I AM composing this latest staggering insight into Liverpool Football Club from my spec in Hustlers Cocktail Bar in Hisaranu. Therefore it may well be flawed but then it is names followed by numbers followed by sentences. My arbitrary figures will almost all be wrong. Hopefully the comments are interesting. I’ll take that.
Mildly annoyed with the squad list selection/loans around this competition. The loans we’ve done but have we really got any plans to play Henderson or Sturridge before February? If so we really need to have a think about things. Whereas we could be using Teixiera or, yes, Enrique. Anyway.
Went to Fez Bar for the Villa game. Would have gone back but it is rammed. Quiz night you see. Missed the start. Thanks to everyone who suggested places when I asked last weekend. Appreciated all that.
How good have TAW Player shows been by the way? Cracking Pink after Villa, Tuesday Review a belter and TAW Unwrapped the absolute business. Might hang on here, sit by the pool and let everyone crack on. But you know. The Derby.
Anyway, what we are here for? Before we do the numbers we should have scored five. Should just have scored five. A ton of chances.
Simon Mignolet: 5
Slow off his line for the goal.
Nathaniel Clyne: 4
Gives it away cheaply for their opener. That’s not the position. It’s giving it away cheaply. Shows he can do a bit of the wing back thing for the disallowed goal. Sub felt pre planned. I could be talking broken biscuits.
Emre Can: 4
Free header on 38. Free header on 77. Should score. Interesting shift into the middle of the three second half.
Kolo Toure: 4
Don’t know who, what or how he helped at the back. Sure he was doing something but you know. Probably would have more of an idea if I was in the ground though I remember Gibbo at the weekend saying he struggles to rate Skrtel. Unlucky to hit the bar.
Joe Gomez: 5
Tough player ratings. Because he follows a man into centre mid for their goal. But he’s probably Toure’s man and Toure isn’t going near him. Vacating that space makes it easy for the Sion man. Distribution at times ropier than when at left back.
Jordon Ibe: 3
Clearly targetting him going backwards. Offered nowhere near enough going forward. If he wants to get in this side, which should always have two up, it is only happening at wing back. Not in a diamond.
Joe Allen: 8
There’s a ball Allen gives away on around 10 when he plays it into space that Ibe wasn’t interested in running into. I loved it. He knows what he is doing there. Giving reminders. Making clear what should be happening. Not worrying about his stats. His ball to Ings on 15. Gorgeous. Then goes a bit poor for 20. Then gets back into it before half time. Plays a lovely diagonal ball. And a cracking couple of balls to Origi.
Also Brockle: “Short and beardy.” Hard to argue with the facts.
Jordan Rossiter: 7
Covers a run when Can turned on 8 really well. Cracking delivery on 38 as well. There’s an assurance around his football which is very pleasing. Dovetails well with Allen.
Adam Lallana: 7
Good finish. Felt by halfway through the first half he needed to be on it a bit more but it is a great ball for Ings on 30. Was it him who played Origi in before the break? Looked it. Regardless — one of them. Can’t criticise for too many touches and not enough end product and then criticise when he inverts that. Dreadful miss around 72. Shave is bad news.
Divock Origi: 5
Did brilliantly for the opener. Got into that space between penalty area and six yard box but had end product. Which is night and day from Carlisle. Should score on 43. Turns and runs brilliantly on 58 but should find a red shirt. Should score on 63.
Danny Ings: 4
Really needs to take one of those first-half chances if we are all being honest with one another. Despised the overhead kick attempt on the hour.
SUBS
Alberto Moreno: 5
Daft shot on 54. Daft foul on 80.
Philippe Coutinho: 4
Him being simply introduced makes me want to go out and commit mass murder. Didn’t offer a ton when he did come on. We were better with two up.
Mamadou Sakho: 6
I don’t really know.
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Pic: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda Photo
Honestly couldn’t give a fuck and neither could LFC by the looks of things. Wake me when it’s Sunday. Has the cab been booked for you-know-who yet?
