Neil was joined by Karl Coppack, Mike Girling, Stephanie Navarro, Paul Machin, Chris Maguire and Jonathan Northcroft of The Sunday TImes to salute the retiring Jamie Carragher and address the speculation around Pepe Reina.
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Mike is an idiot for saying Enrique is an idiot. Absolutely daft comment.
You’re an idiot for saying Mike’s an idiot. Daft comment.
Maybe idiot was the wrong term to use but i can understand the sentiment of the comment. He’s ok against teams that offer little. Not really that productive going forward but ok. He’s ok at defending against the more average players too. Where he gets found out is against better sides. Yes, we all warm to Liverpool players, especially ones who we feel love the club but the reality is he’s no Baines, he’s no Ashley Cole or even, dare I say it, Evra. In fact, he doesn’t even look as good as Buttner. Spurs are an ambitious club yet they’re looking to buy a left back. Why? Because Assou Ekotto is ok (like Enrique) but he’s not ‘pretty good’. What’s the measure of your pleasure mate? I feel we need better.
Coincidentally, this is the 3rd time since the West Ham game that I’ve made the point about Enrique and how he’d represent us better if we were a Sumo wrestling side. I’ve also and controversially said similar things about Johnson. He appears world class and until recently I’ve always considered him as such but he’s one on one off. We’ll forever be 6th or 7th with players who can’t give their all every game, come what may. I’ve also made that point about Sturridge. Bags of skill and potential but the jury’s still out for me (but leaning to thinking he’ll be a good asset away from home). Why do all the big clubs get rid? Bad attitude and a lack of footballing intelligence seem to be the answer. So, I’m happy to replace players even if they’re ok. Skrtel’s another one.
You make a number of valid points, though it’s hardly a surprise that Sturridge is selfish – common knowledge, really. Some players take time bedding in physically, others psychologically. If BR can somehow wrangle in the stubbornness Sturridge has in releasing the ball to find better options while supporting the instinctive gift he has for finding the goal, he’ll be a top top player.
Regarding Enrique, I think we have to assess his abilities against big clubs with a little be of patience. You’ll recall that we played pretty much every top side within the first two months of the campaign just as Enrique was starting his slow climb back to form. It wasn’t until November/December that he seemed to have regained it. Now does he need competition to propel him to kick up another gear? I think so. But to suggest that we offload him simply because he makes mistakes or gets a little lost out on the pitch is exceedingly harsh. For me, he’s won more defensively than he’s lost, he has at times been a solid player moving forward, and he’s earned another season.
Far more than Skrtel, anyway.
Yeah, fair points mate. To clarify though, I did say I’m happy to replace players even if they’re ok. I can see how that appears but in truth I mean’t relegate him down to second choice. Strengthening the squad. I’m aware they may not accept that though.
I’ve been wrong hundereds of times and right in equal measure but I get gut feelings about players I my gut feeling is Enrique is just ok. I hope i’m wrong. I could live with him if he produced a little more going forward even.
Enrique lost his earlier season form and his eye for goal. He’s still a tough bastard to get passed with the ball, but something got lost from his game once the kids were dropped. Complacency perhaps?
I don’t think we should get rid of him, because he’s decent cover, but if an upgrade is available and we have money, we should look to improve because he’s not the kind of player that’ll hold down his place in a CL level side.
Re Enrique, “loveable idiot” was a little harsh but also pretty close to the money. I love the way he goes about things but he also frustrates me so, not when we are defending although he is quite often lost on set pieces, but when we are going forward. He is very limited in what he can do with the ball and often slows the pace of the attack right down, and barring a couple to Suarez I can’t remember him playing a decent ball in from the left (they usually end in the stands). Reckon he is a great guy to have in the squad as cover and maybe to come on and change things up, but would be really keen to see a quality left back come in, as much as new centre backs.
Re Sturridge, I think Neil’s comment about him lacking mental fitness is a good one, as the run of games he has played with us is almost as many as he has played with any team in the EPL. I also think Sturridge’s “greediness” is more poor decision making, as sometimes when he is unselfish it also seems pretty awkward (although he is undoubtedly a little greedy, but probably not more than you would want in a striker). I could see this probably developing from him being a little too talented for his own good at youth level, where he could make almost any decision and make something good come out of it (as it is he can almost get away with it in the EPL).
