John Aldridge summed up my feelings perfectly about the current central midfield situation at Liverpool. He said in the Liverpool Echo:
“I’ve seen the midfield axis of Lucas and Christian Poulsen twice now and I don’t think it is working – they are far too similar. Pairing them together from the start, though, suggested Roy Hodgson was happy to settle for a point (against Birmingham) or, perhaps, pinch it; if we can build on the result all well and good but, if we are so negative again at Old Trafford next Sunday, you would have to be worried.”
It is my belief, with the return of Joe Cole from suspension and the arrival of Raul Meireles, that in all future matches either one or the other plays, but never again both. In fact in some home matches, it would be advisable to play neither for Meireles and Gerrard are combative enough to play in central midfield while Cole plays behind Torres.
Creativity is of central importance to all football teams, and it is something we have struggled with in the opening matches of the season. I agree with Roy Hodgson that a solid defensive base is essential, especially in away matches, but the option to start both Poulsen and Lucas not only hinders the opposition as an attacking threat, it also nullifies the threat that us ourselves pose going forward. Without going into the merits of either player, Lucas and Poulsen are what they are, defensive midfielders; if they are instructed to play the holding role they will do exactly that and will not venture forward and pull the strings in midfield. The consequence of this was plain to see on Sunday when Gerrard and Torres were completely isolated further up field.
If Gerrard is to play the position behind Torres, he needs service. It is something he used to get from Xabi Alonso and it is something he has said in past interviews he has missed. Meireles arrival should negate this problem, and although not quite the same to Alonso in style, he can certainly pass the ball in central midfield. The return of Joe Cole could also mean Gerrard moves back into central midfield to pull the strings; something which would also solve the supply problems to Torres up front.
Against Birmingham of course these options were not open to Roy, and in this respect the selection of both Lucas and Poulsen does appear to be enforced. That’s only of course if Roy insists on playing 4-5-1. There was a big case on Sunday for keeping Gerrard in central midfield alongside either Poulsen or Lucas and putting another striker alongside Fernando Torres. The reversion to playing Gerrard in midfield for the last 15 minutes suggest that this could have worked although it would have been a risk. Remember Hodgson played 4-4-2 away at Manchester City and lost 3-0. If he lost by playing more offensively he would be criticised as well and in this sense he was damned both ways.
In any case, the availability of important creative midfielders such as Cole and Meireles will hopefully usher in a more attractive style than the static and sterile play which underpinned the games that both Poulsen and Lucas have started in. Reds fans are longing for a time when our team can play some good football and are not satisfied with draws away to good but far from spectacular teams like Birmingham City. Time will tell if anything will change in the coming weeks and months.
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This has to be the worst Liverpool team ever. The players esp torres looks highly demotivated!! Whatever happened!!! Lucas & Poulsen …WOW! Roy should be thinking that Alex Ferguson will shiver on the thought of such lethal combination. Which other team in the league could pride on such a combination which gets even a simple pass miscued to the opponent. They are so so unpredictable!!! Ferguson and Man Utd will be very scared indeed!!! Wake up Roy … Last season we were cursing Lucas and now we have 2 Lucases!!!
………….. reina…………….
……skertel………….agger……
johnson……..mirales…….kocesky.
…….ruiz….gerrard….cole…….
……..torres………babel………
this is anfield…..
cole & ruiz are superb crosser and controller
babel & torres only pick the ball and shoot
gerrerd only control the game.he`s maestro on field.. shoot,hit,rush,pass
johnson & kocesky only wide, cross & deffend..
mirales.. the general off attacking & deffending.. tackle & hit..
skertel & agger.. last deffending .. stay and read the enemy`s game..
lucas & poulsen .. banch only.. ready for injury
iff we go with old system… its better we keep rafa to manage the team.. iff we want to see a new reaction.. better we do like this…
Hodgson needs to sell LUCAS To Inter Or Palermos for £7-£9m.
And then he needs to bring in Lassana Diarra Of Real Madrid Or to bring back Momo Sissoko Of Juventus for £8-£10m to come and protect the back 4.
As LUCAS AND POULSEN look vulnerable and exposed and both of them are not mobile, Then if L Diarra Or M Sissoko is brought in, they should play alongside Meireless in the centre of the park.
And then Poulsen could be L Diarra’s Or M Sissoko’s Understudy as we need a world class holding midfielder.
