The OFFICIAL Liverpool FC thread - Arne to Slot right in?

[JoG2]

I'm like a stuck record at this stage, but if Gerrard is playing (and he shouldn't be a guaranteed start), he should be played further forward. He can't handle little busy players like Hazard running around him. Teams just play off him, and it's killing the team. I'm not sure I'd be calling for Lucas , but maybe against the stronger teams he'd be a good option. I'd like to see Henderson or Can in that role.

My ideal team, based on the current squad would be

                          Mignolet

Manquillo     Lovren   Skrtel     Moreno

                         Henderson/Can


     Sterling                              Lallana/Coutinho

                      Gerrard/Coutinho


          Balotelli              Sturridge

just take the 2 Real matches. Lucas protecting the back 4 away to Madrid compared to Gerrard doing the same at Anfield. Day and night

[AZOffaly]

Yes, against a team your nervous about, you might decide to put Lucas in there (which is what I said, you should bold the full statement), but it has to be Lucas playing well. A bad Lucas means fouling stupidly, giving the ball away and contributing nothing. A good Lucas means making his tackles, and playing simple balls to the creative players. That's ideal against the really good teams.

[Mikhailov]

Yes, against a team your nervous about, you might decide to put Lucas in there (which is what I said, you should bold the full statement), but it has to be Lucas playing well. A bad Lucas means fouling stupidly, giving the ball away and contributing nothing. A good Lucas means making his tackles, and playing simple balls to the creative players. That's ideal against the really good teams.

Few good points lads regarding the protection for the back 4 - reality is that we don't have a specialist in that position, yes Lucas plays it but he is not perfect at it. As Merson said last week, Terry & Cahill are the best pairing in the PL but they always have either Matic or Mikel protecting them - ALWAYS. That is the platform from which Chelsea build from. We don't have that player and it 110% most certainly is not Gerrard. Best option is Can and tell him just to sit there and play it to others when he gets it. You never see Matic or Mikel or Makelele or Alonso bombing all over the pitch looking the ball as they know their role and play it to almost perfection. Unfortunately it is almost impossible to expect our 2 x centre halfs to perform well when they don't feel protected in front of them or for that matter behind them either. Imagine if you were Terry at Chelsea and had Courtois behind you and Matic in front - FFS, Mrs terry could even play that position with them 2 backing her up.

[blewuporstuffed]

Exactly.
The two centre halves have come in fro alot of stick (especially Lovren) but to be fair to them, tehy are recieving very little protection from the midfeild in front and Mignolets current form behind wouldnt exactly fill you with confidence. Add to that having the liability taht glenn johnson has become playing along side you a good percentage of the time and its now wonder they look shaky and are conceeding goals.
I actually though they didnt do so bad at the weekend, and Skertl handled costa resonable well, the two goals conceed were back to teh olde failing of a poorly defended set peice and poor errors/laziness from mignolet & johnson for the second goal

[AZOffaly]

Johnson wears me I have to say. He just does so much wrong. It's very predictable now even in an attacking sense, he rarely gets beyond the fullback and crosses. He's always looking to come in on his left foot and shoot. It cost the goal against Newcastle. Defensively he's never been the best.

[blewuporstuffed]

Johnson wears me I have to say. He just does so much wrong. It's very predictable now even in an attacking sense, he rarely gets beyond the fullback and crosses. He's always looking to come in on his left foot and shoot. It cost the goal against Newcastle. Defensively he's never been the best.

there was two or threes seasons where i thought he was very good for liverpool, made the odd mistake, but had very few poor games. For the last 2 seasons though he has been dreadfull and as a senior player, i think is poor atitude is bound to seep into the whole squad. He should be gone in january, he is on big wages and that money could be used elsewhere

[CD]

Johnson wears me I have to say. He just does so much wrong. It's very predictable now even in an attacking sense, he rarely gets beyond the fullback and crosses. He's always looking to come in on his left foot and shoot. It cost the goal against Newcastle. Defensively he's never been the best.

there was two or threes seasons where i thought he was very good for liverpool, made the odd mistake, but had very few poor games. For the last 2 seasons though he has been dreadfull and as a senior player, i think is poor atitude is bound to seep into the whole squad. He should be gone in january, he is on big wages and that money could be used elsewhere

That was the thing with him last season. While other players were putting in consistently very good performances and playing with all the confidence in the world he was poor. Just about every game I saw him play he was our weakest player and this has continued into this season. I was surprised he played on Saturday as I though Manquillo did enough against Real to earn his place. The way he trotted back for the first Chelsea goal was diabolical. He should have been getting himself into a position to intercept Oscars run and supporting Coutinho by bursting a long to get into position. Being a poor player is forgivable if you work but he doesn't even do that on occasion. Sometimes I think he's just not the brightest, at other times he looks like he just doesn't care enough.

[Minus15]

Does anyone think Gerrard would be worth a go at right back?

[Milltown Row2]

Does anyone think Gerrard would be worth a go at right back?

Could slip up in that position

[beer baron]

Does anyone think Gerrard would be worth a go at right back?

10 years ago yeah.

[TabClear]

Does anyone think Gerrard would be worth a go at right back?

There Is a 20 year old Spanish lad who had a decent game against ronaldo and co last week who was dropped for.Saturday?? Surely he should be given a chance?

I don't want to make him a scapegoat but as has been said above, it was Johnson's lack of effort for the Chelsea 2nd that really annoyed me on Saturday.

[blewuporstuffed]

Just seen Rodgers in Belfast there this morning, coming out of the Fitzwilliam.

[muppet]

Just seen Rodgers in Belfast there this morning, coming out of the Fitzwilliam.

if Fearon doesn't post today we will know what happened.

[heganboy]

Just seen Rodgers in Belfast there this morning, coming out of the Fitzwilliam.

if Fearon doesn't post today we will know what happened.

that's pretty good muppet!

There's a long list of well wishers...

[brokencrossbar1]

A clinker from our old favourite The Jimmy!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQNwwz0gS4k