Liverpool Without the SAS

Last season.
It was glorious.


Suarez and Sturridge.

The unstoppable force.
Steam-rolling teams all over the land.
We rejoiced. We enjoyed the ride.
The media loved it.
Other teams feared it.

and now it's gone.

It the cold harsh light of life post SAS we have a lot of questions that need answering.

Last season's Goals For - 101.
Only City scored more - 102

Last season's Goals Against - 50.
Put's us in midtable.

We knew Suarez was leaving.
We knew Sturridge was injury prone.
The boom time was coming to an end.

Surely we needed to replace the high pressing game of our attackers this summer.
I mean, if the defence was still going to be horrendous then surely you need new
wild dogs up the high end. Harrying. Chasing. Intimidating. Frightening the F***ing
life out of the other team.

No. We bought two target men.

There is no FEAR FACTOR here anymore.
Until we rectify that we are in trouble.

What a photo.

If they had played another season or two together we'd have won the league and they would have gone down as the best strike force pairing the premiership has ever seen.

Ones now injured and the other was replaced by Lambert and Balotelli

Time to cry.

It's not just a fear factor gone, team's don't fancy a win against us, they go in to games confident they can beat us knowing we pose no threat to their defence and that our defence crumbles with the slightest pressure. Last Summer's transfer window has to go down in history as the club's worst ever Summer. It's turned us in to a laughing stock.

It's not just a fear factor gone, team's don't fancy a win against us, they go in to games confident they can beat us knowing we pose no threat to their defence and that our defence crumbles with the slightest pressure. Last Summer's transfer window has to go down in history as the club's worst ever Summer. It's turned us in to a laughing stock.

The fear factor is what stopped Uniteds average midfield from being exposed for years.
If we'd kept the pairing of Suarez and Sturridge together for a couple of years it would have cemented us at the summit of the Premier League and allowed us to build around it.

Look at United when they lost it last season.
Even now it's hard for them to claw it back.
The only team that has it now -Chelsea.

we have basically been castrated

Great Post Racer



We havent the attack.

+

(We havent the defence )

(We havent the Goalkeeper)

It's true, but same can be said every quality partnership we have had over the years.

We are LFC and we move on.

YNWA.

ps. things will gradually get better this season, esp. after studger is fit. I can see him, balo & sterling clicking very soon.

It's true, but same can be said every quality partnership we have had over the years.

We are LFC and we move on.

YNWA.

ps. things will gradually get better this season, esp. after studger is fit. I can see him, balo & sterling clicking very soon.

We replaced Torres with Suarez and Carroll.
1 out. 2 in. 50 million in. 50 million out.
Suarez turned out to be fantastic.
Carroll didn't work.
That's football.

We replaced Suarez with Balotelli and Lambert.
1 out. 2 in. 65 million in. 20 million out.
Both are target men.
Neither have worked out.
That's not doing your F***ing homework.

That's not doing your f**king homework.

 

Balotelli and Lambert for Suarez must be one of the most stupid things this great club has ever done in the transfer window. It's just embarrassing and that's not even considering the other half of the great partnership can't play 5 games without getting injured.

Great Post Racer



We havent the attack.

+

(We havent the defence )

(We havent the Goalkeeper)

We haven't the midfield either....

What do we have

We we have a handful of very good players, and a handful of very talented starlets, but we lack an identity and cohesion in the way we play. BR needs to pull his thumb out and come up with some new ideas, because his current plan of sending out the same 11 players with the same instructions and expecting different results is getting old fast....

Lambert was signed well before Suarez was sold, before the international window opened up, before the World Cup, before Suarez bit another human being on a football pitch for the third time (that we know of ), so in reality it was more like Lambert for Borini or Aspas, who were both on the outs. Any purpose in signing Lambert went out the window when Balotelli was signed.

Balotelli was more Suarez's replacement, and hell, he was the third option behind Sanchez and Remy. Like I said about a week ago, if we had signed either one of them, we would be much better off than we are now even with Sturridge's injury. Why we targeted a guy in Balotelli who doesn't match our style is idiotic.

We haven't the midfield either....

I was trying to be kind   .................. 

Lambert was signed well before Suarez was sold, before the international window opened up, before the World Cup, before Suarez bit another human being on a football pitch for the third time (that we know of ), so in reality it was more like Lambert for Borini or Aspas, who were both on the outs. Any purpose in signing Lambert went out the window when Balotelli was signed.

Balotelli was more Suarez's replacement, and hell, he was the third option behind Sanchez and Remy. Like I said about a week ago, if we had signed either one of them, we would be much better off than we are now even with Sturridge's injury. Why we targeted a guy in Balotelli who doesn't match our style is idiotic.

Bingo.

But we targeted Balotelli because he was a big name on the cheap that might turn out good for us.

