Just trying to continue discussion here. All of these series are cut- n-pasted:
Loss of Alonso
I applaud Benítez’s belief in Alberto Aquilani. I respect that he went for a player for the long-term, and that the club were advised he’d be fit sooner than transpired. In the meantime, not only was Alonso no longer present, but Aquilani wasn’t, either. And then nor was Gerrard.
I think it was a valid gamble to try and last till September (when the Italian was supposed to be fit, according to a world-renowned ankle expert), with Gerrard partnering Mascherano or Lucas. But the gamble backfired.
However, a manager has to get in the right player, and if Aquilani is the class act Rafa feels him to be, then we just have to get on with it. And ultimately, any player, be it a different signing or even Xabi Alonso, could end up missing three months of the season.
As a result of Alonso’s departure and the issues with Aquilani and then Gerrard, the balance of the side hasn’t been quite right, especially with the exciting addition of Johnson changing the emphasis of attack – but teams don’t just come together like clockwork. I’ve noted for many years that changing one component can throw out another; then you have to make tweaks.
In games against Chelsea, Man United and away at Lyon, Mascherano and Lucas have been excellent. But of course they lack a little creative edge when the onus is on them to pick teams apart. People talk as if they are the manager’s ideal partnership.
The aim was never to rely solely on them, but Gerrard’s injury on top of Aquilani’s has limited the manager’s options. So it’s not an ideal combination, and one that has seen mixed results.
However, Lucas’ form in the past few games has been excellent, and the lad must have massive cojones to deal with the abuse and come through the other side. However, his greatest failings seem to be that he is neither a stereotypical Brazilian, nor Xabi Alonso. (Of course, if Alonsos were ten-a-penny, Madrid wouldn’t have made sure they got their man.)
> Just trying to continue discussion here. All of these series are cut- > n-pasted:
> Loss of Alonso
> I applaud Benítez’s belief in Alberto Aquilani. I respect that he went > for a player for the long-term, and that the club were advised he’d be > fit sooner than transpired. In the meantime, not only was Alonso no > longer present, but Aquilani wasn’t, either. And then nor was Gerrard.
> I think it was a valid gamble to try and last till September (when the > Italian was supposed to be fit, according to a world-renowned ankle > expert), with Gerrard partnering Mascherano or Lucas. But the gamble > backfired.
Gambles do that sometimes. But Liverpool haven't played well the entire season. Oh yes home games against Burnley, Hull and Stoke, but that's it.
It's not so much the fact that Aquilani would be out a few months, that should worry. More the fact that his whole carreer has been marred by injury. He could well turn out to be a £20m sick note. That's the real gamble...and that's a huge gamble when funds are limited.
> However, a manager has to get in the right player, and if Aquilani is > the class act Rafa feels him to be, then we just have to get on with > it. And ultimately, any player, be it a different signing or even Xabi > Alonso, could end up missing three months of the season.
> As a result of Alonso’s departure and the issues with Aquilani and > then Gerrard, the balance of the side hasn’t been quite right, > especially with the exciting addition of Johnson changing the emphasis > of attack – but teams don’t just come together like clockwork. I’ve > noted for many years that changing one component can throw out > another; then you have to make tweaks.
But it's not good enough that you have to keep tweaking after 6 years and 70+ players. When will Rafa ever have a proper team really able to challenge for the PL title?
> In games against Chelsea, Man United and away at Lyon, Mascherano and > Lucas have been excellent. But of course they lack a little creative > edge when the onus is on them to pick teams apart. People talk as if > they are the manager’s ideal partnership.
He brought them in, so obviously they should be good enough to do the job. True, they have zero creativity, but that seems to be exactly what Rafa wants. That explains why Benayoun is consistently taken off when he in everybody else's eyes are putting in motm performances.
> The aim was never to rely solely on them, but Gerrard’s injury on top > of Aquilani’s has limited the manager’s options. So it’s not an ideal > combination, and one that has seen mixed results.
> However, Lucas’ form in the past few games has been excellent, and the > lad must have massive cojones to deal with the abuse and come through > the other side. However, his greatest failings seem to be that he is > neither a stereotypical Brazilian, nor Xabi Alonso. (Of course, if > Alonsos were ten-a-penny, Madrid wouldn’t have made sure they got > their man.)
Lucas' problem is that he is half decent in most midfield areas, but not really good in any. I think he needs to figure out what kind of player exactly he is and then develop that.
