I'm rather bored so decided to work out the average ages of the last starting 11. This has taken a lot of time and effort!
ARSENAL (Sorry for any spelling mistakes - Your players are hard to spell!)
Szesny - 21
Jenkinson - 19
Djourou - 24
Koscielny - 25
Traore - 21
Ramsey - 20
Coqeln - 20
Rosicky - 30
Walcott - 22
Van Persie - 28
Arshavin - 30
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Average Age = 23.60
LIVERPOOL
Reina - 28
Kelly- 21
Carragher - 33
Agger - 26
Enrique - 25
Adam - 25
Lucas - 24
Kuyt - 31
Henderson - 21
Downing - 27
Suarez 24
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Average Age = 25.9
MANCHESTER UNITED (Am I right in thinking this isn't your normal 11?)
De Gea - 20
Smalling - 21
Jones - 19
Evans - 23
Evra - 30
Nani - 24
Cleverly - 22
Anderson - 23
Young - 26
Welbeck - 20
Rooney - 25
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Average Age = 22.9
CHELSEA
Hilario - 35
Bosingwa - 29
Ivanovic - 27
Terry - 30
Cole - 30
Ramires - 24
Obi - 24
Lampard - 33
Drogba - 33
Torres - 27
Malouda - 31
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Average Age = 28.9
MANCHESTER CITY
Hart - 24
Zabaleta - 26
Kompany - 25
Lescott - 29
Clichy - 26
Toure - 28
Barry - 30
Silva - 25
Nasri - 24
Aguero - 23
Dzeko - 25
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Average Age = 25.9
So, While Arsenal have by far the youngest team normally, although due to injuries and suspensions, they still usually have a fairly young team. But will Wenger ever learn you need experienced players to play with and help develop the less experienced players?!
Liverpool, this is basically their starting 11 every week which is fairly young (except Carragher & Kuyt) and experienced side but do they need a world class 18/19 year old?
Manchested United, although a few fairly inexperienced players this side proved to completely dominate Arsenal and could probably come near to winning the league. But do they need a player that would be great leadership for when Ferdinand and Vidic aren't there?!
Chelsea, by far the oldest team. A very experienced team but in desperate need of young yet experienced players - can Lukaku establish himself in the starting line up? In around 3 years when Malouda, Drogba, Lampard, Cole and Terry are past it is there a natural successor to become captain?
Manchester City, the same age as Liverpool. World Class players but do they play as a team or for themselves? For the amount of money on offer anyone would join them but is it where there hearts are? Would players constantly be worried by the fact they could be replaced by anyone in the world instantly? What about youth? Does City bring through players or just buy them once they have hit their prime?
I KNOW THESE AREN'T THE NORMAL STARTING LINEUPS!
Average Ages
posted on 31/8/11
comment by Screen (U8522)
posted 2 minutes ago
Gerrard never understood the concept of fluid football
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posted on 31/8/11
comment by Sid (U1868)
posted 2 minutes ago
Not just because of the manager, but he was a huge part in it.
..............................
I do not buy that for one minute, with Gerrard.
posted on 31/8/11
Go on then, tell me your theory.
posted on 31/8/11
Utter rubbish.
Are you telling me that Gerrard was rubbish last season just because of the manager?
--------------------------
The whole team looked rubbish under Roy and there was a dramatic improvement when KK took over.
The style of football we are playing now is very different to how it was under Hodgson and this will definately suit Gerrard.
posted on 31/8/11
comment by Sid (U1868)
posted 1 minute ago
Go on then, tell me your theory.
............................
I already have, Liverpool fans just do not like to hear it.
Stevie is not the force he once was in the centre of midfield. Not since 2005/2006. Even Rafa figured this out and played him on the right, and then up front with Torres.
Funnily it was Torres most productive season and probably Stevies as well.
Liverpool, at the moment seem to have a well balanced midfield that are working well for each other.
It is my opinion that bringing back Stevie to play in the middle will hamper this.
There really is no need for Liverpool fans to get all emotional over this, the evidence is right in front of you.
posted on 31/8/11
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 31/8/11
I both agree and disagree with both.
Gerrard has rarely shown the discipline to play as a central midfielder and I also agree that I beleive this is why Benitez (rightly) rarely played him there. As Vidichin says he was at his best playing just behind the striker and as an attacking RM.
However I also agree that Hodgsons tactics and general set up hampered a lot of Liverpool players, Gerrard being one of them. This was due his negative, deep lying set up. Players like Gerrard that produce their best play higher up the field were unable to do so as they often received the ball in and around their own penalty area and almost always in their own half.
This changed under Dalglish and whilst I'm yet to be convinced that Gerrard can play central midfield without the aid of two others to cover his raids forward I thought that his performance at central midfield against Chelsea (under Dalglish) was one of the most accomplished central midfield performances of his career. He seemed to carefully select moments to move forward depending on the position of other Liverpool and Chelsea players on the field, less so than his normal gung ho raids forward at any opportunity, he tracked back superbly and rarely gave the ball away really playing for the team.
So there we have it, thats my two cents
<sitonthefencesmiley>
posted on 31/8/11
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
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All you had said in your earlier posts was that Gerrard is rubbish.
Now that you have explained your reasoning i can see your point, about him playing C.M., but there is nothing to say he is rubbish IMO he is still the best midfielder at the club and now that he has finally had his op I have high hopes that he will come back as good as he ever was.
posted on 31/8/11
comment by TalksRubbish (U3303)
-------
Spot on
posted on 31/8/11
The big question is not whether or not Gerard will be able to fit into the team but is he any good anymore?
No doubt he was a top player 4 or 5 years ago but his age topped with his injures you can't really expect him to play the same way. Like others have said he isn't a particularly disciplined player and unlike a player such as Scholes he lacks the natural ability to play deep and dictate play.
It'll be interesting to see where he fits.