Coming into the fourth round of the FA Cup, Liverpool were placed in the unenviable position of needing to rest players but not being allowed to take West Ham United lightly due to being thumped by the Hammers twice in the league. So, what you got was a mishmash of young players and first-squad players that hadn't seen as much playing time. In the opening 45 minutes of play, it was actually a lineup that played well.
Liverpool dominated possession, not only in general but in the attacking third. They created a few chances, though not enough to score given the 0-0 scoreline at the half, but still enough to look positive. The best chance was a Cameron Brannagan blistering shot that may have been heading for the lower 90, but was saved by the West Ham keeper's fingertips. Everyone was lively and seeming to be feeding off the energy their coach, Jurgen Klopp has in spades.
The downfall of the contest was also the lineup. The young team was no longer playing against Exeter. They were going against an actual Premier League side and you could tell. While there was energy and enthusiasm to burn, you could also tell this was not a starting XI that had played together. Several ideas were tried, but did not come off due to players not only not being on the same page, but sometimes not even in the same chapter. For as well as someone like Brad Smith has played of late, he constantly flicked balls to nowhere or sent passes to no one because there was no cohesiveness between the squad. Ultimately it did not cost the team in the first half.
The second half was a different matter. Both sides came out looking to end it in the first minutes. West Ham came closest in the 50th minute when the ball was bouncing around and actually caught the arm of Steven Caulker. Liverpool were lucky to survive both the handball and the scrum to follow without conceding. The Reds seemed to catch their breath a bit after that scare and returned to their front foot and pushed forward.
Joao Teixeira struck one on target in the 63rd minute, trying to rip one near post that was turned away by Darren Rudolph. Then Rudolph came up huge again in the 75th minute. A great through-ball found Christian Benteke in the box. His shot was quickly stopped, the rebound from Joe Allen was al but smothered and then Benteke had a second attempt that was turned away.
In the end, none of it mattered. The game was good experience for the young players again. From a mental standpoint, it was good to play so well against West Ham, which has not been the case in the last few matches. But since neither team could score - though West Ham came unnervingly close in stoppage time - it means another match added to an already overcrowded schedule. No fan wants their team to lose and no manager truly wants to give up on a match or tournament, however the FA Cup is really putting a strain on the squad. It will be interesting to see if Klopp continues the run of younger players in the FA Cup, but for now Liverpool must focus on a rather good performance if not a result.
Random Thoughts:
- Something should change about the replays. I fully understand that it means more TV money for the smaller clubs, which can keep them afloat for an entire season. However, if the FA refuses to make any changes to the schedule over the holidays, then something has to give. It just adds too many unwanted matches.
- It's easier said than done, but Liverpool need to find a game changer. They need someone who will stand up and put the team on their shoulders in games like this. Whether it's the first squad or this younger team, there just isn't that player in the side that you know can make the difference.
- This is truly a random thought since it has nothing to do with the game. Forget about Alex Teixeira. I have no problems with the player, but it just doesn't seem worth it to be held for ransom by Shaktar. Every rumor says the price is going up and then Shaktar will say you had better double the last offer. That's ridiculous. Teixeira is talented, but even though all teams try to lowball their first offer there just can't be a way that doubling the price is worth it.
Walk On
Showing posts with label FA Cup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FA Cup. Show all posts
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Sunday, April 19, 2015
The Season That Got Away?
Hopes ran incredibly high for Liverpool Football Club coming into this season. In reality, it was never going to be easy with lots of new faces and the gaping hole left on the score sheet by the sale of Luis Suarez. However, it was impossible to contain the enthusiasm of the supporters after nearly ending the long drought of a league title the year prior. As the year progressed though, that enthusiasm has turned to exasperation as the Reds' fans have seen their team falter and slip on multiple occasions this year.
Liverpool came out positively in the FA Cup semifinal against Aston Villa. They enjoyed the better of the possession in the first half and pushed forward a decent amount, although the chances weren't always there. Aston Villa did have their own opportunities to go forward as well, though despite the announcers claim that they deserved better, Villa's opportunities came only due to Liverpool's lack of cohesive defending.
Liverpool even took the lead in the match as well. The Reds did not dominate the way they should have, but they made enough of possession for much of the first half. Steven Gerrard's tackle in the midfield led to possession. The ball pinged around the midfield players, including Jordan Henderson and Lazar Markovic, before Raheem Sterling laid it back to Coutinho. Coutinho ran onto the ball, took a shot that was deflected by defender Jores Okore and the ball hit the back of the net.
That was the last good run of form for the club the rest of the afternoon. The goal was created by the hole left by injured Nathan Baker, but Liverpool failed to take advantage again. Okore did settle in after creating the deficit, but Liverpool did little to bother the back line of the Villans. Aston Villa did do plenty to bother Liverpool's back line though.
Christian Benteke, the in-form striker in England, was the man to knot it up. Benteke was left reasonably unmarked in the 36th minute. Villa found him after slicing through Liverpool's defenses and he was not about to miss. The game was tied at the half and many suspected there would be changes to the Liverpool XI and they were right. However those changes proved to change little, if anything about this lackluster performance.
Mario Balotelli was brought on right out of the tunnel for Lazar Markovic, who was invisible during his 45 minutes on the pitch. Balotelli's inclusion, pushed Gerrard back into a defensive role after the captain did nothing in his time spent on the attack. Later in the half, Glen Johnson was subbed in for Joe Allen, in a bit of a head scratcher, since the Liverpool attack was the side of the game that seemed to really be suffering.
The changes, whether tactical or via substitution, did nothing to change the outcome of the game. Aston Villa managed the game winner nine minutes after the half. The Villans once again carved up the Liverpool defense and Fabian Delph took care of his business. Liverpool did try their best to create chances late on in the match, but it was too little too late.
Steven Gerrard had a pair of free kicks that were sent straight at the keeper. Mario Balotelli failed to cleanly settle the ball in the 60th minute, on the edge of the box, that could have led to a solid chance. Gerrard had an excellent chance on a head ball that seemed to be going in only to have it headed away by the defender placed on the back post. Balotelli charged forward quite often, but could do nothing in the end to change the fate of the Reds. Fittingly the match ended with a blast from Dejan Lovren that went about 10 yards off target.
There will be no miraculous ending to Steven Gerrard's chapter of the long story in Liverpool history. The Reds now have no chance at any silverware this season despite making the semifinals of both the league and domestic cups. The chance at European football is also slipping away as Liverpool's league form has faltered at the worst possible moment as well. A season that started with so much promise has melted into an amalgam of despair and anger for all parties involved.
Perhaps this team will prove its detractors wrong. Perhaps they will rally themselves in the league and sneak into the top four before the season's end. Perhaps. More likely is that all dreams of any tangible positives for this season have been dashed like waking from a dream. Time will tell. Regardless, the players on this team have to prove that they belong in a Liverpool shirt because as of right now massive changes could be on the way unless things radically change.
Random Thoughts:
- Gerrard settled into the match late on, but was non-existent for most of it. Say what you will about lack of playing time in recent months or injury or constant shifting of position, Gerrard simply was not the player we have become accustomed to seeing. Fox Sports' Warren Barton put it very well - it is simply time for Gerrard to move on. He does not provide enough in attack and is too slow in defense. Nothing can take away from anyone's memories of his spectacular play over the course of his career and this was not the way anyone hoped he would leave. However, his best days in the Premier League have faded into memory and the move to MLS looks like the best choice to be made each time.
- Linesmen need a refresher in what is offside. Aston Villa, honestly, deserved to win that match but Liverpool were robbed of an equalizer by the incorrect offside call in the 89th minute. Some may argue that the defenders may not have let up a step had the flag not gone up, but as it stands, Mario Balotelli was not offside and ended up slotting the ball into the back of the goal. Unfortunately, it was called offside and the result is a loss.
Walk On
Liverpool came out positively in the FA Cup semifinal against Aston Villa. They enjoyed the better of the possession in the first half and pushed forward a decent amount, although the chances weren't always there. Aston Villa did have their own opportunities to go forward as well, though despite the announcers claim that they deserved better, Villa's opportunities came only due to Liverpool's lack of cohesive defending.
Liverpool even took the lead in the match as well. The Reds did not dominate the way they should have, but they made enough of possession for much of the first half. Steven Gerrard's tackle in the midfield led to possession. The ball pinged around the midfield players, including Jordan Henderson and Lazar Markovic, before Raheem Sterling laid it back to Coutinho. Coutinho ran onto the ball, took a shot that was deflected by defender Jores Okore and the ball hit the back of the net.
That was the last good run of form for the club the rest of the afternoon. The goal was created by the hole left by injured Nathan Baker, but Liverpool failed to take advantage again. Okore did settle in after creating the deficit, but Liverpool did little to bother the back line of the Villans. Aston Villa did do plenty to bother Liverpool's back line though.
Christian Benteke, the in-form striker in England, was the man to knot it up. Benteke was left reasonably unmarked in the 36th minute. Villa found him after slicing through Liverpool's defenses and he was not about to miss. The game was tied at the half and many suspected there would be changes to the Liverpool XI and they were right. However those changes proved to change little, if anything about this lackluster performance.
Mario Balotelli was brought on right out of the tunnel for Lazar Markovic, who was invisible during his 45 minutes on the pitch. Balotelli's inclusion, pushed Gerrard back into a defensive role after the captain did nothing in his time spent on the attack. Later in the half, Glen Johnson was subbed in for Joe Allen, in a bit of a head scratcher, since the Liverpool attack was the side of the game that seemed to really be suffering.
