The Derby conquest was good for the soul and an absolute pleasure to watch. Although it was a top level high skills game, the game was never in doubt when Lukaku left the pitch midway through the first half. When we look at results like this, it is easy to think that we have a team that is almost a lock for top four and a genuine contender for league champions.
Not so fast. Although Brendan Rodgers is suggesting that we can do without strengthening the side during the transfer window, that opinion does not survive close scrutiny.
Certainly Rodgers has the Reds believing in the value of team cohesion and preeminence, but the personnel complement is thin and a drop in form by a major player, a suspension, or a long term injury would put it all to the test.
Where Manchester United and Chelsea can each field more than two teams of first tier players, we can field one and a bit. Arsene Wenger can lose a top midfielder and have three more lined up for his spot; we lose a left back and have to improvise. They can sit players that would be indispensable to teams in the bottom half of the table. We have to plug holes with youngsters, the walking wounded and on loan marginals.
Johnson has been limping for a month, Robinson has been huge but is still a year or two away from being a solid starter, and Cissokoh has been a loan that has inspired little interest.
When you look closely it becomes obvious why Brendan is pushing the Three Musketeers philosophy of the game – he realizes that, at this point in the development of the team, quality of teamwork has to trump the quantity of talented players if the Reds are to fulfill his objective for this season: the Champions League.
That being said, Liverpool FC has a core of outstanding , world class players, from Suarez who is arguably the best in the world this season, to Gerrard, to Skrtel, to Henderson, to the entire first team (almost). We have a quartet of the league’s most promising youngsters in Sterling, Coutinho, Robinson, and Kelly.
But it takes more than 11 players to excel in today’s EPL. To begin with, it is unfair to ask the top players to play ninety plus minutes, game in game out. We saw the effect of this on Sterling last season as his form dropped sharply as the season wound down.
We have battle scarred veterans such as Gerrard and Toure who can use the occasional second half substitution (although they would never admit it). And everybody (except, it seems, Luis Suarez) has an off day when it is nice for the gaffer to look behind him to see a quality player strip down to jump into the breach.
The squad that currently takes to the field to form the red tide may very well be good enough to hold onto a top four place – perhaps even good enough to challenge for the title – but we are a long way from a sure bet. Brendan has the lads playing a game that is pleasing to the eye and the players are to be credited for truly professional performances. It should be an entertaining, though nerve wracking, second half of the season, whatever our final standing.
If the only measure of success is a top four this year, we are losing sight of the bigger picture. We want a team that continues to improve and year after year takes to the field with confidence rather than hope.
We want a team that inspires fear and doubt, where teams dread seeing us among their upcoming fixtures. But for now we are pleased with a team that is hard-working and entertaining, that gives us Derbies like this latest one and reason to weep with joy and pride at their sublime talents and commitment to playing for each other.
Are you listening Daniel?
We have taken advantage of Spurs & Manure’s backsliding this season for sure, no-one could have foreseen a reigning title winning side go mid-table practically overnight but we are where we are at present and i hope we at least minimum qualify fir CL. This however will be more due to the backsliding of others rather than by BR or FSG’s own design. The squad is clearly nowhere near good enough. M City have 4 top strikers – we have TWO, not good enough if you want to challenge on many fronts and cope with injuries & suspensions etc.
The list of poor acquisitions whether on loan or signed permanently don’t give you the feeling that our scouting and or transfer team know what they are doing .
Borini 12m , Allen 15m, Sahin 6m in loan fees and wages, Aspas 7m, Alberto 7m, Assaidi 3m , Illori 7m, Sakho 17 m , Cissokho 3m .Toure Total wasted 77m None of these players would get in any of the top 6 teams. If we had bought in three players at 25m each we would have significantly improved the first team and squad and kept some of the young players for games where they could play the likes of Souso, Coady, Wisdom etc… All of whom would give us more than the list of players above. I fear now after this transfer window we will finish in May around 6/7 in the PL and having just drawn Arsenal this makes it difficult to progress in the FA Cup . So where is our progress if we don’t invest in quality. Suarez off to pastures new and we still left with a YTS manager who says yes to the owners because he is so into himself and the status of being Liverpool Manager. I would have Benitez back like a shot as he knew what winning trophies was about and winning big games as well as being able to attract players .
