IN the final part of how the individual Liverpool FC units performed last season, we look at how our attackers did in 2012/13; rating their individual performances and ponder solutions to potential problems going forward.
Philippe Coutinho – What were Inter Milan thinking? It’s not very often that £8m buys you a potentially world class footballer these days but so far it looks like Liverpool may have done just that.
Despite his slight frame and a lack of game time at Inter, Coutinho took to the Premier League like a duck to water. His dribbling has bamboozled numerous defenders already and his passing is as accurate as it is beautifully nonchalant. Assists galore and three goals since his January arrival have seen the Kop take the Brazilian number 10 to their hearts.
The most exciting thing is that Coutinho should only get better as he becomes more acquainted with his team-mates and life in England. All he needs now is a decent song. B+
Stewart Downing – Much improved but still short of what is required if Liverpool are to force their way back into the Champions League. To be fair to Downing he has taken the criticism (from his manager as well as frustrated fans) on the chin and come back fighting.
After being overlooked in favour of Raheem Sterling during the early stages of last season, Downing forced his way back into the team. His performances were much more committed than in his debut season and in reality he did a decent job down Liverpool’s right flank. The problem is that he rarely exceeds that ‘decent’ level. Liverpool need more thrust and creativity in attacking areas and Downing, for all his attributes and commendable attitude, just isn’t the man to provide it.
As a squad player he could have a future, but given his reported high wages and the ludicrous £20m transfer fee paid for his services, one would expect him to be moved on. C
Oussama Assaidi – The invisible man. One exciting display at the Hawthorns in the Carling Cup aside, the Moroccan has barely figured for the Reds and looks certain to leave the club. N/A
Raheem Sterling – A season of two halves for the youngster who was winning plaudits left right and centre during the early months of the campaign. His fearless dribbling and speed were offset with a surprisingly mature approach to the game.
Where youngsters often come in to first team football and look raw, Sterling’s game was often very sensible. His decision making was far advanced of his tender years. A mid-season dip in form and a few niggles (injuries and a court case) meant that the second half of the season was a virtual non event for the winger but his talent is obvious.
The fact that Liverpool relied so heavily on him at the start of the season was not ideal but the way he responded was encouraging. Hopefully bigger things to come. B-
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Suso – Like Sterling and Shelvey, his game time was dramatically reduced as the season wore on. He did a good job operating on the right of Liverpool’s front three (not his preferred role) when Liverpool’s options were limited but since the arrival of Coutinho and Sturridge, Suso hasn’t had many opportunities to shine. Has some magic in his boots and his future looks bright but a loan move is probably required at this stage in his development. C
Luis Suarez – A spellbinding season. Goals, skills, nutmegs, determination, biting, what could you ask for? Suarez is box office and the best thing about watching Liverpool these days. Talk of his departure is disturbing for Liverpool supporters.
30 times he struck the back of the net for the Reds last season but his improved finishing was merely one of many reasons he is so sought after. Some of his tricks and flicks were scarcely believable and his attitude on the pitch in terms of effort and devotion to the cause was second to none. It’s not so long ago that he was being described as a wasteful player who didn’t have enough end product in his game, but now the only criticism anyone can make of him is his propensity to lose his head.
A joy to watch and Liverpool’s player of the season by a country mile. Liverpool must do all that they can to keep him as his talent is almost irreplaceable. A
Daniel Sturridge – A very encouraging start to his Liverpool career. 11 goals and 5 assists in just 16 appearances is not to be sniffed at, especially as he has demonstrated that he can score against top class opposition numerous times already.
His pace and direct approach have undoubtedly added a cutting edge to Liverpool’s game that was sorely lacking in the first half of last season and helped with the side’s ability to counter attack effectively. The only negative is that when he isn’t at his blistering best he can go missing in games and he will need to add more consistency next term.
Overall though a very good half season that has left many Reds rueing the fact that he wasn’t signed 6 months earlier. B+
Fabio Borini – His debut season was interrupted by injuries and he figured mainly from wide areas for Brendan Rodgers which didn’t seem to suit him particularly well.
His performances have not inspired much confidence so far but he deserves to be given another season before judgement is passed. His work ethic and movement is encouraging but his technique and scoring touch need improvement if he is to become a regular for the Reds. D
Do you agree with my ratings? Tell us below…
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yes,that is it.