Fully expect a 4-0 win on Sunday now. We can hope, can’t we?
My prediction too – to them. Glad I’m not going, it’s going to be very distressing if they get an early goal and start picking us off on the break. Let’s hope for plenty of dodgy offside decision in our favour so we at least get a draw.
Great review of facial hair. Made me laugh even when the 90 didn’t. Ings should get a full body wax in front of the Main for that overhead.
Bonus points to Sakho for leading from the sidelines whilst warming up – constantly talking to Origi after each chance/miss and trying to lift him. Should be a lesson to those in the stands
Noticed that Sakho was trying to encourage Origi, and pushing the team on even before he came on.
As much as we all rate Coutinho to be the key player for Liverpool future, we need players like Sakho too…committed, natural leaders, and a good defender, and he can paint too :)
Ou defence should be a back 4 built around Sakho and Clyne. Morenos starting to come good so the other centreback spot should be fought out between the others. Fuck knows what to do about the keeper situation at the min.
Clyne and Sakho are full fledged internationals and among the best in PL, Yes, 4 at the back with Moreno and one more would be solid back line. Moreno should come good for us, reminds me of Riise.
But no confidence in Skertal, Lovran, Toure to make up for the 4th spot. Gomez is still young. Can is not a defender, therefore lacks the defender instincts.
Said since the summer it should be Sakho as captain at lcb, moreno at lb, clyne at rb and one of ilori or gonez at rcb. Stick to a back 4. Unless one of them is lovren levels of terrible stick to it for 10-12 games in a row. No formation changes.
Was never going to happen from the get-go thanks to Rodgers spending £20m on lovren, but the new manager could very well turn to the above. Because he’ll be, ya know, good at the football management bit.
Sion are all manner of shit. Probably just a bit better than Carlisle. Defeat to Everton should mean the sack. And despite Sturridge I still fancy Everton to do us.
Thought the crowd were a disgrace last night. The lack of boo’s (there were a few but nowhere near enough) and anger directed at the dugout shows how far Rodgers has entrenched mediocrity in this club. Could you imagine the reaction to someone having spent nearly £300m in his 4th year at Arsenal, Chelsea, United or even Spurs and putting out stronger teams than he should against Carlisle and Sion, at home, and failing to beat not one of them but two? What would the Stretford End be like? A boo here and there? Or savage outrage with the bullshit they are paying good money to watch a once great club dragged to a level of utter irrelevance?
He’s only still here thanks to (a) so many Liverpool fans not waking up to him earlier and (b) the fact he’s a “local” – if not from these islands the media would have been on his back a lot harder a lot sooner than they even are to this day. Remember the press on Rafa, a vastly superior boss?
Personal opinion is those who continued to cheerlead Rodgers, especially after the end to last season, owe the club and the rest of us an apology. If they were a little bit smarter the pressure would have got too much for FSG to withstand, just like with Hodgson. But instead they doubled down and left us fucked. Thanks lads, what a service to LFC you performed.
Well that’s convinced me to take a marker pen to my bed sheet and never shop at sports direct again!!!!
You’ve made me hope even more for a win at the derby and the Mancs put one over Arsenal, just to see how you plan on continuing this agenda when we are in a CL spot.
Oh, I know. It doesn’t matter. It only matters in the final week.
And you keep trotting out that 300M number, knowing full well that we have to sell to buy (unlike the megaclubs) and that they have spent anywhere from 150M-225M more on wages during that period without having to deal with a transfer committee. But who needs context and balance when you have an axe to grind?
But I see your point. Rodgers really should be burying those when he is through on goal.
Really? You have been saying since summer that the back 4 should be Clyne, Ilori or Gomez, Sakho, Moreno? I can only imagine what the reaction would have been if Rodgers had picked that defence away to Stoke in first game. Ilori or Gomez – guys who had never played in the Premier League, and Moreno who most fans would have rated 5/10 for his first season.
