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17/01/2013
Thanks partly to injury and partly to squad rotation, Liverpool have fielded many different back 4’s over the course of this season. In fact, some haven’t even consisted of 4 at the back. Brendan Rodgers has experimented with many different players in varying formations. The question is, which combination works best for LFC?
My personal favourite combination of defenders is (from right to left) Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique. They are all very talented, and Johnson and Enrique are very good at pushing forward and starting attacks. Indeed, Rodgers has experimented with playing them in the wing-back role, which in my opinion is extremely effective. When they play at wing-back, they are given more freedom to attack, which really unlocks their full potential. Obviously this means they have to track back a lot to make sure we aren’t left vulnerable at the back, but when they do get caught too far up the pitch, Agger and Skrtel are solid defenders, perfectly capable of covering.
Unfortunately, this combination is not currently possible, as Jose Enrique is out injured. In his absence, Brendan Rodgers has been playing Johnson on the left and Wisdom on the right. This works fairly well, but I think Johnson is much more effective at right back. For this reason, I would play Downing at left back and keep Johnson at right back. Some may argue that Downing is needed as a winger in the front three, but personally I think that Sterling, Suarez and Sturridge is the best attacking combination.
Although I said earlier that my favourite pair of centre-backs is Agger and Skrtel, they may well have some competition for their places in the starting 11 when Martin Kelly returns from injury. Although he has often played as a full-back for Liverpool in the past, he is a centre-back by trade, and I think he works best there. Agger is a great defender, and I think he is certain to keep his place in the team, but Kelly may well give Martin Skrtel a run for his money. Skrtel, though usually solid, does make some costly mistakes. If Martin Kelly can show that he doesn’t make such errors, he may well break into the first team once he recovers from his injury.
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To summarise, my current favourite combination at the back is Johnson, Skrtel Agger and Enrique. However, in the absence of Enrique I think Downing should function as a left back, and Skrtel may well lose his place when Kelly returns. It is good that Rodgers has been experimenting so much, but now we are more than midway through the season, we are at a stage where we need to consolidate our position. He should now pick the most effective combination of defenders, and stick with it until the end of the season.
-James Martin
Follow me on Twitter @JamesMartin013
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17/01/2013
It is clear that FSG have a transfer policy of only bringing in young players. You can see the logic behind such a strategy; they are trying to build for the future, and save money by getting maximum use out of players as they have a long time still to play before they end their playing career. Since the appointment of Brendan Rodgers, the oldest player to be signed has been Oussama Assaidi, who only turned 24 two days before he joined Liverpool. Other signings such as Joe Allen, Daniel Sturridge and Fabio Borini are all relatively inexperienced at the top level, and are by no means the finished article at the moment. Younger players are never as consistent as more experienced players, and we have seen the effects of this over the season, with some great performances combined with some dismal ones too.
Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez, Liverpool’s two biggest stars, have recently given their opinions on FSG’s transfer policy. Gerrard was quoting as saying that he is “at the stage of his career when he needs to rely on others. All he sees is the arrival of players who rely on him”. Gerrard is 32 years old now; he can’t drive the team as much as he could when he was a younger man. His comments suggest that he feels that he has to be the one to look after the numerous younger players on the field, whilst trying to play his own game as well. It suggests that he feels there are too many of these young players at the moment, and wants to a few more experienced players in the team to help him out. If the player that has the most commitment to Liverpool of anyone is getting frustrated, I’m sure there are some of the other players who are feeling the same.
It appears that Suarez is one of those players. Before the signing of Sturridge, Suarez had to play in an attacking three with Sterling, aged 18, and Suso, 19, although Suso has been replaced by Downing of late. Although the two teenagers are very talented, they were not scoring much. So, like Gerrard, Suarez had to carry the attack to the opposition almost single handedly. Luckily, Suarez has the ability to do it, and has been one of the league’s top scorers. Suarez recently said that “young players win matches and experienced players win championships”. Like Gerrard, Suarez seems to be implying that the balance of the team is wrong, and that we need some more experienced players in the team.
It is always worrying when your best players are expressing concerns. It is even more worrying when you are in no position to attract players of their quality if their concerns turn into wanting a move away. Gerrard and Suarez have far more knowledge of what makes a football team work than John Henry and Ian Ayre, and therefore, they need to be listened to. Buying players that make long term economic sense is obviously very important, but short term goals are still important, especially in Liverpool’s case. We need to keep our star players happy, because they are the ones that are keeping Liverpool moving at this point in time. The younger players will grow to do that job in a few years, but the present cannot be overlooked.
