Without Charlie Adam in the starting XI...

[Lecter]

Charlie Adam is Liverpool FC’s top assist maker as season is reviewed in statistics

by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
May 23 2012


THEY were unfairly labelled Anfield’s three stooges – the summer signings who struggled to settle into life at Liverpool FC.


Yet the EA Sports statistics for the campaign just ended paint a different picture of the success or otherwise of Jose Enrique, Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson.

Left-back Enrique made a sparkling start to his Anfield career after switching Tyneside for Merseyside in a £6m deal – but despite suffering a second half of the season dip and enduring a disappointing FA Cup final, the defender finished the campaign top of three different categories.

Enrique won more tackles, made most passes and fired over more crosses than any other Liverpool team-mate, although his tackles won figure of 46 placed him a lowly 80th in the Premier League’s overall list suggesting that the Reds need more snap in their team generally.


The official Player of the Season, Martin Skrtel, predictably finished top of three separate categories – most blocks, most clearances and most interceptions, fully justifying his end of season award.

But perhaps the greatest unsing hero for 2011/12 was Charlie Adam, whose creativity only became apparent when he suffered a season ending knee injury in March.

Despite missing 11 matches, Adam ended the season with more assists than any other Reds player – 11 assists placing him just outside the Premier League’s top 10 creators, and only three came from set-piece deliveries.

A third of last season’s summer arrivals, Jordan Henderson, consistently covered more ground than any other Reds player – ending the campaign as the hardest working player having covered 184 kilometres.

But while Luis Suarez ended the season with the sixth highest shots on target figure for the entire Premier League, his accuracy figures were more disappointing.

While Newcastle newboy Papiss Cisse ended the season with an astonishing 65 per cent shot accuracy, just ahead of Tottenham’s Rafael Van der Vaart (63%), both Suarez and Fernando Torres made up the group at the bottom with a shooting accuracy of 45% (LS) and 43% (FT) respectively.


Suarez also finished bottom of the curious ‘Goals via Clearcut Chances’ category – created to decipher which players are reliant on their team creating clear-cut chances.


Frank Lampard led the way with 92 per cent, however Lampard takes Chelsea’s penalties.

The stand-out striker in this category was Wolves’ Steven Fletcher who converted 70 per cent of his easier chances.

A sure target for Premier League clubs this summer – Fletcher has shown that he will put the ball in the back of the net if given the chance.


Suarez, however, came bottom – scoring some spectacularly difficult chances, but missing a penalty and plenty of other clearer chances.

His improvement on that statistic is possibly key to a Liverpool improvement next season.

REDS’ SEASON BY NUMBERS

Most shots on target – Luis Suarez 64 (6th in Premier League)

Most tackles won – Jose Enrique 46 (80th in PL)

Most blocks – Martin Skrtel 19 (29th in PL)

Most clearances – Martin Skrtel 52 (16th in PL)

Most interceptions – Martin Skrtel 163 (7th in PL)

Most passes – Jose Enrique 728 (24th in PL)

Most crosses – Jose Enrique 94 (9th in PL)

Most dribbles – Luis Suarez 62 (13th in PL)

Most assists – Charlie Adam 11 (12th in PL)

Most distance covered – Jordan Henderson 184km (45th in PL)


Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...#ixzz1vfq9BevS

[dww]

Did we not discuss this earlier and some of these come from the winning of free kicks or penalties or something (I was on Adams side at the time). I still think he unbalances any side he is in but he's not as useless as many make out. That said I'd still sell him.

[Lecter]

Did we not discuss this earlier and some of these come from the winning of free kicks or penalties or something (I was on Adams side at the time). I still think he unbalances any side he is in but he's not as useless as many make out. That said I'd still sell him.

I think he actually has 8 genuine assists of which 3 or 4 were from freekicks

[dww]

That tallies with the story as written but I think the figure is the same as that from the Premiership Fantasy Football and some people took issue with it (I can't find the post but I'm pretty certain MattShark was one of those who were unconvinced).

[Captain Stu]

My thoughts:

"Charlie Adam isn't a very good player and I, for one, hope he's moved on this summer. While he has a good range of passing, he's naive in possession, frequently gives the ball away, can't tackle and is far too slow to do anything useful when either breaking forward or tracking back."

[Pablo]

I think Adam is a decent squad player and is a useful player to have in the team. We all know he has his limitations, but he also has some big positives to his game.