The changes, whether tactical or via substitution, did nothing to change the outcome of the game. Aston Villa managed the game winner nine minutes after the half. The Villans once again carved up the Liverpool defense and Fabian Delph took care of his business. Liverpool did try their best to create chances late on in the match, but it was too little too late.
Steven Gerrard had a pair of free kicks that were sent straight at the keeper. Mario Balotelli failed to cleanly settle the ball in the 60th minute, on the edge of the box, that could have led to a solid chance. Gerrard had an excellent chance on a head ball that seemed to be going in only to have it headed away by the defender placed on the back post. Balotelli charged forward quite often, but could do nothing in the end to change the fate of the Reds. Fittingly the match ended with a blast from Dejan Lovren that went about 10 yards off target.
There will be no miraculous ending to Steven Gerrard's chapter of the long story in Liverpool history. The Reds now have no chance at any silverware this season despite making the semifinals of both the league and domestic cups. The chance at European football is also slipping away as Liverpool's league form has faltered at the worst possible moment as well. A season that started with so much promise has melted into an amalgam of despair and anger for all parties involved.
Perhaps this team will prove its detractors wrong. Perhaps they will rally themselves in the league and sneak into the top four before the season's end. Perhaps. More likely is that all dreams of any tangible positives for this season have been dashed like waking from a dream. Time will tell. Regardless, the players on this team have to prove that they belong in a Liverpool shirt because as of right now massive changes could be on the way unless things radically change.
Random Thoughts:
- Gerrard settled into the match late on, but was non-existent for most of it. Say what you will about lack of playing time in recent months or injury or constant shifting of position, Gerrard simply was not the player we have become accustomed to seeing. Fox Sports' Warren Barton put it very well - it is simply time for Gerrard to move on. He does not provide enough in attack and is too slow in defense. Nothing can take away from anyone's memories of his spectacular play over the course of his career and this was not the way anyone hoped he would leave. However, his best days in the Premier League have faded into memory and the move to MLS looks like the best choice to be made each time.
- Linesmen need a refresher in what is offside. Aston Villa, honestly, deserved to win that match but Liverpool were robbed of an equalizer by the incorrect offside call in the 89th minute. Some may argue that the defenders may not have let up a step had the flag not gone up, but as it stands, Mario Balotelli was not offside and ended up slotting the ball into the back of the goal. Unfortunately, it was called offside and the result is a loss.
Walk On
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Liverpool Earn Wembley Appearance
Liverpool earned their way into an appearance at Wembley Stadium for an FA Cup semifinal match with Aston Villa. A hard fought replay against Blackburn Rovers went the Reds' way with a 1-0 win. In very few ways, if any, was this the game Liverpool fans were hoping for, but it was a victory. Following two bad losses to Manchester United and Arsenal in the league and several weeks of controversy surrounding the contract status of Raheem Sterling, Liverpool simply needed some positivity.
It wasn't the prettiest of games. Much of the first half, for Liverpool, was spent in possession that went nowhere. The Reds had the ball, knocked it around the back, pushed forward now and then but really created nothing. There was a nice flick back by Daniel Sturridge in the 16th minute that almost led to a chance. Coutinho had a sharp angle chance blocked in the 18th minute and Liverpool attacked reasonably well in the 20 minute stages. However, there was very little true pressure placed on Blackburn's keeper Simon Eastwood.
For a bit, it even seemed as though things would continue to pile up on Liverpool. Mamadou Sakho picked up an apparent hamstring injury and had to be subbed off in the 27th minute. The Reds were already shorthanded with suspensions to key players and the chosen substitute, Kolo Toure, was about as far from anything resembling good form as you can be in his time against Arsenal.
Things continued in the woe category as Coutinho appeared to have a golden chance in the 36th minute, when his shot seemed destined for the bottom right corner only to have Eastwood come up with a last second save. Eastwood was screened until the ball was about four yards out, which made the stop even more improbable. On the flip side of that coin, Simon Mingolet was called into action in the second half as well. Two huge saves, both diving to his left, probably saved the result for his club.
Mere moments after leaping to stop a drive heading for the upper left side of the goal, Mingolet kept one out of the bottom left with a save rivaling his counterpart. The Belgian keeper saw it very late and was screened by several of his own players. There was also a question of potential handball by Joe Allen, and by the letter of the law it may have been, but it was unintentional and did not alter the shot in any manner. That moment was really a catalyst for Liverpool.
They turned up the pressure in the 50th minute onward. They did allow the occasional counterattack or two, but really steadied the game. Kolo Toure had an excellent block in the 66th minute, not totally erasing his previous performance, but at least putting him back in a more positive light. Finally, Coutinho broke the deadlock in the 70th minute. Coutinho replaced Jordan Henderson on the corner kick and did not have a very good attempt, in all honesty. However, the Brazilian recouped possession, took a quick pass from Henderson in the box and rocketed a shot across the face of goal and in off the post.
One knock on the Reds' squad was their lack of urgency the rest of the half. Plenty could have gone wrong in the final 20 minutes and despite Liverpool's dominance of possession, they did not really seek out that second goal. It almost came back to bite them when Eastwood had a brilliant turn and shot in the box. Mingolet saw the shot late, but got down to block it and smother the 94th minute attempt and ultimately the Reds got the win.
Things haven't gone Liverpool's way lately and a win was sorely needed. While positives weren't abundantly available, they were there. The Reds did not crush the second tier opponent and did not look like world beaters, but they got the job done. They overcame the obstacle of suspensions to Steven Gerrard, Martin Skrtel and Emre Can. Toure did a reasonably good job of coming in and defending. Dejan Lovren was solid in possession and made no mistakes. Joe Allen will never be anyone's first choice, outside of perhaps his manager, but he did a solid job and did exactly what was asked of him in every way. Mingolet continued his top form. Sterling and Coutinho looked very positive as well.
Nobody will ever confuse Blackburn for a true stern test, but Liverpool did what was necessary and took enough away from the game to look forward instead of worrying too much about the last two games. That said, questions still linger for this side as they progress. Though Manchester City continues to leave the door cracked, gaining a top four spot will be incredibly difficult. The specter of a Europa League spot also looms. A league match against Chelsea is still on the horizon, but a date in Wembley Stadium is a pretty sweet carrot to put in your pocket. Now the team must simply look to themselves and do the best they can.
Random thoughts:
- I understand he was playing out of position, but I was confused to see Jordan Henderson constantly in the center of the field when he was technically listed as a wing back.
- Springboarding off that idea, again I realize that Henderson, Sterling or Adam Lallana are all out of position in the wingback position, but you have to put your best players in their best position and let the rest fall where it may. Sterling has been useless in the wing position and should always be part of the attacking trio in the current set up.
- Liverpool's defending corp needs to catch a break. Can will be available in the next match, but the injury to Sakho now throws more cloudiness into an already murky situation back there.
- Speaking of injury, given his recent history, Sturridge's asking to be subbed off was a bit troubling. He did not appear to be laboring, but one still worries when he asks to be removed.
- Liverpool supporters will always do their best to support whoever slips on the red kit. However, changes have to be made to this squad. Age and injury have played a huge role but players like Allen and Lucas just aren't good enough to be consistently relied upon and regardless of what formation Liverpool use going forward, they have to find a true wingback. The constant rotation on the outside is frustrating as a fan and provides no stability from a team standpoint.
- Things have been set up in a positive way for Liverpool. Aston Villa is probably going to be more concerned with staying out of the relegation zone and is in poor form to begin with. A finals appearance is not assured, but seems likely. Unfortunately, Liverpool may be forced to see an in-form Arsenal team once more, should that finals spot be attained.
Walk On.
It wasn't the prettiest of games. Much of the first half, for Liverpool, was spent in possession that went nowhere. The Reds had the ball, knocked it around the back, pushed forward now and then but really created nothing. There was a nice flick back by Daniel Sturridge in the 16th minute that almost led to a chance. Coutinho had a sharp angle chance blocked in the 18th minute and Liverpool attacked reasonably well in the 20 minute stages. However, there was very little true pressure placed on Blackburn's keeper Simon Eastwood.
For a bit, it even seemed as though things would continue to pile up on Liverpool. Mamadou Sakho picked up an apparent hamstring injury and had to be subbed off in the 27th minute. The Reds were already shorthanded with suspensions to key players and the chosen substitute, Kolo Toure, was about as far from anything resembling good form as you can be in his time against Arsenal.
Things continued in the woe category as Coutinho appeared to have a golden chance in the 36th minute, when his shot seemed destined for the bottom right corner only to have Eastwood come up with a last second save. Eastwood was screened until the ball was about four yards out, which made the stop even more improbable. On the flip side of that coin, Simon Mingolet was called into action in the second half as well. Two huge saves, both diving to his left, probably saved the result for his club.
Mere moments after leaping to stop a drive heading for the upper left side of the goal, Mingolet kept one out of the bottom left with a save rivaling his counterpart. The Belgian keeper saw it very late and was screened by several of his own players. There was also a question of potential handball by Joe Allen, and by the letter of the law it may have been, but it was unintentional and did not alter the shot in any manner. That moment was really a catalyst for Liverpool.
They turned up the pressure in the 50th minute onward. They did allow the occasional counterattack or two, but really steadied the game. Kolo Toure had an excellent block in the 66th minute, not totally erasing his previous performance, but at least putting him back in a more positive light. Finally, Coutinho broke the deadlock in the 70th minute. Coutinho replaced Jordan Henderson on the corner kick and did not have a very good attempt, in all honesty. However, the Brazilian recouped possession, took a quick pass from Henderson in the box and rocketed a shot across the face of goal and in off the post.
