Although last night's defeat left me in absolute despair (still quite confused as to how that could happen) it's opened my eyes to several problems at the club.
First of all, the team needs to be built around Suarez playing in the hole. He's our best player and shoehorning him into the lone striker role just because we're not an Anfield is a recipe for disaster and failure to get the best out of our best player.
When Lucas is back, the CM pairing for next season pretty much picks itself with Gerrard and Lucas, in the same way that Gerrard and Spearing have worked quite well recently. The back five is also sorted with Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger and Enrique, no problems there with good back ups in Doni, Kelly, Robinson, Flanno and Coates.
I'd also certainly give Downing more games than most, he's looked really good in the last couple of days and certainly gives us something different. Always thought he was decent and he's looking to be that way so far.
So where are we lacking?
It's clear that we need a proper striker up front, Carroll is too immobile and will never fit our style of play and we should cut our losses, Kuyt is a great squad player but we need to look to the future. To regain some balance in the team, we also need a right winger in there. It's just not working without one, Kuyt these days and Henderson will never be the right kind of player to play there.
What pains me is that I'm sure the manager cannot see this issues and refuses to admit defeat when it comes to his poor poor transfers and is too stubborn to play the players we SHOULD be playing (Maxi for example, one of the only players on the same wavelength as Suarez) ahead of them.
For me our team looks like this:
---------------------Reina----------------------
Johnson--Skrtel-----Agger---Enrique
-----------Lucas---------Gerrard-----------
_____----------Suarez----------Downing
-----------------________--------------------
If we want to stand any chance of league progress next season we have to spend and spend big on the two missing links in the team. I'm not entirely confident in the manager to do that but I hope to be proven wrong.
A short comment I would also like to make is perhaps the club needs a new culture. We seem to be relying on a mentality that got us places in the 80s, one that is clearly now working 3 decades later and I think it's time we got a new culture at our club, to refresh things a little bit. If the owners are looking to change the manager, my advice is this:
There's no point changing if we're not getting somebody in of top quality. Other than Rafa, I'd like them to really pull their finger out, show us they mean business and go for Guardiola. Give him plenty of money to spend and proper backing and perhaps he'll be interested in starting afresh with a team? Building a sleeping giant back up to prove he can do it. He's got plenty of time on his side and also an incredible amount of experience.
Breathe...
posted on 22/3/12
So, do you still think that you have a better chance of making 4th than United do of winning the league?
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I thought we did have a better chance of finishing 4th than you did to win the league. I didn't realise we'd crumble the way we have and I didn't think Man City would stumble the way they have.
I was wrong
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And TOOR I know he wanted to leave you moron I've already stated that.
posted on 22/3/12
comment by Fred Bassett and Anfield Cat vs The World - **... (U3979)
posted 16 minutes ago
Now what is it you're going on about?
_______________________________________
Did you not read the rest of it, or the reasons he stayed?
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Yes, and? The point I made was Reina wanted to leave and that he looks like he doesn't want to be here and in my opinion, still wants to leave.
posted on 22/3/12
comment by Fred Bassett and Anfield Cat vs The World - **... (U3979)
posted 10 minutes ago
So, do you still think that you have a better chance of making 4th than United do of winning the league?
_________________________________
I thought we did have a better chance of finishing 4th than you did to win the league. I didn't realise we'd crumble the way we have and I didn't think Man City would stumble the way they have.
I was wrong
__________________________________
And TOOR I know he wanted to leave you moron I've already stated that.
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So why are you yapping like a little dog around my ankles then?
posted on 22/3/12
Well it's nice to hear someone admit they were wrong although with some of the venom and insults you put in to back up your argument and ridicule my suggestions you might struggle in some games you thought you wouldn't, makes me take it with a pinch of salt. City haven't collapsed by the way, the difference was one game, the loss to Swansea. Hardly a collapse and they remedied that last night! A collapse is losing 4 in the last 5 games. You are equal to Bolton in terms of form in the last 5 games. Considering previous form, I'd say that was a collapse!
posted on 22/3/12
Because all you're doing is picking out one small part of what I'm saying and clamping onto that like a limpit.
I'm saying yes he has considered leaving in the past at times far worse than this but he has stated his family's happiness as well as his love for the club made him stay all three teams. The most important thing being that his family are settled in Liverpool and why would he want to disrupt that? That was why he stayed in the first place.
Footballers are humans too and he's clearly happy, he won a trophy this season and will be around many years to see improvement in the league.
I know you won't take in or accept anything I've said, I know what your response will be so do me and JA606 a favour and don't bother responding.
posted on 22/3/12
JKN
I said City stumbled, not collapsed and if they hadn't stumbled and maintained their form they'd still be 4points clear. I've said we've crumbled but collapsed would also be a correct word.
posted on 22/3/12
comment by Fred Bassett and Anfield Cat vs The World - **... (U3979)
posted 4 minutes ago
Because all you're doing is picking out one small part of what I'm saying and clamping onto that like a limpit.
I'm saying yes he has considered leaving in the past at times far worse than this but he has stated his family's happiness as well as his love for the club made him stay all three teams. The most important thing being that his family are settled in Liverpool and why would he want to disrupt that? That was why he stayed in the first place.
Footballers are humans too and he's clearly happy, he won a trophy this season and will be around many years to see improvement in the league.
I know you won't take in or accept anything I've said, I know what your response will be so do me and JA606 a favour and don't bother responding.
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Fred - I haven't disagreed with any of that. It was you who disagreed with me, when I said Reina wanted to leave. You told me to read his autobiography, which I had already, which is how I know he wanted to leave. I explained to you also that many players say they are happy, their family is happy etc, etc. It doesn't mean they don't want to leave. I'm not sure what your problem is. I think you need to grow up in all honesty.
posted on 22/3/12
I know he has wanted to leave in the past, call it a test of faith if you like which is why I feel he wants to stay with us now, as he has gone through far worse at the club and still stayed.
posted on 22/3/12
comment by Fred Bassett and Anfield Cat vs The World - **... (U3979)
posted 3 minutes ago
I know he has wanted to leave in the past, call it a test of faith if you like which is why I feel he wants to stay with us now, as he has gone through far worse at the club and still stayed.
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We've established we both know he wanted to leave, which is the point I was making and you agree with, move on from it. Now we're down to what you're really debating, finally. You don;t believe he wants to leave now. Considering we are not in a great position, haven't brought in big players and how outspoken he says he is, I believe his feelings won't have changed much. Couple that with his performances and body language, I think he wants to leave.
posted on 22/3/12
Ok fair enough .
Not bothered posting my opinion as you'll only ridicule it.