Barclays Asia Trophy (27th-30th July 2011)

[barrysleftfoot]

  I have'nt watched the game yet, one thing that is coming out is the balance in the centre of midfield is not right.

  I am a big fan of Delph, but not alongside Petrov, who i think is most of the problem.Too pedestrian, too immobile, too slow.Makoun is a must to start, and i think Ireland, when on his game, is exactly the kind of player to play off Bent.For me a Parker/Capoute kind of payer is a must.Bannan and Gardner etc can come in as and when.

  Starting to get a bit worried about Albrighton tbh.Poor end to the season, quite lethargic and indifferent, and seems to have started this season the same.Over the next 12 months, i would expect there to be a new back 4.

  Overall though, lets have a look at the kids, and the signings of Given and N'Zog are excellant, both, for me an improvement on what has gone out.

[Simba]

In fairness Chelsea should win the League this year. What a squad! And as for Boas, he speaks better English than like what I do.

However, unfit or not in comparison we look disorganised. AM simply hasn't found the team yet and of course that is understandable. We were made to look lightweight today.

As for Torres - well he looked more surprised than anybody that it went in. He had no time to think about it I guess and instinct took over. What a keeper we have!

[eastie]

the trip will have been a worthwhile exercise. It allowed the squad to spend some time together. We played 2 PL teams as opposed to taking the easy way out as some other teams will do in pre-season. I mean, how concerned would you be as a Liverpool fan right now if you've just invested what they have without scoring a goal against Hull and Galatasaray and conceding 6. It was very tough conditions and the boys will be glad to come home to a more sedate climate.

For AM, he'll have learnt a lot about what he has and what he might need in the time left in the window. I don't think it's a great deal more, but I'd expect to see 2 or 3 more in, be they loans or permanent moves. More importantly he'll have got to know the players better, and they'll have got to know him and the newer staff.

i thought liverpool played their reserve teams in those 2  games?

[noodles_]

 [/quote]

i thought liverpool played their reserve teams in those 2  games?
[/quote]

They had Downing and Henderson playing against Hull with a few first teamers and reserves/youth players.

[eastie]

Would Lerner give him the money though if he decided he wanted to bring in say Dann and Parker?

hopefully yes, even if it was on the understandng that it was including the january budget too, dann and parker would be enormous assets.

not totally convinced bannan is ready but i think he deserves a run in the team so we can see how he does, petrov is not the answer and id go with bannan and makoun.


thanks noodles.

[Clark W Griswold]

I wouldn't mind a midfield combo of Makoun, Petrov ( for an experienced head) and GGardner. Gardner looked like the kind of player who gets everywhere and competes, which is precisely what we need. And i think Petrov would make up for his lack of experience and Gardner would make up for Petrovs lack of mobility, alongside our current best CM Makoun. With Bent, N'Zog and Gabby in the more advanced positions. And for the love of god, can we shift Collins out for Cuellar or Clark. Or even McLeish.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Would Lerner give him the money though if he decided he wanted to bring in say Dann and Parker?

hopefully yes, even if it was on the understandng that it was including the january budget too, dann and parker would be enormous assets.

not totally convinced bannan is ready but i think he deserves a run in the team so we can see how he does, petrov is not the answer and id go with bannan and makoun.


thanks noodles.

I honestly think Lerner will back him. Not sure if Lerner was there today, but it was clear as a bell that we need at least two players. Impressed with G Gardner and we never looked like we could string two passes together until Makoun came on.  Oh and Shay Given looked top draw .........

[KRS]

With regards to starting XI, the team is starting to pick itself with the exception of Makouns CM partner...

Given
Young Collins Dunne Warnock
Makoun <insert player>
Albrighton Ireland N'Zobgia
Bent

Petrov/Delph/Gardner partner Makoun
Ireland needs to gel with the rest of the team
Albrighton could be switched for Bannan

 

[stubbsyandy]

a decent week I reckon, the team and management have had chance to get to know eachother better (without resorted to getting bladdered) and will have shed a few pounds in that heat.
We need a physical presence in midfield, or we run the risk of being outweighed with too many smaller players, no matter how skilful.
Albrighton is a concern, not so much his fitness but his body language seems all wrong; no confidence.
I think Bannen is having a damn good go at making an impression, and the bit I saw of Gardner I liked. Bent is class, as is Given who is going to be immense for us.
But, you look at Chelsea and they looked class, in better shape physically and with better players. At the start I thought it was going to be another seven, but we did ok in the end, and it was a meaningful friendly
Good to see us looking at everyone, and trying the youngsters out.
Good luck everyone for the season!

[Toronto Villa]

the trip will have been a worthwhile exercise. It allowed the squad to spend some time together. We played 2 PL teams as opposed to taking the easy way out as some other teams will do in pre-season. I mean, how concerned would you be as a Liverpool fan right now if you've just invested what they have without scoring a goal against Hull and Galatasaray and conceding 6. It was very tough conditions and the boys will be glad to come home to a more sedate climate.