Pleased with Rossiter. Would have liked to have seen a bit more quickness in his passing, but overall a very confident performance. 7.5 if he could grow facial hair. Maybe in a few years…
Commentator on tele said he looks 10 but played like a real adult.
when we were pishing for a win, he seems to be too cautious with too many no-risk sideway passes.
Emre Can is at the other extreme … tried all the risky moves. possibly both balance off each other?
“Pishing for a win”. Could not have put it better myself.
He’s obviously reading Irvine Welsh books!
Ibe looked much, *much* better in his run in the side last season than what we’ve seen of him so far this. Strange one. Maybe it’s because he came straight in to the team out of nowhere having had regular football at Derby whereas now he’s getting game time in bits and pieces. Maybe it’s because we’re no very good now compared to when we put that bit of a run together last season.
Still reckon he can develop into a good enough Liverpool player, although somehow I don’t see him being valued at around £49m in a years time (soz FSG) and you know what? Sometimes that’s ok. Jordan Henderson. He developed into a good Liverpool player and he won’t be getting pinched by City/Chelsea/Barca/Real. I don’t think… He best not; he’s our captain for Christ sake.
Having two little lads shuttling about midfield having to stretch for the ball constantly was adorable btw. The moment in the 2nd half when Allen read the interception and through ball for Origi in behind being on was 2013/14ish gear. Haven’t seen enough of that sort of alertness and people acting on it. Would be tempted to give him a go Sunday tbh. Would drop Skrtel and have him as the extra body in midfield, having both Sakho and Can as a footballing center half pair which in turn makes Lucas and his holding less redundant but that’s never gonna happen. Most probably because it’s a terrible idea in practice. Good job I’m not manager.
Manager methinks. This manager is good only when the pressure is off. Hence he pulls out a winning run when no one thinks we can win. Then a must win game and bang, all the old failings pop up. So ibe was good last year as he had ZERO pressure (pressure was all on a certain sterling)… Big club like LFC needs a manager/players who can deal with such pressure. Ibe is young, esp under a better manager he can really develop. only time will tell.
This manager is good only when the pressure is off. Hence he pulls out a winning run when no one thinks we can win.
Surely, if nobody thinks we can win then that is when the pressure is really on?
Ergo, if he pulls out a winning run when nobody thinks he can then he is good under pressure?
Forgive me if I’m wrong, but his job is to select a side that can create more chances than the opposition. He did that: Origi and Lallana should have had two apiece, Ings and Can probably one each. What is he supposed to do: go out and play for them as well?
Who am I to say if your right or not? I’m just pleased someone actually bothered reading my post:) thank you and good day sir!
Ibe “arrived” at last season’s Goodison darby. Hope he uses it as his second arrival on sunday (probably fr the bench).
His confidence seems to be at the lowest point ar the moment.
he can play wing back (so can I!! i can match with what he did the whole 2nd half. no takeons, just side way passes :); but he is not a wing back; and the only position he can get into the team in current formation is at wingback roles
It baffled me earlier this year how people were saying Ibe was better than Sterling, simply no basis in fact. Ibe has no end product. Don’t get me wrong I like him but he needs to start delivering end ball or scoring goals. Should not be starting league games. Makes a mockery of the decision to send Markovic out on loan.
Ibe played pretty well 2nd half last season. and did well in pre season (Against amature sides in Thailand/Malaysia/Australia though).
Markovic is doing.well in Turkey and hope we can call him back in Jan (depending on terms.of the agreement) if he continues to do well consistently.
downturn happens to most young players, hope this slump for Ibe wiild be over soon, for the good of the team. (btw, i dont remember any slump in.form for Owen or Fowler as they were coming thriugh the first team?)
Ibe did “pretty well” but still didn’t contribute 1 assist or goal. I’ll stick to my belief that at the min he should not be starting for Liverpool in the league.