First and foremost : I think that the sale of these dead wood average hard working players still is needed: 1: GK: B Jones 2:RB: Flanagan 3:CB: Coates 4:DM: Spearing 5: AM: Pacheco 6: RW / RWF: Assaidi 7: LW / LWF: Downing 8: AM: Shelvey 9: FD: Borini
I think B rodgers could raise £ £25-£30M selling those Dead wood average hard working players still at club.
And P Reina will either Join Barcelona, Arsenal Or move to Napoli for £10-£12M
If that is the case there will be £35-£42M to bring in 5 defensive players:
1: GK: To compete with Mignolet: A Mccarthy(23) Of Reading for £4-£7M
2: CB: K Papadopoulos(21) Of Schalke for £10-£15M to compete with Skrtel
3: CB: M Sakho(23) Of PSG for £10-£12M to compete with Agger and Toure
4: LB: A Cissokho(25) Of Valencia for £4-£6M to compete with Enrique
5: DM: E Capoue(24) Of Toulouse for £7-£10M to compete with Lucas
Then owners and B Rodgers should stand firm and should only sell Suarez for £55 to £65M
As suarez is currently the third best player in world at moment and Neymar cost Barcelona £61m and Real Madrid have offered £65M plus as their first offer.
And Suarez is better than both of them, so he should not be sold for no less than £55M
But if Bayern Munich, PSG, Real Madrid Or Manchester City meet that Valuation then he should be shipped out and replaced with these 5 attacking players, but owners would have to add £8m to money brought in from Suarez sale:
1: FD: C Benteke(21) Of A Villa for £18-£22M
2: FD: L Muriel(23) Of Udinese for £10-£14M
3: RW / RWF: Nolito(26) Of Benfica for £3-£6M
4: LW /LWF: D Capel (25) Of Sporting Clube De Portugal / Lisbon for £3-£7M
5: AM: I Munian(20) Of A Bilbao for £10-£14M
These five attacking players would cost club: £43-£64M
They would bring more class, quality, quality competition for places, creativity, depth, goals, mobility, movement, pace and speed to the squad.
Then with the 9 dead wood average hard working players sold and shipped out and our two world class players who seem to want out also sold, that would mean 11 players would have been shipped out.
And then the 10 players i have mentioned should be brought in:
With that said , we would have two strong line ups for the premier league, Fa Cup and Carling Cup this season: And squad would have more class, creativity, goals, quality, quality competition for places, mobility, , power, pace, speed and Steel within the squad.
And this would be the Premier league first 11:
Mignolet
Johnson Skrtel Agger Enrique
Lucas Gerrard
Coutinho
Nolitto Benteke Capel
FA Cup and Carling Cup first 11:
Mccarthy
Kelly Toure Papadopolous Cissokho
Allen Capoue
Alberto
Munian Sturridge Aspas
Both teams have solid Goal keepers, Solid defense, Good solid attacking fullbacks Good ball winner in centre of park/ defensive midfielder, Good creativity in middle of park and in attack both teams have mobility, pace and speed.
pls let pass it foward to the liverpool management.cos we need better players to aim top4
Only works when playing Fifa or FM.
Ibrahim, Its not fifa or game. Its facts and truth, Our club can no longer spend £25M on a player and justify it.
As we are no longer a champions league club and if any champions league club go for the same players we are after they are more likely to land the player.
I have said for 4 years now Liverpool should have gone all out and brought J Navas and D Capel both to Anfield, But most clowns who don’t know about football where saying who the hell are they.
Navas had that chronic homesickness problem that he has had to deal with most of his life or he would have been a huge part of the spain national team for last 4 years only the last two years he has come through his homesickness and now the world is getting to see what a player he is, Navas will cause some serious damage to any full back in world football. He was the quickest playerr in spain for last 5 years and even though he has had some serious injuries over last two seasons. Man City have got themselves one hell of a player.
Navas terrorised every full back in spain on his day and so did Capel,
The attacking players i have mentioned would change whole dimension of squad: Our squad lacks pace, speed in the attack: When Sturridge and Sterling are not both in the starting 11 we lack real penetration and struggle to stretch teams.
