On a hot and humid day in Baltimore where temperatures reached 35 degrees this preseason friendly was always going to played at a slow pace. Add to that the poor surface quality and it was not an exciting game by any stretch of the imagination. Both teams had there chances of which the better fell to Lennon who could only hit the post from 3 yards out. There were postives though and the return of Henderson, Gerrard and Downing as well as the unofficial debut of Fabio Borini made the game worthwhile. The game finished 0-0 but lets see how our players fared.
Peter Gulacsi 6/10
Another assured display by the young keeper, made a few decent saves and was positional sound throughout his 45 minutes. One glitch on his performances this tour has been his tendency to hit the ball long from the back when the simple forward ball is available, time and confidence should fix this and overall he looks a promising keeper.
John Flanagan 6/10
A very good defensive display by the teenage fullback, effectively kept Gareth Bale for the whole time he was on the pitch. He did this with some crunching tackles, excellent positioning and will be happy with his performance. The one weakness in Flanagan's game however is the lack of attacking threat he poses, in a 4-3-3 it is vital that your fullbacks overlap and provide an add to the attack. It is this aspect of his game that may hurt his progress into a first team player.
Martin Skrtel 7/10
There is not much you can say about Skrtel that has not been said already. He has turned into a truly consistent and top class centre back who put in another solid display tonight. Skrtel even had time to take a leaf out of Daniel Agger's book with a marauding run through the Spurs team that finished in a well placed shot. Defensively sound all game, job well done.
Stephen Sama 6/10
He may have been a relatively unknown name to many fans before this tour but that is no longer the case. Sama's development over the last year or so can only be described as rapid and he is turning into a well polished young centre-back. He put in another promising performance against Spurs and rarely looks troubled. Only time he was caught out was when an excellent Huddlestone ball allowed Kane to evade the offside trap, yet Sama recovered well to force Kane's shot wide.
Jack Robinson 7/10
If Robinson has accomplished one thing this tour it is that Enrique will have to be on his toes if he is to keep his place in the first team. How Robinson is so strong in defense, attack and positioning at such a young age is amazing, add to that his composure and at this rate Robinson will not only be in line for Liverpool's first team but England's as well. Against Spurs he was assured at the back with some excellent tackling and made some brilliant forward runs that gave Kyle Walker some real trouble.
Lucas Leiva 6.5/10
Our midfield enforcer is on his way back to full fitness and has looked better in each and every game. He was strong in the tackle and his passing was of the highest quality. Lucas allowed Gerrard and Henderson to have free run of the midfield and it is glaringly obvious how important he is to the team. The big issue is whether he can stay fit, hopefully he will have no set backs as Spearing has shown on more than one occasion that he cannot deputise in Lucas' absence.
Jordan Henderson 7.5/10 (MOTM)
What a player Henderson has the potential to become. From the moment he set foot on the field Liverpool looked like a team worth getting excited about. His movement, intensity and good use of possession made us tick in the second half. Jordan's passing was very accomplished and even had some surging Gerrard like forward runs. Looked fitter than all the players around him and all signs point towards him having a very good season. The big difference already between this and last year is that Rodgers knows what Henderson is and where he will thrive, Kenny failed miserably in this regard.
Steven Gerrard 6.5/10
Captain fantastic had his first run out of this years preseason and looked comfortable in Rodgers new system. He linked well with Henderson and Lucas and showed the quality that he possess. All in all it was a no fuss performance from him and the 45 minutes he spent on the pitch will be the main thing to take out of this game.
Raheem Sterling 6.5/10
The most complete performance from Raheem to date, he is fast developing into and a player who is ready for the first team. You can see his game has involved, he knows when to attack, when to hold the ball up, how to retain possession, which lines to run and what defensive duties are required of him. Sterling is no longer the kid who attacks every time he gets the ball, he still has that ability but has learnt when to use it and it is this that says he is ready for the first team. Gave Bassong all kinds of trouble in the second half and if his final ball had been better would have set numerous chances up, yet that was more down to the poor pitch.
Adam Morgan 6/10
Morgan may not be ready for the first team but he showed what promise he has. He is never going to be the striker who makes a goal out of nothing but he has other qualities. His movement and instincts in terms of where the chance will drop are very exciting attributes and could develop into a very useful poacher for us. Had one good chance in the first half when he beat the offside trap yet could only hit his shot at the keeper.
Stewart Downing 7/10
Few players received more criticism than Downing last year but you have to judge him on his performance against Spurs. He actually put in a very good shift in which he looked dangerous in attack. His passing was of a particular high quality and he retained possession well while linking up effectively with other teammates. Almost scored in the first half when a dangerous cross eluded everyone and went just wide of the left upright.
Substitutes:
Brad Jones 6/10
Andre Wisdom 5.5/10
Jamie Carragher 5/10
Danny Wilson 6/10
Jose Enrique 5/10
Jay Spearing 4.5/10
Charlie Adam 4/10
Jonjo Shelvey 5.5/10
Joe Cole 6/10
Nathan Eccleston 3.5/10
Fabio Borini 5/10
Andy Carroll 4/10
Legend Of The Kop: Articles
Sunday, 29 July 2012
Thursday, 26 July 2012
Player Ratings: Liverpool vs AS Roma
Liverpool went down 2-1 to a strong Roma side containing the majority of their first team players. Roma have also played more preseason games so came in the stronger team. Michael Bradley opened the scoring for Roma before Florenzi added a second but Liverpool fought back and when Charlie Adam got put a good left footed shot into the back of the net Liverpool were on the up. Unfortunately Liverpool could not find the equaliser but there will be plenty of positives for Brendan Rodgers to take away from the game. Will do player ratings on the best player in each position due to the magnitude of players who took part.
Peter Gulacsi 6.5/10
The young keeper had a good half between the sticks and made a few very good saves to send Liverpool in level at the break. His best save came after a poor pass from Jay Spearing allowed a Roma player a clear run in on goal, Gulacsi brilliantly saved the following shot and will have done his future prospects no harm.