One top class, experienced player may all that is needed to keep Gerrard and Suarez satisfied. FSG will obviously worry about signing a 28 year old “not making financial sense”, but sometimes, things are more important than the money. The influence of the new player on the squad and on the pitch would be worth the money. It would give the team a well needed boost that could really kick start the revival of Liverpool over the next few seasons. A 27-28 year old still has a number of years left in them, and can teach the younger players a few things.
When your star players express concerns, it is important to listen. Gerrard and Suarez has given their opinions on the current state of the Liverpool team, and hopefully FSG will take the opinions into consideration, and act accordingly.
Tom Barker
@Barker_LFC
15/01/2013
Many of you may have looked at Jordan Henderson and thought that he was a waste of money, not good enough or lacked the technical ability to be a Liverpool player. I’ve even heard the phrase “he doesn’t have the passion for that shirt”, which when queried about what you must show to have that, the contributor lacked any kind of depth to their point, mostly because they actually lacked a point.
This article will not be one in which I cast out all of those who do not agree with me, nor will it be one where I explain why Jordan Henderson is the greatest midfielder of all time, as that is simply not true. The purpose of this article is to highlight what Jordan Henderson actually does as it has dawned on me that some fans expect something of Jordan Henderson that simply is not realistic, or think that he should be a completely different player. To those of you who aren’t sure on whether or not Jordan Henderson is a Liverpool player, I hope this article is something for you to ponder. If it changes your mind, then I’m happy but I feel that is something for you to decide and to watch to notice.
So, let us start at the beginning. It’s usually an excellent place to start really. I’m going to put this out here and you can react however you want to; Jordan Henderson is not Xabi Alonso. In my imagination, you’ve just pulled the pipe out of your mouth and now look completely shocked at such a phrase, whilst doffing a rather strange hat. Back to reality though, he may be number 14 but that is not the same person. To steal the horrendous Go Compare advert; Jordan and Xabi are made up of different letters, pronounced differently and as such are different words. They are also very different players.
If you want to see Liverpool’s number 14 stroking the ball about from side to side with lovely long passes, you will need to go and watch a video of Xabi Alonso before he left the club or watch Real Madrid. Jordan isn’t a deep lying playmaker, to steal a Football Manager term. Nor will he ever be or should he ever be. Jordan is an athlete; he’s a relatively quick and strong young lad. He’s not got the pace of Sterling obviously, but he has a fair engine on him.
Jordan Henderson is also not Steven Gerrard, he won’t pop up from 40 yards out and smash one into the top corner in front of the Kop. That won’t happen. That is not Jordan Henderson. You may expect something that is not actually realistic of the lad purely because Liverpool paid £14 million-£16 million for his transfer (not the £20 million that was reported by some). That fact may annoy some of you but that is not Jordan Henderson’s fault and nor should in reality, it be held against him.
I don’t believe Jordan Henderson is around the £15 million mark in value, but if you have a lot of money, as Liverpool did and a player is English; you pay the ‘English tax’ on a transfer fee. So let’s not blame Jordan Henderson for that, some fans really need to let this go with regards to players; you cannot change it.
What Jordan Henderson is though is a link up player and a box to box midfielder rolled into one player. He plays neat one-two passes with wingers, full backs and other centre midfielders to keep the ball moving and the midfield ticking along. He doesn’t do anything extravagant, but he does his job. Pass. Move. Pass. Move. If you honestly sit and watch Jordan Henderson, he is always available to receive a pass, always. His movement is truly something to watch and appreciate; something that not enough people do.
If you watch him, he drops into the gap between the midfield and defence at goal kicks incredibly well to receive the ball and then moves it along. He doesn’t dribble with the ball much; it’s just the simple art of receiving a pass and moving it a long. He then moves to where the attack will go or where he believes the ball may end up and offers himself there, or he’ll come across to a team mate with the ball and offer an option and repeat. He does this all game, even when suffering from Norovirus. The lad is an engine. Up and down that pitch he’ll go. He does the work that you don’t appreciate but the work that is vital for the system but also for the team. It won’t ever earn him any major plaudits, nor will it earn him any major awards or recognition; but Jordan Henderson’s work rate in that midfield is exemplary and I believe that people need to notice that.