For AM, he'll have learnt a lot about what he has and what he might need in the time left in the window. I don't think it's a great deal more, but I'd expect to see 2 or 3 more in, be they loans or permanent moves. More importantly he'll have got to know the players better, and they'll have got to know him and the newer staff.

i thought liverpool played their reserve teams in those 2  games?

a mix. Carroll played in both, Henderson and Downing were involved certainly in the first. It wasn't their reserves but like everyone right now the squad was used. It must be alarming to them that with a few players out they become so ordinary. You certainly wouldn't say that about Man U, Chelsea or Man City. Even Arsenal and Spurs seem to have better depth.

In any case, we will have learnt some lessons from this trip and a lot of good things will have come out of it also.

[Villa'Zawg]

Would Lerner give him the money though if he decided he wanted to bring in say Dann and Parker?

hopefully yes, even if it was on the understandng that it was including the january budget too, dann and parker would be enormous assets.

not totally convinced bannan is ready but i think he deserves a run in the team so we can see how he does, petrov is not the answer and id go with bannan and makoun.


thanks noodles.

I honestly think Lerner will back him. Not sure if Lerner was there today, but it was clear as a bell that we need at least two players. Impressed with G Gardner and we never looked like we could string two passes together until Makoun came on.  Oh and Shay Given looked top draw .........

Even under a strict sell-to-buy policy there should still be the best part of £20m in the transfer kitty. Not sure about the wages but you'd imagine we can afford at least 15 or 16 experienced players to go with the kids. The PL

[KevinGage]

We looked like a team that is missing arguably it's 4 best players. NRC, Ashley, Downing and Walker.

Problem being they have all left the club with only one being replaced (N'Zogbia).

I'm not accepting that NRC was one of our best four players.

Agreed Monts.

And I say that as a NRC fan.

[eastie]

Would Lerner give him the money though if he decided he wanted to bring in say Dann and Parker?

hopefully yes, even if it was on the understandng that it was including the january budget too, dann and parker would be enormous assets.

not totally convinced bannan is ready but i think he deserves a run in the team so we can see how he does, petrov is not the answer and id go with bannan and makoun.


thanks noodles.

I honestly think Lerner will back him. Not sure if Lerner was there today, but it was clear as a bell that we need at least two players. Impressed with G Gardner and we never looked like we could string two passes together until Makoun came on.  Oh and Shay Given looked top draw .........

Even under a strict sell-to-buy policy there should still be the best part of £20m in the transfer kitty. Not sure about the wages but you'd imagine we can afford at least 15 or 16 experienced players to go with the kids. The PL

i hope your right villadawg but i doubt theres £20m, i think some of it may have gone towards the record losses.

[monkeyboy]

With regards to starting XI, the team is starting to pick itself with the exception of Makouns CM partner...

Given
Young Collins Dunne Warnock
Makoun <insert player>
Albrighton Ireland N'Zobgia
Bent

Petrov/Delph/Gardner partner Makoun
Ireland needs to gel with the rest of the team
Albrighton could be switched for Bannan

 

This does seem to be the case - and with that 11 we are an injury or two away from a very hard season.

If Bent breaks a finger nail we are screwed because frankly there are no goals in that squad without him - this is very clear.

The midfield is though is the real worry - for me we have still not replaced Milner, there has to be a reason (along with a lorry load of Ginsters in Dunne's case last year) why the defence was so poor for much of last year after the year they had previous - essentially if the midfield are being overun eventually the back four will be breached, constant pressure will lead to fatigue / loss of concentration and will always reflect badly even when a degree of the issue is elsewhere.

Chelsea pissed through our midfield today for 75 mins - thank goodness we have Given who already looks like a steal. The midfield was awful defensively and their lack of cohesion, invention and let's face it quality, meant that all we had was route one to Gabby, and we all know how that tactic usually end up.

Totally get it's a pre season friendly in harsh conditions against a team that are currently better prepared and have resources we could only dream about under RAL - but AM needs to be in his face early doors when he gets back, as has been said Dann and Parker would make a big difference (given the choice Parker more critical) - else January is a long way off it it goes tits up, and god help him personally if we struggle in the first few months of the season unfortunately

Bottom line we are going nowhere fast with the midfield we have and hoping for the best with Bannon and Garndner is a big risk. Makoun is the only one who looks capable (if you assume Nz is a forward and not a midfielder) - Petrov/Delph/Ireland/Albi (on current form) are squad players at best IMHO and not great ones at that

All the General's lunatic cheerleading re how positive things are can't mask the fact that we are short of midfield quality with only a few weeks to put it right - hope they do!!

[taylorsworkrate]

Completely forgot about the game today, far too engrossed in the Cricket.

How did Ireland play?