Gotta say, yday was pretty much everything I hoped WOULDNT happen this season.
Mignolet - vg shot stopper. But the rest of his game can lack a fair bit.
Back 4 - ok will concede less than last yr.. we hope. But how much less? Remember we have less of a forward threat this yr. I like our new fullbacks but they are VERY young. I do like Lovren tho.
Gerrard - physically a shadow of his former self.
Hendo - good player, no more than good.
Midfield- its the midfield that causes our defensive jitters, just as much as its the defence.
Coutinho- yes he can be beautiful to watch. But I'm beginning to feel I'm watching some sort of modern day Garcia, Benayoun or Smicer. Skilled but lacks the array of skills, which is somehow confused with "inconsistency". Budding Luis he ain't so far.
Lallana - I didn't want the signing in the 1st place. I saw him as an expensive "half star" ie a squad player and false economy, if u think Diego Costa only cost 5m more!!
Sterling - fantastic talent, but Christ, don't expect him to carry us thro FOUR competitions, thats insanity (and no I dont mean that silly workout DVD!) Yes he has skill to burn, but let the player have the necessary rest, and let him still learn from .. oh that ship's sailed..
Balotelli - terrific goal yes, but other than that, much of his performance was really disappointing. Esp the cross from the left and it just bounced off his left foot.
Re Balotelli, his talents are undoubted. But I get the feeling his control and pace and powerful shot were things he developed from 14 to 19 or so. To make the final steps you need the awareness, the continual hunger, the intelligence and flexibility etc, stuff u do each yr at the training ground and during matches. A worst case scenario, he could end up like Anelka. Anelka at Arsenal was about the most phenonmenal young striker for his age I think the world has ever seen. But by mid/late 20s, he was a nothing player. I just wonder whether Balotelli, like say Collymore (who had nowhere near his talent) really wants it enough. I dont just mean movement on the pitch, I mean in training.
There IS some work the rest of the team need to do. For instance, Balotelli shoots from far out, because he has one of the most phenomenal shots in football. But similarly, Balotelli MUST move around more.
So far, he has MASSES of work to do to be considered even a fraction of a LUis replacement. And I never thought he could fill that role in the 1st place.
Overall, the problem as I see it, is that you need 11 players each match performing to a particular level. Yes we have some more depth than last yr. But thats no good at all, if the 11 on the pitch are a deterioration from last yr.