One knock on the Reds' squad was their lack of urgency the rest of the half. Plenty could have gone wrong in the final 20 minutes and despite Liverpool's dominance of possession, they did not really seek out that second goal. It almost came back to bite them when Eastwood had a brilliant turn and shot in the box. Mingolet saw the shot late, but got down to block it and smother the 94th minute attempt and ultimately the Reds got the win.
Things haven't gone Liverpool's way lately and a win was sorely needed. While positives weren't abundantly available, they were there. The Reds did not crush the second tier opponent and did not look like world beaters, but they got the job done. They overcame the obstacle of suspensions to Steven Gerrard, Martin Skrtel and Emre Can. Toure did a reasonably good job of coming in and defending. Dejan Lovren was solid in possession and made no mistakes. Joe Allen will never be anyone's first choice, outside of perhaps his manager, but he did a solid job and did exactly what was asked of him in every way. Mingolet continued his top form. Sterling and Coutinho looked very positive as well.
Nobody will ever confuse Blackburn for a true stern test, but Liverpool did what was necessary and took enough away from the game to look forward instead of worrying too much about the last two games. That said, questions still linger for this side as they progress. Though Manchester City continues to leave the door cracked, gaining a top four spot will be incredibly difficult. The specter of a Europa League spot also looms. A league match against Chelsea is still on the horizon, but a date in Wembley Stadium is a pretty sweet carrot to put in your pocket. Now the team must simply look to themselves and do the best they can.
Random thoughts:
- I understand he was playing out of position, but I was confused to see Jordan Henderson constantly in the center of the field when he was technically listed as a wing back.
- Springboarding off that idea, again I realize that Henderson, Sterling or Adam Lallana are all out of position in the wingback position, but you have to put your best players in their best position and let the rest fall where it may. Sterling has been useless in the wing position and should always be part of the attacking trio in the current set up.
- Liverpool's defending corp needs to catch a break. Can will be available in the next match, but the injury to Sakho now throws more cloudiness into an already murky situation back there.
- Speaking of injury, given his recent history, Sturridge's asking to be subbed off was a bit troubling. He did not appear to be laboring, but one still worries when he asks to be removed.
- Liverpool supporters will always do their best to support whoever slips on the red kit. However, changes have to be made to this squad. Age and injury have played a huge role but players like Allen and Lucas just aren't good enough to be consistently relied upon and regardless of what formation Liverpool use going forward, they have to find a true wingback. The constant rotation on the outside is frustrating as a fan and provides no stability from a team standpoint.
- Things have been set up in a positive way for Liverpool. Aston Villa is probably going to be more concerned with staying out of the relegation zone and is in poor form to begin with. A finals appearance is not assured, but seems likely. Unfortunately, Liverpool may be forced to see an in-form Arsenal team once more, should that finals spot be attained.
Walk On.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
The Dangers of the FA Cup
The dangers of the FA Cup reared their head for Liverpool FC in their match against Blackburn Rovers. The Reds are in the midst of a fight for a top four spot in the English Premier League with important fixtures approaching against Arsenal and Manchester United. Now, with a 0-0 draw in the FA Cup quarterfinal, Liverpool are forced to find an open date to have the replay and expend more energy.
The FA Cup is a competition worth winning. It is worth putting energy in to get to the finals. Liverpool are one step away from getting to play in Wembley Stadium, which is something both the players and fans want - not just for the team, but for Steven Gerrard. However, for a club trying so hard to put focus on one thing or the other, the FA Cup has presented Liverpool with almost as many problems as positives.
In the match itself, Blackburn deserves a lot of credit. They came into the fixture with a gameplan and executed it perfectly. It was a gameplan that many of us don't like. Regardless of who you support, most fans of the game don't like when teams focus solely on defense and have 11 players behind the ball. However, when there are 26 spots between two clubs then the gameplan makes sense.
Blackburn did not only play defense. They managed a few attacks up the field in the first half. Simon Mingolet came up with a huge save. Alex Baptiste rose above the defenders, got solid contact from the header and hit the ball toward the upper corner of the goal. Adam Lallana tried to head it away, but was too close to the effort to have sufficient reaction time. Mingolet sprung to his left, stuck out the left pallm and struck the ball away.
Liverpool did not play a poor game, by any means. The Reds held onto the ball fairly well, dealt with the Rovers' chances with efficiency and did create problems in the back end of Blackburn's defense. The problem Liverpool ran up against was that final, critical ball just did not seem to find the mark. Raheem Sterling and Coutinho were sublime in control of the ball. The ball was often attached to their shoelaces so tightly that one could wonder if they had magnets in their boots.
Unfortunately, Blackburn's plan kept them at bay. There were almost always two defenders on the ball. If Liverpool's skill managed to get through the first wave, then there often a third or fourth defender collapsing on the ball as well.
As previously mentioned, credit has to go to Blackburn. They defended how they needed and absorbed the speed and skill of the Liverpool wingers. Let us not forget that they did knock off two Premier League teams to get to this quarterfinal stage as well. Some will point out it was Swansea and Stoke, but the bottom line is that those sides are in the Premier League and Blackburn is a midtable side in the Championship. Even manager, Brendan Rodgers agreed that Blackburn was to be credited.
"You've got to respect the opponent as well," said Rodgers. "We've been on a great run of form, winning games. It's difficult. We've got to go to Blackburn now and win, but we're more than capable of doing that."
All things being equal, Liverpool played a decent game but just could not manage to find that final ball or cross or slip through that last hole to score. It brings up the dangers of playing in a cup competition when you're in a situation such as Liverpool.
If they had no chance of reaching the top four or were solidly in, like Manchester City or Chelsea, the FA Cup would not be presenting any sort of problems. It would simply be a chance at silverware with little other worries from it. Instead, Liverpool are forced to divide resources. They are forced to either rotate the squad more to keep players fresh or use the same squad again and risk either crashing out of the Cup or dropping an important fixture in the league.
These are not excuses if Liverpool fail to get into the top four or win the FA Cup. These are simply the realities of football. Liverpool failed to force the issue, failed to create that little bit of magic and will now have to play the replay. The Reds have the skill to win on the road. The problem now, outside of the obvious extra energy sapped from the legs comes with the scheduling issues.
Apparently, there is some sort of agreement that FA Cup games not be scheduled during Champions League fixtures. Therefore, due to Liverpool's league match against Swansea being on a Monday the only open date falls between the clubs matches with Manchester United and Arsenal unless something else is worked out. That could be the worst case scenario, but it is what it is.
Liverpool have set goals of winning a competition and getting back into the top four. Both are still attainable. Champions League is probably a bigger financial windfall, therefor the league would take a bit of priority. But one match should not determine the rest of the season. Liverpool have proven they are capable of going on the road and getting the job done. The FA Cup is still a winnable competition. The club has the skill to still accomplish both, but they've made it a little harder with two consecutive replays.
Random thoughts:
- I love the comment from Stewart Robson about the official. Basically he said on another day, with another official there may have been as many as four penalties. I agree that none were blatant and needed to be called.
- Liverpool do need to find more ways to get the strikers involved in central areas. The Reds don't have the height to be looking for crosses, but they need to figure a way to get Sturridge and/or Balotelli involved more in the box. Sturridge got himself into a few good places by his own accord and Balotelli was basically a nonfactor. It's great to have the skill and speed of Sterling and Coutinho on the wings but you cannot expect them to create their own shots from those positions every game.
- It's good to see Mingolet playing so much better. He was a bit apprehensive at times when the sun was in his eyes, as any keeper would be. Outside of that, he has rebounded incredibly well after being taken out of the team. Even as a defender of my fellow keepers, I admit that he will likely never enter the upper crust of world goalkeepers but if he keeps up his current form then there may not be a clear replacement that will be available.
Walk On.
The FA Cup is a competition worth winning. It is worth putting energy in to get to the finals. Liverpool are one step away from getting to play in Wembley Stadium, which is something both the players and fans want - not just for the team, but for Steven Gerrard. However, for a club trying so hard to put focus on one thing or the other, the FA Cup has presented Liverpool with almost as many problems as positives.
In the match itself, Blackburn deserves a lot of credit. They came into the fixture with a gameplan and executed it perfectly. It was a gameplan that many of us don't like. Regardless of who you support, most fans of the game don't like when teams focus solely on defense and have 11 players behind the ball. However, when there are 26 spots between two clubs then the gameplan makes sense.
Blackburn did not only play defense. They managed a few attacks up the field in the first half. Simon Mingolet came up with a huge save. Alex Baptiste rose above the defenders, got solid contact from the header and hit the ball toward the upper corner of the goal. Adam Lallana tried to head it away, but was too close to the effort to have sufficient reaction time. Mingolet sprung to his left, stuck out the left pallm and struck the ball away.
Liverpool did not play a poor game, by any means. The Reds held onto the ball fairly well, dealt with the Rovers' chances with efficiency and did create problems in the back end of Blackburn's defense. The problem Liverpool ran up against was that final, critical ball just did not seem to find the mark. Raheem Sterling and Coutinho were sublime in control of the ball. The ball was often attached to their shoelaces so tightly that one could wonder if they had magnets in their boots.
Unfortunately, Blackburn's plan kept them at bay. There were almost always two defenders on the ball. If Liverpool's skill managed to get through the first wave, then there often a third or fourth defender collapsing on the ball as well.
As previously mentioned, credit has to go to Blackburn. They defended how they needed and absorbed the speed and skill of the Liverpool wingers. Let us not forget that they did knock off two Premier League teams to get to this quarterfinal stage as well. Some will point out it was Swansea and Stoke, but the bottom line is that those sides are in the Premier League and Blackburn is a midtable side in the Championship. Even manager, Brendan Rodgers agreed that Blackburn was to be credited.