Nolito(26) Of Benfica is pacey, quick and direct and is ex barcelna player with experience, Benfica no longer want him and he is available for £3-£6M
Capel(25) Of Sporting Clube De Portugal/ Lisbon is a quick, speedy left footed skillful winger with good energy and holds good width and has good class, quality delivery. he is also currently Available for £4-£7M
Both of these wingers are faster, quicker, more direct and better players than any of the wingers we currently have in first team squad. These two wingers fully fit and injury free would stretch any team in world football
Both these players would cost club £7-£13M so less than what club paid for Allen, Downing and Henderson individually . But these two wingers would offer club a pace, speed, width, class and quality that we have lacked for over a decade since the MCmanaman and Mcateer Era.
I Munian(20) Of A Bilbao , two years ago when A Bilbao were doing well and a force Munian was shining along with Llorente, Susaeta in Europe and was terrorizing teams all over Europe, in last season and half he has been quite but just Like Coutinho has all the class, quality attributes to be a success in England. And our club could bring him to club for £10-£14M
So instead of bringing in one player for £25-£27M
Our club could bring in three more spanish stars for now and future of club who will take club to the next level:
In Capel, Munian and Nolitto, There is class, creativity, entertainment, goals, Hunger, mobility, quality, pace, potential and speed.
Before you say Fifa or Football Manager stupidness , look at what wingers we have in our first team squad vs the teams we are competing against for league or top 4 what they have at their disposal for course of season and then its blatantly easy to see why we are now a top 6-10 team.
United have Nani, Young and Valencia.
City have Silva, Nasri, Milner, Sinclair
Chelsea have Hazard, Marin, Moses and Oscar
Arsenal Have Chamberlain, Gervinho, Walcott, Cazorla
Tottenham have Bale, Dempsey, Lennon, Townsend and Sigurdsson
We have Assaidi, Borini, Suso, Sterling and Downing
I don’t mean we don’t want those players or that they wont exactly achieve or bring to the squad what you are claiming. The fact is the likes of Sturidge, Papa, Capoue, even Cissokho will not want to play second fiddle and be the main guys for carling cup etc. These guys would want first team prem football – we can a talk around rotation etc, but if they are not getting enough game time in game they feel they should be playing with the world cup coming and placing up for grabs they would want our early most especially when we don’t have the attraction of CL football.
Ibrahim, its about competiton, If Cissokho, Papadopolous, Capoue come in, then the likes of Enique, Skrtel and Lucas will perform week in week out to their best potential and in all honesty. I think there are certain games in the premiership where Papa and Capoue would be better in playing than Skrtel and Lucas during the course of the season if we got them this summer.
Capoue is mobile quick powerful tough tackling defensive midfielder: So against the likes of Yaya Toure, Diaby, Dembele, M Sissoko, Diame, Mulumbu, Tiote and Fernandinho , if we had Capoue , then in games against strong powerful mobile athletic centre midfielders the Capoue i think would offer the club better protection than Lucas against players in that Mould.
And i think we need a defensive enforcer in the Mascherano/Momo Sissoko role back at the club and the three best at that role in world football now apart from Busquets Of Barcelona and J Martinez Of Bayern Munich are , B Matuidi(26) Of PSG, M’Villa(23) Of FC Rubin Kazan and E Capoue(23) Of Toulouse
No way Coutinho & Sturridge can be rated same. When you look at PC, the first thing comes to mind is class – the first touch, the body positioning, the movements, the vision & the shooting – everything tells that this man can be another Brazilian great. He resembles so much with Rivaldo, Ronaldinho & Kaka that there must be something seriously wrong in Inter’s assessment. If this guy fulfills his potential & keep himself healthy, he ‘ll be a 35mn+ player in 3/4 years time. A for me.
He might be desperate for going to Real (or leave LFC) & might have overdone to cross the boundary, but no denying that Luis Suarez was the best player in EPL last year. Not many players win the golden ball (best player) & boot (highest scorer) in a single year, but had he kept himself out of trouble, probably would have won both. He pulled LFC almost single handed in the first half of season & had we got a better collection of players at the start, Suarez would have taken us to Europe. I don’t blame him for such desperation to leave (after the Zenith match, he was completely dejected, gave everything that a player can & still end up eliminated; he knew that was the maximum capacity of his colleagues). A cool A+ for me.