Tactically BR is lacking as shown in games at Hull where having been bullish the night before we lose ,Swansea Away in front and draw and Newcastle Away same , Chelsea in front a and lose and City as well as at home to Southampton and Villa. We should have taken at least 7 to 3 more points from these games if we had known when to shut up shop like Chelsea .
He seems to accept mediocrity easily and even with no Europe or Carling cup we are struggling because of poor acquisitions now and injuries to key players . The two decent signings in Sturridge and Coutinho are good players. which means our success rate in the transfer market is one in five we get right , this needs to improve dramatically. No team would struggle to look good going forward with SAS , Gerrard and Coutinho , but our midfield is woeful with no goals in it and our defence is struggling as we keep changing it every week. Toure is past it also. Considering what I have said it just shows how Suarez and to a lesser extent Sturridge and Gerrard have carried this team all season. Jury out on Mignolet. Not a patch on Pepe in his prime. Not sure where where will end up but YNWA .
Poor, innacurate, unnecessarily pessimistic analysis.
Poor lazy unintelligent unnecessary trolling from Joel
Good comment Chris
You just went full retard. Never go full retard!
That just about sums up my thoughts too Chris steward
At Christmas Tottenham were one point BETTER off than last year, same amount of games played. Hardly call that backsliding….. would you?
To re-cap; Arsenal improve, City improve, Chelsea improve, Tottenham improve, Everton improve & Liverpool improve keeping pace for the first time in years and that has had nothing to do with Rodgers?
Digger your extraordinary analysis just goes from strength to strength.
Yawn . The boring troll is still at it.
Sad Aaron has nothing in his life except trolling here all day
LOL! So if Spurs & Man U were having better seasons you think we would still be in the top 4? Dear me your reasoning is just unreal. We have been lucky they appointed Moyes and had recent injuries to RVP and Rooney. In fact i think BR should send Fergie a bottle of champagne for choosing Moyes as his successor! Its given BR his biggest ‘get out of jail’ card in recent LFC managers history. You have got to be brainless if you cannot see Manures backsliding. This time you really make yourself look a proper dimwit!
I think. Suarez missed some of our first games and Sturridge missed eight (i think it’s 8) recently, does that nullify your Rooney&RVP spiel. Especially knowing they have back up, we don’t.
The more you talk Digger, the more I absolutely LOVE BENDAN RODGERS.
I simply liked him before but after reading your tripe….. A whole new level of admiration has been awakened. Maybe we could plant you as a ‘stooge ‘ on the opposing debating team, you do such a wonderful job of really showing the progress being made under BR, would be a shame to waste your beautiful talent.
More trolling from the boring idiot
Aaron has no friends and nothing better to do than write nonsense no one listens to .
Total idiot
Nobody cares what the boring troll has to say
Idiot
First team wise Liverpool are fantastic and could beat anybody but the second team is pretty average. Konoplyanka would make a huge difference and it would mean there would be a good player on the bench if he starts or not. Plus if top players in the summer see a Liverpool attack with Suarez Sturridge and Konoplyanka in it they’re more likely to want to be part of that. First thing Rodgers should buy in the summer is a quality dynamic midfielder. United could still sneak up on Liverpool this season especially cause we have to play them away. Chelsea stupidly helping them out with Mata just made me hate Chelsea even more which I didn’t think was possible.
I re-iterate BR has got to be the luckiest manager in decades at LFC to take advantage of
1.Fergies retirement
2.Moyes appointment
This has opened up a spot in the top 4 that never would have been there, surely any reasonably intelligent football fan can see that, even the dumb Aaron, or perhaps not….
But that spot became available to Everton&Spurs who were in the que first, IMPROVING on last year (lest we forget), so in essence, two positions have been leap-frogged by BR&co!!
My guess is that if your first theory doesn’t quite work out, try and re-shape it, when second fails you can always fall back on playground tactics, namely insults… It really is heart-warming to know the future of the Liverpool debating team is in safe hands, bravo Digger, bravo indeed.
So now two places have been made up, with such a thin squad as well, surely the way you go about your business is important?