Ryan McLaughlin 7/10
It is hard to believe that this kid is only 17 with the performance he put in against Roma. Bombed up and down the right flank to provide some very good attacking support to Joe Cole while at the same time always attending to his defensive duties. On his debut performance tonight, McLaughlin has a bright future ahead of him which may come at Flannagan's expense.
Martin Skrtel 6.5/10
Another no fuss performance from our enforcer in which he did everything that was required of him. In both preseason games now the opposition have attacked his defensive partner, giving Skrtel a wide birth. Carragher may have had a nightmare half of football but Skrtel stood firm and is looking sharp for the season ahead.
Danny Wilson 4.5/10
Despite putting in a less than assured display Wilson was still the best left back on show for us tonight, Jose Enrique had a shocker by his standards and things are looking good for Jack Robinson who missed the game due to a minor injury. Although it is not his natural position Wilson was found out of position on more than one occasion and struggled against the Roma attack. He is fast running out of opportunities to keep his Liverpool career alive.
Jonjo Shelvey 7.5/10 (MOTM)
Despite having a poor start to the game in which he over hit a few passes Shelvey really grew into the game and became a dominant force in the Liverpool side, he almost scored on three occasions with some great footwork and also set up his teammates on a few occasions. He may still need a year out on loan but Jonjo is really showing the manager what he can do.
Charlie Adam 6/10
It may be glaringly obvious that Adam is not suited to playing under Rodgers but the Scottish midfielder put in a decent attacking display with some good long range passes and a well taken goal. On the other hand though, his defensive display was diabolical as per usual, his positioning was terrible and still had time to mistime his customary clumsy challenges. Adam was a big factor in our midfield being overun in the second half.
Lucas Leiva 6.5/10
Despite only playing for 30 minutes it was great to see Lucas throwing himself into challenges again and giving everything for the team. His short passing on shielding helped limit the damage in the second half and he can only go from strength to strength from this point on.
Joe Cole 7.5/10
May have taken him almost two years to do but Cole put in an impressive performance tonight with some great close control and clever passing. He was very unlucky to see a great piece of skill rebound off the crossbar and many fans will be hoping he can use this performance as a launching pad to seeing the old Joe Cole back in action.
Pacheco 7/10
On preseason form so far it will be an injustice if Pacheco is forced out of the club. Followed up his impressive performance against Toronto with another eye catching display. His attacking skills are impressive and he skinned his full-back on more than one occasion, combine that with his willingness to track back and his excellent movement and Pacheco is making a statement.
Raheem Sterling 7/10
He has all the potential in the world but when you saw him sprinting 60m back towards his own goal to win the ball back you just know that Raheem Sterling is going to make it. Sterling put in another classy display with some good attacking player, even better ball retention and sublime skill. Brendan Rodgers will find it hard not to be impressed by Raheem who continues to grow into a first team player.
Noteble Substitutes:
Suso 6.5/10
Morgan 6/10
Aquilani 5.5/10
Agger 6/10
Peter Gulacsi 6.5/10
The young keeper had a good half between the sticks and made a few very good saves to send Liverpool in level at the break. His best save came after a poor pass from Jay Spearing allowed a Roma player a clear run in on goal, Gulacsi brilliantly saved the following shot and will have done his future prospects no harm.
Ryan McLaughlin 7/10
It is hard to believe that this kid is only 17 with the performance he put in against Roma. Bombed up and down the right flank to provide some very good attacking support to Joe Cole while at the same time always attending to his defensive duties. On his debut performance tonight, McLaughlin has a bright future ahead of him which may come at Flannagan's expense.
Martin Skrtel 6.5/10
Another no fuss performance from our enforcer in which he did everything that was required of him. In both preseason games now the opposition have attacked his defensive partner, giving Skrtel a wide birth. Carragher may have had a nightmare half of football but Skrtel stood firm and is looking sharp for the season ahead.
Danny Wilson 4.5/10
Despite putting in a less than assured display Wilson was still the best left back on show for us tonight, Jose Enrique had a shocker by his standards and things are looking good for Jack Robinson who missed the game due to a minor injury. Although it is not his natural position Wilson was found out of position on more than one occasion and struggled against the Roma attack. He is fast running out of opportunities to keep his Liverpool career alive.
Jonjo Shelvey 7.5/10 (MOTM)
Despite having a poor start to the game in which he over hit a few passes Shelvey really grew into the game and became a dominant force in the Liverpool side, he almost scored on three occasions with some great footwork and also set up his teammates on a few occasions. He may still need a year out on loan but Jonjo is really showing the manager what he can do.
Charlie Adam 6/10
It may be glaringly obvious that Adam is not suited to playing under Rodgers but the Scottish midfielder put in a decent attacking display with some good long range passes and a well taken goal. On the other hand though, his defensive display was diabolical as per usual, his positioning was terrible and still had time to mistime his customary clumsy challenges. Adam was a big factor in our midfield being overun in the second half.
Lucas Leiva 6.5/10
Despite only playing for 30 minutes it was great to see Lucas throwing himself into challenges again and giving everything for the team. His short passing on shielding helped limit the damage in the second half and he can only go from strength to strength from this point on.
Joe Cole 7.5/10
May have taken him almost two years to do but Cole put in an impressive performance tonight with some great close control and clever passing. He was very unlucky to see a great piece of skill rebound off the crossbar and many fans will be hoping he can use this performance as a launching pad to seeing the old Joe Cole back in action.
Pacheco 7/10
On preseason form so far it will be an injustice if Pacheco is forced out of the club. Followed up his impressive performance against Toronto with another eye catching display. His attacking skills are impressive and he skinned his full-back on more than one occasion, combine that with his willingness to track back and his excellent movement and Pacheco is making a statement.
