Break the bank for Aaron Lennon

[desertscouser]

Too right mate.
We need quality width as well as quality up front. away from home against the big teams we have created little this season. Against Man U, Arsenal & Chelsea we didn't manage a goal away from home this seaon. Against Man u & Arsenal we never looked like scoring. Its more than poor finishing we need to sort it, its our creativity as well. Lets be honest we have only 1 genuinely creative player and thats SG. Thats not enough.

There is a shocking lack of flair and creativity in our squad and it must be addressed.

[tomasjj]

We have more creative players than SG though...
Luis
Kewell
Alonso
Pennant

[Red_Polo]

Why we create more chances than any other team in the league.

What kind of chances? How many players do we have that regularly make defenders turn and have to run back towards their own goal? **** all compared to other teams.

[Shaggy]

I can't remember the last time any striker of ours bore down on goal one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

The last one I recall was when Crouchie was sent clean through at Goodison last season and he danced round Nigel Martyn to slot home.

We definitely don't create enough genuine, clear goalscoring opportunities.

[AFII]

I can't remember the last time any striker of ours bore down on goal one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

The last one I recall was when Crouchie was sent clean through at Goodison last season and he danced round Nigel Martyn to slot home.

We definitely don't create enough genuine, clear goalscoring opportunities.

And that is what Bellamy should do but he isn't making the right runs.

Did you really had to say that? Now you remembered me about Owen again

[Shaggy]

Well, it's unavoidable - back then we used to send Owen clean through almost every game. He usually scored but missed his fair share too. It says something about Owen's superior movement, but on the flipside Houllier geared our whole game plan to getting Owen clean through on goal.

People talk about Bellamy's movement but I'm not impressed. He does a lot of running around in circles. He's okay down the channels, but his movement isn't intelligent enough in areas where it hurts - i.e through the middle. He has searing pace but he doesn't use it intelligently enough.

[AFII]

I have said the same thing since we signed him

We need a quick and intelligent player.

[tomasjj]

Well, it's unavoidable - back then we used to send Owen clean through almost every game. He usually scored but missed his fair share too. It says something about Owen's superior movement, but on the flipside Houllier geared our whole game plan to getting Owen clean through on goal.

People talk about Bellamy's movement but I'm not impressed. He does a lot of running around in circles. He's okay down the channels, but his movement isn't intelligent enough in areas where it hurts - i.e through the middle. He has searing pace but he doesn't use it intelligently enough.

I think you are both missing an important point.

Under Houllier with Owen, our main strategy was to sit back, invite other teams to push us back and them hit them on the counter with Owen running through. Houlliers style was more uniform, where as Rafa has more options and variation.

Now Rafa, he likes to establish play in the opposition half and carve out an opening or getting the crosses in. Completely different styles of play, even if we do also counter with Rafa. We have a lot less room behind the oppositions defence now, hence less one on ones.

[Red Chilli]

Rush was miles better than Owen at one-on-ones with the keeper

[Johnny]

I think you are both missing an important point.

Under Houllier with Owen, our main strategy was to sit back, invite other teams to push us back and them hit them on the counter with Owen running through. Houlliers style was more uniform, where as Rafa has more options and variation.

Now Rafa, he likes to establish play in the opposition half and carve out an opening or getting the crosses in. Completely different styles of play, even if we do also counter with Rafa. We have a lot less room behind the oppositions defence now, hence less one on ones.

Good point

[Shaggy]

I think you are both missing an important point.

Under Houllier with Owen, our main strategy was to sit back, invite other teams to push us back and them hit them on the counter with Owen running through. Houlliers style was more uniform, where as Rafa has more options and variation.

Now Rafa, he likes to establish play in the opposition half and carve out an opening or getting the crosses in. Completely different styles of play, even if we do also counter with Rafa. We have a lot less room behind the oppositions defence now, hence less one on ones.

Well, I did say "Houllier geared our whole game plan to getting Owen clean through on goal".

Less one-on-ones, yes, but Rafa's gameplan/style of play should in no way mean it's at the complete expense of one-on-ones. All the other teams seem able to carve them out - why can't we?

[AFII]

I know that is one difference Tomas

It's strange that Rafa often takes Bellamy off when we are in the lead in the second half. That's the time he should be most valuable for us with more space to work with.

I wonder why?

[Red Chilli]

I know that is one difference Tomas

It's strange that Rafa often takes Bellamy off when we are in the lead in the second half. That's the time he should be most valuable for us with more space to work with.

I wonder why?

To preserve his hamstrings.

[desertscouser]

I can't remember the last time any striker of ours bore down on goal one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

The last one I recall was when Crouchie was sent clean through at Goodison last season and he danced round Nigel Martyn to slot home.

We definitely don't create enough genuine, clear goalscoring opportunities.

You and RP are right, it's all about the quality of chances we create. We seem to take more shots from outside the area than most teams...are they considered chances?

We need quality wingers and strikers or else our premiership challenge will be as pitiful as it's been this season.

[tomasjj]

You and RP are right, it's all about the quality of chances we create. We seem to take more shots from outside the area than most teams...are they considered chances?

We need quality wingers and strikers or else our premiership challenge will be as pitiful as it's been this season.

I guess it is harder to create clear chances when there is so much less space. Out attacking play is often compressed into a third of the pitch with all the opposing players there to defend as well. You need more running, skillful and creative players to carve out openings or more good crosses to get those clear chances with this playing style.