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Midfield is the problem

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    #1

    Midfield is the problem

    I never though I would be saying this with the array of midfielders we have at the club, but I think, midfield in the champions league has been the problem for us in the last two matches against Porto and Marseille.
    It has been them sides putting all the pressure on us in midfield, both teams have done it very well. We seemed to be outnumbered against Porto in midfield when we were playing two upfront.
    Last night, Momo on a rainy day was always going to have control issues, I am sure Zenden would have told his team mates to put him under pressure to get the ball. Stevie, for all the shouts of people saying his is the best midfielder in the world, he is not a holding midfield player for me. Mascherano. would have been better there last night with Stevie playing in Momo's role.
    I was actually concerned yesterday when i seen Stevie was playing in midfield in Alonso's or or Maschers position.
    Bill shankly to Tommy Smith after he'd turned up for training with a bandaged knee:
    'Take that poof bandage off, and what do you mean YOUR knee, it's LIVERPOOL'S knee !'

    "Sorry, boss, I should have kept my legs together," said Lawrence. "No, Tommy, your mother should have kept her legs together!," replied Shankly.

    * After Tommy Lawrence had let in a fluke goal between his legs
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    #2
    Originally posted by bazza76 View Post
    I never though I would be saying this with the array of midfielders we have at the club, but I think, midfield in the champions league has been the problem for us in the last two matches against Porto and Marseille.
    It has been them sides putting all the pressure on us in midfield, both teams have done it very well. We seemed to be outnumbered against Porto in midfield when we were playing two upfront.
    Last night, Momo on a rainy day was always going to have control issues, I am sure Zenden would have told his team mates to put him under pressure to get the ball. Stevie, for all the shouts of people saying his is the best midfielder in the world, he is not a holding midfield player for me. Mascherano. would have been better there last night with Stevie playing in Momo's role.
    I was actually concerned yesterday when i seen Stevie was playing in midfield in Alonso's or or Maschers position.
    this is what gets me - why do people persist in saying that SG is a central midfielder at all? any time he's asked to do a central midfielders's job he can't do it.

    without the spark of his power runs forward and the goals that come from it, SG looks very far from the best player in the world.

    and i didn't like the numerous times last night he stopped to put his head in his hands or looked sulky and pissed off when moves broke down (which they did constantly) yet the ball was still in play - he just ****in stopped doing anything. i'm guessing his head is yet again not in the right place regardless of what he says in the press about rafa.

    we have a seriously talented array of players to play from midfield - which in any top team is where all the creativity and guile come from - yet we can't seem to get the best out of them. we're missing xabi who at least can find his own player with a pass. yet despite this being what he is a genius at, i'm beginning to suspect that rafa is uncomfortable with it and looks to xabi to play a tighter, more defensive game.

    when we play badly, like we did last night, i don't think it's surprising at all that people look to rafa and ask questions. his whole reputation and great success is built on tactical astuteness - not motivational abilities - so when the tactics appear confused, wrong or just not working for whatever reasons we don't really have much "fire in the belly" to fall back on.

    i'm not saying that rafa should go or anything but serious flaws are evident when we play badly.
    Felching ≠ Gerbilling

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      #3
      Maybe we should stop singing the "best midfield in the world" song. After all, it IS bollocks. The players may be buying into it and getting complacent. When we've got 2 wingers to compliment the middle pairing, THEN we can start singing it.

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        #4
        "Sissoko on a rainy day was always going to have control issues" - are u saying he can only play in the dry. Wet conditions test players' control, touch and vision and on Wed we were so short of that it was a joke.

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          #5
          It's been an issue since Kewell got injured. No balance to our midfield due to the lack of quality on the left and the use of Pennant on the right who, whilst at least being suited for the position, is just not good enough.

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