What rating does Sturridge get for hanging out with Mr T ?
I thought Migs did ok, not really to blame for the goal and he made a couple of other decent saves. Ibe needs a break, poor fella is stuck in an ever decreasing circle of trying too hard not to f**k up.
Very happy with Rossiter and Allen, thought they did pretty well. Origi should score, but is obviously, understandably rusty, he needs more game time. Ings worked hard as ever. Lallana smiles too much, needs a bit more grit.
Not overly impressed with the defense, possibly because Kolo just looks past it.
We didn’t lose, but yet again i feel slightly underwhelmed, despite us playing with the majority of the 2nd string, and with 4 games still to go in the group, so there’s still plenty of time, but the clock is ticking..
haha..same old, same old these days eh:) FSG, Rodgers ayre remind me of three mice, hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil:) How can it be that AFTER ALL THIS INVESTMENT in this squad, we have no cutting edge without one man (Danny sturridge). Daniel takes a night off, so does the cutting edge. HOW IS THAT ACCEPTABLE? And yet rodgers talk of yet another rebuild? How many rebuilds? Maybe we need another builder? Plus is ANYONE at LFC ready to play NOW? I mean origi is so raw, when will he be ready? 2018? whole team is full of future prospects, and when they are ready they will be sold. Coutinho just peaking, so we sell him? FSG are completely at fault….totally flawed strategy and too dumb or too stubborn to accept it.
POSITIVES (constantly reminding myself to stay positive):
~ Can’s risk taking runs when everyone else seem to have given up
~ Allen and Rossiter combination : keeping it simple and neat; (but Rossiter needs to make more risky forward passes especially when we were pushing for a win)
~ Origi: power, skill, and speed … give more game time to this boy and WITHIN A YEAR HE WILL BE THE BEST PARTNER FOR STURRIDGE. (he will overtake both Bentake and Ings)
cant think of any other.
Origi? You must be joking. He’s the worst player in the squad by far.
yes he missed 2 chances last night, but there was not much service to him, was there?
he set up the goal w solo effort, and in the second half he tried Titi Camara run down the left channel.
with confidence, he will get better.
And you know this from 197 mins of football?
Great assist and unlucky not to score a few also,
Ya he missed but at least he was there to miss with some clever runs/movement,
Bodes well and although I slagged him off after the last UEFA cup game I was quite to see him make a tit of me last night,
We need more of these lads to make tits out of us all.
actually more than 197mins. Watched him closely at 2014 world cup and really pleased when we signed him.
His first EL match was bad. But last night’s match was probably below par still for him.
give him game time and proper midfield support, he will turn out to be the key man for us. (hope he wont end up as Babel or Ngog :)
I was responding to Paul calling him worst player in the squad.
I’d knock a couple of marks off for Lallana’s boots!! I’m a grumpy traditionalist and think everyone should wear plain black but if you have to wear colour just pick one!!!
And why does Mignolet highlight the fact he can’t kick by wearing bright blue boots!!!
Is Joe Allen trying to look like Pirlo??
Everyone’s skin looked smooth, that Nivea stuff must work
Joe Allen is clearly trying to look like the Welsh Pirlo.
Maybe its time for you to start marking the Anfield crowd.
One out of ten, for me, and they got the one for showing up.
The Kop sits there saying ‘show me you are worthy of support or I’m sitting here saying nothing’ which, of course, is the wrong way about.
The ‘extra player in the stands’ has become the extra critic in the stands.
When the team is doing poorly is the time for the fans to lift them,but clearly for the Anfield crowd, the team is supposed to lift them when they are feeling a bit grumpy. Then again, what would I know? I can’t make it to Anfield so I can’t be a ‘real’ fan.
