WHEN the players return in their drips and drabs from a summer of R&R on the beach with a few beers, or from Eastern Europe after a prolonged or disappointingly brief spell bidding for international glory they will be anxiously trying to catch an admiring glance from the new boss. This is where Brendan Rodgers will be casting a roving eye over his new charges alongside his right hand man Colin Pascoe while performance consultant Glen Driscoll will be compiling stats and DVD’s of all the playing staff so there will be no hiding or shirking when the serious work starts.
In regards to our future framework on the pitch, Rodgers will certainly be paying close attention to the middle third where he will find players who may or may not blossom and some who may not fit his vision who will subsequently be sold if we can find buyers.
I believe that Alberto Aquilani is a Rodgers type of player; he is someone who may or may not have suited the last three regimes whose general philosophies which were methodical, defensive and direct. Last season Swansea showed us technical ability and pace down the flanks as well as tactical pressing. He is an advocate of the Barcelona 6-second rule for winning the ball back after the opponent has just gained possession and may have his back to goal where his periphery of vision and options for a pass are greatly limited. He expects his sides to create diagonal angles for a pass creating a fluid style. This is why I believe the Italian can fit into this way of playing as he has what Alonso, Xavi and Pirlo have which is an ability to barely have to look down to control the ball giving themselves an extra split second to find a pass.
Will he stick or twist with the personnel he has at his disposal? Joe Cole looks as though he has been given a second chance after a disastrous first season which has clearly haunted him before his French adventure. At his best he has a spirit for fantasy; a man who’s youthful promise has failed to materialise. Perhaps this is his last chance to make the big impression on the English game which he has been threatening to do for years, he is a potential option in the wide and final third positions, but may have to settle for an impact sub role where he can be kept hungry and eager to please.
I fear that Charlie Adam and Jay Spearing’s passing and movement may be a little bit too ponderous for the new regime but the former has other attributes such as a long diagonal pass which may come in useful as a plan B. As I mentioned in a previous article, the Scotsman’s confidence has taken an almighty battering in the second half of the season, his enforced lay-off since March through injury may have made him assess his game and he will no doubt benefit from Rodgers forward thinking. The latter may have shown us all he can deputising on the base of the midfield for the outstanding Lucas but this, unfortunately, is not enough to progress the team where superior technical ability and tactical flexibility will be paramount.
[ad_pod id=”unruly-video” align=”center”]
Youngsters like Jordan Henderson and Jonjo Shelvey are no doubt going to grow under the guidance of Steven Gerrard. This is a big year for the pair who are still learning the Liverpool way. With the owners keeping tight lipped over this year’s budget, it is not clear what price ranges we will be looking at, which of course is important in a tournament summer. With the impressive Gylfi Sigurdsson being heavily linked, it would be advisable for the pair to stay away for the gossip pages for the sake of their sanity!
The news that the popular Maxi Rodriguez has denied rumours that he is off to play for Newell’s Old Boys in his native land, is a bonus, but at 31, with a year left on his contract, he is at a crossroads. However with a new man at the helm it is a clean slate for all concerned, Maxi may still have part to play battling it out with Joe Cole and possible new buys in the wide attacking positions. One player whose statistics will shock Glen Driscoll is the much maligned Stewart Downing – 0 goals and assists in the league despite having 72 shots all year is damning. Like a wounded animal we expect him to come out fighting next year or else a swift exit surely looms.
I do believe that the new manager will be pleasantly surprised at what he finds in the playing staff and with a few tweaks here and there with tactics and strategy we will have a competitive side – as long as we don’t panic-buy after Euro 2012 when some midfield clogger has the month of his life, Salif Diao style. But I am sure Rodgers and Co will be far to canny to panic-buy like that.
Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com
Follow us on Twitter here: @live4Liverpool and ‘Like’ us on Facebook
The midfield was the problem last season, the worst i’d seen at Anfield. Can’t see Adam or spearing making the cut. Henderson should get better and Downing might get another chance. Aquilani will not be with us and Joe cole just won’t hack it in the EPL anymore. Also i don’t think Lucas is ‘outstanding’ either, always said we would’nt win anything with him. Having said that, come on you mighty reds! YNWA.