Jordan defensively also presses the ball so well and so high up the pitch. He doesn’t drop off when Liverpool don’t have the ball, he presses the man with the ball where ever he may be. When the ball moves, so does he and he’ll make himself an obstacle to a pass in another area, something that without pointing fingers; Gerrard doesn’t do as much as he should for me. Henderson’s energy and tenacity in the midfield is something that for me Liverpool fans should enjoy watching and take great pleasure in; but some of us forever stumble to enjoy his work or like him purely because of the fee the club paid for him.
If you watch him this season, he’s grown up a little bit. He is no longer meek or quiet on the pitch but he shouts for the ball and directs traffic. Actually no, shouts its not the best word; he barks. He barks for the ball or barks instructions, something that shows you why he’s England Under 21’s captain. You’ve got to have ability and something about you to have that role, you really do.
For me, this recent run of chances in the starting eleven is showing exactly what Jordan Henderson is; a link up man, someone who’ll work hard for the team, a provider, an engine, a technically gifted player with such a good cross and most of all; he’s starting to show leadership qualities on the pitch. All of this is good for Jordan Henderson and ultimately is good for Liverpool. So if I can give you one piece of advice, the next time you watch Jordan Henderson play, don’t watch Liverpool’s £16 million signing; pretend he’s a Scouser who has come through the ranks and watch his desire, work rate, work with the ball, work off the ball and general attitude on that football pitch. If you were a doubter and it doesn’t change your mind, so be it. I would just love to know what else the lad could do to prove to you he’s a Liverpool player. The lad has bags of quality, you just need to recognise its tactical and technical qualities not flair or the X factor qualities. For me, Jordan is an exciting player for Liverpool now and in the future.
-Adam Warren Heayns
-@Awh91
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This is probably the biggest match I have ever wrote a preview for, Man Utd, our fiercest rivals on top of the league against Liverpool, currently 8th in the table.
Man Utd have won their last 5 home games in the league and are currently serious favourites for the league title and have a strike-force that any manager in the league would take but they do not have the best striker in the league, that accolade still goes to Luis Suarez. Van Persie may have one extra goal in one extra game but he has great service all around him and his side plays ruthless attacking football. At LFC, Suarez has times when he is isolated and our style of play is a lot more patient. But he still produces the goods on a regular basis and that is key to moving forward. I think Man United should go with two up front in this game, because LFC will be hard to break down but if put under pressure, will probably eventually cave in. I’d say it could Hernandez and Van Persie but Fergie has been known to ‘surprise’ with his team selections in big games, although with Rooney and Nani out, he may be forced into some decisions. Rodgers may give Sturridge a first league start but two players who will probably be playing are Suarez and Sterling. I think Suarez will be a real menace to Man Utd while Sterling should be a handful for Evra. They are probably the key battles in an LFC attacking point of view and it’s where I can see us getting the upper hand. Evra’s form has decreased over the years while Sterling is very lively. Suarez could get through any defence in the world and will be looking forward to playing against Vidic and Evans/Ferdinand.
The defending of both sides has been widely criticised this season but Man Utd’s problems have been looked past because of the front players scoring goals. This title race could and should be dead and buried so far but I think when Vidic gets back to his best, they should tighten up. They have Buttner to replace Evra and Rafael has been a revelation at right-back. Brendan Rodgers sticks with the Skrtel-Agger partnership although I think Agger has failed to live up to his normally high playing levels. He will get back to his best soon I hope, he just makes too many errors at the moment. Skrtel has been a rock though, Enrique has been a contender for player of the season although his injury is a big blow. Johnson will step in and let Wisdom step in at right back, both have impressed this season with the latter getting a new deal. In fact, in Liverpool’s last 5 games in all competitions they have conceded just 4 while United’s defence has conceded just 5 in the last 5 league games. The defences are tightening up, finally.
Should be very close, both sides need the points for different reasons although both could live with a point. I expect the two on-form stars, RVP and Suarez will both be on the score sheet, 1-1.
Man United (outs) : Anderson, Rooney, Nani
Liverpool (outs) : Borini, Kelly
-Adam Norman
Follow me on twitter: AdamN1996, pretty please 😉
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