"You've got to respect the opponent as well," said Rodgers. "We've been on a great run of form, winning games. It's difficult. We've got to go to Blackburn now and win, but we're more than capable of doing that."
All things being equal, Liverpool played a decent game but just could not manage to find that final ball or cross or slip through that last hole to score. It brings up the dangers of playing in a cup competition when you're in a situation such as Liverpool.
If they had no chance of reaching the top four or were solidly in, like Manchester City or Chelsea, the FA Cup would not be presenting any sort of problems. It would simply be a chance at silverware with little other worries from it. Instead, Liverpool are forced to divide resources. They are forced to either rotate the squad more to keep players fresh or use the same squad again and risk either crashing out of the Cup or dropping an important fixture in the league.
These are not excuses if Liverpool fail to get into the top four or win the FA Cup. These are simply the realities of football. Liverpool failed to force the issue, failed to create that little bit of magic and will now have to play the replay. The Reds have the skill to win on the road. The problem now, outside of the obvious extra energy sapped from the legs comes with the scheduling issues.
Apparently, there is some sort of agreement that FA Cup games not be scheduled during Champions League fixtures. Therefore, due to Liverpool's league match against Swansea being on a Monday the only open date falls between the clubs matches with Manchester United and Arsenal unless something else is worked out. That could be the worst case scenario, but it is what it is.
Liverpool have set goals of winning a competition and getting back into the top four. Both are still attainable. Champions League is probably a bigger financial windfall, therefor the league would take a bit of priority. But one match should not determine the rest of the season. Liverpool have proven they are capable of going on the road and getting the job done. The FA Cup is still a winnable competition. The club has the skill to still accomplish both, but they've made it a little harder with two consecutive replays.
Random thoughts:
- I love the comment from Stewart Robson about the official. Basically he said on another day, with another official there may have been as many as four penalties. I agree that none were blatant and needed to be called.
- Liverpool do need to find more ways to get the strikers involved in central areas. The Reds don't have the height to be looking for crosses, but they need to figure a way to get Sturridge and/or Balotelli involved more in the box. Sturridge got himself into a few good places by his own accord and Balotelli was basically a nonfactor. It's great to have the skill and speed of Sterling and Coutinho on the wings but you cannot expect them to create their own shots from those positions every game.
- It's good to see Mingolet playing so much better. He was a bit apprehensive at times when the sun was in his eyes, as any keeper would be. Outside of that, he has rebounded incredibly well after being taken out of the team. Even as a defender of my fellow keepers, I admit that he will likely never enter the upper crust of world goalkeepers but if he keeps up his current form then there may not be a clear replacement that will be available.
Walk On.
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Liverpool Into The FA Quarterfinals
It wasn't the prettiest of matches at all times, but the dream of silverware is still alive for Liverpool FC. It wasn't the best of starts, falling behind to Crystal Palace on the road, but the Reds managed to get enough right to pull out a win. Several old problems began to creep back into the squad, but they managed to overcome them instead of allowing those problems to dictate the match.
Liverpool came into this FA Cup tie flying. No, they haven't played on the level of Real Madrid or Barcelona, but very few in the world can or have. Liverpool played like Liverpool though and ultimately, as long as that happens, the result is all that matters. LFC didn't have the most rousing of starts to this cup match. They conceded an early goal, only 15 minutes into the game on a bit of uninspiring defense. The ball popped up into the box and Simon Mingolet punched it, while colliding with one of the Eagles. No foul was called, rightly, and Frazier Campbell managed to bang home the loose ball.
While there was no clear blame to any one person on the goal, the blame can be shared by all. No one marked the follow up player and the defense was shaky as a whole for much of the first half. Despite the retro-grade defending, Liverpool managed to dominate possession as they have in many of their recent matches. Unfortunately for the Reds, Crystal Palace began packing it in following their go-ahead score. Liverpool pressed and the Eagles just slammed in more bodies.
Brendan Rodgers then made the changes. Seeking to capitalize on the good form from the weekend match, Rodgers inserted Mario Balotelli for Lazar Markovic straight away following halftime. While it was not surprising to see the Italian come on, it was a bit surprising to see Markovic come off since he had not really done anything wrong and one could argue Liverpool needed his speed on the flanks. But, as has been the case in the new year, Rodgers' decisions paid off.
Jordan Henderson, given the captain's armband following the disappointing news of Steven Gerrard's leg injury, played a very inspired second half. Henderson smartly set up the tying goal with a nice cross to Daniel Sturridge who continued to show his worth to the club by neatly finishing off the one-time strike. While the ball did deflect off the goalkeeper, it would've taken a Herculean effort to keep out.
Then it was Balo-time. Mario Balotelli took on the defense and drew an important foul in a very dangerous area, just outside the penalty box. Full of new-found confidence, Balotelli was not about to let anyone not named Steven Gerrard tell him he was not taking the free kick. Balotelli smashed his shot right where it needed to be and while the goalkeeper managed to get a piece of it, Adam Lallana made an intelligent run and knocked home the rebound. Not to give all credit to Balotelli, the wall did a masterful job of spacing out the defenders and moving at the perfect time for Mario's shot to glide through the vacated space in the wall.
Balotelli continued his turnaround by doing what he does best, when not on the ball. Balotelli was an instigator. Many will say this is not an important role in the game - something I would agree with on principle - however, it does exist and when Mario is in the right frame of mind he gives his team an advantage in this area. Balotelli is always in the mix. Opposing teams know his short temper and try to set the fuse. When the striker is not in form and not in the right mind, it is a detriment to his club. When he is in the right frame, as he was on this night, he is a benefit. He attracts so much attention that if he is able to stand up and just smile, he sets off his opponent and frustrates them.
But let us not focus too much on Balotelli just for a couple good games. The team as a whole did what they needed to do. Emre Can had his moments of defensive lapses, but he still continues to do just enough right and allow an escape valve for the back three. Simon Mingolet was not challenged often, but you continue to see confidence that was simply not there earlier in the season. Sakho always has moments that make you cringe when he is on the ball but he continues to thwart offenses. Coutinho had a better match than he did on the weekend. Joe Allen, well...Joe Allen did not make many mistakes. Allen continues to be a questionable start, but as long as he fills in and makes no mistakes then you cannot fault the position too much.
This is the team supporters were expecting at the beginning of the season. Seeing how players have actually performed, winning the league title or even contending was always going to be a long shot no matter how strong a fan you are. However, these sorts of matches are what fans still expected from their club. It is exactly what they did not get at the beginning of the year. Earlier in the season, Liverpool would have shrunk from the occasion. They would've failed to score despite their possession and chances. They would've conceded another goal on a corner or set-piece. They would have been knocked out of the FA Cup.
It took a lot longer than anyone expected, rightly or wrongly. The pieces have now begun to gel and this squad is playing like a team that Liverpool fans can be proud of. It wasn't the best of matches and Liverpool did not dominate from start to finish, but as mentioned they won. In the end that's all that matters. They have turned the tide and are now winning matches even when they do not play to their full capabilities. That is Liverpool football.
Random Thoughts:
- I'm somewhat confused as to what Fox Sports plan was. They put this live match on Fox Sports Plus, which I do not subscribe to and many probably do not either. Thus I had to watch the match on Fox Sports En Vivo and listen to the audio through my computer. I did manage to time it up pretty well though. Kudos to me.
- I think all LFC fans are holding their breathe regarding Raheem Sterling. It is being reported as a minor foot injury, but having already lost Gerrard for at least a month LFC cannot afford to lose such an important player for long, especially given their turnaround.
- Despite the fact that I'm a fan of the player, I still concede that Balotelli makes poor plays. He has had a decent turnaround in the last two matches but he should be kept as far away from defensive corner kicks as possible. I'm all for placing more responsibility on players and saying "This is how we do things here" but he's just too much of a liability despite his size advantage.
- Can deserves all the praise he is getting, but he is terrible in the air. He is young but his timing on headers is just awful.
- Speaking of Can, I was surprised he was still in the back three. It had been suggested that he would join Henderson in the midfield and Lovren would start in the backline. Obviously Rodgers' lineup worked, but if given the opportunity it would be nice to see Can back in a more comfortable midfield role. We shall see.
Walk On.
Liverpool came into this FA Cup tie flying. No, they haven't played on the level of Real Madrid or Barcelona, but very few in the world can or have. Liverpool played like Liverpool though and ultimately, as long as that happens, the result is all that matters. LFC didn't have the most rousing of starts to this cup match. They conceded an early goal, only 15 minutes into the game on a bit of uninspiring defense. The ball popped up into the box and Simon Mingolet punched it, while colliding with one of the Eagles. No foul was called, rightly, and Frazier Campbell managed to bang home the loose ball.
While there was no clear blame to any one person on the goal, the blame can be shared by all. No one marked the follow up player and the defense was shaky as a whole for much of the first half. Despite the retro-grade defending, Liverpool managed to dominate possession as they have in many of their recent matches. Unfortunately for the Reds, Crystal Palace began packing it in following their go-ahead score. Liverpool pressed and the Eagles just slammed in more bodies.
Brendan Rodgers then made the changes. Seeking to capitalize on the good form from the weekend match, Rodgers inserted Mario Balotelli for Lazar Markovic straight away following halftime. While it was not surprising to see the Italian come on, it was a bit surprising to see Markovic come off since he had not really done anything wrong and one could argue Liverpool needed his speed on the flanks. But, as has been the case in the new year, Rodgers' decisions paid off.
