re: Liverpool FC 2013/2014 - Season Long Thread

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I just worry he would float inside and crowd Cou out.

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Exactly. It would push Cou out, and push Suarez up. That is how I would see it playing out. Similar to the 4-4-2 I suppose, with Johnson being the primary winger on the right.

So then I guess... just make a 4-4-2 lineup right?

I'll say this... early on last season I liked what I saw with the overlaps, give-and-gos and what not with Johnson and Sterling. I saw a spark there with Johnson playing mentor to the lad.

I've got one word: Cissokho. He was responsible for both goals conceded against Newcastle. He did not attack the Cabaye shot and he was horrible at marking for the free kick that resulted in their second. Against Arsenal he was extremely one dimensional. Charging up the pitch and pinging in a horrible cross or losing out far up the pitch. Their first goal he was stranded at the halfway line with his back to the ball. What defender has his back to the ball at the halfway line.

He is incapable of tackling, he doesn't have any skills on the ball, he shirks away from contact, has no quality on his crosses. When he is up the pitch it looks like he has no clue what he is doing. Give me back Enrique.

Cissokho played like shite. Sagna beat him on Arsenal's first, but they still don't score that if Gerrard tracks back.

I think having two extremely energetic midfielders surrounding Lucas would really help cover the space he leaves behind. I do think Lucas is a good player, but he is exposed in a 3-man midfield, and he creates a lot of space for the opposing team when he comes out for his usual poor tackle. I don't think Gerrard has the legs to cover that space anymore.

Lucas is an enigma. He has gone from severely underrated under Dalglish, to now extremely overrated under Rodgers. I still maintain that he isn't a defensive midfielder: his passing is better than his tackling and that is enough proof for me.

I actually like the formation now, and think it's more our MF that have the issues... I prefer LS and DS in a central position and not on the wings... Coutinho too...

Ideally, I'd have Agger in the middle of the back 3 and would play Kolo/Skrtel as a RCB based on form.

Johnson and Enrique have to start when healthy..

I'll say it one more time, but we need a quality DM in January (for any system we run to be effective)... Lucas has either never fully recovered from his injury or I was severely duped that first season under Dalglish... I still like Coutinho in the #10 role, but feel he needs to be pushed by someone (Pastore would be a dream if links are true)...

The hard part is what to do with Gerrard. He started very slow last year (many called for him to be dropped) and ended up playing through it and having a great 2/3 of the season on the back end... I do think it's time for Jordan or Allen to give him a break in games... and hopefully he will quit International play after the WC... I would like us to go after someone like Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla) and sell Allen...

Anyway, thats my 2 cents...

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I would like us to go after someone like Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla) and sell Allen...

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This dude is awesome. Love him.

I'd buy him to replace Arteta. Hope we are in for him if he does leave.

I think the formation can work if Johnson and Enrique are healthy and if Agger is paired with Sakho, instead of Skrtel. I don't think Skrtel and Sakho are a good pairing. They are both entirely too aggressive, and both are wild at points.

I do think the formation gets our best XI on the field fwiw, but I'm not sold that it gives us our best shot at winning against top teams.

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Side note: I do think we are probably trying to draw too many conclusions from a match in which LFC simply lost to a significantly better squad.

I do think we should have performed better, and the lineup was odd to say the least, but a result at the Emirates against that squad was always going to be tough.

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I agree, its the same formation that has been pretty good for SAS scoring... Johnson was out and Flanno offered nothing going forward... Also, you saw glimpses of Cou's brilliance he just needs to knock the rust off and he gives us something in the attcking third no other MFer we have does... I mean, this squad could've gone top of the table if we'd have won... We are in good shape, but we must improve and reinforce in Jan...

I know... We will be lucky to go in to January still in top 4.

Luckily Man U isnt at their best and after spending £100mm, Tottenham didnt buy anyone who can score goals... But Soton, Everton are playing well too...

Should be intersting, but make no mistake... a top 4 spot is there to be had...