Raheem Sterling 7/10
He has all the potential in the world but when you saw him sprinting 60m back towards his own goal to win the ball back you just know that Raheem Sterling is going to make it. Sterling put in another classy display with some good attacking player, even better ball retention and sublime skill. Brendan Rodgers will find it hard not to be impressed by Raheem who continues to grow into a first team player.
Noteble Substitutes:
Suso 6.5/10
Morgan 6/10
Aquilani 5.5/10
Agger 6/10
Sunday, 22 July 2012
Player Rating: Liverpool vs Toronto FC
Brendan Rodgers decided to field a completely different team in each half against Toronto FC with the game eventually ending in a 1-1 stalemate. The highlights of the game included some impressive performances by some of Liverpool's younger players as well as the return of Lucas Leiva. Due to the magnitude of players who took part last night will do ratings on the player who performed best in each position.
Brad Jones 6/10
Jones had a relatively comfortable first half in which he distributed the ball well and made a smart save from Toronto number nine Johnson. Overall neither keeper was kept too busy as Liverpool maintained possession, Jones gets the vote over Gulacsi as he managed to keep a clean sheet.
Andre Wisdom 5.5/10
Even though he played out of position at right back Wisdom still put in an impressive defensive display. He timed his tackles well and passed the ball forward with confidence, on some occasions he tried to force the pass and had one or two reckless challenges which is mainly due to an over eagerness to impress. His attacking up the right flank was limited over the 45 minutes.
Martin Skrtel 6/10
Quiet but solid performance from the Skrtel, did everything he had to with minimal fuss and will have benefited from having a good 45 minutes under his belt.
Stephen Sama 6/10
The 19 year-old Sama put in a noticeable display at centre back yesterday, he was solid in the air and decent on the ground and it would of been a great experience for him playing alongside Jamie Carragher. Apart from the Johnson chance himself and Carragher nullified all of Toronto's attacks.
Jack Robinson 7/10
If ever there was a youngster who is ready for the first team it is Jack Robinson. Apart from a few clumsy passess he was great going backwards and going forwards. He possesses all the qualities to become a top class left back under Brendan Rodgers. I'm sure Jose Enrique knows he will have a tough fight on his hands in the near future.
Alberto Aquilani 6/10
Did not get anywhere near the levels that we know he possess but in the same breath did everything that would be required of him in a preseason game. Kept possession efficiently and distributed the ball nicely although he could have made a greater contribution in an attacking sense.
Jonjo Shelvey 6.5/10
Jonjo is developing at a rapid rate and has a big future at Liverpool. The most impressive thing about him yesterday was how he took charge of the midfield and played some great passes to set teammates away. The one negative in not just this game but his game in general is his tendency to lunge in with reckless challenges and is something that needs to be weeded out.
Suso 6.5/10
Suso started off looking nervous and tried to force too many passes but after an exceptional piece of skill where he spun away from three defenders his game changed for the better. From that point on his control was exceptional, his passing was solid and he even went on some highly impressive mazzy runs which left a few defenders in his wake. Suso also had two good shots on target and although he still has some improving to do, this guy has a massive future.
Jordan Ibe 6.5/10
16 year-old Jordan Ibe showed exactly why he is so highly rated with an impressive attacking display. He ran at and past players with confidence and whipped in a few decent crosses. His close control and trickery was a highlight and will be looking forward to seeing more of him this preseason.
Dani Pacheco 7.5/10 (MOTM)
A year ago he looked a bit raw but against Toronto Dani finally showed he is ready to be a regular first team player in a performance that had everything. His attacking play was the highlight with some very good direct play, add to that his excellent movement, clever passing and ball retention, and that he did not shirk his defensive duties and it is easy to see that Pacheco will thrive under Rodgers 4-3-3 system.
Raheem Sterling 7/10
No list of exciting youngsters is complete without Raheem Sterling, he showed us once again the extent of the potential he has. He ran at the defense with pace, skill and trickery and was able to get to the byline on more than one occasion. Sterling did brilliantly to set up Liverpool's goal with good control, a burst of pace to go around the defender and then a good shot across goal that looked like it was going in before Adam Morgan made sure from close range.
Substitutes (7 Best)
Peter Gulacsi 5.5/10
Flannagan 5/10
Carragher 5.5/10
Enrique 5.5/10
Spearing 5.5/10
Cole 5/10
Morgan 6/10
Brad Jones 6/10
Jones had a relatively comfortable first half in which he distributed the ball well and made a smart save from Toronto number nine Johnson. Overall neither keeper was kept too busy as Liverpool maintained possession, Jones gets the vote over Gulacsi as he managed to keep a clean sheet.
Andre Wisdom 5.5/10
Even though he played out of position at right back Wisdom still put in an impressive defensive display. He timed his tackles well and passed the ball forward with confidence, on some occasions he tried to force the pass and had one or two reckless challenges which is mainly due to an over eagerness to impress. His attacking up the right flank was limited over the 45 minutes.
Martin Skrtel 6/10
Quiet but solid performance from the Skrtel, did everything he had to with minimal fuss and will have benefited from having a good 45 minutes under his belt.
Stephen Sama 6/10
The 19 year-old Sama put in a noticeable display at centre back yesterday, he was solid in the air and decent on the ground and it would of been a great experience for him playing alongside Jamie Carragher. Apart from the Johnson chance himself and Carragher nullified all of Toronto's attacks.
Jack Robinson 7/10
If ever there was a youngster who is ready for the first team it is Jack Robinson. Apart from a few clumsy passess he was great going backwards and going forwards. He possesses all the qualities to become a top class left back under Brendan Rodgers. I'm sure Jose Enrique knows he will have a tough fight on his hands in the near future.
Alberto Aquilani 6/10
Did not get anywhere near the levels that we know he possess but in the same breath did everything that would be required of him in a preseason game. Kept possession efficiently and distributed the ball nicely although he could have made a greater contribution in an attacking sense.