Jordan Henderson, given the captain's armband following the disappointing news of Steven Gerrard's leg injury, played a very inspired second half. Henderson smartly set up the tying goal with a nice cross to Daniel Sturridge who continued to show his worth to the club by neatly finishing off the one-time strike. While the ball did deflect off the goalkeeper, it would've taken a Herculean effort to keep out.
Then it was Balo-time. Mario Balotelli took on the defense and drew an important foul in a very dangerous area, just outside the penalty box. Full of new-found confidence, Balotelli was not about to let anyone not named Steven Gerrard tell him he was not taking the free kick. Balotelli smashed his shot right where it needed to be and while the goalkeeper managed to get a piece of it, Adam Lallana made an intelligent run and knocked home the rebound. Not to give all credit to Balotelli, the wall did a masterful job of spacing out the defenders and moving at the perfect time for Mario's shot to glide through the vacated space in the wall.
Balotelli continued his turnaround by doing what he does best, when not on the ball. Balotelli was an instigator. Many will say this is not an important role in the game - something I would agree with on principle - however, it does exist and when Mario is in the right frame of mind he gives his team an advantage in this area. Balotelli is always in the mix. Opposing teams know his short temper and try to set the fuse. When the striker is not in form and not in the right mind, it is a detriment to his club. When he is in the right frame, as he was on this night, he is a benefit. He attracts so much attention that if he is able to stand up and just smile, he sets off his opponent and frustrates them.
But let us not focus too much on Balotelli just for a couple good games. The team as a whole did what they needed to do. Emre Can had his moments of defensive lapses, but he still continues to do just enough right and allow an escape valve for the back three. Simon Mingolet was not challenged often, but you continue to see confidence that was simply not there earlier in the season. Sakho always has moments that make you cringe when he is on the ball but he continues to thwart offenses. Coutinho had a better match than he did on the weekend. Joe Allen, well...Joe Allen did not make many mistakes. Allen continues to be a questionable start, but as long as he fills in and makes no mistakes then you cannot fault the position too much.
This is the team supporters were expecting at the beginning of the season. Seeing how players have actually performed, winning the league title or even contending was always going to be a long shot no matter how strong a fan you are. However, these sorts of matches are what fans still expected from their club. It is exactly what they did not get at the beginning of the year. Earlier in the season, Liverpool would have shrunk from the occasion. They would've failed to score despite their possession and chances. They would've conceded another goal on a corner or set-piece. They would have been knocked out of the FA Cup.
It took a lot longer than anyone expected, rightly or wrongly. The pieces have now begun to gel and this squad is playing like a team that Liverpool fans can be proud of. It wasn't the best of matches and Liverpool did not dominate from start to finish, but as mentioned they won. In the end that's all that matters. They have turned the tide and are now winning matches even when they do not play to their full capabilities. That is Liverpool football.
Random Thoughts:
- I'm somewhat confused as to what Fox Sports plan was. They put this live match on Fox Sports Plus, which I do not subscribe to and many probably do not either. Thus I had to watch the match on Fox Sports En Vivo and listen to the audio through my computer. I did manage to time it up pretty well though. Kudos to me.
- I think all LFC fans are holding their breathe regarding Raheem Sterling. It is being reported as a minor foot injury, but having already lost Gerrard for at least a month LFC cannot afford to lose such an important player for long, especially given their turnaround.
- Despite the fact that I'm a fan of the player, I still concede that Balotelli makes poor plays. He has had a decent turnaround in the last two matches but he should be kept as far away from defensive corner kicks as possible. I'm all for placing more responsibility on players and saying "This is how we do things here" but he's just too much of a liability despite his size advantage.
- Can deserves all the praise he is getting, but he is terrible in the air. He is young but his timing on headers is just awful.
- Speaking of Can, I was surprised he was still in the back three. It had been suggested that he would join Henderson in the midfield and Lovren would start in the backline. Obviously Rodgers' lineup worked, but if given the opportunity it would be nice to see Can back in a more comfortable midfield role. We shall see.
Walk On.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
FA Cup Match Goes From Terrible To Fantastic
Liverpool took on the Bolton Wanderers in an FA Cup rematch on Wednesday. It was a match that on the surface looked like nothing but a negative. Liverpool needed to focus on keeping their league form together, with a chance at a top four spot more alive than ever given the return of Daniel Sturridge. The replay was a match that appeared like nothing but a waste of resources. A game that, even if won, proved that the Reds did not have enough quality to dispatch of Bolton at Anfield. A game that would tire legs if no squad changes were made or disrupt team chemistry if changes were made.
Even once the game began, those things were still at the surface. Once the game finished, however, it was a different story. Liverpool began the match with a reasonably familiar squad with Adam Lallana, Lazar Markovic and Joe Allen really being the only changes from the weekly team.
The Reds came out and strung passes together. They limited chances. They pushed forward. However, as has been the case multiple times this season, they failed to really create solid scoring chances in the first half. It has been an ongoing theme that can be solved with a consistently healthy Daniel Sturridge, but only time can prove that true or untrue. Defensively, Liverpool did enough to quell any uprisings from the Bolton offense but they still have not instilled a great confidence within the supporters.
This was further proved when Martin Skrtel lunged in and was called for a penalty. Firstly, I don't think it was a penalty. I've seen many worse things happen in the penalty box and not get called. However, whether you or I think it was a penalty or not is immaterial. The bottom line is that Skrtel put himself in a position where the official was given the opportunity to decide. Skrtel is a fine defender as is Sakho. Emre Can is a decent defender in matches such as these. When faced with top talents, that has yet to be proven for sure. Unfortunately as a unit, there are too many times when they put themselves in poor places on the field.
Whether it was a penalty or not, Liverpool put themselves behind the eight ball early in the second half and things looked bleak even when they looked positive. Eidur Gudjohnsen made easy work of the penalty and it looked like Bolton would make that scoreline hold up. Liverpool pushed forward, seeing that Bolton was going to do nothing but defend. Can even moved up into a holding midfield role, reducing Liverpool's backline to two. For a long time, it seemed as though even the all out attack coupled with being a man up would not yield the goal.
Make no mistake, Brendan Rodgers went for it in this match. Every substitution was made for attack. Even placing Jordan Henderson in at holding midfield was done with attack in mind. The move actually, although briefly, placed Steven Gerrard as part of the attacking three. Fabio Borini was inserted after that and finally Daniel Sturridge got his first taste of FA Cup action this year. Liverpool bombed forward and threw everything at the goal.
Raheem Sterling chipped one off the post, Can slapped one off the crossbar and it just seemed as though Liverpool would not find that final magic moment to keep them in the match. However, Can would not be denied. Though he would not factor onto the sheet as the goal scorer, his ball through to Sterling was nothing short of fantastic. A lovely lofted ball, reminiscent of the ball tossed to Fabian Johnson just before the US Soccer team left for the World Cup. It would take a good finish from Sterling to prevent it from being just a good pass, but ultimately it was a world-class play that knotted up the game for the Reds.
Liverpool took a firm grasp on the match from there. It seemed as though Liverpool were destined to be winners at that point, whether in extra time or a late winner. In the end, the Reds would get the latter. Phillipe Coutinho took a wicked shot from just outside the box and though it looked to be sailing high, it had a beautiful dip and knicked in just off the crossbar.
It was an interesting goal from multiple facets. Firstly, Coutinho had been trying similar chances throughout the game, with none coming off obviously. It was something he needed to keep up his confidence. It came at a great time for the club, because win or lose, playing extra time may have been the worst case scenario. With an important league match against crosstown rival Everton on the weekend, using up more precious minutes on the legs would have been just short of a disaster. This goal prevented that. Beyond that though, it instilled a belief back in the supporters that this FA Cup is important and has value.
Even in this space, it has been questioned whether putting a full squad out in a replay would be worth it. It was not ultimately clear if this venture was the best use of resources, given the problems the club have had, the number of games in front and the goals still attainable. However, with a performance such as this and a goal to win in the dying embers of the match it became evident that it was worth it. The FA Cup, at least for this club at this time, is worth putting your all into. The traveling fans obviously believed it. So should we all, now.
Liverpool still have tough roads ahead. Crystal Palace will be no pushover in the next round of the FA. The Reds have winnable but still important league matches coming up. They also have the Europa League beginning soon as well. Brendan Rodgers is going to earn his money in the months to come, deciding who plays and when and which competitions are viable. One can only hope it is more than just coincidence that a team known as the Reds will be playing at a Crystal Palace on Valentines' Day. Supporters hope it is an omen. We shall see.
Random Thoughts:
- When the season began, it was not very evident to yours truly why Fabio Borini could not get any time in the squad. As the season goes on, it is no longer evident why he is now chosen over his international compatriot, Mario Balotelli. Everyone has their opinion on either one, but from this perspective I really see no difference in the two of them other than "effort." I put that in quotes, because all it is is running for running's sake. Borini makes no difference in his time on the field. He doesn't make a positive impact at all. Balotelli has decent foot skills and has lots of talent, but it has not been brought forth. People mainly fault him because he isn't running at all times. Borini has speed, but little else. His finishing is poor, his passing is poor but he runs. I just don't see it any longer.
- I'm a little surprised that Adam Lallana was brought off so early. I understand the rotation, to get Gerrard forward, but I'm curious as to why Allen was kept on so long.
- I think many supporters were hoping for additional ammo in the January window, but with the summer signings gelling very well with the squad - playing important roles in some cases - it probably was a good idea to keep the team as is.
Walk On
Even once the game began, those things were still at the surface. Once the game finished, however, it was a different story. Liverpool began the match with a reasonably familiar squad with Adam Lallana, Lazar Markovic and Joe Allen really being the only changes from the weekly team.