All it takes is a little effort from the players. A solid tackle here, a snaking run there. When it’s clear they’re not that bothered, probably thinking about what porsche to buy with that weeks wages, the crowd pick up on the apathy. We’re not stupid.
fully agreed. The crowd would respond to the players’ effort naturally.
i think last night’s match was one.of the “flattest” matches i have seen. No real desire from the team to go on and kill off the match.
not surprised that the away supporters were much louder.
To be fair in my experience of going the match, and i didn’t go last night and nor have I for quite sometime, it’s not the Kop that’s the problem – it’s the other 3 stands.
No everywhere was quite last night including the Kop. I think this was best illustrated at half time when there was no real booing, clapping or even talk of the game!! There were pockets of noise here and there but nothing on or off the pitch to get excited about. It felt tired all the way through and even before the game.
It was mentioned on TAW after Carlise anD was heard again last night. Whoever keeps starting the “stand up for the 96” chant STOP. I’d rather us remain quiet for 90 minutes then use Hillsbrough as a way of “geeing up the crowd”.
An 8 for Joe Allen and 20 comments yet no abuse for you or him (aside from a few comments on his beard). Maybe people are being respectful as you’re on holiday or maybe the first 20 comments are from the more sophisticated of your readers rather than the usual rabble. What next, praise for Rodgers on Sunday? Plaudits for Mignolet?
Few more games for Allen to get his touch back for those few balls that ran away from him around the half hour mark and he has to come into the first 11. It’s not about what he doesn’t do now and again, it’s about what he does.
Naysayers, eh Robin?
If the positioning of Allen and Rossiter when our CBs had the ball was ‘by design’ then Brendan Rodgers or whoever was responsible for that ‘design’ needs to explore alternative career paths.
Toure is, forgive me for saying this as I think he’s a great person and a good CB, just terrible at CCB. Terrible.
The ratings for Allen and Rossiter are a bit inflated. Ok, a lot inflated.
Lallana, goal-scored notwithstanding, is the epitome of an overly expensive, not particularly useful luxury. Kinda like an old Jaguar.
Why do people do this? Allen had a good game. He should have had 2 assists. Why can’t we just appreciate his performance? It’s just stupid to pick up on the point you highlight. Allen has a football brain. He creates space for others. Is it any wonder we’re shite when we’ve got fans who just wanna destroy every player. I read 4 match ratings including this and Allen top scored in all. I appreciate none of know as much as you but I think you’re being harsh here.
Allen probably is one of the unsung heroes of any teams. but he needs to consistently perform at the level he is capable of (ie, ManCity game last season).
If we play diamond 4 again, we have Allen, Lucas, Milner, Hendo, Can and Rossiter to rotate the base 3, while Coutinho, Lallana and Firmino can fight it out for the top of diamond position.
Hi Josh
He just needs a run in the team, stay injury free and get the supporters, who don’t seem to want him to be a success, off his back.
Hi Robin,
Sadly, Lallana may soon fall into that category too where many of us just judging his poor forms and assuming he would never make it in red shirt.
The only player in the team immuned to fan criticism is Coutinho, in my opinion. (has he earned enough insurance with his performance?)
Yeah mate, we were saying the same thing last night. Lallana looks excellent in spells but up and down overall. As you insinuate, he hasn’t had a good run in the side yet and, like Allen, has suffered from injuries at the wrong time. i think it’s hard to see where he fits into the first 11 when everyone’s fit but that’s never the case so I think we’ll see a lot more from him soon. I hope so because he’s definitely got ‘something’
Allen did well last night. This is now his 4th season with us and people are still talking about him becoming a success.
I appreciate Allen and his skill-set and his football brain and his performances very much.
In fact, I’ve gone out of my way to defend him (ok, not as much as I’ve defended Lucas, but let’s be realistic, ok? :-)) against the usual critiques.
Having said all that, a rating of 8 out of 10 for his performance vs Sion? I think that’s inflated.
As for Rossiter, given the ratings I’ve seen people previously give to performances by CM/DMs and compared to his performance vs Sion, I think 7 is generous.