Jonjo Shelvey 6.5/10
Jonjo is developing at a rapid rate and has a big future at Liverpool. The most impressive thing about him yesterday was how he took charge of the midfield and played some great passes to set teammates away. The one negative in not just this game but his game in general is his tendency to lunge in with reckless challenges and is something that needs to be weeded out.
Suso 6.5/10
Suso started off looking nervous and tried to force too many passes but after an exceptional piece of skill where he spun away from three defenders his game changed for the better. From that point on his control was exceptional, his passing was solid and he even went on some highly impressive mazzy runs which left a few defenders in his wake. Suso also had two good shots on target and although he still has some improving to do, this guy has a massive future.
Jordan Ibe 6.5/10
16 year-old Jordan Ibe showed exactly why he is so highly rated with an impressive attacking display. He ran at and past players with confidence and whipped in a few decent crosses. His close control and trickery was a highlight and will be looking forward to seeing more of him this preseason.
Dani Pacheco 7.5/10 (MOTM)
A year ago he looked a bit raw but against Toronto Dani finally showed he is ready to be a regular first team player in a performance that had everything. His attacking play was the highlight with some very good direct play, add to that his excellent movement, clever passing and ball retention, and that he did not shirk his defensive duties and it is easy to see that Pacheco will thrive under Rodgers 4-3-3 system.
Raheem Sterling 7/10
No list of exciting youngsters is complete without Raheem Sterling, he showed us once again the extent of the potential he has. He ran at the defense with pace, skill and trickery and was able to get to the byline on more than one occasion. Sterling did brilliantly to set up Liverpool's goal with good control, a burst of pace to go around the defender and then a good shot across goal that looked like it was going in before Adam Morgan made sure from close range.
Substitutes (7 Best)
Peter Gulacsi 5.5/10
Flannagan 5/10
Carragher 5.5/10
Enrique 5.5/10
Spearing 5.5/10
Cole 5/10
Morgan 6/10
Monday, 25 June 2012
The Skrtelnator: Man City bound?
Amid recent specualtion linking Martin Skrtel with a £20m move to Manchester City, I thought it would be a good time to analyse the pros and cons of any potential move away from Anfield. Skrtel has just completed another very solid season for Liverpool in which he made 34 league appearances and managed 2 goals and 1 assist. His impressive performances resulted in Skrtel being awarded the clubs player of the season award which was well derserved. The question is though; Is Martin Skrtel indespensible or should we take the £20m and strenghten our team in other areas?
Over the last two years Martin Skrtel has gone from reckless liability to an abosolute defensive rock. He has become the mainstay in the heart of Liverpool's defence and his physical no-nosense defending has invited praise from all quarters. At 6' 3" Skrtel is a dominant figure in the air and is very strong in the tackle, often out-muscling opponents to win the ball. He is always comitted and willing to through himself into any kind of challenge. Skrtel has also developed a knack for scoring goals in recent seasons and is becoming a genuine threat at set-pieces.
Although he has improved immensly over the last couple of seasons Skrtel still has an uncanny tendency to give free-kicks away in dangerous areas. Couple that with his very poor marking at set pieces and £20m starts to become a very attractive propsition. Unlike his defensive partner Daniel Agger, Skrtel is not indespensible and at the age of 27 with two very talented young centre-backs waiting in the wings in Martin Kelly and Sebastian Coates there would not be a great need to replace him. Any replacement would be no-where near the £20m we would receive for him and would allow us to buy another or a better-quality attacking player.
Martin Skrtel's agent Karol Cstonto had this to say in response to the recent specualtion: "Some changes have been made at the club and he (Martin Skrtel) wants to know what the aims and ambitions are. And of course, we will discuss the issue of Martin’s new contract. Liverpool is a big club and just because they haven’t made the Champions League this year doesn’t mean they would not do it next year.There are expectations on both sides, though." If Martin Skrtel is in anyway becoming disillusioned about his future at Liverpool then we should cash in on him.
To make it clear I do not want Martin Skrtel to go anywhere, he is a great player who plays a vital role in our teams defense and has formed a very impressive partnership with Daniel Agger. The longer that partnership continues the better it will be for Liverpool, but in the case that Skrtel's head has been turned by either Champions League football or the riches available at City then I think we should cash in on him and strenghten our attacking personnel. Particularly if Man City start throwing silly money in our direction in the region of £20m+ then we would be wise to accept. So in conclusion there are benefits on both sides of the coin to Man City's interest but like the majority of Liverpool fans I want the Skrtelnator to stay at Anfield.
References:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2163544/Martin-Skrtel-set-turn-Manchester-City.html
http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/martin-skrtel/profil/spieler_24180.html
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/45606/martin-skrtel?cc=3888
Over the last two years Martin Skrtel has gone from reckless liability to an abosolute defensive rock. He has become the mainstay in the heart of Liverpool's defence and his physical no-nosense defending has invited praise from all quarters. At 6' 3" Skrtel is a dominant figure in the air and is very strong in the tackle, often out-muscling opponents to win the ball. He is always comitted and willing to through himself into any kind of challenge. Skrtel has also developed a knack for scoring goals in recent seasons and is becoming a genuine threat at set-pieces.
Although he has improved immensly over the last couple of seasons Skrtel still has an uncanny tendency to give free-kicks away in dangerous areas. Couple that with his very poor marking at set pieces and £20m starts to become a very attractive propsition. Unlike his defensive partner Daniel Agger, Skrtel is not indespensible and at the age of 27 with two very talented young centre-backs waiting in the wings in Martin Kelly and Sebastian Coates there would not be a great need to replace him. Any replacement would be no-where near the £20m we would receive for him and would allow us to buy another or a better-quality attacking player.