The Reds came out and strung passes together. They limited chances. They pushed forward. However, as has been the case multiple times this season, they failed to really create solid scoring chances in the first half. It has been an ongoing theme that can be solved with a consistently healthy Daniel Sturridge, but only time can prove that true or untrue. Defensively, Liverpool did enough to quell any uprisings from the Bolton offense but they still have not instilled a great confidence within the supporters.
This was further proved when Martin Skrtel lunged in and was called for a penalty. Firstly, I don't think it was a penalty. I've seen many worse things happen in the penalty box and not get called. However, whether you or I think it was a penalty or not is immaterial. The bottom line is that Skrtel put himself in a position where the official was given the opportunity to decide. Skrtel is a fine defender as is Sakho. Emre Can is a decent defender in matches such as these. When faced with top talents, that has yet to be proven for sure. Unfortunately as a unit, there are too many times when they put themselves in poor places on the field.
Whether it was a penalty or not, Liverpool put themselves behind the eight ball early in the second half and things looked bleak even when they looked positive. Eidur Gudjohnsen made easy work of the penalty and it looked like Bolton would make that scoreline hold up. Liverpool pushed forward, seeing that Bolton was going to do nothing but defend. Can even moved up into a holding midfield role, reducing Liverpool's backline to two. For a long time, it seemed as though even the all out attack coupled with being a man up would not yield the goal.
Make no mistake, Brendan Rodgers went for it in this match. Every substitution was made for attack. Even placing Jordan Henderson in at holding midfield was done with attack in mind. The move actually, although briefly, placed Steven Gerrard as part of the attacking three. Fabio Borini was inserted after that and finally Daniel Sturridge got his first taste of FA Cup action this year. Liverpool bombed forward and threw everything at the goal.
Raheem Sterling chipped one off the post, Can slapped one off the crossbar and it just seemed as though Liverpool would not find that final magic moment to keep them in the match. However, Can would not be denied. Though he would not factor onto the sheet as the goal scorer, his ball through to Sterling was nothing short of fantastic. A lovely lofted ball, reminiscent of the ball tossed to Fabian Johnson just before the US Soccer team left for the World Cup. It would take a good finish from Sterling to prevent it from being just a good pass, but ultimately it was a world-class play that knotted up the game for the Reds.
Liverpool took a firm grasp on the match from there. It seemed as though Liverpool were destined to be winners at that point, whether in extra time or a late winner. In the end, the Reds would get the latter. Phillipe Coutinho took a wicked shot from just outside the box and though it looked to be sailing high, it had a beautiful dip and knicked in just off the crossbar.
It was an interesting goal from multiple facets. Firstly, Coutinho had been trying similar chances throughout the game, with none coming off obviously. It was something he needed to keep up his confidence. It came at a great time for the club, because win or lose, playing extra time may have been the worst case scenario. With an important league match against crosstown rival Everton on the weekend, using up more precious minutes on the legs would have been just short of a disaster. This goal prevented that. Beyond that though, it instilled a belief back in the supporters that this FA Cup is important and has value.
Even in this space, it has been questioned whether putting a full squad out in a replay would be worth it. It was not ultimately clear if this venture was the best use of resources, given the problems the club have had, the number of games in front and the goals still attainable. However, with a performance such as this and a goal to win in the dying embers of the match it became evident that it was worth it. The FA Cup, at least for this club at this time, is worth putting your all into. The traveling fans obviously believed it. So should we all, now.
Liverpool still have tough roads ahead. Crystal Palace will be no pushover in the next round of the FA. The Reds have winnable but still important league matches coming up. They also have the Europa League beginning soon as well. Brendan Rodgers is going to earn his money in the months to come, deciding who plays and when and which competitions are viable. One can only hope it is more than just coincidence that a team known as the Reds will be playing at a Crystal Palace on Valentines' Day. Supporters hope it is an omen. We shall see.
Random Thoughts:
- When the season began, it was not very evident to yours truly why Fabio Borini could not get any time in the squad. As the season goes on, it is no longer evident why he is now chosen over his international compatriot, Mario Balotelli. Everyone has their opinion on either one, but from this perspective I really see no difference in the two of them other than "effort." I put that in quotes, because all it is is running for running's sake. Borini makes no difference in his time on the field. He doesn't make a positive impact at all. Balotelli has decent foot skills and has lots of talent, but it has not been brought forth. People mainly fault him because he isn't running at all times. Borini has speed, but little else. His finishing is poor, his passing is poor but he runs. I just don't see it any longer.
- I'm a little surprised that Adam Lallana was brought off so early. I understand the rotation, to get Gerrard forward, but I'm curious as to why Allen was kept on so long.
- I think many supporters were hoping for additional ammo in the January window, but with the summer signings gelling very well with the squad - playing important roles in some cases - it probably was a good idea to keep the team as is.
Walk On
Saturday, January 24, 2015
Liverpool Face Replay After Drawing With The Wanderers
Before we get into the meat of this, I would like to say I appreciate Fox Sports broadcast of this FA Cup match. Most matches, you don't get to hear the crowd at Anfield sing You'll Never Walk Alone in full voice beforehand, but Fox allows the time before to hear the pageantry. Unless you're just a die hard rival of Liverpool, you have to get taken in by the entire stadium singing. Now then, on to the match.
Brendan Rodgers, again, proved that he's the manager and he'll make the decisions without the question of what others may think. While some may have advocated the inclusion of an actual striker or perhaps even a true center back, Rodgers went his own way. Even if you still want Sterling in the starting XI, you could argue that he should have played back in Coutinho or Lallana's spot. A spot Sterling will likely have to get used to once Daniel Sturridge finally returns. However, Rodgers' maligned favorites returned.
Glen Johnson, who has little if any fans left, got the start at right back. Emre Can moved to center, Sakho stayed on the left. Jose Enrique played at the wing along with Javier Manquillo. Not exactly the stuff of defensive legends and they looked equally shaky to begin the match. Liverpool would eventually take control about ten minutes in and keep control for much of the first half, but it was a first half performance that further proved this is a club that must look for more/better depth for future seasons. Joe Allen does what Allen does, which is disappear. The defensive three plus the wingbacks were decent enough for a match against Bolton, but if/when the competitions take on more meaning in the future years those pairings may not work.
Despite a very talented attacking three of Sterling, Lallana and Coutinho, the team lacked that decisive pass from the midfield or shot from the attackers. Lots of balls thrown forward with possession, but nothing from it once they were 18 yards from goal in the first half. Though they were clearly the more skilled side, Liverpool were actually lucky to be even at the half. Bolton, quite frankly, should have made the Reds pay about 13 minutes before the half. And absolute strike from Dean Moxey just outside the box skimmed barely wide. Mingolet was fortunate not to give the ball away right before halftime as well since he was a bit too adventurous out of his area.
Lazar Markovic checked in right at the beginning of the half, looking to spark the team. He almost did, but the Wanderers got away with a trip at the back on Markovic which would have allowed him a clear chance at goal. The foul was not given, but Liverpool had a small bit of justice done in return when Bolton air mailed their own free kick just moments after. The match went back and forth for the center portions of the second half. Liverpool forced a fine save only to see Bolton smash a chance wide that should have been put on target, just into the 60th minute and again by Gudjohnson in the 65th, this time whacked over.
The Reds just couldn't find that final ball from either a shot or pass to really put the match away. In the 66th minute, Sterling passed to Lallana instead of shooting. Slightly odd subs came on with the offensively challenged Lucas entering and Fabio Borini for Manquillo. But who moved to wing back? Sterling? It looked like it for a time. The Reds still managed to create good chances, but it really was a disjointed effort with the players on the pitch in odd positions. Borini was stopped by another great save in 70th minute and then Lucas actually got one on target in the dying moments, only to be parried away by the keeper.
Liverpool maintained a decent amount of possession. They kept their cool in a match where their EPL counterparts were falling by the wayside. They did have opportunities to score and they did what they needed to do defensively. By no means though, did they play a good game. Even the broadcasters said this squad reminded them more of the disjointed play of the Liverpool side seen back in November and prior. The back three as well as the wing backs did their job, but they looked shaky all game in doing so.
Can is a fine player, one who many hope will stay in a Liverpool shirt for years to come. However, he is not a center back. He can be utilized on the side of a back three, but having a player with huge defensive vulnerabilities and little, if any, aerial prowess in the middle of your defense is quite frightening. Allen is...well Allen. Jose Enrique is a decent player and qualified to start for lower level clubs but though he gives his best, it just isn't good enough on a regular basis. Jordan Henderson is another fine player, but he is quite inconsistent on the ball.
This was another match that makes you scratch your head. Liverpool can earn, and I do mean earn, a draw with Chelsea and then draw against Bolton and make it feel like a poor result. Given the context of many big clubs falling in the 4th round of the FA Cup, one can hang their hat on the idea that Liverpool is at least still alive. But you can also ask yourself if you would rather have lost. It goes against the very fiber of most fans, including myself. However, if you look at the cold hard facts does another match really benefit Liverpool at all even if they win?
The Reds have a difficult match with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge three days after this match. They have winnable, but important league matches to start off February and then begin their trek in the Europa League as well in February. Another 90 minutes of football on the legs isn't exactly beneficial to Liverpool's aims for the rest of the year. It is what it is though and the Reds have to find a way to deal with it. It is not something they anticipated, but with Chelsea and Manchester City out of the competition, perhaps the FA Cup can now join the Capital One Cup as a competition Liverpool can realistically set their sights on this season.
