Perspective

[The Glove]

I don't think Gerrard is the problem here though, its the mediocrity of the players he's surrounded by and this is why we struggle against a half decent team.

If a team sits deep and tries to kick us about the field, I don't care if your Zidane or Ronaldinho, you won't be given the time in the EPL to orchestrate the game. The way to break down teams in the EPL like this is through pace, width and the ability to run rings around players, which is why you tend to see the likes of Ronaldo, Robben and SWP make all the difference and why the likes of Chelsea and Manu give some of the teams we struggle against a real thumping more often than we do.

Gerrard cannot control every game, not many players ever can, especially in the pace and pressure of the EPL and this is why you rarely see a central midfielder stand out as making the difference and why Ronaldo and Robben always do.

Of course, it also helps to have a top striker or two in the box to put those crosses away, and in this case Kuyt, Bellamy and Crouch have not been good enough, which again comes around to the mediocrity of the individuals we have at the club.

The problem is not Gerrard IMO.

I like Bellers and Kuyt but obvioulsy one could drop to the bench if we got someone better. Other than that, youre spot on.

[The Glove]

if we'd had anyone up there who could hit a cow's arse with a banjo we'd have been two or three up at half time. ultimately THAT is the reason we failed to win yesterday, not steven gerrard.

This is very true.

[FatTony]

I like Bellers and Kuyt but obvioulsy one could drop to the bench if we got someone better. Other than that, youre spot on.

Kuyt is getting a lot of support and I can see why because of his work rate and movement, Bellamy has been excellent since his court case, but neither are natural poachers in the way Fowler, Rush and Owen were in their day.

I'd use the term "complimentary strikers" not goal scorers. They need someoone alongside them to knock in 20 goals.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

if we'd had anyone up there who could hit a cow's arse with a banjo we'd have been two or three up at half time. ultimately THAT is the reason we failed to win yesterday, not steven gerrard.

Quite right.

Stevie playing in the middle isn't the problem.

The problem is joke wide players and strikers who can't finish their dinner.

[Red_Polo]

All of Gerrard's best moments for LFC have come from him being in central positions. He gets into the positions where he does damage more often from CM, and his qualities as a player are more suited to him playing CM. Frankly the only thing that makes people think he's actually better out wide is that we have **** all else to put out there, whilst we have Momo and Xabi for the middle.

[FatTony]

Frankly the only thing that makes people think he's actually better out wide is that we have **** all else to put out there, whilst we have Momo and Xabi for the middle.

ain't that the truth

[The Glove]

Kuyt is getting a lot of support and I can see why because of his work rate and movement, Bellamy has been excellent since his court case, but neither are natural poachers in the way Fowler, Rush and Owen were in their day.

I'd use the term "complimentary strikers" not goal scorers. They need someoone alongside them to knock in 20 goals.

I agree.

[Guest]

I don't think Gerrard is the problem here though, its the mediocrity of the players he's surrounded by and this is why we struggle against a half decent team.

If a team sits deep and tries to kick us about the field, I don't care if your Zidane or Ronaldinho, you won't be given the time in the EPL to orchestrate the game. The way to break down teams in the EPL like this is through pace, width and the ability to run rings around players, which is why you tend to see the likes of Ronaldo, Robben and SWP make all the difference and why the likes of Chelsea and Manu give some of the teams we struggle against a real thumping more often than we do.

Gerrard cannot control every game, not many players ever can, especially in the pace and pressure of the EPL and this is why you rarely see a central midfielder stand out as making the difference and why Ronaldo and Robben always do.

Of course, it also helps to have a top striker or two in the box to put those crosses away, and in this case Kuyt, Bellamy and Crouch have not been good enough, which again comes around to the mediocrity of the individuals we have at the club.

The problem is not Gerrard IMO.

Great post Fat Tony. I've said it numerous times, we need to play away games like we play home games and put tempo into our play, not hoofing long balls and winning second balls. That's supposed to be Blackburn's or any other second rate teams tactics, not Liverpool's.

I was thinking yesterday that we need more quality in wide areas. Steve Finnan and JAR, whilst good players, aren't the quality we need going forward. Finnan had a great game yesterday but he had loads of time on the ball in the first half but couldn't deliver a first time cross anytime. As for JAR, he's pissing me off with his game right now ... All hoofing stuffs.

Sami Hyppia was played because Rafa thought that we'd had to deal with many long balls, but i do think that he made a mistake by playing him. Why worry about the opposition ? We should have enough confidence in our play to stuff teams like Blackburn, as they gave us plenty of space in the first half to do so. Sami's slow decision making in launching attacks is costing us big time.