Martin Skrtel's agent Karol Cstonto had this to say in response to the recent specualtion: "Some changes have been made at the club and he (Martin Skrtel) wants to know what the aims and ambitions are. And of course, we will discuss the issue of Martin’s new contract. Liverpool is a big club and just because they haven’t made the Champions League this year doesn’t mean they would not do it next year.There are expectations on both sides, though." If Martin Skrtel is in anyway becoming disillusioned about his future at Liverpool then we should cash in on him.
To make it clear I do not want Martin Skrtel to go anywhere, he is a great player who plays a vital role in our teams defense and has formed a very impressive partnership with Daniel Agger. The longer that partnership continues the better it will be for Liverpool, but in the case that Skrtel's head has been turned by either Champions League football or the riches available at City then I think we should cash in on him and strenghten our attacking personnel. Particularly if Man City start throwing silly money in our direction in the region of £20m+ then we would be wise to accept. So in conclusion there are benefits on both sides of the coin to Man City's interest but like the majority of Liverpool fans I want the Skrtelnator to stay at Anfield.
References:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2163544/Martin-Skrtel-set-turn-Manchester-City.html
http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/martin-skrtel/profil/spieler_24180.html
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/45606/martin-skrtel?cc=3888
Monday, 18 June 2012
Who Should Go?
Firstly, this is not a reflection of the liking or disliking of any player but rather an unbiased evaluation of each player in terms of their abilities and/or suitability to playing under Brendan Rodgers new system. Playing "Tiki-taka" requires unique skill sets such as close control, movement, maintaining possession, short passes and the vision and decision-making ability to take a chance when it presents itself. These attributes and others are crucial if the system is to succeed and it is on these factors that players will be analysed. Factors such as transfer fees, wages, the future impact a player can make and the length of time a player has been at the club will also come under consideration.
* All the players included are listed as first team players on the clubs official website.
Who Should Go On Loan?
Jonjo Shelvey
Highly promising midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has had a decent season ending up with 13 premier league appearances and a highly successful loan spell with Blackpool in which he managed 6 goals and 3 assists in just 10 games for the Seasisders. With competition in the midfield at a premium and with more players (Sigurdsson) expected to arrive, the best scenario for Shelvey next season would be a year long loan spell at a Premier League team.
Danny Wilson
Scottish centre-back Danny Wilson has found the going very tough at Liverpool. He has failed to make any impression in the first team and featured only 6 times for Blackpool while on loan last season. The solution would be to give him another year on loan in the Championship or Premier League and see if he can make the step up or his time at Anfield may be coming to an end.
Suso
Spanish prodigy Suso is a talent that excites many Liverpool fans and certainly has a future at Liverpool. His chances in the first team should be limited this season due to the competition in midfield. A loan out to a Championship team would be a great experience for him and allow him to test himself against a higher quality of player. Guy Poyet's Brighton would be an ideal place for him to spend next season and continue his development.
Others
There are a few other youngsters who could benefit from a year on loan in the Championship. Andre Wisdom is such a player and would benefit from the experience. Conor Coady could also use a loan but only if a back-up centre defensive midfielder to Lucas is brought in, otherwise would like to see him remain at Anfield with the first team. Peter Gulacsi is another who should go on loan with Doni remaining as the back-up keeper for next season.
Who Should Be Sold?
Joe Cole
Joe Cole managed an impressive 43 appearances in all competitions for Lille last season scoring 9 goals and getting 6 assists. The problem with Cole is his extremely high wages which are believed to be higher than £90k a week. With transfers expected in the wide and forward areas of which Joe Cole would be behind in the pecking order he effectively becomes a very expensive bench player. It is also debatable whether his performances can ever justify his wages and he would be impeding the development of players such as Raheem Sterling. Cole is known to be on the list of players Liverpool would be happy to get rid of if given the chance so don't be surprised if he is moved on.
Alberto Aquilani
Italian midfielder Aquilani spent the season on loan with AC Milan where he played 33 games, scoring 2 goals and achieving 7 assists. He is a talented midfielder who many fans would love to see return to Anfield where he could make a valuable contribution. His passing and technical ability make him ideally suited to playing under Rodgers. The simple truth however is that Aquilani does not want to live in England or play for Liverpool and no player should be kept who doesn't want to be here. The expected signing of Gylfi Sigurdsson will all but ensure Aquilani's exit.
Charlie Adam
Charlie Adam played 28 league games for Liverpool last season where he scored 2 and assisted 6 goals which seems impressive enough. The problem with Adam is the negative effects he has on the team, his defence is bordering on diabolical with him never in the right position and constantly causing unnecessary fouls in dangerous areas. His poor decision-making and tendency to always attempt the Hollywood ball make him a real liability in the team. There are also big questions as to whether he can play under Rodgers system with discipline, keeping possession and good decision-making all being vital attributes. Adam's set pieces last season were the biggest disappointment and with set piece specialist Sigurdsson coming in, Liverpool should try get the bulk of the fee they paid for him back and wish him farewell.
Others:
Two players on the periphery of Liverpool's first team are Nathan Eccleston and Brad Jones. Neither are of the quality required to play for Liverpool and are only impeding the development of more talented individuals. Both should be moved on with minimal fuss.
Who Should Stay But Will Go?
Maxi Rodriguez
Reliable Argentine midfielder Maxi has scored an impressive 6 goals and got 3 assists in only 21 appearances this season, many of which have been as a substitute. He is a player who has an incredible knack for scoring goals and would be perfectly suited to playing under Brendan Rodgers. Maxi is technically very strong and can link up easily with teammates. Unfortunately Maxi waved goodbye to Anfield last season and is expected to move on for more first team football, but a change of manager may well have granted him a lifeline. A superior player to Joe Cole, Maxi should not be allowed to leave this season but don't be surprised if he does.
Who Should Go But Will Stay?