Give up watching football as you have no idea about it.
Luca was our best player the season before last and was excellent this season until his injury. He was captain of Brazil under 20s and was a regular in the national team.
He is one of the best defensive midfielders (if not the best) in the world. He doesn’t just beak up play he often is the starting point for our attacks.
LUCAS IS A WORLD CLASS PLAYER YOU MORON.
lucas is a good player but he should not be considered one of our best at Liverpool ???? he should be a good player for villa or sunderland but i have to say he is one of our better players and that hurts. Ok b4 all u ppl get on my back he wouldnt of got anywhere near mid with mass alonso etc that was the best in the league and prob world? mash barca and alonso real m. says so. give hendo time he is pants atm but will grow, downing ARRRRR hes a good player hes just played crap 4 us coz of a stupid price tag (give him 1 more year) cole will be back to his best after the season hes had so give him a chance! adam needs to go he wont fit in with rodgers style shelvey should stay he will be a talent as for spearing he is nothing special but he will die 4 this club ie gerrard and carra and its nice to have players like that here. and as for aqua man rodgers needs 2 talk 2 him if he wants 2 go then go if not play him !!!!! 3 mill ffs adam cost 8 downing 18 and there not even in his leauge !
The big mistake lfc wil make is to price daniel sturidg and kalou. Give hendo and jonjo a big chance cos they ar our furture asset. Carager should pls go cos hes part of our problem and coates should be use. Play agger in left back to create competition so that the team wil b more ambitious.
you can’t be serious? Agger, one of the best centre backs in the permiership, probably right up there with Kompany, playing at right back? The second he got injured this season our defense went to shambles, proving he should have been our player of the season not skrtel. If there was anyone I’d drop to give Coates a chance it would be skrtel, not agger.
Gerrard, lucus – are the only two real quality midfielders that we have. they are 1st choice before anyone eles, that’s if Lucus can get fit and get oover his long term injury??
Shelvey – i would keep for the future and give him games in the europa league along with spearing.
Henderson – not as bad as people make out, every club needs a work man, he is just that at the moment, but for me has he has it in in him to be a great squad player and that is that for now.
TO BE SOLD;
COLE, AQUILANI, BRAD JONES, WILSON, ECCLESTON, PACHECO, ADAM
ALREADY SOLD ARE;
KUYT, DARBY & AURELIO.
Now depending on above and fsg with relation to the cash they have id love to see this —
adam = EVER BANEGA
cole = GULFI
aquilani = GASTON RAMIREZ
THAT for me is how ugrades are done, not having to sell for players sales, but using the revenue to put towards upgrades, thats squad depth for me.
We still need another winger and a 1st class frontman and i would like to see a left back brought into the club, better back up and make jose enrique to get back to that early form that he did show!
ALY CISSOKHO- left back
ISAAC CUENCA or JAMES RODRIGUEZ – Winger – foward, but better as winger.
so then we still need a bloody good forward.
1st choice = CAVANI
2nd choice = HUNTELAAR
3rd choice = THOMAS MULLER
idea;
rein/ doni/ Gulacsi
johnson/kelly skrtel/carragher agger/coates enrique/cissokho
ramirez/maxi banega/lucus shelvey/ henderson downing/cuenca
sigurosson/gerrard
bellamy/ suarez cavani/carroll
others for europa and depth; spearing, flanagan, robinson, suso, sterling,ngoo, morgan, etc
We have no chance of signing Cavani or Huntelaar or thomas Muller. Also James Rodriguez would cost a fortune to get (over 20m pounds). Gaston Ramirez wouldn’t sign for us when he has Man City hovering over.
We need to be realistic with our targets. Now I am not saying I wouldn’t be happy if we get one of them. But I just can’t see them happening.
lfc 2012 – 2013
REINA
JOHNSON SKRTEL AGGER ENRIQUE
BANEGA LUCUS
GERRARD RAMIREZ
SUAREZ CAVANI
raul garcia 6.5 mill if true would be a great deal, low wages, good on the ball, needs a new challenge, knows how to pass and move, has a bit of pace this guy is a good player.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ra%C3%BAl_Garc%C3%ADa_(footballer)