Downing is D & Suso can’t be lower than Starling (Or Starling can’t be higher than Suso).
Rest is fine.
All we need for now is henrik mkhitaryan
Downing gave the team balance forwards the end, he still plays with the fear of failing but I would actually give him more credit.
I feel for Coutinho, he played well and there is suddenly this hysteria.he also went missing in games, and I could name a team of players who have played well for half a season and then disappeared into obscurity. His mentality was questionable at inter. Lets weigh up all the elements and hope he continues to shine, rather than just assume mega stardom.
Denis D maybe should write to the scouting team.
Diable, in all honesty apart from at Right Full back, there is no real class, quality competition for places in the first team.
The two manchester clubs, Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton and Tottenham have all had better squads than us for the last three seasons and are all strengthening year by year like we are.
in Rodgers reign he has shipped out 12 players , 11 permanent and 1 loan player (Adams, Aquilani, Aurelio, Bellamy, Carroll, Cole, Doni, Kuyt, Ngoo, Rodriguez, Spearing and Wilson.
So thats 12 players were taken off wage bill and only replaced 12 with 5 players:
Allen, Assaidi, Borini, Coutinho and Sturridge, Out of the 5, Three of them are justified Liverpool players and have shown enough class and quality to suceed and give us fans hope for future. ( Allen, Coutinho and Sturridge)
But two of the players have been comical and are dead wood average hard working players who should be shipped out this summer. (Assaidi and Borini)
We have been linked with that Mkhitryan for a mth and half and now Dortmund and Tottenham are sniffing around him and Shakhtar Donesk want from £25M onwards for him.
Instead of spending £25-£27M on one class quality player( Mkhitryan), Rodgers should spend £27M on three class quality attacking players who will bring more class, creativity, excitement,goals, quality, quality competition, mobility, pace and speed to attack.
These three players instead of Mkhitrayan at £25-£27M
1: AM: I Munian(20) Of A Bilbao for £10-£14M
2: RW / RWF: Nolitto(26) Of Benfica for £3-£6M
3: LW / LWF: Capel(25) Of Sporting Clube De Portugal / Lisbon for £4-£7M
I love my football and play and watch all types of football, predominatley Premiership, La Liga and Italian for last five to ten years.
And i have said for last 3-4 years that our club should have brought in Jesus Navas of Seville and D Capel when he was also Seville, Both wingers used to terrorize the best full backs in la liga and teams in La Liga. Both are pacey, quick direct skill full and love getting full back one vs one.
One thing our club has lacked for over decade is some genuinely quick pacey skillful wide men who play consistantly well over course of season and regularly stretch teams at will, the last time our club had genuine class and quality consistantly was during the Mcmanaman and MCateer Era.
Capel and Nolitto are both Ex Barcelona Youth and Barcelona players, Both players have pace and speed to burn with class and quality both have goals in their locker and both of them have points to prove. Both players are experienced players who would stretch any team in world football.
And if Rodgers brought in Caoel, Munian and Nolitto, there are three class quality spanish players who have the class and quality to make a claim in the spanish team and as its world cup year, then they would have everything to play for and would be very dangerous players to have at our disposal.
Suarez keeps harping on that he wants to go, i think me and most fans never wanted to see the guy go but after all the madness and stupidness he has done in last two seasons and the club, manager and fans have stuck by him for him to act the way he has is an utter disgrace and shows the guy has no morals or loyalties and the CLUB is bigger than any PLAYER. And as long as Real Madrid or whoever Pay £55M to £65m FOR WHAT HE IS Worth in current market then he can go.
And then If Suarez went for £55-£65M,
If Rodgers replaced him with these 2 Forwards a long with Capel, Munian and Nolitto:
1: FD: C Benteke (21) Of A Villa for £17-£22M Would bring in 15-25 goals a season
2: FD: L Muriel(23) Of Udinese for £10-£14M Would bring in 8-15 goals a season
And in Capel, Munian and Nolitto that would create and bring in at least 12-20 goals a season
Add Sturridge’s 10- 20 goals a season, Aspas 5-10 goals, Coutinho’s 5-8 goals, Gerarrd’s 5-8 goals a season
Those five players of Benteke, Capel, Munian, Muriel and Nolitto would bring 35-60 goals to Squad.