No one in the world could have replaced Suarez but damn....we sure didn't really even try that hard to figure out a way to do that very thing did we.

Like a dog without a tail, that wags !!

Bingo.

F**k It !
Couldn't resist it again ....

Whenever I see that word ...



http://youtu.be/Ugpg8XruhVk

No need for alarm - Balotelli is going to be the Cantona of Liverpool 

http://www.espnfc.com/club/liverpool/364/blog/post/2146360/lfc-fans-dont-need-to-panic--yet

Most people argued in the past that we were dependent on few players.

Fact is, all football teams are dependent on few players. No matter how good the players in the squad are, there will always be two or three game changers.

F**k It !
Couldn't resist it again ....

Whenever I see that word ...



http://youtu.be/Ugpg8XruhVk

No need for alarm - Balotelli is going to be the Cantona of Liverpool 

http://www.espnfc.com/club/liverpool/364/blog/post/2146360/lfc-fans-dont-need-to-panic--yet

I was dead set against him coming here and there is no real reason why I shouldn't just start on him as a major fault this season, I still can't, I can see what's going on each game and there is no link in that final third of the pitch.
He's here now and it shouldn't be put on his shoulders.
I could get a quote of mine from the transfer gossip in the summer and you or anyone will see I was really mean about him, the point I'm trying to make is, if I'm not going to get on his back even after that opinion I had, I must be concerned about other things in the team/tactics more.

Thanks for sharing the article anyway

Even with SAS we are far off the standard required to win the Prem. They were on exceptional form last season. Chelsea finished a couple points behind us with no decent strikers. Liverpool without any decent strikers are more midtable quality than top four quality. That's the difference.

We'd need to strengthen other areas anyway, including GK, defence, and midfield. SAS just helped us hide our inadequacies at the time.

last season we had the best strike force since Rush and Kenny at their peak ,how could anyone at Liverpool Football club start a season with Balotelli and someone else. I cannot think of a decision that is so wrong yet nobody has been sacked or even brought to book

Most people argued in the past that we were dependent on few players.
Fact is, all football teams are dependent on few players. No matter how good the players in the squad are, there will always be two or three game changers.

..... and our game changers are  .....   ?

..... and our game changers are  .....   ?

Sterling and Studge.

There is hope for Lallana and Coutinho can be on his day too....

..... and our game changers are  .....   ?

That's the problem. To an extent, we would probably now rely on Sturridge, Sterling or even Coutinho.

SAS were our game changers last season and now we've only got a quarter of that left in an injury prone Sturridge.

It's true, but same can be said every quality partnership we have had over the years.

We are LFC and we move on.

YNWA.

ps. things will gradually get better this season, esp. after studger is fit. I can see him, balo & sterling clicking very soon.

No it can't. Look at our past partnerships. Hunt and St John, Keegan and Toshack, Dalglish and Rush, Aldridge and Beardsley, Fowler and Owen, Gerrard and Torres, Saurez and Sturridge; this without mixing the partnerships. Quality replacing quality throughout our history. Somehow I can't see Lambert and Balotelli entering the hall of fame of Liverpool striker partnerships.

the defence is key in winning a title

Question was  Harry  ... 

and our game changers are ?

Sterling and Studge.

and then there was one.

This sobers you up better than the hair of the dog.

Us without SAS = us having not progressed as much as we had all thought.

the defence is key in winning a title

Yes.

Like a dog without a tail, that wags !!

More like a dog walking backwards wagging it's head.

Even with SAS we are far off the standard required to win the Prem. They were on exceptional form last season. Chelsea finished a couple points behind us with no decent strikers. Liverpool without any decent strikers are more midtable quality than top four quality. That's the difference.

We'd need to strengthen other areas anyway, including GK, defence, and midfield. SAS just helped us hide our inadequacies at the time.

You should remember the way the general team was playing,our flowing style.It was an overall excellent team in terms of going forward in attack.The best team in general last season.Our defense however...The 2 thirds of the machine had to compensate.The attacking dream duo fit in that style and were the vital final component.Not just any strikers can fit in that place,play at that speed.We def don´t have 2 in that mold that could play right now, so we would need to use a lone striker formation for a 9,which we could last season.Problem is our current form.Chelsea is working right now because players kept/bettered their form and new boys were also consistent with their former club form.Neither is the case for us here.What is certain is that without a player of Suarez´s type we were always going to decrease goal production,you can´t beat speed,but we are where we are due to form more than a flawed midfield being exposed.

Couldn't help but think that City last night with Aguero reminded me of us  with Luis last season.
Take away Aguero from City and they are a different team.
its clear top sides really need a top man in the side

Couldn't help but think that City last night with Aguero reminded me of us  with Luis last season.
Take away Aguero from City and they are a different team.
its clear top sides really need a top man in the side

Let this be a learning lesson to the club that you do not sell your top players, regardless of what baggage they tend to carry.