As previously mentioned, this match further proved just how much Liverpool needs to invest in more depth. I've gone on and on about the talent and potential within this team, but they just don't have enough talent to dominate teams the way a club of their stature should in these sorts of games. Yes, money has been spent but now the difficult decisions need to be made. Players need to be sold and replaced and solid, proven talent needs to be brought in to plug some of the gaps. This will surely not happen in January, but BR and the back room staff had better have a solid plan heading into the summer transfer window to keep this team on the uptick. Plenty of season left and silverware still on the table, but this was a relatively disappointing performance even if it did not eliminate the club. Walk on.
Random thoughts:
- I know I am in the minority, but I sincerely hope that Mario Balotelli does have a reported infection. Yes, they play a completely different position but the idea of Glen Johnson in the lineup and Balotelli not even a reserve puts quite a pit in my stomach.
- Eric Wynalda went down a few pegs in my book. After the match he said he watched the last 20 minutes without his glasses because Liverpool were so boring. The man is entitled to his opinion - and I did bag on the team in this blog - however boring seems a bit excessive. They had chances. Just don't have the offensive power to put them home.
- Funny how the entire ESPN FC staff was ripping on the FA Cup matchups being so bland and predictable. How'd that workout? Liverpool and Manchester United have replays and Chelsea and Man City are out. FA Cup might not be quite what it was, but the little teams still give their all.
- I'm pretty sure the broadcasters kept inquiring as to why Rickie Lambert wasn't coming in the match. The answer: Liverpool had already made all their subs. Being a broadcaster, it is easy to forget things but for both of them to forget and nobody in the stadium to tell them is slightly comical.
Brendan Rodgers, again, proved that he's the manager and he'll make the decisions without the question of what others may think. While some may have advocated the inclusion of an actual striker or perhaps even a true center back, Rodgers went his own way. Even if you still want Sterling in the starting XI, you could argue that he should have played back in Coutinho or Lallana's spot. A spot Sterling will likely have to get used to once Daniel Sturridge finally returns. However, Rodgers' maligned favorites returned.
Glen Johnson, who has little if any fans left, got the start at right back. Emre Can moved to center, Sakho stayed on the left. Jose Enrique played at the wing along with Javier Manquillo. Not exactly the stuff of defensive legends and they looked equally shaky to begin the match. Liverpool would eventually take control about ten minutes in and keep control for much of the first half, but it was a first half performance that further proved this is a club that must look for more/better depth for future seasons. Joe Allen does what Allen does, which is disappear. The defensive three plus the wingbacks were decent enough for a match against Bolton, but if/when the competitions take on more meaning in the future years those pairings may not work.
Despite a very talented attacking three of Sterling, Lallana and Coutinho, the team lacked that decisive pass from the midfield or shot from the attackers. Lots of balls thrown forward with possession, but nothing from it once they were 18 yards from goal in the first half. Though they were clearly the more skilled side, Liverpool were actually lucky to be even at the half. Bolton, quite frankly, should have made the Reds pay about 13 minutes before the half. And absolute strike from Dean Moxey just outside the box skimmed barely wide. Mingolet was fortunate not to give the ball away right before halftime as well since he was a bit too adventurous out of his area.
Lazar Markovic checked in right at the beginning of the half, looking to spark the team. He almost did, but the Wanderers got away with a trip at the back on Markovic which would have allowed him a clear chance at goal. The foul was not given, but Liverpool had a small bit of justice done in return when Bolton air mailed their own free kick just moments after. The match went back and forth for the center portions of the second half. Liverpool forced a fine save only to see Bolton smash a chance wide that should have been put on target, just into the 60th minute and again by Gudjohnson in the 65th, this time whacked over.
The Reds just couldn't find that final ball from either a shot or pass to really put the match away. In the 66th minute, Sterling passed to Lallana instead of shooting. Slightly odd subs came on with the offensively challenged Lucas entering and Fabio Borini for Manquillo. But who moved to wing back? Sterling? It looked like it for a time. The Reds still managed to create good chances, but it really was a disjointed effort with the players on the pitch in odd positions. Borini was stopped by another great save in 70th minute and then Lucas actually got one on target in the dying moments, only to be parried away by the keeper.
Liverpool maintained a decent amount of possession. They kept their cool in a match where their EPL counterparts were falling by the wayside. They did have opportunities to score and they did what they needed to do defensively. By no means though, did they play a good game. Even the broadcasters said this squad reminded them more of the disjointed play of the Liverpool side seen back in November and prior. The back three as well as the wing backs did their job, but they looked shaky all game in doing so.
Can is a fine player, one who many hope will stay in a Liverpool shirt for years to come. However, he is not a center back. He can be utilized on the side of a back three, but having a player with huge defensive vulnerabilities and little, if any, aerial prowess in the middle of your defense is quite frightening. Allen is...well Allen. Jose Enrique is a decent player and qualified to start for lower level clubs but though he gives his best, it just isn't good enough on a regular basis. Jordan Henderson is another fine player, but he is quite inconsistent on the ball.
This was another match that makes you scratch your head. Liverpool can earn, and I do mean earn, a draw with Chelsea and then draw against Bolton and make it feel like a poor result. Given the context of many big clubs falling in the 4th round of the FA Cup, one can hang their hat on the idea that Liverpool is at least still alive. But you can also ask yourself if you would rather have lost. It goes against the very fiber of most fans, including myself. However, if you look at the cold hard facts does another match really benefit Liverpool at all even if they win?
The Reds have a difficult match with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge three days after this match. They have winnable, but important league matches to start off February and then begin their trek in the Europa League as well in February. Another 90 minutes of football on the legs isn't exactly beneficial to Liverpool's aims for the rest of the year. It is what it is though and the Reds have to find a way to deal with it. It is not something they anticipated, but with Chelsea and Manchester City out of the competition, perhaps the FA Cup can now join the Capital One Cup as a competition Liverpool can realistically set their sights on this season.
As previously mentioned, this match further proved just how much Liverpool needs to invest in more depth. I've gone on and on about the talent and potential within this team, but they just don't have enough talent to dominate teams the way a club of their stature should in these sorts of games. Yes, money has been spent but now the difficult decisions need to be made. Players need to be sold and replaced and solid, proven talent needs to be brought in to plug some of the gaps. This will surely not happen in January, but BR and the back room staff had better have a solid plan heading into the summer transfer window to keep this team on the uptick. Plenty of season left and silverware still on the table, but this was a relatively disappointing performance even if it did not eliminate the club. Walk on.
Random thoughts:
- I know I am in the minority, but I sincerely hope that Mario Balotelli does have a reported infection. Yes, they play a completely different position but the idea of Glen Johnson in the lineup and Balotelli not even a reserve puts quite a pit in my stomach.
- Eric Wynalda went down a few pegs in my book. After the match he said he watched the last 20 minutes without his glasses because Liverpool were so boring. The man is entitled to his opinion - and I did bag on the team in this blog - however boring seems a bit excessive. They had chances. Just don't have the offensive power to put them home.
- Funny how the entire ESPN FC staff was ripping on the FA Cup matchups being so bland and predictable. How'd that workout? Liverpool and Manchester United have replays and Chelsea and Man City are out. FA Cup might not be quite what it was, but the little teams still give their all.
- I'm pretty sure the broadcasters kept inquiring as to why Rickie Lambert wasn't coming in the match. The answer: Liverpool had already made all their subs. Being a broadcaster, it is easy to forget things but for both of them to forget and nobody in the stadium to tell them is slightly comical.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Gerrard Shines after Announcement of Departure
Liverpool's quest for silverware was kept alive with a solid, though not utterly convincing win over AFC Wimbledon. Steven Gerrard, as ever, was the inspirational leader of the Reds and backed up that inspiration with on field performance. Goals, to be specific. Only days after announcing that one of the all-time greats would be leaving Anfield for America, Gerrard scored both of Liverpool's goals, proving that though he may have lost a step in pace, he still has the will and the skill.
Focusing first on the match, Liverpool came out with good energy and form and dominated the first 20-30 minutes. However, for reasons that are explainable only by those wearing the kits, the Reds failed to keep hold of the match after their captain put them up by a goal. Following Gerrard's 12th minute goal, Liverpool seemed to ease the foot off the gas perhaps thinking that a club several divisions away was going to just roll over. Wimbledon did nothing of the sort and scored an equalizer on Liverpool's bane, the set piece.
After getting away with a foul against goalkeeper Simon Mingolet, the monster known as Abedayo Akinfenwa managed to pounce on the rebound and knock it in to set the crowd at Kingsmeadow into a frenzy in the 36th minute. For the rest of the half and briefly at the start of the second half, it looked as though Wimbledon may actually poach another goal and if not get the W, at least put the fear of God into the Reds and their faithful.
However, Steven Gerrard was not going to let his FA Cup career end at Kingsmeadow. Liverpool took the lead from their leader and started to string things together. They drew an important foul in a dangerous area with less than 30 minutes left in the half and the captain stepped to the plate as he always does. Gerrard pulled out some of that old magic and placed the free kick right over the wall and past the outstretched fingers of goalkeeper James Shea.
After that, Liverpool took control of the match and though the odd chance came on corner kicks or long shots, the Reds were not seriously threatened again. Liverpool managed a few chances of their own, including a few for the divisive Mario Balotelli. To be frank, Jordan Henderson should have made it 3-1 as well but opted a chip cross instead of a shot on frame. Now the Reds must prepare for a home match against Bolton at the end of the month to keep their dreams of an FA Cup title alive.
Taking a broader approach than just the match, after learning that Steven Gerrard would be coming to this side of the pond raised many mixed emotions from the fans. While those of us here in America may be excited at the prospect of actually seeing Gerrard play in person in MLS, we are no doubt disappointed that Gerrard will not finish his career in Liverpool red. I could join the ranks of those who are looking back on the storied career of Gerrard or those who debate whether he should have left long ago for better chances at winning titles. I chose to focus on the future though, specifically that of the Liverpool Football Club.