In 2008/2009 we had Alonso and Mascherano and we finshed 2nd, in 2009/2010 we had LUCAS and Mascherano and Finished 7th.
Poulsen is not in the calibre of Mascherano and Lucas offers the club nothing, so The Lassana Diarra or Momo Sissoko need to brought to the club in January.
As Poulsen and Lucas are dreadful and offer no protection to the back 4 or any creativity in the middle of the park!!!!!!!!
I think the problem on Sunday was we had no width whatsover, dont get me wrong lucas and poulsen dont inspire me with great creativity and look about as ordinary as as toilet seat but Jova and Maxi on Sunday just didnt look right to me……hmmm maybe because they are not fcuking wingers. Meireles looked promising though, think he will be good to watch this season.
I think until Kuyt is back we should start Reina-Carragher-Skrtel-Agger-Konchesky-Poulsen-Johnson-Meiereles-Gerrard-Cole-Torres I think this team is solid defensivley and good going forward Poulsen could sit just in front of the back 4 and with Carragher at right back it would allow Johnson to push forward and add some pace and creativity further up the field while also covering back for Carragher when needed, the rest of the back 4 is solid with Skrtel,Agger and Konchesky and 1 holding midfielder in Poulsen can provide adaquate defensive cover ahead of that we would have a lot of creativity from central midfield up to and behind the centre forwad with Gerrard and Meireles and neither of these two are shy of putting a foot in if needs be then Cole cutting in from the left as Jovanovic has not impressed so far and he can unlock any defence and rounded off with Nando up front, I just hope in January Roy has some funds to add creative, pacey and skilfull players, I would love to see us sell Aquilani£13.5m,Insua£4.5,Degen£1.5m,El Zhar£1m,Ayala£2m on permanent deals as all are on loan and have options to buy we may as well get some money to put into our currently lacklustre squad I would also sell Krygiakos£3m,Babel£9m,Itandje£1m,Lucas£7m,Rodriguez£5m if we sell these players we could replace them with better versions i.e. Babel out Ashley Young£18m in, Rodriguez out Keisuke Honda£12m in,Lucas out Ever Banega or Lassana Diarra£10m in,Krygiakos out Gary Cahill£12m in {this one is not essential but we need a defender in the mould of Hyypia or Hangeland and with Carragher nearing the end of his career probably only another year maybe 2 starting and Kelly and Wilson still 18 and 20 I would like to see a good English centre half fill the void}, and finally Crouch,Keane,Bellamy out a new striker in , we have needed a good second striker for at least 2 years and every transfer window seems to go by with a lot of talk of a new striker and none actually coming in so last but not least a new striker not sure who though yet
Just rid us of Lucas, take whatever we can for him or put him on a ‘free’ anything. Poulsons’ had his day, may be ok as backup, Raul & stevie in centre to get us going, please Woy, we don’t want to see, or want two holding midfielders, unless we’re one up in injury time in the champs league final.
lucas is such a negative player that he only knows to pass backwards. We should get rid of him the first chance we get.
aquilani should be brought back from loan as he is a very skilfull player. At least his passes are more accurate and he has great ball skill. We seem to be riverting to the days of benitez when good players Are being sold.
lucas has a good spirit atleast he’s playing but why week in week out is a question i think he should be back up to the pair gerrard-mereiles in central midfield and joe cole in a more advance position now to get width we need player like babbel on the pitch i guess the manager sees that another way and it’s one of the rare occasion i’ve seen someone say we actually need aquilani back thumb up dude…
poulsen should be kept for cup ties.
Our team actually lack creativity and offense the main prob is to find the appropriate combo with the players we got since we got a pretty good squad.
And give those youngsters a chance to prove something stop that thing about getting players in their 30’s
I welcome back Akash as well. Refreshing, even if I don’t know what he’s talking about. Johnson on the wing/midfield been mentioned before and the idea was slated
LFCDIEHARD. good one – we do need to be more offensive. doesn’t matter what we think of the players we’ve got – nothing can be done until next year. Thnk you’re right about needing the right attacking combinaton
sell both of them and get arda turan and milevskiy.
sell lucas,,, he suck.pulsen too old,, better eva benega.RH..f u goin play lucas,, u will spoil confident of the fans///. sell lucas buy new cdm. pacheco better 100times than him.even pcheco is new in livpool team…..
Poulsen is much better than Lucas. We don’t want 2010-2011 the same as 2009-2010. SELL LUCAS NOW, I MEAN NOW