SINCE the end of last season, there have been calls from fans and pundits for Liverpool to bring in more firepower to an attacking side that failed to muster 50 goals in the Premier League last season.
verage our goal tally so far across the season and the result will be the same.
This is not good reading for a side with ambitions of Champions League football.
But almost as important as the goals for column is the goals conceded column and the titanic defence that used to regularly boast the most clean sheets every season has hit an iceberg – and the leaks are there for all to see. While goals will win matches, clean sheets will prevent losses and when the attack isn’t firing, a run without defeat can build confidence.
While it is clear our attack is no stronger than last year, so far it has not been any weaker, statistically at any rate. This is because we relied on Suarez to do the damage last year and we rely on Suarez to do the same again this year.
Theoretically, our goal tally should be higher this season as we shouldn’t have to contend with the latino lightning bolt having himself removed for 8 games of the season – though Mr Pulis would be happy to see him suffer the same fate for different reasons.
However, notwithstanding our profligacy at the business end of the pitch, perhaps the biggest problem is that the cause for concern at the back has come from an unfamiliar face. Jose Reina was a revelation when he arrived at Anfield. His shot-stopping was excellent, his penalty saving expertise was unrivalled and his distribution was better than any goalkeeper seen in the Premier League.
He proceeded to solidify his position in the top 3 goalkeepers with only Petr Cech and Van der Sar offering competition for the mantle of most reliable custodian. Reina was doled out clean sheet awards so regularly that it became a season parade and his ability to save certain goals made Liverpool’s already impressive backline even more impenetrable.
These lofty standards set by the Spaniard were tough to emulate, let alone improve on, but the problem for Reina now is that he has been so far from that peak for such a long period of time, it is worth considering if he’ll ever be a mountain for Liverpool again.
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Allegations that he ballooned over the off season have not been popped by Pepe, by providing inspiring performances. Simply stated, he has failed to deliver so far this season in both senses of the word.
While the handling errors have been all too frequent this season, this is not the only area of his game that has suffered. Where once he was certain and pro-active, he now looks dithering and reactionary. While he made some excellent saves against Stoke, he also allowed them a very good chance due to his own mistake. His distribution has fallen off the cliff, he has given the ball away from goal kicks far too often this season, and while some of the blame for this can be directed at Rodgers’ tactics, it should primarily be directed at Reina’s feet. This is hugely significant as distribution has always been one of his strongest attributes. To see him struggling in this department is quite baffling.
The problem for Reina is that there is no genuine competition for his position. He can rest on his laurels and still know he will play every week and while I don’t want the goalkeeper to be rotated every game, the fact he is un-droppable even when his form has deserted him is a worry.
Jones is no real rival, he is at best an adequate substitute, and that Gulacsi has not managed to dislodge him as no.2 sums up that the Hungarian is not good enough to challenge Reina either.
Pepe needs a threat – and the best way to do that is to provide genuine competition for his place. A young talented keeper may well prompt Reina into recapturing his form, and if he doesn’t, then we can at least drop him for a hungry player who will want to make the no.1 spot their own.
The problems have been there too long to be considered a dip in form, there is a fundamental failing and when the rock starts to crumble, support has to be brought in.
So in this current wave of football austerity in Liverpool, perhaps a new goalkeeper might prove a much sounder investment for the team than an expensive forward.
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No.1 priority: Sack BR before new year!
no 1 priority – get FSG out , they cant or wont invest whats needed , they must move out and let someone else have opportunity
not fair on reina . goalkeepers dont reach their best till mid 30s . reina will rediscover his form and get better . my only fear is he wont want to stay with a team thats not near the top every year
thank you,mate just exactly what our club need now.new goodkeeper to bench renia not even competative keeper.
Where are you Simon and LFCkeano? Sure you’d love to get in on some of Red and StevieG’s action here! They’re singing your tune!
