Midfield - The key to football, why are we getting it wrong?

Great post fella. Central midfield is not our biggest problem, far from it. It's up top and in wide areas. Improve the quality out wide and add more options up top and we would be in far better shape.

I agree with immediate priority but I don't agree that the role of a dominant controlling CM has died - it has changed yes but it's far from dead. Look no further than Xabi Alonso - he's not a traditional CM, more of a quarterback but by god he puts a shift. He covers but he's not a traditional DM either. He's also a first pick when fit for the World Champs.

I just feel in this league we could use someone who can change the point of attack etc and control - but possibly one for the summer if its an either or right now.

Hasn't Sahin been left out because of his nose injury?

I find it hard to believe that Rodgers is going to leave a guy like him out of the squad (not even on the bench) when he was one of the ones pulling strings to get him here.

As for Allen, he seems to have been overrated at the beginning of the season and now underrated. I don't see Allen as a pushover at all. Early in the year he was almost a flawless passer, he seems to be a good tackler especially for his size and yes his most recent form has dipped but he was played out of position for awhile with Lucas gone and he never had any kind of rest. I think he'll be fine after a couple of games on the bench.

A bit tired to post anything really meaningful but does anyone think Jay could have had a part to play during Lucas injury lay off?

I've always thought Spearing time be a real solid player with gold ability on the ball and sitting with Allen and Gerrard ahead might have been an option.

I think he would have protected the back four well and with hindsight it was another transfer mistake to let him go.With JAy you were never in doubt that he was giving 100%

I think he would have protected the back four well and with hindsight it was another transfer mistake to let him go.With JAy you were never in doubt that he was giving 100%

Sometimes 100% isn't enough. The skill has to be there and although I like Jay for what he gives, I seem to remember him getting a lot of grief at the end of last season as his play just wasn't good enough.

Sometimes 100% isn't enough. The skill has to be there and although I like Jay for what he gives, I seem to remember him getting a lot of grief at the end of last season as his play just wasn't good enough.

That's because he was Jay Spearing and it was a whole lot easier to blame him than some of the bigger names who were making just as many, if not more, mistakes.

As for this year, I don't think Jay could of done any worse than what our central midfielders have done so far. But he's Jay Spearing so he won't get a look in with Liverpool fans.

That's because he was Jay Spearing and it was a whole lot easier to blame him than some of the bigger names who were making just as many, if not more, mistakes.

As for this year, I don't think Jay could of done any worse than what our central midfielders have done so far. But he's Jay Spearing so he won't get a look in with Liverpool fans.

When we had Alonso and Gerrard then an improving Lucas Jay was still a kid but I honestly think he should have walked into this team I even think he is built for Brendans style of play.

When we had Alonso and Gerrard then an improving Lucas Jay was still a kid but I honestly think he should have walked into this team I even think he is built for Brendans style of play.

Jay is built for this style mate.

He gets it, he tends to keep it and is always looking forward. He also gets across the pitch quicker than a lot of the players we've got in that position at the moment.

Not trying to marginalize his game by any means and I like the kid and the effort he brings...but just using the eye test the end of last season...he shouldn't have been a starter for a Liverpool side. He was forced into work with Lucas's injury and he did a commendable job, but for a starting 11 he wasn't up to the task in my opinion. Apologies if that pisses anyone off, just my opinion.

BR's philosophy is to have one sitting deep breaking up opposition's play and play simple passes(Busquets) , one playing slightly up and create opportunities (xavi) and one player playing behind striker with scoring and creating goals(inesta).

Right now our problem is we have two Busquets type players in lucas and Allen. So it is all down to the AM Gerrard . If he had an off day we are fu**ed.
May be SAhin along with lucas will be a better mid field. Lucas and Allen not complementing each other. 

But he's Jay Spearing so he won't get a look in with Liverpool fans.

So you're implying that Liverpool fans don't like players from Liverpool?

BR's philosophy is to have one sitting deep breaking up opposition's play and play simple passes(Busquets) , one playing slightly up and create opportunities (xavi) and one player playing behind striker with scoring and creating goals(inesta).

Right now our problem is we have two Busquets type players in lucas and Allen. So it is all down to the AM Gerrard . If he had an off day we are fu**ed.
May be SAhin along with lucas will be a better mid field. Lucas and Allen not complementing each other. 

It's more than that mate - opposition are walking through us. That's not the AM

Lucas and Allen not complementing each other.

Lucas and Allen played together the amazing amount of FIVE games. Yes, five games, of whom we won 2, lost 2 and drew 1.

Maybe it will just take a bit longer than that for them to work well as midfield partners?

So you're implying that Liverpool fans don't like players from Liverpool?

I would guess Billy is implying that many fans would rather have an expensive foreign signing than Jay in the side.