Jay Spearing
The "wee" man will always give his all for Liverpool but there is little doubt that he is not of the standard required at the club. Lacks the skill and ability to control a midfield and often leaves large gaps in the midfield through poor positioning. Spearing played way too many times this season due to Lucas's injury and was shown up on many occasions. Liverpool are after a back-up for Lucas which leaves Spearing as the third choice CDM. That is a position which the more promising Conor Coady should be moving into if he is not loaned out. Personally feel it is time to say goodbye to Jay Spearing but as he is a local lad and with the change in management I can see him still applying his trade at Liverpool next season.
Andy Carroll
Now before anyone starts slating me just for putting his name in this article try understanding the reasons as to why Carroll will struggle to fit in next season. Ignoring the fact that Carroll scored a very underwhelming 4 goals in 35 league games last year it is his suitability or lack of it to Rodgers system that he is on this list. Anyone who has an understanding of "Tiki-Taka" will know that keeping that ball on the ground and retaining possession are of paramount importance. Andy Carroll's big strength is his aerial ability, when you take that out of his game his worth becomes very minimal. Andy struggles in the areas of close control and by playing him in 4-3-3 system his movement has to be effective to pull defenders out of place and create opportunities, an area in which he is perhaps weakest. I could write a whole article on how unsuited Carroll is to playing under Rodgers and unlike the system he played under for England and Newcastle which was tailored to his strengths he is likely to be a fish out of water next season. Due to the fee that Liverpool payed for him I can't see him being sold which could mean a lot of bench time for Andy next season.
Who Is On The Fence?
Jamie Carragher
It is safe to say that Jamie Carragher can no longer play at the top level over a period of games. His lack of pace has become a serious liability to the team forcing us to hold a very deep defensive line and inviting pressure onto us. Jamie is weak in the air and will find it hard to adapt to Rodgers system where the centre backs are expected to be very comfortable with the ball at their feet, something Carragher has never been good at. With two very promising international centre backs in Martin Kelly and Sebastian Coates in the wings to back-up Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel I feel Jamie is no longer needed and can only get in the way of their development. Now here is the catch, Jamie Carragher should not be sold. His experience and status at the club are very valuable in the development of our younger defenders. The solution to Carragher would be to either get him to retire and take up a coaching position at the club or to play as fifth choice centre back on reduced wages. Either way Jamie still has a major role to play at the club and won't be going anywhere.
Already Out
Dirk Kuyt, Fabio Aurelio, David Amoo
Note: It is unrealistic for all these players to leave the club this summer as it would leave the squad decimated. All these players have reasons why they should no longer be at the club and it is up to Brendan Rodgers to decide on who should remain and who should go.
For those of you who base how good a player is just on their statistics (like Charlie Adam had a good season because he got 6 assists) this will probally mean nothing to you and im sorry for having wasted your time.
Wednesday, 23 May 2012
Illusion Of The Transfer Fee
There is a common mistake made among most football fans when evaluating the worth of a player or potential signing. Price tags of 10 million pounds or infamously 35 million pounds are vocally thrown around in pubs and have become the sole reference to a players worth or subsequent expense to their respective clubs. A major factor that is commonly overlooked in this process of both buying and selling players is the players wages. This may be a result of the media twisting the facts, but the impact of wages on any deal has a major influence on whether the prospective deal is feasible or worth while for the respective clubs for various reasons.
A common example and debatable topic of discussion is the discrepancy between Andy Carroll and Sergio Aguero who both cost their clubs 35 million pounds. I have had many fans tell me that for the same fee Liverpool payed for Carroll we could have got Aguero. These fans fail to see the impact that the two players wages have over the course of their respective five year contracts. Andy Carroll is believed to be on a 70 000 pounds per week contract while Sergio Aguero's contract amounts to a 200 000 pounds per week contract. It is here that you can see the differences between the two deals as Carroll's wages amount to 18.2 million pounds over his five year deal and Aguero's wages amount to 52 million pounds over the same five year period. When you add their transfer fees to their wages it is easy to see how big the difference is between the two deals. The cost of acquiring Carroll over five years is 53.2 million pounds while the cost of acquiring Aguero over the same period is 87 million pounds. The difference ends up at 33.8 million pounds which to put that into perspective was enough to afford the transfer fees of Suarez, Adam and Enrique. This example obviously ignores the success or quality of the players after or before their transfers and is merely a comparison between two different 35 million pound deals.
The above example is a clear indication of the impact wages can have. When trying to acquire a new player many clubs can afford the players transfer fee yet not their wages which results in the more financially strong clubs getting the pick of potential players. If a team can afford a 20 million pound player and 60 000 a week wages but a financially stronger team can afford higher wages then the players agent will rather push for those higher wages which effectively puts the "smaller" club out of the picture. This trend is common in most transfer dealings as agents try get bigger clubs to come in for their players and aim for higher wages. To look at it from another angle if a team has a 30 million pound budget and are interested in a 15 million pound player who they want to offer a five year contract, the maximum wage they can afford is 58 000 pounds per-week. If the team were to offer this deal then they would have used their entire budget on a single player.
A look at the opposite side of the scale is when clubs get players on a bosman free which is normally seen as a bargain especially in the cases of high profile players. Joe Cole shows that even when a player is acquired on a bosman free he can still be very costly for the club. Cole signed a four deal worth 90 000 pounds a week two seasons ago. He will cost Liverpool around 18.72 million pounds over the course of his contract which is a large fee for someone who has predominantly featured from the bench or not at all. Even this year while Cole has been on loan at Lille, Liverpool have been paying a large chunk of his wages. Liverpool have repeated this kind of deal many times over the last few years for player such as Maxi and Jovanovic, both were given large contracts to persuade them to sign and debatably neither has justified these wages. This point brings me onto the problem that currently faces Liverpool where many players are sitting on large wages which are not justified by their impact on the team or the number of performances they have played.
Liverpool Focus
* All wage figures are taken from various reports and information and should not be taken as completely accurate yet still give a reliable estimate of the players wages.