Chris mentioned throwing some points away from winning positions which is fair enough, strange to not mention the points gained from positions we usually would not have gathered in years gone by…. Stoke away being the first that springs to mind.
So let me just get this straight, everyone else’s improvement is due to good leadership & squad reinvestment…our improvement is because we have been lucky?? Is that right, I’m not reading between the lines here am I Digger?
‘if’ you can answer that without an insult I’ll be amazed.
Yawn . Aaron boring everyone with his nonsense again.
Stop feeding the troll Diego , you are just lowering yourself to his standard
when i read to part about “…the 3 musketeers…” (all for one, one for all) daniel sturridge became the only thing in my mind…am glad u gave him a worthy mention….
I have also observed that the most common nd popular word on this site is “troll” and am sorry to use it on aaron…but i think you a dumb troll or a kid (am sorry to use it, if u are the later)
No worries Chuk… You minions aren’t that high in my estimations either.
Idiot . Still trolling
…. and I simply won’t stop ‘defending’ FSG/BR or as you guys call it….’trolling’ until I have reason to, not because some flimsy point you people make, holding the argument together with blue tac and insults.
You all use the word troll as if it has some significance, it has none, just feeds my alter-ego… Kopman… I’m here to rid this site of the. ‘original trolls’ counter the in-just, unqualified and ignorant posts of the ‘ stand up if you hate Rodgers ‘ campaigners.
Idiots. Not you troll hunter, I love you x
boring troll aaron . No one cares what you think
Idiot
If rodgers hadn’t bought total and utter rubbish , we would have a fine big squad . FFS we have more deadwood now than ever b4
Why not be constructing on kop matters rather than making infuriating comments? Let’s show decipline guys!
I mean constructive.
The insufferable bore Aaron strikes again, this time he claims ‘good squad reinvestment’ when only 2 of BR’s signings have established themselves in the first eleven, Studge & Coutinho. Mig is no better than Reina, Sakho no better than Agger, Moses worse than Sterling, Ilori worse than Wisdom etc etc etc…. Cissokho worse than Enrique, Jonjo/Adam better than Alberto. Everyone better than Allen!
I think you’re having trouble reading now. I said OTHER TEAMS REINVESTMENT. Then ASKED you the question what other than luck is the reason for our improvement, that’s why there were question marks, after my QUESTION?? If this is too hard for you Digger, stop.
Troll . Boring fool. Idiot
NO ONE IS INTERESTED IN YOUR BORING QUESTIONS
Yep , another comments page ruined by the resident troll aaron . He is just seeking attention ,ya all should ignore really .
So let me get this straight Martin.. 99% of comments are negative, my bubbles of Sunshine are the ones that are ruinung the page.
There is something wrong with you people, seriously wrong!
The site should change it’s name to suit the mood of you people. Change Live4Liverpool to LiverpoolCommentsofDeath.
Lighten up everyone FFS, best Prem season in years and all you can do is focus on some kinda non proved black plague hanging over Anfield. Jesus Christ, what you guys must hae written when the financial crisis was at it’s worst doesn’t bare thinking about.
I’m gonna continue speaking positively, even if we lose, if you can’t handle it, find another site.
Ha ha ha ha hs haaaaaaaa
Yet again , Aaron makes a total t!t out of himself . Trying to talk to people who don’t want to talk to him
Martin is right , aaron is a sad kid looking for attention. What he says is rubbish so the only way he gets attention is by being the site troll
FFS grow up.
Idiot troll aaron back for more mindless trolling
Thank you all for your comments so far – at least those of you who make comments and don’t just use the comments section to have little girly fights. 🙂
actually i luv aaron’s comments,sounds like a guy with an able brain above his shoulders
Football: The game, as the name (clue) suggests, is primarily played with the feet and a ball.
Did I get the ‘clue’ right Jack?
I hope I have proved your knowledge of me to be of unsound merit Jack. Now I have shown I ‘ have a clue ‘ can I join you’re gang?
Actually, hold up…..before I join, you’re not the same Jack who argued Keane & Aquilani were of similar quality to Juan Mata are you? Nah can’t be, no one would be that stooopid, JACK?
If you are, its strange you comment on my lack of knowledge about the game.