v Wigan Post Match

[Mostar]

Cristiano Ronaldo scores more than Pepe Reina, but they play in different positions.

Maxi = Left Wing, 3 Goals 1 Assists for LFC
Nzogbia = Left Wing, 4 Goals 5 Assists for Wigan

We need productivity for the wide areas, with Carroll signed service fro the wide areas must improve, Nzogbia is a natural winger, Maxi is not and this shows. but i suppose its all about opinions, IMO i think N'zogbia deserves the chance to step, others may differ thats fare enough.

Absolutely. Nzogbia is not a world beater but he would be certainly a huge improvement over what we presently have, which was clearly evident today.

I still think we should have gone after him in the January window. Only 25, already adopted to PL and fairly inexpensive, he could have given us the width and good crossing which we are in short supply.

[little dave hedgehog]

look lucas is no alonso. his passing isnt anywhere near as good as xabis was and therein lies the problem.

lucas can only hit the obvious balls to players that have made the pass for him which means that the forward players have to work really hard to find space for the pass.

unlike alonso lucas cant create space or openings with a pass. It might sound stupid but instead of forcing oportunities he reacts to ones that have been created for him.

this isnt a criticism of lucas as that sort of passing ability is only posessed by a few and he has been one of our best players this season. Im still not sure that he's first XI material but as a squad player his attitude, application and work rate is first class.

in short, if people want the ball off lucas they are going to have to come and get it.

i think we more or less agree, but even so, normally he doesn't dwell on the ball forever like he did a few times today. anyways, we all know about lucas, i'm sure the players do to. if you need to move to get the ball off lucas, then we should be moving to get the ball off lucas. no good standing out there wishing we had alonso in the side. that's my job, sitting at home where i can't affect anything

[Mostar]

look lucas is no alonso. his passing isnt anywhere near as good as xabis was and therein lies the problem.

lucas can only hit the obvious balls to players that have made the pass for him which means that the forward players have to work really hard to find space for the pass.

unlike alonso lucas cant create space or openings with a pass. It might sound stupid but instead of forcing oportunities he reacts to ones that have been created for him.

this isnt a criticism of lucas as that sort of passing ability is only posessed by a few and he has been one of our best players this season. Im still not sure that he's first XI material but as a squad player his attitude, application and work rate is first class.

in short, if people want the ball off lucas they are going to have to come and get it.

Very good post. Pretty much agree with everything said ^^

[danperkins]

Absolutely. Nzogbia is not a world beater but he would be certainly a huge improvement over what we presently have, which was clearly evident today.

I still think we should have gone after him in the January window. Only 25, already adopted to PL and fairly inexpensive can give us width and good crossing which we are in short supply.

was gutted we didn't make an attempt for the lad, well that we know of anyways i suppose. Not a world beater as you say but surely deserves a shot on a bigger stage after being so consistent now for last year and half or so?

Hopefully this width problem will finally be addressed in the summer. With good delivery from wide areas, Carroll's aerial ability and Suarez poaching ability we could add another 10-15 goals easily IMO. We'd be much more dynamic and harder to contain.

[little dave hedgehog]

Absolutely. Nzogbia is not a world beater but he would be certainly a huge improvement over what we presently have, which was clearly evident today.

I still think we should have gone after him in the January window. Only 25, already adopted to PL and fairly inexpensive, he could have given us the width and good crossing which we are in short supply.

i imagine we have our eyes on ashley young partially because he is home grown. we're already fielding academy players to get enough of them into the roster. i can see the logic in why sign insomnia when he's going to be an inferior player who takes up a space for a foreign player when there is a better player out there who won't.

[MrMichael]

I'm really not a fan of Johnson on the left. If we're going to play both him and Aurelio we need to play Aurelio LB and Johnson at either RB or RM. Johnson's strengths are all going forward and playing him on the left neutralises the threat he provides to a large degree.

I completely agree. If Aurelio is fit then he should be at LB. If not then I can understand Johnson being there (simply don't have anyone else really), but if he is then either Johnson at RB, RW with Kelly behind, or on the bench. Play Maxi, Joe Cole or someone like Pacheco on the left of midfield.

Maxi is a funny one. As you say, he has all the technical attributes, but I've never been fully convinced by him. He's always neat and tidy, but too often fails to make a telling contribution. And yes, I am aware he has scored several goals for us this season. I'm referring to his general play.