On Nov 6, 6:54 am, "JN Andersen" <justj...@stofanet.dk> wrote:
> Lucas' problem is that he is half decent in most midfield areas, but not > really good in any. I think he needs to figure out what kind of player > exactly he is and then develop that.
He's good in Gerrards position (up the field) or as a box-to-box midfielder (in a 4-4-2). He won the Brazilian League player of the year at 19, and he's outcapped Anderson IIRC. While he's not a typical Brazilian player flicking and backheeling about, he's no donkey. He's game is actually stereotypically English.
Unfortunately, and this is one of my big criticisms of Benitez along with his handling of the youth, is that Benitez has decided he'll be a deep defensive midfielder, and that's where Lucas will play come hell or high water (see Babel on Left).
On Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:46:06 -0800, Google Beta User wrote: > On Nov 6, 6:54 am, "JN Andersen" <justj...@stofanet.dk> wrote:
>> Lucas' problem is that he is half decent in most midfield areas, but >> not really good in any. I think he needs to figure out what kind of >> player exactly he is and then develop that.
> He's good in Gerrards position (up the field) or as a box-to-box > midfielder (in a 4-4-2). He won the Brazilian League player of the year > at 19, and he's outcapped Anderson IIRC. While he's not a typical > Brazilian player flicking and backheeling about, he's no donkey. He's > game is actually stereotypically English.
> Unfortunately, and this is one of my big criticisms of Benitez along > with his handling of the youth, is that Benitez has decided he'll be a > deep defensive midfielder, and that's where Lucas will play come hell or > high water (see Babel on Left).
I'm not sure where you got the "box-to-box midfielder" idea from. I've never seen Lucas get into either box, except when he scored that own goal against Villa.
-- "Idolatry is committed, not merely by setting up false gods, but also by setting up false devils; by making men afraid of war or alcohol, or economic law, when they should be afraid of spiritual corruption and cowardice"- GK Chesterton
> In article <4af40e5f$0$1699$ba624...@nntp06.dk.telia.net>, > justj...@stofanet.dk says...
>> Gambles do that sometimes. But Liverpool haven't played well the entire >> season. Oh yes home games against Burnley, Hull and Stoke, but that's it.
> You forgot against Utd.
No.
I don't think Liverpool played particularly well. But they did put up a lot of effort.
> In article <4af40e5f$0$1699$ba624...@nntp06.dk.telia.net>, > justj...@stofanet.dk says...
>> Gambles do that sometimes. But Liverpool haven't played well the entire >> season. Oh yes home games against Burnley, Hull and Stoke, but that's it.
> In article <4af58e5d$0$1699$ba624...@nntp06.dk.telia.net>, > justj...@stofanet.dk says... >> > You forgot against Utd.
>> No.
>> I don't think Liverpool played particularly well. But they did put up a >> lot >> of effort.
> Oh FFS what a load of shit.
I understand when you've become used to watching Liverpool's shite performances, you could easily be led to think that the performance against United was fantastic.
Relative to most of Liverpool's other performances, you are of course right. But in reality neither team played good football.
> In article <4af58e5d$0$1699$ba624...@nntp06.dk.telia.net>, > justj...@stofanet.dk says... >> > You forgot against Utd.
>> No.
>> I don't think Liverpool played particularly well. But they did put up a >> lot >> of effort.
Fuck off you one eyed prick, they kicked your side off the park, again. What were the excuses this time, another off day was it? Do you think they'll turn up for their cup final against Chelski today?
> "Strawbs" <snm_ukTROUS...@hotmail.com> wrote in message > news:MPG.255fbad68ba459de989e3c@news.plus.net... >> In article <4af58e5d$0$1699$ba624...@nntp06.dk.telia.net>, >> justj...@stofanet.dk says... >>> > You forgot against Utd.
>>> No.
>>> I don't think Liverpool played particularly well. But they did put up a >>> lot >>> of effort.
> Fuck off you one eyed prick, they kicked your side off the park, again.
yes exactly...kicked...not played. It was a very poor display of football from both sides.
> What were the excuses this time, another off day was it? Do you think > they'll turn up for their cup final against Chelski today?
No excuses, United were shite and deserved to lose.
Cup final? If United lose we're 5 points behind after 12 games. Exactly the same as last season...where United won the title.
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