The above table shows a list of players at Liverpool that are on high wages that are expected or should be moved on this summer if they continue to play bit part roles in the first team. Joe Cole and Aquilani are included as Liverpool still payed the majority of their wages while on loan and are expected to return to Liverpool this summer if permanent deals cannot be struck with their loanee clubs. This table shows how much we are losing each year in potential transfer fees that could be used on prospective new signings. With 23.4 million pounds per year being spent on players that are not regular first team players it is easy to see that moving these players on should be a major priority. Many fans have the rationale that if you cannot get a good transfer fee for a player he should be kept at the club as you would be losing a player for almost "nothing". These fans would like to see Maxi retained or Aquilani return to Liverpool yet if they are not in the first team plans of the manager they are a major financial burden on the club and could mean the difference between getting a new average first team player or a top class first team player.
If you analyse the number of times these six players have started for Liverpool you can better gauge whether their wages are worth it. Fabio Aurelio has been with the club for six years and has only managed to achieve 58 starts for the club. Joe Cole and Alberto Aquilani have only managed 18 starts between them as Liverpool players which nowhere near justifies their wages. Maxi has started 38 games for Liverpool over a three year period receiving around 4 million pounds a year, worth it? Dirk Kuyt and Jamie Carragher are different to the others on the list in that until 2011/2012 season they were both regular starters for the club. This season however they have achieved a combined total of 50 starts which may seem relatively worth it yet these are two players on high wages that are expected to feature less and less over the next few years while continuing to receive the same wages.
All six of the above mentioned players with the exception of Aquilani are reaching or are in their thirties and are on the decline in terms of performances. Tough decisions need to be made to move the club forward and increase our transfer budget. Fabio Aurelio has already left the club due to the expiring of his contract while Maxi Rodriguez seems to be following him out the door. Joe Cole and Alberto Aquilani's futures are up in the air and a decision must be made on both of them. There has been much talk of Dirk Kuyt leaving as well to find regular first team football and many suggestions that this could be Jamie Carragher's last season in front of the Kop. One thing is clear though, even though these players will not command high transfer fees it is there wages that are doing the damage. So before Liverpool go thinking about bringing new players in they should first seek to move on the majority or all six of these high wage, low play players.
References:
Transfermarket, Accessed 14/05/2012, Available at http://www.transfermarkt.co.ukespn/ESPN Soccernet, Accessed 14/05/2012, Available at http://soccernet.espn.go.com
Thursday, 10 May 2012
Jordan Henderson: I Will Succeed
Jordan Henderson is a player that has divided opinion like no other. He was bought from Sunderland almost a year ago for a fee in the region of 16 million pounds. Henderson's statistics this season make pretty reading for all his critics with 2 goals and 4 assists in all competitions over 47 appearances is nothing special. Despite all the criticism he receives Henderson had been awarded our young player of the season award and I believe that he will go on to become an integral player in our team over the next few seasons and here is why.
Jordan Henderson with his Young Player of the Season Award |
I Have What It Takes
Henderson is blessed with all the attributes, skills and the haircut to become a very good central midfielder. He has an exceptional first touch that is very rare among British players which makes him very good in tight situations at retaining the ball. He has a great range of passing both short and long and has the vision to make his passing effective. Unique in his passing game is his ability to play one touch passes with relative ease, be it short or long passes, which is an area that he even exceeds Gerrard in. Like our captain in his younger years Henderson is blessed with a decent turn of speed and a fantastic engine as exhibited against Blackburn where he effectively played right back and right midfield by himself. His work rate is so high that he has even surpassed Dirk Kuyt as the teams work horse and can be seen displaying his high energy levels throughout the games he plays. With his high work rate comes his ability to constantly close down opponents often running from player to player in an attempt to win the ball or close them down. Although it is often frustrating when he doesn't put a foot in to attempt a tackle it is an area of his game that has been steadily improving as the season has gone on, this was evident on Saturday against Chelsea where he won the majority of the tackles he attempted.
Henderson's game is characterised by a high pass percentage and has often played the midfield distributor role in recent times. He controls the game in the centre of the park by playing short or long balls to teammates and keeping our attacks flowing. Henderson has attempted more passes than any other midfielder this season with 1449 passes at a pass accuracy of 83% (via Liverpoolfc.tv). This is an exceptionally high pass accuracy over a campaign especially when the nature of playing out wide generally means that the players accuracy will drop when trying to force a pass. Since his move into the centre he has consistently had passing accuracies of around 90%, against Chelsea he finished with an accuracy of 93% with an astonishing 40% of those going forwards (via @Anfield Index). The great thing about him is that he can play both a deep lying playmaker role as well as a box-to-box midfielder depending on what the team needs. Against Chelsea he generally sat deep and sprayed passes yet when the opportunity presents himself like with his goal he bombed forward to aid his forwards. I feel that we are yet to see which role suits him best yet I feel a combiantion of the deep lying "Alonso" role mixed with a box to box "Gerrard" style when appropriate would suit him best. With all these raw attributes that he posses and the fact that he is a hard worker both during and after training he certainly has the potential to develop into a fine player.
I Will Not Be Denied
Passion Overflowing After His Goal Against Chelsea |
Now I am in no way saying that Henderson is the finished article and much of the criticism he has received has been deserved. He often lacks the ability to impose himself on a game, so as a result often goes missing in games. He is relatively weak on defence and in physical strength and looks like he is reluctant to make a tackle when the opportunity presents itself. He seems to lack confidence in his ability at critical moments such as when a goalscoring opportunity presents itself. Jordan should score more goals with a player blessed with such a sweet right foot and certainly should have more assists with his passing ability. Yet we must remember he is only twenty-one, has moved to a new city and a club with great pressure to perform and has a large price tag hanging over him. Henderson constantly receives unfair criticism due to a number of factors that are out of his control, i will discuss these factors now.
