The star of the team

Been a lot of talk about how our season went last year, whether we over achieved, whether other teams underachieved, whether we benefited from no European football, etc.....

So my question is this....who was the star of the team last year (in the states we'd call it the MVP - most valuable player). I know that it takes a team effort from coaches up through owners for a club to be successful. And I'm not trying in any way to slight that idea or single out anyone for criticism. I'm more interested in who you think was the single most important factor for how we performed last season.

Was it Luis for being mostly unplayable, was it Stevie for embracing a different type of role with class and excellence, was it Sterling for emerging as one of the most terrifying threats the opposing team would have to face, was it Brendan Rodgers for the way he adapted, coached, managed and kept the squad believing the entire season that they were as good as they were playing?

I believe that all of these things worked in concert to give us the season we had last year, but if you had to pick just one that if it was removed from that equation, the whole thing would fall apart...who would it be?

I can't hardly post a topic posing a question and not answer so for me I'd have to say that Rodgers was the most important aspect of last season's meteoric rise. Whilst I could make an argument for Luis and Sterling specifically, I think that we proved through some stretches that we could still be successful either without them available or without them playing their best.

Interested to hear some responses as the answer to this question could have an impact on how we will do in the upcoming season. Obviously if you think Luis was the star and the most important piece, next season could be a tough one for that singular reason.

No question for me. Suarez was amazing last season, a World top 3 player at the peak of his powers.  There is however more than one way to skin a rabbit and if we can defend better maybe we won't miss him as much as I fear.

I think we may return to 75 or 80 goals and then it becomes all about the defense.   

Flanagan.

It might seem like an odd comment, but BR is the star of the team for me.

Look at Suarez's stats from previous seasons, then look at last season when BR set the team up to get the most from him. That won't happen at Barca, so expect his stats to dip.

The reason that we got so many goals from Suarez was BR.

Suarez by a country mile.

Studger & Sterling.

Lallana could be up there as well.

Aspas!

No question for me. Suarez was amazing last season, a World top 3 player at the peak of his powers.  There is however more than one way to skin a rabbit and if we can defend better maybe we won't miss him as much as I fear.

I think we may return to 75 or 80 goals and then it becomes all about the defense.   

Our shoddy defending didn't actually cost us the league. What cost us the league were a constant change of tactics and formation, trying to find what suited us best. We first started with a 4-2-3-1, then changed to a 3-5-2, then we got settled with a flexible 4-3-3/4-4-2 diamond.

Think of some games where we dropped points. Aston Villa at home - we lacked creativity and fire power that day. Surprised to even see us equalise. Chelsea - our defence was okay in both games. Two silly errors cost in both games (one from Mignolet Stamford Bridge and the other from Gerrard at Anfield). West Brom away where Kolo passed the ball straight to Anichebe. It was a stupid error but I wouldn't blame poor defending for it - more complete carelessness. Southampton at Anfield - lacked creativity and a back line of four centre backs was a ridiculous approach to take. Manchester City - you could blame Skrtel for being out jumped by Kompany, but you should probably blame Mignolet for being an absolute clown when dealing with Negredo's shot.

A lot of the games we did concede goals in, we actually won. Think 5-3 vs Stoke, 4-3 vs Swansea, 6-3 vs Cardiff, 3-2 vs Fulham, 3-2 vs City, 3-2 Norwich

Of course, now that Luis has gone we really need to sort that defence out otherwise we'll be losing more of these high scoring games than winning.

We do need to sort out the defence, because without Luis we will lack that same attacking potency. But hopefully BR understands that even though you cannot directly replace Luis, you can at least try and limit the loss of quality that he offered us.

Our shoddy defending didn't actually cost us the league. What cost us the league were a constant change of tactics and formation, trying to find what suited us best. We first started with a 4-2-3-1, then changed to a 3-5-2, then we got settled with a flexible 4-3-3/4-4-2 diamond.

You really believe this CR?

I think our flexible approach last season was one of the reasons we done so well.

Our shoddy defending didn't actually cost us the league. What cost us the league

Actually think the two games we lost in December cost us the league, against Man City, which we deserved to win, and Chelsea, in which we had the chances to snatch a point or possibly more, though not quite as deservedly as against Man City.

Actually think the two games we lost in December cost us the league, against Man City, which we deserved to win, and Chelsea, in which we had the chances to snatch a point or possibly more, though not quite as deservedly as against Man City.

You could be right Rodders as it left us chasing too many wins after the New Year. It was always going to be next to impossible to get the 12/14 wins we needed to secure the title.

If we are looking for excuses for last season, rather than trying to pick the reasons why we did so well, I would blame our failure to hold on to leads. Too many games we took the lead yet failed to win the game.

I also don't believe the reason Suarez was so successful last season was because Brendan built the team around him last season.

Suarez scored 31 goals last season, scored 30 the previous season and scored 17 in his first full season (when he was still adapting to a new league and hit the post more times than the great train robbers.)

Ian Ayre. 

YNWA

As much as we all commend Luis , Stevie, Raheem et al , it's the boss who provided the glue, without his influences , his ideas, his philosophy, his belief in his players , the trust , the togetherness , the passion that came with it I doubt we would come anywhere near bridesmaids , CL was our aim, we achieved that comfortably, all of that and not forgetting Dr Stephen Peter's for his installing of  the right mentality and the right physche ,

Has to be the Boss for me, he's the one who brought it all together.


Best boss in the league , by next May he'll prove it,  BELIEVE. !


YNWA

You really believe this CR?

I think our flexible approach last season was one of the reasons we done so well.

Agreed that flexibility won us many points.

What cost us the league was a few blips here and there, some poor defending, some dodgy refs (sterling 10 yard onside goal) and some inexpereince from players and manager.

And some bad luck with defenders getting injured when in good form.

Luis Suarez definitely.

As much as you want to give praise to Brendan Rodgers, but the way Luis Suarez upped some of the players' game is outstanding. It's the same way when you play for your local team and you have a player in your side who is so good that he gives you confidence to play well and he makes you a better player as a result.

Suarez, obviously because of the world class ability he showed last season.

But also Sterling for what it seemed was a season where he decided enough was enough he was going to push on, whether that was due to the players around him or the manager he did it and he was amazing. If he can be as good as last season then we are in for a treat, i feel he was a sensation last season, hoping that Ibe or Suso can follow in his footsteps.

Wanted to say Sturridge also however towards the end of the season, i do feel his form rather dipped as Suarez and Sterling continued with their great performances.

Last year Suarez, this year I reckon Sterling is going to be the player we look to for inspiration. I actually think he is going to be the star of the team for a few years to come and I already have an irrational fear that he is going to be subject to a few bids soon.

Last year Suarez, this year I reckon Sterling is going to be the player we look to for inspiration. I actually think he is going to be the star of the team for a few years to come and I already have an irrational fear that he is going to be subject to a few bids soon.

It's not irrational, not since vtorres vsuarez vsterling put the curse on him.

It's not irrational, not since vtorres vsuarez vsterling put the curse on him.

I think curses qualify as irrational

The star of the team is the TEAM itself and Brendan Rodgers and his helpers!

The star of the team is the TEAM itself and Brendan Rodgers and his helpers!

That's how I see it this season.

Brendan knows he has lost his 'star' so will go about things in a different way.