Along with the 25-46 goals a season Aspas, Coutinho, Gerrard and Sturridge will bring to the squad and side.
Thank God you don’t own the club. Dream on mate
ProFlanky , you know nothing about football that is why you say stupidness.
while Man City have brought in Fernandinho for £34M and Navas for £17M, we need to spend £51M on 4 to 5 players as our squad is so far behind the two Manchester clubs, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham.
Its not about dreaming on, in world football if you don’t spend well you get left behind, Do you think Barcelona, Bayern Munich,Man City, PSG, Real Madrid would be where they are today without the millions they have spent on transfers in last two to four seasons.
We need squad needs some drastic surgery needed to it
And its not about dreaming on, the players i have mentioned are all available for good realistic prices and they would all drastically improve the squad.
If you knew anything about football, your forgetting two seasons ago King K Dalglish wasted £83M on Adams, Caroll, Downing and Henderson.
All average dead wood hard working players who are worth less than half of that figure now
Yet these 5 attacking players: would cost club £43-£64M and bring in alot more class, quality, mobility, pace, speed than Adams, Carroll, Downing and Henderson brought to club. Those 5 players would cost our club the equivalent of what chelsea spent on Hazard, Oscar and Ba.
1: AM: I Munian(20) Of A Bilbao for £10-£14M
2: RW / RWF: Nolitto(26) Of Benfica for £3-£6M
3: LW / LWF: D Capel (25) Of Sporting Clube De Portugal / Lisbon for £4-£7M
4: FD: C Benteke(21) Of A Villa for £16-£23M
5: FD: L Muriel(23) Of Udinesse for £10-£14M
60 – 106 goals before we even look at contributions from Johnson, Enrique, Agger, Skrtel, Sterling, Henderson, Borini, Downing etc etc.
I hope you’re right mate. Based on that we’ll score about 80 – 130 goals and win the PL.
How many goals did our wingers score during whole course if season? I don’t think it was even 10, so in Assaidi, Borini, Downing and Sterling. I doubt over whole course of season, between the 4 they did not score 10 goals.
In Capel, Munian, Nolitto i am sure they would score or create 12- 25 goals a season every season without fail.
In Benteke and Muriel club would get 23-40 goals a season.
These five players would cost the club £43-£64M,
Less than what club spent on Carroll, Downing and Henderson( £75M)
Yet the five players mentioned would create alot more goals and score alot more goals
Borini and Downing are two out of the nine dead wood average hardworking players who need to be shown the door this summer.
If we brought these five attackers to club:
we would have 4 good forwards: Aspas, Benteke, Muriel and Sturridge. (50-65 Goals from Just forwards)
We would have 4 good pacey quick wingers: Capel, IBE, Nolitto and Sterling (15-30 goals from wide men)
4 Good attacking midfielders: Alberto, Coutinho, Munian and Suso (12-20 goals from attacking midfielders)
Thats 77-115 goals from our attacking players if those five players i have mentioned are brought in to the club in the summer
Then Enrique, Johnson, Papadopolous and Skrtel would add 8-10 goals to the mix
And Allen, Gerrard and Henderson would add 3-8 goals to the mix over the course of season, scoring goals and not conceding many goals consistantly over the league wins leagues and trophies.
Our club needs more class, creativity, goals, mobility, pace and speed in attack:
Benteke21), Capel(25), Munian(20), Murie(23)l and Nolitto(26) would bring all those key traits to squad and the attack
Our club also needs more class, quality competition, power and steel in the side:
Papadopolous, Sakho, Cissokho and Capoue would all bring Athletism,Depth, Mobility, Pace, Power, Quality Competion for places, Speed and Strength to Squad.
Whereas Man City spent £34M on Fernandinho, Our Club should spend £34M on Capoue, Sakho and Papadopolous
Will have to take your word for it. I’ve haven’t seen many of them play…
Agree we need more class. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side though so to suggest that we’re going to get 3 world class players from foregn leagues for $34m is more about hope than anything else i would have thought.
They are three class quality players with the potential to be world class players in a few years. Capel, Munian and Nolito are three Spanish players who are in the Coutinho class and quality.
