After the absolute shambles that was today's result, I have been trying to figure out what needs fixed in the team. It's like trying to figure out how a 15 country civil war in Africa starts- everything seems to be going wrong. The only good thing I can see is the defence- and that will be tested next year, as I don't see Reina still being with us. He is far too good to be playing for a mid table team. Johnston should be pushed up to midfield, as his defending isn't good. The obvious reason for how bad we are is Andy Carroll. I really wanted this transfer to work out, but it just hasn't. He has been given chance after chance, but he is absolute kryptonite to our style of passing football. Whereas any of the other starting strikers that we have had in the last would bust a gut to hold onto possession, Andy seems to stand still off the ball, and give it right back to the other team constantly when he is on it. I don't know if its because he sees himself as the last line going forward or what, but he really doesn't fit into the team. If he is still starting next year, it will be a year of struggling against relegation for us- he is that much of a cross to bear. Suarez has been a really good player for us, but his shot to goals ratio is shocking. Our midfield has no shape, and is filled with players who aren't good enough. Downing gets a lot of stick for not bringing enough to the team- but he is crossing to Andy Carroll. If he had something to aim at I don't think he would be getting all the negative press he has. I like the look of him and Enrique down the left. The right on the other hand is a shambles. Bellamy has been one of our best players this seasons, but he can only play one in three. Buying Henderson was a mistake. Adam is like Xabi Alonso, but without the skill- and that ain't good. Spearing wouldn't be in the team is Lucas wasn't injured- he has been a massive loss. I think the biggest problem we have is a general lack of intelligence in the team. I mean, during the Suarez racism furor I can't see that tthe club wouldn't have said to the players to say NOTHING, and what do we see? Glen Johnson making statements in the press that can do no good. As if what Suarez did in the first place wasn't stupid enough. Losing and being competitive is one thing, but we have bent over for every team in the league. Apparently Wolves are the only team worse than us at the moment- but if we were to play tomorrow I couldn't see us getting anything from it. This is worse than Hodgson, Evans/Houllier partnership, and Souness. Hopefully alarm bells are ringing with the owners, and we are in for massive changes in the summer, as this can't go on.
The reason you are bad is that you have bad players. Much the same reason as why we aren't challenging for the title anymore or that wolves are bottom of the league
Thanks for the insight there. I could have just said "we're ****e", but I was going for a bit more than that.
I understand why your fans are depressed with things. However you set your sights too high. With your players at the start of the season 8th would be about where i expected to be. You bought mid-low level premier league players and not surprisingly you are in the mid table battle. There is no solution except to get better players. You need a 5 year plan starting from now with someone who has been involved with football in the last decade as your coach and someone who has a clue making buys and not just spending 100m on the lot you bought. Having said all this I know about your owners and they are good. I suspect they know what you all know and will work to fix your club and get them competiting on the field again . Trust me, you have the right owners in charge to compete.
There is a lot wrong. I don't think its as bad as Hodgson - but its bad enough. For me: Carroll isn't good enough. Adam: Isn't good enough. Gerrard: Too old, dare I say it - lazy, lack of tracking and movement. Lucas: Injured. Henderson: Not good enough Downing: Not good enough. Spearing: Not first team material Carragher: Past it Johnson: Cannot defend Kenny: Also past his best Suarez: Has left a cloud over the team and is yet to repay out loyalty. To be honest its a question of quality - and we simply don't have enough. A badge alone cannot win us games.
Much better Arsenal4life ;P With the amount of money that was shelled out, I don't think we were wrong to have aspired to challenging for CL places. In fact, I think it is important for teams to aspire to more, otherwise being mediocre becomes acceptable. But those transfers have absolutely crippled us. Our transfer policy has been wrong since the 80s. It moves between buying unproven players who go on to do nothing, overpaying for average players who we then cannot move on because of their wages, rubbish bosman signings. And our dealings that involve the right kind of players for larger fees have a far lower success rate than is acceptable. I know other teams have bad signings, but it is turning into a Liverpool trademark. We havent had a close season's trasnfers that have made the team stronger since about 2008. Screw it- this season is a complete write off. We should at least play the better young players for the rest of the year- unless they still have aspirations of getting 4th
I've learnt to come away from getting too emotional and instead being a critic. The problems are nothing new, but have certainly proved to be worse than I thought.
Yeah true. I do think we expect too much, especially as we came quite close to winning the league only 3 years back. But the truth is we aren't a very good team.
bow4fowler- I don't totally agree with your aprisal of the team, but you are definitely close enough so that it makes no difference. We have about 3-4 people who are ones we would want in for the long haul, and 1-2 of those will probably want to leave. I can't see our players getting better at the mo, so I'm going to go for a new approach. Every player needs a remote controlled electric shock collar, like what you use to stop dogs chasing cars. Everytime Carroll gives the ball away, Suarez dives, or someone does something blatantly stupid *BAM* 240volts. They would learn very quickly. Ok, so it might be a wee bit reactionary, but at least they would be doing something for their £60k a week.
240? Mate they'd die! lol But yeah I like the idea. Carroll needs something to actually make him run!
I saw some norwegian saturday morning tv show do it. not sure about the 240, but it definitely did the trick http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuKva8GUwBk I think we could be on to something with this.....
I tried ot post a link to youtube with some norwegian saturday morning tv show trailblazing electric shocks in football, but it got sent for moderation. I'm guessing that advocating electrocuting players might be against the house rules. google norway football electric shock and its there- and its the future.