If that doesn’t get them wound up…..
im here , as a season ticket holder for 3 years and someone whose life revolves around LFC , i have a right to voice discontent . the money and time i give up – only to see it go to rich yanks and not on players ! i also go to 3 or 4 away games and buy lots of merchandise for my kids , even my business is affected by those yanks – my B+B suffered by LFC not being in europe last year and only in europa league .
when things are going badly , dont you think the fans have the right to say ‘no this is not right ‘ and maybe by joining together – forcing unwelcome owners out . this is my and every other fans club , not the fools from FSG .
the mood is changing , more and more on the terraces are voicing disapproval , more at the supporters club are standing up like me trying to change things . the clock is ticking on FSG .
it must be so nice as a armchair fan from across the water to sit there with your casual interest and just accept everything happily – come what may . you sir is what i would call – a blinkered fool .
hell yeah , you tell him simon
Sorry to hear your B&B suffered last year but you can hardly blame that on FSG as the qualifications for last years tournaments were primarily during H&G who, I will readily admit, were the worst of Americans, put in place by the owners who sold LFC down the river when they sold to H&G. Things must be looking better as the Europa games seem to be selling out Anfield just as a CL game would.
You are lucky to be a season ticket holder, get to see LFC at Anfield, don’t ever forget it. This ‘armchair fan’ as you call me had to drive about 8 hours each way just so my son and I could see a preseason match in Boston (we both shed a tear when we actually got to sing YNWA with a stadium full of LFC fans in the LFC fan section). I get to get up at 6:30 in the morning sometimes so I can have coffee ready to sit and watch a match live, when it’s broadcast live. Other days I have to avoid seeing the scores posted anywhere until the delayed broadcast is shown. Am I happy that LFC isn’t currently near the top of the table, no. Am I happy that the current owners and management screwed the pooch at the end of the summer transfer window, no. I would have been proud, as an American, to see Dempsey playing for the Reds. Do I think that stability is needed at both the ownership and management level in order for LFC to improve, absolutely. Whether the owners are the current Americans or whoever the owners might be, stability is needed. All the successful teams have stable managers or stable ownership, even the Russian oligarch is going to have been at Chelski for 10 years soon.
I’ve only been an LFC fan for about 8 years now, became one as Prem games were first being broadcast over here and my son and I knew we had to pick a team to route for. One of the boys I was coaching on showed up in full LFC kits and his Mum had an (scouse) accent I noticed. She introduced herself as I was coaching the boys (4 and 5 year olds)and asked if I followed the Prem, said I might know her cousin, Steven Gerrard. From then on we were Liverpool fans. I’m now coaching my sons travel soccer team with my best friend who is also from Liverpool, he played pro over there and in Europe.
I may cheer from across the ocean but I am far from just an armchair fan. Unfortunately for me, airfare for my family would probably cost me what you paid for your season tickets. Yes I am jealous but I refuse to not believe that we are on the right course. It won’t happen overnight, and bad times may happen here and there but I think we are headed in the right direction. Next milestone will be where we sit in the table at mid-season and how we are faring in the Cup competitions. I believe we will at least be in the top 10 and maybe even as high as 6th if we keep progressing (and start scoring some goals!!)
ok fair enough its unfair to say you are just a armchair fan . we will have to agree to disagree , but things are not like they are in the U.S . money talks in the premier . no big money – no success . i dont see the point in stability – the size liverpool are , they will always be ok . stability is just wasting time . we have to have wealthy and willing investors now . the more time goes by without , the further the top teams go away from us on the pitch and off it . the clock is ticking .
under FSG yes stability , but mediocrity and no success . i would rather take a chance on new owners
yes people have a right to complain , especially ones that are alot more effected by the situation than you
What a pair of tools give Rogers a chance they have fsg invested money 35 carrol 20 downing they can’t be blamed for these poor decisions
FSG have spent damn all . 35m for carroll was torres money . they spent 10m net this summer and left squad weak and threadbare . and then hired an unproven young manager and give him no money .
get your facts right
Why cant they be blamed, they appointed the Man who made those poor decisions.
very true , anyone who authorises 35m on carroll ,20m on downing , 16m on henderson and even 11m on borini , needs to be lobotimized
the net spend on transfers under FSG is less than 22m , they are saving half a million per week on wages because of their cutbacks . they have spent nearly nothing while still selling a lot of shirts and increasing sponsorship money .
who is going to pay for the larger stadium ? not FSG – thats for sure . liverpool already years behind the top 5 , will have even less to spend in the coming years
we need new owners for sure , anfield is starting to become anti-american already , if they stay it will get worse , which wont be good for the atmosphere around the place
please please please get FSG OUT and rodgers
yes FSG go please
USA out . i cant even buy a kit this year cos warrior hve made them horrible