In retrospect, I exaggerated. They’re not inflated by a lot. I take that back.
Watch it for a second time Original mate,
You were obviously getting distracted in the gym ;)
Well played, mate.
P.S. I haven’t watched the 2nd half twice, yet. That’s some serious lapse on my part.
Allen ? Rodgers ? it’s like kicking the Andrex puppy in the face now
Our lot would miss. The puppy would be fine.
caneastop man last night only player pushin it and showing any urgency. why he is not in midfield is beyond me. sad to say but we have to take the rose specs off rossiter who is an average player dont see anything top drawer there. ibe shot to pieces. ings englad class? says it all
Rossiter was wearing rose specs?!
at least his shorts (tug in) were 2 inches lower than usual ‘high’ standard :)
i honestly hope Rossiter, Flenno, Ibe, Gomez and all other youngsters make it here.
A wretchedly conservative tactical set once again robs the side of any coherence and cohesion
Emre played the positions but with no logic underpinning any of them really, Gomez and Clyne on the wrong flanks, Rossiter playing balls sideways and backwards (he was better in the second half but the first was awful – too slow to make a angle for a quick pass so stunting Clyne in particular who ended playing a longer less accurate ball or going back. Rodgers can’t even get the subs right – Ibe kept on but Ings subbed when Coutinho came on. Ibe was terrible – didn’t even try to use his pace. A total waste of a position.
And after the game Rodgers declares the need to rebuild – hey Brendan stop knocking the building down first eh? You’d have finished it by now!
Hurray! I thought it was just me who thought Joe Allen had a good game.
The club must be able to estimate how many tickets they will most likely sell for any given game. So, why not drop prices even further to obtain a full house?
It’s got to be worth a try that as the income from tickets will be the same from having a 2/3rds full stadium but they’ll benefit from more sales of refreshments. etc. Just a thought.
Question for TAW : do you have regular/any contact with the club?
All for Lowering the ticket price to show that the club cares abt the pocket of match going fans.
But lowering ticket price to bump up demand and fill up Anfield?? Unheard of, really.
In Liverpool history, as long as we play attractive and winning football, the stadium will always be sold out. we wont need to create an artificial demand.
They were around 22 quid for the mighty division 4 side last week when I looked at what was left the day before.
Am I missing something, O.K he’s a Scouser and we should back him to the hilt. But Rossiter to me look like a rank average player at best. I know its early days but I just don’t see what everyone else sees.
He might be like Flanno. Nothing special but can come in a do a solid job when there’s quality and leadership around him. At 18, no real experience and having the appearance of a Dennis Wise lookalike Grange Hill reject about him, let’s wait until he’s had at least a dozen starts.
Rarely gives the ball away cheaply,
Plays with his head up and looks very comfortable in possession in tight spaces which for a young kid breaking through in centre mid is no mean thing,
Ok he doesn’t look like a worldie but rank average ? Harsh.
Never listen to “everyone”. Form your opinion and stick to it:)
It was Can’s 50 game for us. He still does not know his best position…
Can knows, BR doesn’t.
I like Allen & Lallana & given an injury free run will hopefully be regulars & change some opinions. Ibe is totally lacking in confidence, Moreno played a great ball to Lallana for his miss, but he doesn’t do enough for going the other way for me. Markovic should never have been sent out on loan, & be a starter in the Europa & league cup.
Wow – those are some mean scores.
But I like the way you seem to have balanced it more fairly with defenders – players who don’t bang it into the net when they should often get off too lightly.
it seemed to me that apart from poor finishing we struggled due to a lack of real presence in midfield, yet Allen and Rossiter are Neil’s top scorers.
I like Allen and he gave his all but his touch was poor, probably rustiness, and he seemed to get caught in possession a lot. Sublime pass for Ings, mind.
Young Rigsby (sorry) looks a decent prospect but should he really be starting in a competition that probably offers our best hope for Champs League qualification?