Again, totally agree. Obviously he lacks pace, but there's something else about him that just doesn't work, despite his obvious ability with a football. His play far too often just lacks..... punch?

[Mostar]

was gutted we didn't make an attempt for the lad, well that we know of anyways i suppose. Not a world beater as you say but surely deserves a shot on a bigger stage after being so consistent now for last year and half or so?

Hopefully this width problem will finally be addressed in the summer. With good delivery from wide areas, Carroll's aerial ability and Suarez poaching ability we could add another 10-15 goals easily IMO. We'd be much more dynamic and harder to contain.

I don't think there is any doubt about that. We would not be signing Carroll unless we are planing to provide him with the support and service that he requires.

Buying Andy was only the first step. Getting a good quality winger will be in works for summer for sure.

[Mattshark]

What!!?? The hell he did? I think he's on a wind up.

He is infinitely better than Konchesky and overall, Kelly has shown why he is not ready to play the odd game. As he stays in the team his performances have diminished and he has real problems with giving the ball away which he didn't when he was used sparingly.

[The Birdman]

It's widely known that N'zogbia is one of the laziest, big time charlie's playing professional football.
Don't want him anywhere near my football club

[Shaggy]

Kelly is a fantastic prospect but playing Insua every week almost ruined him. I'd take Kelly out of the side for a while now, restore Johnson to RB, Aurelio at LB. Gives us better balance. At the moment we have too many square pegs.

[el matador]

i think we more or less agree, but even so, normally he doesn't dwell on the ball forever like he did a few times today. anyways, we all know about lucas, i'm sure the players do to. if you need to move to get the ball off lucas, then we should be moving to get the ball off lucas. no good standing out there wishing we had alonso in the side. that's my job, sitting at home where i can't affect anything

its hard enough for the forward players to find space in packed premiership defences, the better the passing the more opportunities the likes of suarez will have.

sometimes we're too slow in the movement of the pass, even delaying a pass by a second can mean the gaps close quickly and we dont have the personnel to create those gaps one the defence sets itself.

again not a critique of lucas, because thats not really his job. they put aurelio with him today so that he could create the play but from what i say aurelio didnt do a lot either. Even meireles' passing isnt great.

a couple of the other lads have said that today was a reality check but we already know the problem areas in the team and what needs addressing. im still not sure why kenny keeps playing johnson left back because i dont think its working.

johnson is probably the thickest footballer we've had at liverpool in a long time (almost forgot djimi traore) and really he needs to keep things simple and play within his comfort zone. If you ask him to think about things, i dont think he's capable.

some of his passing from the left is moronic and his general play has not been great. I'd rather have played aurelio left back (because no question he's a better left back than glen), and move johnson to the right. I think that would suit him more and we'd see glen in positions where he could do a bit of damage.

[The Erectile Banana]

I completely agree. If Aurelio is fit then he should be at LB. If not then I can understand Johnson being there (simply don't have anyone else really), but if he is then either Johnson at RB, RW with Kelly behind, or on the bench. Play Maxi, Joe Cole or someone like Pacheco on the left of midfield.



Again, totally agree. Obviously he lacks pace, but there's something else about him that just doesn't work, despite his obvious ability with a football. His play far too often just lacks..... punch?

I'm not sure what it is with Maxi. It's difficult to put your finger on. He's obviously not the most dynamic player, but that in itself shouldn't be too problematic.

Punch? Hunger? Commitment? Really difficult to pinpoint. It could be that despite being technically proficient he's no more than an average player these days after his injury problems while at Atheltico Madrid.

[The Erectile Banana]

Kelly is a fantastic prospect but playing Insua every week almost ruined him. I'd take Kelly out of the side for a while now, restore Johnson to RB, Aurelio at LB. Gives us better balance. At the moment we have too many square pegs.

[Mostar]

i imagine we have our eyes on ashley young partially because he is home grown. we're already fielding academy players to get enough of them into the roster. i can see the logic in why sign insomnia when he's going to be an inferior player who takes up a space for a foreign player when there is a better player out there who won't.

Going after A. Young was a long shot especially as Villa is pretty much playing to stay up and it appears as we have shown an interest at the very end of transfer window. They would let him go only if they could have found a quick replacement and if we would have paid overinflated price and I am glad the alleged deal fell through.

I personally think he is over-rated and over-priced and for that reason, I wish we go after Sanchez, Mata or Navas type of signing in the summer time.

Alternatively Adam Johnson would be great if Cityh decides to sell him.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Anyone got a link to our goal?