Rafa is developing a pattern in his post match interviews, such as blaming strikers for bad finishing etc ... I think that's the wrong thing to do. He won't do Crouch's confidence the world of good by making him a scapegoat for that loss. We need players who can take the game by the scruff of the neck (we've got the only one in Stevie G at the moment). But we probably lack quality .... I'll be admitting it now, we aren't a championship winning side at the moment.

We need 2 very good attacking full backs to replace JAR and Stevie Finnan (Aurelio is an improvement over JAR IMHO) and we need another world class player such as Alves to play right wing. I'm afraid that Pennant won't be able to live up to expectations and it's clear that Rafa is beginning to have doubts also.

To be successful in the premiership, we need an all out attacking team, who are relentless going forward and which pressurizes teams by playing aggressive football. We are probably short of 3 or 4 players for that to arrive.

[disco]

I hate threads which start 'perspective'. Patronising

[blacky]

Momo has great qualities but is not the answer to our problems

[FatTony]

Great post Fat Tony. I've said it numerous times, we need to play away games like we play home games and put tempo into our play, not hoofing long balls and winning second balls. That's supposed to be Blackburn's or any other second rate teams tactics, not Liverpool's.

I was thinking yesterday that we need more quality in wide areas. Steve Finnan and JAR, whilst good players, aren't the quality we need going forward. Finnan had a great game yesterday but he had loads of time on the ball in the first half but couldn't deliver a first time cross anytime. As for JAR, he's pissing me off with his game right now ... All hoofing stuffs.

Sami Hyppia was played because Rafa thought that we'd had to deal with many long balls, but i do think that he made a mistake by playing him. Why worry about the opposition ? We should have enough confidence in our play to stuff teams like Blackburn, as they gave us plenty of space in the first half to do so. Sami's slow decision making in launching attacks is costing us big time.

Rafa is developing a pattern in his post match interviews, such as blaming strikers for bad finishing etc ... I think that's the wrong thing to do. He won't do Crouch's confidence the world of good by making him a scapegoat for that loss. We need players who can take the game by the scruff of the neck (we've got the only one in Stevie G at the moment). But we probably lack quality .... I'll be admitting it now, we aren't a championship winning side at the moment.

We need 2 very good attacking full backs to replace JAR and Stevie Finnan (Aurelio is an improvement over JAR IMHO) and we need another world class player such as Alves to play right wing. I'm afraid that Pennant won't be able to live up to expectations and it's clear that Rafa is beginning to have doubts also.

To be successful in the premiership, we need an all out attacking team, who are relentless going forward and which pressurizes teams by playing aggressive football. We are probably short of 3 or 4 players for that to arrive.

You're spot on with Finnan and Riise.

There was a time when you could mould a defensive team and make it successful, Houllier did it well, but Houlliers teams could never attack well, it was always through the middle and short on ideas. Bolton and Blackburn have taken on the Houllier methodology, but then they're never going to be aiming to win the EPL, its survival first and foremost, anything else is just gravy for them.

[Howard_lfc]

To be successful in the premiership, we need an all out attacking team, who are relentless going forward and which pressurizes teams by playing aggressive football.

Wrong. How come Chelsea have won it the last 2 years?

To be successful in the premiership you need to be prepared to out-work your opponents on a consistent basis. You need to earn the right to play your football. We've been out hustled at bolton, Everton and Blackburn and have gone belly-up at OT and the Emirates and to some extent Stamford Bridge. At the moment any team in the division could beat us by simply working harder than us.

[Guest]

Wrong. How come Chelsea have won it the last 2 years?

To be successful in the premiership you need to be prepared to out-work your opponents on a consistent basis. You need to earn the right to play your football. We've been out hustled at bolton, Everton and Blackburn and have gone belly-up at OT and the Emirates and to some extent Stamford Bridge. At the moment any team in the division could beat us by simply working harder than us.

It's not only hard work mate, it's being aggressive and playing up the pitch and keeping possession. United attack all the time and they tend to swarm teams by playing that way. We aren't good enough at keeping the ball and attacking wise it's been hit and miss this season.

[Howard_lfc]

It's not only hard work mate, it's being aggressive and playing up the pitch and keeping possession. United attack all the time and they tend to swarm teams by playing that way. We aren't good enough at keeping the ball and attacking wise it's been hit and miss this season.

read back what you inititially wrote Fredo. You said that the only way to win the premiership was all out attack, which is wrong.
I gave you Chelsea as an example. If Utd are so attacking - why haven't they won the league for a few years now?

The premiership is a battle first and foremost. Lose the battle - lose the game; it's that simple. Playing up the pitch and constantly attacking can only be done once you've earned the right to so.

[Sydney Vicious]

Momo giving the ball away with every other pass leaves us exposed, discuss.....

Source? Stats?