We've turned from "There's always next year"

To.....  "There's always last year"

Great teams through the years have taken a team far and added quality to it, making it an unstoppable winning machine.  United are evident of this, Chelsea and Barcelona are now doing this, whereas we let our best striker walk out and add TRIPE to the team.

You lead from the front.
Strikers pressing high up the pitch set the tone for the rest of the team.

Last season the confidence from Suarez and Sturridge surged through the rest of the team.

United struggled. They spent big on attacking players.
Keep the fear factor. Force teams onto the back foot.
Make them think about attacking or not.
Keep defenders on edge.

This season.
Nothing.

Tonight.
Started with Lambert.
Finished with Skrtel.

Feels like Brendan has undone everything in one transfer window,
probably because he, and whoever dictated our strategy, has.

Life without SAS make sus like QPR or Palace

I said it the other day, I feel like Shallow Hal when he realises Gwyneth Paltrow is actually a 5 ton whale. That sums up this season compared to last.

Life without the SAS sucks.

Time to give the false 9 a run out for a few games.

I said it the other day, I feel like Shallow Hal when he realises Gwyneth Paltrow is actually a 5 ton whale. That sums up this season compared to last.

Life without the SAS sucks.

Time to give the false 9 a run out for a few games.

Agree on both the movie comparison and the formation suggestion.
Sterling. False 9.

An important part of the title of this thread is the 'A'.

Bored shitless now of one striker.

From TWO ball playing through-ball-esque strikers to ONE 'try and get it on me head' striker.  Beyond belief.  Thought he had a philosophy?

Agree on both the movie comparison and the formation suggestion.
Sterling. False 9.

I rather a proper #9 in Borini. He is a striker first and foremost with a mind set of a striker that make runs and work hard from the front, this would make a huge difference. We have not had this at all this season, have we?

Him and Lallana up top in a diamond would be interesting as both are intelligent footballers with very good movement, maybe it'll be our temporary answer to the SAS.

An important part of the title of this thread is the 'A'.

Bored shitless now of one striker.

From TWO ball playing through-ball-esque strikers to ONE 'try and get it on me head' striker.  Beyond belief.  Thought he had a philosophy?

If we had a philosophy we abandoned it the moment Balotelli and Lambert arrived.
Both at odds with how we played football last season.
Baffling transfer window.

You should remember the way the general team was playing,our flowing style.It was an overall excellent team in terms of going forward in attack.The best team in general last season.Our defense however...The 2 thirds of the machine had to compensate.The attacking dream duo fit in that style and were the vital final component.Not just any strikers can fit in that place,play at that speed.We def don´t have 2 in that mold that could play right now, so we would need to use a lone striker formation for a 9,which we could last season.Problem is our current form.Chelsea is working right now because players kept/bettered their form and new boys were also consistent with their former club form.Neither is the case for us here.What is certain is that without a player of Suarez´s type we were always going to decrease goal production,you can´t beat speed,but we are where we are due to form more than a flawed midfield being exposed.

Unfortunately, the best team in general were City. That's why they won the league. They scored more goals in total and conceded far less. No other way of looking at it. SAS carried us. That much is apparent. But they also gave the whole team a lift which is now so obviously missing.

We lack...bite

An important part of the title of this thread is the 'A'.

Bored shitless now of one striker.

From TWO ball playing through-ball-esque strikers to ONE 'try and get it on me head' striker.  Beyond belief.  Thought he had a philosophy?

All managers like to have a philosophy.. or so they say. A form of defending themselves when things are not quite up to scratch "we are still working on it blah blah" (translates to "I don't have a clue what I am doing").

Agree on both the movie comparison and the formation suggestion.
Sterling. False 9.

I've been an advocate of either giving Borini a proper chance (at least he would offer us movement, the lack of which is seriously degrading the performances of players like Sterling and Coutinho) or simply playing with no strikers, but enough attacking players - a bit like we did near the end of the game against Basel.

Given that Borini is hardly much of a goal threat, I'd be inclined to try the second option for our next few games. I'd play all of Markovic, Coutinho, Lallana and Sterling.

I've been an advocate of either giving Borini a proper chance (at least he would offer us movement, the lack of which is seriously degrading the performances of players like Sterling and Coutinho) or simply playing with no strikers, but enough attacking players - a bit like we did near the end of the game against Basel.

Given that Borini is hardly much of a goal threat, I'd be inclined to try the second option for our next few games. I'd play all of Markovic, Coutinho, Lallana and Sterling.

We played better without a striker last night.

Lallana and Markovic either side of Sterling,
would have a lot of pace and movement.

