre back. Kelly is the same.
Kelly is not fair off though. Awesome player, great defensively and can head in a set piece at the other end to. My concern is that Coates and Kelly both favour the right side. When Coates has played, Skrtel has actually moved to the left so that Coates can play on the right. If Kelly and Coates are going to be our center backs one day, one will have to get comfortable on the left. Unless Wilson steps up that is. Ofcourse they are young and Agger and Skrtel are still fresh, so the have time on there side.
Also gives them a better sense of positioning playing at RB and slightly less pressure on the fact that if they make a mistake at RB it's less likely to ed in a goal than at CB. Think next season might see Kelly being used more in the middle. -------------Reina/New GK---------- Wisdom - Kelly - Coates - New LB? ---------- Allen - Lucas -------------- -------------- Suso ------------------- Sterling ----- Suarez ------ Assaidi Not a bad team in a couple of years if we can keep everyone together. Add a couple more decent players to that with the type of football could be happy days
Its not just Sterling. Downing should be following the example of Suso, an 18 year old kid that has played 180 minutes of premiership football. Suso has charged around the pitch and has been aggressive in his attacking play. It should be Downing doing this, and he isn't. Sorry if you're going to stroll around, you've got no business in the Liverpool side. Jonjo Shelvey may have been slightly rash, but I love his atitude. He's aggressive and he does want to grab games by the scruff. Gerrard is beginning to do so again, when he was as guilty as anyone of being lazy.
I agree. In a strange way I love how aggressive he was against United, it may have gotten him a red card but it was great to see him charging about like he owned the place. I also liked the little tirade against Fergie, even if it was a bit immature. If he's gonna be our future captain he's gonna have to learn to hate our red neighbours as much as any scouser.