Considering that our defense has been very good for the majority of the season i wouldn't put too much blame on the defense today. I think it was just a bad day at the office for the defense! However, it is clear that offensively we have a serious problem! Problem is that I think between Carroll, Hendo, Adam and Downing it isn't working collectively. I don't have a problem with them being in the squad, although i think today just shows that they're not good enough for our starting 11. However, with Luis and Lucas back in the team i think we're only 2 or 3 players away from having a strong enough starting 11 and squad!
Having said that though, it wouldn't matter if we had Messi, Iniesta and Higuain in the team, if they don't show the fight and desire to win the game then it's never going to work. In my eyes Kenny has every right to criticize the team publicly and has done the right thing! Kenny is only responsible for much needed transfer activity, however it's the players responsibility to change the results and certainly the performances!
Carroll - i don't mind him as a player, but he just doesn't fit into the way that we play. To be honest before the start of last season i had never heard of the lad, and his record seemed to suggest that before last season he wasn't exactly prolific when on loan in the championship. Newcastle played to his strengths, which we are not doing, which is a shame not utilizing what he has. But i personally hope that for both Liverpool and Carroll's sake, that he leaves, just because i don't see him fitting in!
Hendo - i think he's being unfairly judged, like has been commented before, you won't get much out of him playing him on the right. He is lacking confidence which is probably why he keeps passing sideways and backwards. But he's one for the future and people are expecting way too much from him, although admittedly £20 million may have been a bit much!
Adam - I though he was more than a Match Of The Day player, turns out i may be wrong! Always thought for the fee he wouldn't be that bad of a signing, and i still stand by that, mainly because of the quality he provided from set-pieces and his passing ability. But this hasn't been the case. I would still keep him in the squad, but Adam only works in a team where he has a defensive midfielder for him to rely on!
Downing - Apart for the £35 million paid for Carroll, i would say that Downing has been the biggest waste of money. He has certainly been the biggest disappointment by far. Most frustrating of all is that he always makes the right runs and gets into the right positions, but lets himself down with the final ball, whether it be a shot, pass or cross ect. His stats of goals and assists sum up how well he's done so far, and with him past his peak i think he would only serve us well on our bench!
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