But all of them players have more pace and speed than Coutinho, even though Coutinho is quick over the mark but our club are desperately in need of mobilty, pace and speed in attack as when Sterling and Sturridge are both out of the starting 11 we have no penetration, no one to stretch teams and In Capel, Munian and Nolitto, there is class, creativity, goals, mobility, pace and speed. Something the squad is in desperate need of in attack
Give Coutinho an A.
Give Borini an F – he really was atrocious
Apart from them I agree with author
U all think all dat is best 4 d team we actually do nt need totall overhaul of our squard i seriously wish we’d b able 2 keep suarez n buy mkhatarian bt i would allow d scouting team n br do deir job as i v enuf faith in their jugdment n decisions…though criticize if u wnt
U all think u knw all dat is best 4 d team we actually do nt need totall overhaul of our squard i seriously wish we’d b able 2 keep suarez n buy mkhatarian bt i would allow d scouting team n br do deir job as i v enuf faith in their jugdment n decisions…though criticize if u wnt
Ratings r pretty much spot on. Could maybe look at an A for Sturridge. Was outstanding in becoming the fastest lfc payer to 10 goals in the history of the club. Couldn’t have asked for anything more from a player coming in mid year with no time to adapt.
Looking forward to seeing some more of borini. You can write off last year with the injuries. Will be a good player. Maybe not this year and maybe not necessarily with us but given the right environment and opportunity he will be good.
Ozred, there are so many excuses for players. Assaidi and Borini are simply not good enough for club, they were both at club longer than Coutinho and Sturridge but the difference was and is Coutinho and Sturridge had the class and quality to showcase their talent most of the time they played.
Whereas Assaidi showed glimpses of what he could do here and there and borini just looks like a headless chicken and rarely offers the team anything.
We need class quality success again soon, Assaidi and Borini are simply not good enough. Shelvey offers the club more class and quality than Borini and Assaidi and proved that over the course of the season but he will be shipped out this summer and so should assaidi and borini be shipped out
Fully agree
I couldn’t agree more. We need class. We got that with Coutinho in January. As far as a signing goes, you’d have to say that signing is as good as it gets – 20 year old comes in on the cheap and instantly puts in world class performances.
Sturridge was similar.
Having said that, it’s not always going to play out that way. Borini all of us have seen very little of came in as a 20 yo from Roma, played a small handful of games then got injured, came back, then got injured again. He had no time to get any sort of continuity at his new club and whether you like it or not, that shouldn’t be disregarded as a reason to why he didn’t set the world on fire. In saying that, i though he did show a bit at the end of the season and also demonstrated quality at the Euro U21’s.
I’m not saying he’s going to be a star, but he has tools to work with and i’m looking forward to seeing more of him this year. Note, i’m sure alot of people at Milan were saying similar things about Coutinho during his time there.
nice one though
And borini deserves a chance and assaidi to be shipped off. Why do I have the feeling you guys can’t deal with the fact that he’s an African? He was never given the chance to show what he’s got. So much that I have seen from this two I place more value on assaidi than I ever will on borini. You still got an idiot like downing and he’s given the chance more than assaidi? Pls someone compare those two wingers without partiality in your mind and swear if you won’t pick him ahead of the £20m idiot.
If we can add Henrik Mkh… or Christian Eriksen to the squad our attack would be great and with decent depth then all we need to do is sort out the defense. We have made some early signings, I think we will get at least two more through the door, a creative CM with an eye for goal and a CB. All other incoming transfers will depend on the players we can sell and we need to get rid of a few.
Jones
Pepe Reina (10+ mil – he is great but we he is not a back up keeper neither is Mignolet)
Speaing
Coates
Skrtel (only for 10+ mil)
Assaidi
Downing
Pacheco
Coad (loan)
Shelvey (loan)
Ibe (loan)
Suso (loan)
Flanagan (loan)
Robinson (loan)
Sama (loan)
Liverpool have failed to utilize the option of loaning out players that are not quite making the grade at LFC, but may have potential. Loaning them out gives them first team football, increases the perceived value of the player and if LFC still feels the player is not good enough they can sell. Also we have failed to utilize our link with affiliated clubs like Genk, missing out on Courtois, Bruyn and Benteke