I think Jay might have added something during Lucas absence but then Brendan wasn't counting on Lucas getting injured again so soon.

I do think that Jay might have offered more than Sahin has so far as he has taken quite a while to settle.

It's up top and in wide areas. Improve the quality out wide and add more options up top and we would be in far better shape.

Ipso facto quality in depth, the result of sell to buy and wage cutting.
Improving the standard in one area is futile when questions are asked about discrepancies in positions of play elsewhere.
The squad is stripped to the bone and results and consistency tell the tale.

Lucas and Allen played together the amazing amount of FIVE games. Yes, five games, of whom we won 2, lost 2 and drew 1.

Maybe it will just take a bit longer than that for them to work well as midfield partners?

Actually i said that because they are similar type of players. Both likes to sit deep and play simple passes. Allen was never known for creating chances or scoring goals. I don't see a place for allen on the team when lucas plays. It has to be some one creative to be with him.

Because to play with 3 midfielders like Barcelona do, you need good/very good players who have the ability to defend and attack. Guess what? We don't. Lucas is not good enough to play as a lone CDM, and Shelvey is no good to start at all. Instead of Allen/Shelvey helping Gerrard building the attacks, Stevie has to help them defending. It's a total joke that Shelvey is starting ahead of Gerrard in that CAM position!

Because to play with 3 midfielders like Barcelona do, you need good/very good players who have the ability to defend and attack. Guess what? We don't. Lucas is not good enough to play as a lone CDM, and Shelvey is no good to start at all. Instead of Allen/Shelvey helping Gerrard building the attacks, Stevie has to help them defending. It's a total joke that Shelvey is starting ahead of Gerrard in that CAM position!

I've questioned Gerrards role myself but I think Brendan wants his experience while Lucas has been out.

I've questioned Gerrards role myself but I think Brendan wants his experience while Lucas has been out.

I would've played Hendo and pushed Gerrard forward, whatever happens IMO Gerrard's position should be untouchable unless we get a better CAM in the next shopping windows.

I would guess Billy is implying that many fans would rather have an expensive foreign signing than Jay in the side.

I think Jay might have added something during Lucas absence but then Brendan wasn't counting on Lucas getting injured again so soon.

I do think that Jay might have offered more than Sahin has so far as he has taken quite a while to settle.

Fair enough, but there's a reason a lot of people don't look at Jay with much excitement and that is because he has never been that good, actually. He's a decent squad player but not much more than that, and four different managers seen to think similarly on that issue.

It's nothing to do with any kind of prejudices Liverpool fans have as DLS seemed to imply, if anything I would say fans tend to have a lot more patience with youth products than they do with expensive signings.

Actually i said that because they are similar type of players. Both likes to sit deep and play simple passes. Allen was never known for creating chances or scoring goals. I don't see a place for allen on the team when lucas plays. It has to be some one creative to be with him.

I understand what you're saying but again, Lucas and Allen have only played together for five games. It's not natural for Allen to just sit deep, he did play a lot like that while Lucas was injured though. At Swansea he got involved in a lot more than just defense, even if he's not an assist machine or anything like that.

You compare us to Barcelona, remember Xavi is the link-up midfielder and he wasn't exactly an assist machine either. However Xavi himself once said he's only as good as his team, because he makes everyone around him better by keeping the ball and spreading it around, but for it to be productive he is largely dependent on the rest of the team. Only after the arrival of Pep Guardiola did he start to regularly provide with 10+ assists a season.

Fair enough, but there's a reason a lot of people don't look at Jay with much excitement and that is because he has never been that good, actually. He's a decent squad player but not much more than that, and four different managers seen to think similarly on that issue.

It's nothing to do with any kind of prejudices Liverpool fans have as DLS seemed to imply, if anything I would say fans tend to have a lot more patience with youth products than they do with expensive signings.

It's all opinion Deigo as many of us do think Jay is good enough.

It's all opinion Deigo as many of us do think Jay is good enough.

It is indeed as i completely disagree Got to give it to the boy though, can see he loved to wear the shirt which unfortunately cant be said about the whole squad.

I don't think it's just the selection. The players must also know how to put in a good shift. This is also's BR's job to ensure the players are well prepared. All of us can select and redeploy players in different formations. The manager is the manager because he overseas training sessions as well. If he cannot even whip the players into good shape, then the board may as well sack him.

I could recall the first game Sahin started for us until he got an injury to his nose, admittedly I was one of the very few that threw all kinds of verbal abuses at him for being weak and soft in his tackle, but credit to him he has toughened himself up and committed a few rugby like tackles along the way and made players difficult to go pass him. I think he has cope well with the physical side of the game in the PL and he's an intelligent player, he knwos where and when to turn up inside the box to score, sadly many our players lacked such vision. I'd keep him beyond this season.