Poor overall team performance during the night looking at it in the context of where we need to be.
POSITIVES:
1. We got a win and a clean sheet away from home in Europe using mainly fringe players against a good British opposition which has started playing competitive football before us so where evidently fitter than our team. For me a win is a win, many games last season under King Kenny where we played great but didnt win.
2. Raheem Sterling playing 90 minutes, away from home in Europe and being the stand out player has to be the best thing i can take out of this match. Enough of the age thing, if the player is good he needs to play, Pele was 17 when he won the world cup, Messi started playing for Barca at 16/ 17 years in an over 80,000 capacity stadium with the best players in the world, Owen broke into the Liverpool first team at 16/ 17 and at 18 played in the world cup for England. If the guy is good please he needs to play. Enough of this protecting him cos he is young. Damage was done with Dani Pacheco, i hope they allow the boys talent to flourish. Hope to see him in the first team regularly cos i believe he is much better than those playing there at the moment.
3. Martin Kelly is developing into a decent player, hope to see him play in the center of the defence instead of the right wing position. With his pace, physical presence, though still lacking experience is a candidate for that position ahead of Carra who should just retire.
4. Jack Robinson got a decent run out and i see as a budding talent.
5. Joe Allen seems to be a good buy and miles ahead of what we currently have in the middle of the pack. Would be interesting to see how effective his game play would be.
NEGATIVES:
1. Jonjo Shelvey had his worst game in a Liverpool Shirt. Wouldnt read too much into that. Hope its a one off performance. He is still a good prospect which should be encouraged.
2. Charlie Adam needs to leave the team. He is not just up to grade. He is a small club player. Would flourish better at a smaller club. This dosent necessarily make hima poor player. I just believe the club is too big for his talent.
3. Spearing isnt good enough. He needs to be shipped out. I believe Connor or even Suso would be better use of that space in the squad. Guthrie was better than hima nd he didnt make the grade.
4. Carra needs to retire and quickly too before he costs us some games. Need to know if Caotes is any good, if he is then he needs to start playing.
NEUTRAL:
1. For me the jury is still out on Hendo and Downing. IMO i still think they would come good for the club this season especially Downing provided he is used where he best fits which is out in the wings. Hendo would progress gradually as time goes on.
2. Borini for me is average at best. He is more of a support cast than a point man or a confirmed first team regular. But i see him adding some vital goals during the course of the season.
3. Still have my eyes on PEPE. its still early days.
4. Agger hasnt started the season well either.
But all in all, the team still has a long way to go if we want to zero our selves to one style of footbal which i wouldnt subscribe to. I believe in variation of play and using the right system as required. The team is too one dimentional at the moment and damn too predictable.
When the players are closed down they cant seem top get rid of the ball quickly. The issue isnt just about time to gel and get used to the system, i believe abiblity of the squad in general is also a main issue.
Lets see what the weekend will bring forth when the big guns return.
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