Played Out of Position
Henderson has been employed mainly as a right midfielder this season to very limited success. The problem with him playing out wide is that many fans who had never seen him play before presumed that he was a winger at the start of the season and unbelievably still do, so when Henderson didn't express bursting speed and tricks to beat his man then whip in a dangerous cross many fans became frustrated with him. With the exception of the Bolton and Arsenal games he has largely run around on the periphery of games unable to make a telling contribution. His job on the right was to recycle possession and when in the right position put in a decent cross which he did with relative efficiency yet this is not what the Anfield faithful want to see. Being out on the right also effects his ability to score goals, Henderson is a player whose biggest goal threat comes when he is shooting with his right foot and curling it into the far corner as shown by his goal against Chelsea and his goals with England's U21s so by coming in from the right he effectively loses his best goal scoring weapon. Since Henderson has been moved into the centre of the pitch it is clear to see what he can bring to the team. His first time and great overall range of passing has began to be expressed on the field and he is growing in confidence with each passing game. He has been the cog in our team of late, making us tick with well executed distribution and high energy levels. The signs have been really encouraging for those open to seeing them.
Henderson On The Day He Signed For Liverpool |
Let Down by Fellow Signings
Another factor that has contributed to the excessive criticism of Henderson is the inability of fellow signings to perform their jobs effectively. Andy Carroll for all his recent form still doesn't put the ball in the back of the net on regular occasions, a return of 4 league goals in 34 matches from you big money striker puts a lot of pressure on other players to come up with the goals. Henderson who is a central midfielder by trade cannot be expected to score many goals in a season. Luka Modric who is highly sought after by many teams has scored 4 goals this season in the league (via Transfermarket.co.uk), that's 2 more than Henderson, and although he should score a few more goals he cannot have been expected to score the many goals that our side has lacked. I believe that with a regular goal scorer fans would have been able to appreciate him more for what he does do well.
Stewart Downing has been another culprit, his inability to provide a constant goal threat with 0 goals so far in the league has put more pressure on others to compensate for his poor performances. When Henderson is played on the right Downing is supposed to be the attacking winger of the two which is balanced out on the other side by Henderson who plays the recycler role. With Downing offering no attacking threat with his reluctance or inability to run at a man, the team effectively has no go forward drive on the wings. This makes Henderson look out of his depth and pointless when in fact he is performing the job given to him quite efficiently.
Charlie Adam is another who has had a negative effect on Henderson. He was purchased after Henderson and due to the fact that they play in the same position it seemed odd that he was in fact needed. Adam occupied the central midfield for the majority of the season which has deprived Henderson of many games of development in the centre. Adam's substandard performances and weaknesses were an easy area for opponents to expose especially when Lucas got injured and could no longer compensate for him.The thing that has hurt him most is his price tag and the overall association with these three players who have largely been major flops. Fans constantly group them together when analysing goal returns and price tags. The truth is that Henderson was not bought the finished article, we paid for the potential player he can become so he cannot not be solely judged at the present, he should be seen as a great prospect rather than a big money flop like compatriots Downing and Adam.
Steven Gerrard
Now this might sound odd but Henderson seems to play a lot better when Gerrard is not on the pitch. His best performances against Bolton (H), Aresenal (H), Blackburn (A) and Chelsea (H) have all come while Gerrard has been injured or rested. I have a few reasons as to why this has happened. Gerrard whether he plays in the centre or further forward has a tendency to drop back and receive possession, often demanding the ball and then playing a pass or going on a run. Although Gerrard is a great player his tendency to always come and get possession limits the effectiveness of our other midfielders. Instead of playing the killer ball or a long cross field diagonal all Henderson ends up doing is playing a short ball to Gerrard time and time again. Another reason is that when Gerrard doesn't play we lack a leader in the centre of the park, it is this responsibility that I feel Henderson thrives on and he begins to control the game very effectively. Agree or disagree I think Henderson has good leadership skills, he is captain of the England U21s, is always encouraging players, well liked by his teammates, is in the referees ear after every decision and always first to congratulate a player who does something right. He may not be a take the game by the scruff of the neck type leader like Gerrard yet he is a leader in his own right. So i feel that what Henderson needs is for Gerrard to play further forward and to trust him to control the game without interference.
* For more stats visit http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/first-team/statistics
* For more stats visit http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/first-team/statistics
So what must Henderson do to improve? Firstly he must continue to work on the defensive side of his game as well as spend some time in the gym over the summer to improve his upper body strength. The good thing is that with Lucas returning next season it will take some of the defensive pressures off him and allow him to express himself more in attack. Secondly he must learn to impose himself on the game more and improve the consistency of his performances. I feel this area of his game will improve as he becomes more settled at Liverpool and as he spends more time playing next to players of the calibre Gerrard and Lucas. With all the hard work he puts in I expect the other stronger aspects of his game to improve further as well which makes me very excited as to what he can become.
I Will Succeed
Jordan Henderson possess the potential to become a world class player for Liverpool, he has his faults and areas that need improving like all young players yet he has a terrific work ethic and desire to improve every aspect of his game. It is this determination to succeed coupled with his raw ability that makes me confident the he will become one of the main players in our team and eventually become a contender for club captain. He has recently been deservedly awarded our young player of the season award. You can see how much succeeding at Liverpool means to him just be observing the passion on his face after he scored against Chelsea. Hendo has one cap for the England national side and I expect him to add to that greatly over his career. It is important that the fans are patient with him and let him develop into the player that they will one day worship. He must be viewed as a prospect because afterall we paid a large fee for his potential and not the player he is now. This should excite fans as if you look past his few shortcommings you will see what he can become. One thing is for sure though, Henderson will stop at nothing and give it his all to prove his doubters wrong and convince them that he does belong, I have no doubts that he will succeed.
References:
Liverpoolfc.tv, Accessed 10 May 2012, Available at www.liverpoolfc.tv
Transfermarket, Accessed 10 May 2012, Available at www.transfermarket.co.uk
YouTube, Accessed 10 May 2012, Available at www.youtube.com
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