His main failing for me is that he needs a decent DM next to him or the back 5 get no protection. This was proved by his form disappearing once Lucas got injured.

I think for a £7m fee we got a £7m player. He's a decent squad player to have around, but should never have been a permanent fixture in the team like he was last year.

[red g]

I think Adam is a decent squad player and is a useful player to have in the team. We all know he has his limitations, but he also has some big positives to his game.

His main failing for me is that he needs a decent DM next to him or the back 5 get no protection. This was proved by his form disappearing once Lucas got injured.

I think for a £7m fee we got a £7m player. He's a decent squad player to have around, but should never have been a permanent fixture in the team like he was last year.

I would also add that I think he is perfect for playing cannon fodder and would make a decent impact sub with 20mins left everyone else is tired and probably more to his speed

[Captain Stu]

Just sickens me that we paid £7M for a donkey like Chadam while Newcastle nabbed Cabaye for around £4M following him winning the double with Lille.

At times I wonder what our scouts have been drinking/smoking.

[RedReet]

Just sickens me that we paid £7M for a donkey like Chadam while Newcastle nabbed Cabaye for around £4M following him winning the double with Lille.

At times I wonder what our scouts have been drinking/smoking.

TBF, we weren't the only team interested in him and I'm sure if Newcastle thought they had a chance then they too might have been involved.

Hindsight is a great thing.

Newcastle beat us to Marveaux and there isn’t much mention of that. They even paid good money for Obertan.

[Pippo]

I think Adam can do a squad job as long as he's played higher up the pitch, as one of three CM with a bit of protection behind him. He played that roll well with a cameo against the Mancs at Anfield, he definitely gets exposed when played in a two with a deeper starting position. Considering his price tag, he'd be a player I'd keep.

[Pablo]

I think Adam can do a squad job as long as he's played higher up the pitch, as one of three CM with a bit of protection behind him. He played that roll well with a cameo against the Mancs at Anfield, he definitely gets exposed when played in a two with a deeper starting position. Considering his price tag, he'd be a player I'd keep.

Exactly. The stats prove it but it's clear to see he can pick a pass, he'll get consistent assists if he plays, something we can't say about most of our other midfielders sadly. He's limited but use him wisely and he's a bit of a weapon.

[Kenneth]

My thoughts:

"Charlie Adam isn't a very good player and I, for one, hope he's moved on this summer. While he has a good range of passing, he's naive in possession, frequently gives the ball away, can't tackle and is far too slow to do anything useful when either breaking forward or tracking back."

when you put it like that, i can almost hear you saying it.

Yes, he is a **** Rangers reject.

(i was right, get me, ner ner ne ner ner)

[RedReet]

Exactly. The stats prove it but it's clear to see he can pick a pass, he'll get consistent assists if he plays, something we can't say about most of our other midfielders sadly. He's limited but use him wisely and he's a bit of a weapon.

I used to think a midfield 3 of Lucas, Adam and Gerrard would work well. I thought the fullbacks could overlap providing natural width, with Gerrard and Adam capable of delivering quality balls into the box from deep. I have my doubts now.

[Buzzo]

So despite the fact he made more assists than anyone else for us we think he's ****e. Our form was certainly worse once he got injured than it was before.

I think some supporters were against his signing from the start, but for me that is a more than usefull first season from Charlie, fit again he should look to improve next season. He should fill a place in our squad look at the teams above us, the strength in depth they have. We need players of Adams quality in the squad to fill in when needed and put pressure on the players in the starting eleven.

[danperkins]

The reactions to Charlie Adam on here make me laugh. The guy has been played out of position the most of the season & is injured for 11 games and still ends up with more assists than anyone!!

Now i have watched some of his performances and i'm not going to lie i nearly ****ed my tea at my tv, but he is not and never will be a DM or deep lying CM!! From his time at Blackpool it's very clear to see how effective he was when higher up the pitch & how bad he was defensively. This has been the case for us too, and through no fault of his own he has been played out of position in a DM type role. That Lucas injury destroyed us.

That role goes against everyone of Adams attributes as a footballer. He has no pace, can't tackle worth a **** and has zero positional sense. But when played higher the park he can make things happen and his production over last 2 seasons has been fantastic. He has good range of passing & a fabulous left foot.

IMO if used as a squad player & used higher up the pitch, Adam can be an effective & productive player for us. I mean FFS he has more assists than Downing & Henderson put together & they've played almost every game this season.

This guy is by no means a problem for us IMO & could be a very good squaddie for us in the future.