Maybe Coutinho with Sterling and Markovic.

Allows us to use the midfield system from last season.

We played better without a striker last night.

Lallana and Markovic either side of Sterling,
would have a lot of pace and movement.

Maybe Coutinho with Sterling and Markovic.

Allows us to use the midfield system from last season.

Cant believe we are discussing this

Because it means we did sh*t with the Suarez transfer money. You lose an irreplaceable player, you get the second best thing. We just got a crapload of average guys, and correct me if im wrong, we didnt even spend the whole amount

Cant believe we are discussing this

Because it means we did sh*t with the Suarez transfer money. You lose an irreplaceable player, you get the second best thing. We just got a crapload of average guys, and correct me if im wrong, we didnt even spend the whole amount

We spent more than just the Suarez money.
Yet here we are discussing the merits of playing with no strikers, because none of our new strikers suit how we played last season.

Agree on both the movie comparison and the formation suggestion.
Sterling. False 9.

But Stirling shits himself in front of goal more often than not.

But Stirling shits himself in front of goal more often than not.

Sterling probably needs a bit of a rest.
For a player at his age we are overplaying him.

Maybe give Markovic and himself time in the false 9.
Didn't Markovic play more centrally at times before he arrived here.

We spent more than just the Suarez money.
Yet here we are discussing the merits of playing with no strikers, because none of our new strikers suit how we played last season.

Last season we had two strikers in Godlike form, that made the whole team elevate their performance. That becomes clearer every day. Sterling Hendo, Cou, and even the Skipper havent been able to replicate last years form. We didnt just "lose" two players (one who didnt want to be here, and one who is injured), those players were, as it turns out, the ones that made everyone else around them look good. And in addition, forced opposing teams to think twice before attacking us.

Now our Def is exposed for what it is and was: average at best

We didnt just "lose" two players (one who didnt want to be here, and one who is injured), those players were, as it turns out, the ones that made everyone else around them look good.

There is another way of seeing this though.

Obviously, having Suarez and Sturridge upfront has made everyone's lives much easier - that much is true for every team with top quality forwards.

However, it is not simply the case that the rest of the team was mediocre and made to look good with Suarez (players like Coutinho, Sterling and Henderson are, in my opinion, far better than that), but mostly due to the fact that the players replacing Suarez/Sturridge are at best average and, perhaps crucially, of a totally different type that hardly suits the style the rest of the team grew accustomed with.

A key thing to remember, for instance, is that, despite being inconsistent, Raheem Sterling remains the u-21 player with most chances created in the top 5 European leagues this season. His quality is beyond question IMO. He'll be good whether he plays with Suarez and Sturridge or not, but any quick creative player will struggle and have his performances degraded when playing with either a lazy f**ker like Balotelli or the very immobile Lambert in front of him. You don't need Suarez to see Sterling's quality, just give him more suitable partners and he'll look better, of course - football is a team sport.

We probably would be a worse team without Suarez irrespective of replacement (as I think only Messi and Ronaldo are above him in terms of talent) but I think there's a tendency to dismiss the rest of the squad way too easily (all that "one man team" crap that ignored the fact we actually had a pretty good record without Suarez), and this is a short sighted view in my opinion.

  :f_wah:just watching Luis and Mascherano £100mil worth of talent.

:f_wah:just watching Luis and Mascherano £100mil worth of talent.

Priceless.

Priceless.

Stick Masch and Luis in last nights team and its a different result.Boy do we have some very average players now and that's ok unless you have an average manager too

With a seemingly ageing captain, top scorer in the side with 5 goals, a very suspect 'keeper & equally suspect defence. Without the SAS partnership,to paper over the cracks we are f*cked I am afraid.

With a seemingly ageing captain, top scorer in the side with 5 goals, a very suspect 'keeper & equally suspect defence. Without the SAS partnership,to paper over the cracks we are f*cked I am afraid.

it would appear that way wouldn't it.

Afraid so mate.

liverpool without SAS is lost,apsolutely lost

Luis scored one and made one tonight

Liverpool without both of their best players (who just so happen to be their front two) are nowhere near so good as they were when both were playing. Who would have thought it?

Liverpool without both of their best players (who just so happen to be their front two) are nowhere near so good as they were when both were playing. Who would have thought it?

That's the thing about common sense.
It's not so common.

Lost the league's two top scorers.
It's sent us back to square one.

Liverpool without both of their best players (who just so happen to be their front two) are nowhere near so good as they were when both were playing. Who would have thought it?

Yeah, strange.

also we changed our entire style to suit those two players and had a team built around them. woah imagine if we struggled the next season without them. wouldn't that be strange. we would have to call for our managers head instantly i reckon. try to start again with another young manager. 12 months should do it!