While supporters will never agree on who is good and who is mediocre or bad, most all of them can agree that there is talent on this team. Raheem Sterling, though frustrating at times, has so much pace and ability that he is very deserving of the praise heaped on him. Emre Can is proving himself to be a valuable asset, even playing somewhat out of position. Though still raw, Lazar Markovic is gaining confidence each match started. After a slow start, Adam Lallana is proving himself to be a true Liverpool player. Though none of them will ever be confused with the world class types, the back line has improved it's run of play defending also.
Liverpool has worked their model of signing up and comers to perfection in terms of stocking up potential. The downside of that is potential does not always transform into performance. Once Steven Gerrard is gone, Liverpool's ownership group and managing office will have to decide how they are going to proceed in the years to come. As stated, the philosophy has worked to rebuild the club to a point, but championships are not won by youth. As much as Brendan Rodgers has steadfastly adhered to the signing philosophy, even he has come out in recent weeks saying that Liverpool FC will have to start signing proven players.
The Reds will have to add experienced players to this squad in the future and not distant future. Jordan Henderson is a fine player, but he is not Gerrard. Without Gerrard's leadership and guidance, will Sterling continue to flourish or will he become a prima donna as many young players with so much upside have in the past? Who will step up for this club in those important moments the way that captain Liverpool has?
Steven Gerrard can be replaced in terms of on field performance. Yes, he is leading the club in goals this season, but that is as much a damnation of the performance of the actual goals scorers as it is a representation of how much Gerrard has to offer. With the exception of his pinpoint passes, Gerrard's performance on the field can be replaced. It may not be quite to his level game in and game out, but the team has players good enough to step into those roles. The big question for this club is how to replace his leadership. Another question going forward, as mentioned, is whether the club will bring in proven players.
While the talent is there from young signing and players brought up through the academies, losing talents like Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard in two straight summers is hard - if not impossible- to replace from within. There are a lot of goals and gutsy performances to try and fill right there. When Gerrard leaves, we may have seen the last of a dying breed in terms of a player not only willing but honored to be a part of a club for almost their entire career. However that does not have to mean the end of the Liverpool player. Liverpool and their football club have their own way about them. It is the reason many of us were drawn to the club in the first place. Liverpool FC do not need to throw exorbitant amounts of cash at huge names for the sake of it. But the Reds do need to bring in proven players who are willing to be a part of the Liverpool family and work to bring this storied club back to glory.
Liverpool does not need to become Chelsea or Manchester City or Manchester United to win. But the loss of the club's two best players in successive summers will put a large spotlight on the higher ups as to their plans for this club. Steven Gerrard, like all the greats to wear Liverpool red, is not entirely irreplaceable, but he does leave large shoes to fill.
: A couple random notes :
- They have a passionate fan base, and I understand the financial constraints of low level clubs, but Kingsmeadow's field is awful. There are high school fields here in America that have more grass and better quality.
- Akinfenwa gives hope to all of us larger people. While he has obviously put in the work to be in shape, he is without a doubt the largest (in shape) professional soccer/football player. He could easily be a linebacker in the NFL.
- Most, if not all, may disagree but I really don't see why Rickie Lambert gets any start over Mario Balotelli. People can claim the ridiculous idea that Balo brings down team morale, but in terms of pace and foot skills there is no comparison. I have all the respect in the world for Lambert and like the fact that he is a lifelong Reds fan, but he has done little on the field to prove he deserves playing time any more than Balotelli has. Yes, Sterling needed rest but with the return of Sturridge imminent and Divok Origi being brought off loan, decisions will have to be made about the number of true forwards on the field at once. Neither Lambert or Balotelli have flourished as a lone striker, but I have doubts Sturridge or Origi will do well on their own either.
Walk on my friends. Here's hoping for three more points against Sunderland.
Focusing first on the match, Liverpool came out with good energy and form and dominated the first 20-30 minutes. However, for reasons that are explainable only by those wearing the kits, the Reds failed to keep hold of the match after their captain put them up by a goal. Following Gerrard's 12th minute goal, Liverpool seemed to ease the foot off the gas perhaps thinking that a club several divisions away was going to just roll over. Wimbledon did nothing of the sort and scored an equalizer on Liverpool's bane, the set piece.
After getting away with a foul against goalkeeper Simon Mingolet, the monster known as Abedayo Akinfenwa managed to pounce on the rebound and knock it in to set the crowd at Kingsmeadow into a frenzy in the 36th minute. For the rest of the half and briefly at the start of the second half, it looked as though Wimbledon may actually poach another goal and if not get the W, at least put the fear of God into the Reds and their faithful.
However, Steven Gerrard was not going to let his FA Cup career end at Kingsmeadow. Liverpool took the lead from their leader and started to string things together. They drew an important foul in a dangerous area with less than 30 minutes left in the half and the captain stepped to the plate as he always does. Gerrard pulled out some of that old magic and placed the free kick right over the wall and past the outstretched fingers of goalkeeper James Shea.
After that, Liverpool took control of the match and though the odd chance came on corner kicks or long shots, the Reds were not seriously threatened again. Liverpool managed a few chances of their own, including a few for the divisive Mario Balotelli. To be frank, Jordan Henderson should have made it 3-1 as well but opted a chip cross instead of a shot on frame. Now the Reds must prepare for a home match against Bolton at the end of the month to keep their dreams of an FA Cup title alive.
Taking a broader approach than just the match, after learning that Steven Gerrard would be coming to this side of the pond raised many mixed emotions from the fans. While those of us here in America may be excited at the prospect of actually seeing Gerrard play in person in MLS, we are no doubt disappointed that Gerrard will not finish his career in Liverpool red. I could join the ranks of those who are looking back on the storied career of Gerrard or those who debate whether he should have left long ago for better chances at winning titles. I chose to focus on the future though, specifically that of the Liverpool Football Club.
While supporters will never agree on who is good and who is mediocre or bad, most all of them can agree that there is talent on this team. Raheem Sterling, though frustrating at times, has so much pace and ability that he is very deserving of the praise heaped on him. Emre Can is proving himself to be a valuable asset, even playing somewhat out of position. Though still raw, Lazar Markovic is gaining confidence each match started. After a slow start, Adam Lallana is proving himself to be a true Liverpool player. Though none of them will ever be confused with the world class types, the back line has improved it's run of play defending also.
Liverpool has worked their model of signing up and comers to perfection in terms of stocking up potential. The downside of that is potential does not always transform into performance. Once Steven Gerrard is gone, Liverpool's ownership group and managing office will have to decide how they are going to proceed in the years to come. As stated, the philosophy has worked to rebuild the club to a point, but championships are not won by youth. As much as Brendan Rodgers has steadfastly adhered to the signing philosophy, even he has come out in recent weeks saying that Liverpool FC will have to start signing proven players.
The Reds will have to add experienced players to this squad in the future and not distant future. Jordan Henderson is a fine player, but he is not Gerrard. Without Gerrard's leadership and guidance, will Sterling continue to flourish or will he become a prima donna as many young players with so much upside have in the past? Who will step up for this club in those important moments the way that captain Liverpool has?
Steven Gerrard can be replaced in terms of on field performance. Yes, he is leading the club in goals this season, but that is as much a damnation of the performance of the actual goals scorers as it is a representation of how much Gerrard has to offer. With the exception of his pinpoint passes, Gerrard's performance on the field can be replaced. It may not be quite to his level game in and game out, but the team has players good enough to step into those roles. The big question for this club is how to replace his leadership. Another question going forward, as mentioned, is whether the club will bring in proven players.
While the talent is there from young signing and players brought up through the academies, losing talents like Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard in two straight summers is hard - if not impossible- to replace from within. There are a lot of goals and gutsy performances to try and fill right there. When Gerrard leaves, we may have seen the last of a dying breed in terms of a player not only willing but honored to be a part of a club for almost their entire career. However that does not have to mean the end of the Liverpool player. Liverpool and their football club have their own way about them. It is the reason many of us were drawn to the club in the first place. Liverpool FC do not need to throw exorbitant amounts of cash at huge names for the sake of it. But the Reds do need to bring in proven players who are willing to be a part of the Liverpool family and work to bring this storied club back to glory.
Liverpool does not need to become Chelsea or Manchester City or Manchester United to win. But the loss of the club's two best players in successive summers will put a large spotlight on the higher ups as to their plans for this club. Steven Gerrard, like all the greats to wear Liverpool red, is not entirely irreplaceable, but he does leave large shoes to fill.
: A couple random notes :
- They have a passionate fan base, and I understand the financial constraints of low level clubs, but Kingsmeadow's field is awful. There are high school fields here in America that have more grass and better quality.
- Akinfenwa gives hope to all of us larger people. While he has obviously put in the work to be in shape, he is without a doubt the largest (in shape) professional soccer/football player. He could easily be a linebacker in the NFL.
- Most, if not all, may disagree but I really don't see why Rickie Lambert gets any start over Mario Balotelli. People can claim the ridiculous idea that Balo brings down team morale, but in terms of pace and foot skills there is no comparison. I have all the respect in the world for Lambert and like the fact that he is a lifelong Reds fan, but he has done little on the field to prove he deserves playing time any more than Balotelli has. Yes, Sterling needed rest but with the return of Sturridge imminent and Divok Origi being brought off loan, decisions will have to be made about the number of true forwards on the field at once. Neither Lambert or Balotelli have flourished as a lone striker, but I have doubts Sturridge or Origi will do well on their own either.
Walk on my friends. Here's hoping for three more points against Sunderland.
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