Therefore, I am pinning my hopes on Belamy’s brain doctor to help him think through his decisions in the heat of the moment better, as there have been remarkable improvements in both Henderson and Downing from the start of the season and I am wondering whether he can take some of the credit. And even if we don’t get 100% out of sturridge, 70-80% we have seen at the moment is pretty damn good. Also, I reckon he would start to play better if the crowd got behind him too, just as he rose to the occasion when the opposition crowds were against him. Otherwise he could just make sure he salutes to the opposition fans every time he scores like he did against Fulham (I personally reckon he got confused as to which end he was at and meant to do it towards our supporters) and then we with Suarez would have the most hated forward line in the country and they could both feed off the abuse.
And for Reina, I reckon if he wants to go and have another crack at the Champion’s league with Barcelona we should let him go (if he wants to stay that is another matter). He has been a great servant to us over the years but if we block a dream move back home to one of the best teams of all time, one that would get him in the frame for his beloved national team, he may not be that motivated to play for us and not be that great an influence on the dressing room after all. Besides, since we are not in Europe next season I don’t see having a top-class goal keeper as being that critical for the English competitions, and I am sure we could get a good value replacement, while hopefully luring Tello in return for Reina. As I said though, if he wants to stay then that is another matter.
do none of the guys on the show think saurez will shout sturridge down if hes not putting it in ? i do
I think the team needs depth so it’s unlikely that you’ll see downing, Henderson, Enrique, Carra, Skrtel all leave. I think more likely the latter two will go along with more fringe guys like Shelvey, Carroll, Spearing. Possibly Borini (though i really doubt it) but i could see them sell Borini to buy someone like a Remy assuming he’s not in prison. And i still think Borini could contribute but i still think we are trying to force guys out of position & out of their comfort zone to our peril, like Sahin & Allen.
Regarding Downing, Downing plays a lot because he’s one of the few left footers we have and can play on the right cutting in on his best shooting foot. If you put suarez out their he’s cutting onto his worst foot and he’s not gonna be a 20 goal scorer. There’s a very good reason why if he’s not central he tends to be wide right, why Sterling is typically wide right, why Coutinho was started wide right originally. To get them on their better foot. Additionally, on Downing, notice with him on the right the discussion, from last year, about his lack of crossing is gone. Cause we no longer ask him to cross because it’s not his best foot anyways.
Someone mentioned putting suarez wide right instead of Downing. Well Suarez is clearly a better player but the trade off is he’s not gonna be tracking back the same as Downing does. You have to ask is that the best way to use him. Maybe. But you have to wonder if it’s wise to have a Johnson relentlessly pushing forward when he’s not the most defensive right back, sometimes mentally tunes out, and then have to rely on Suarez to be disciplined. Also you’re asking Lucas to slide over and cover and we aren’t sure if he’s gonna be the same player. So i think That’s possibly asking for a problem. Personally, i think for now you keep downing, any maybe you actually integrate some of the younger guys as well there.
Reina? I hope he doesn’t go. He’s good with the ball at his feet and coming off his line. Jones? Man we pass the ball back to him and he’s panicking. When we look for a keeper he’s gotta be able to have the ball at his feet, so we can play that higher line we want to. He can’t just be a decent shot stopper. Just a shot in the dark. Don’t know if he fits the mold, but what about Diego Lopez at Madrid? With Jose leaving i’m sure Casillas will be back in goal as the messiah they treat him as. Maybe Lopez is someone we can get at a more affordable rate. Plus Jose said he was better.
Eder Balanta Alvarez, Future stud Center back
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ6_B8iTvIs
Physical, Steps forward to attack the, pacy, good with the ball at his feet, attacks the ball in the air, look at his comfort passing, Can shield the ball when pressed. Just what we need. He’s raw but I bet in the future he’ll be a stud. I want him. FSG buy him for me.
I’d like us to go for the American Omar Gonzalez. 6’5, fast, very confident with the ball at his feet, and is young enough (24) to play for quite a while, He has gotten his look at the USMNT and is very likely to be their starting center back for the next decade, so having someone who will continue to get international experience is a plus.
Disclaimer: I’m American. However, that wouldn’t impact my decision if I didn’t think he was good enough to do the job. I want LFC to improve and I think he can help at the position we are currently, quite obviously, in need of filling with Carra retiring and Skrtel just not good enough.
Kicker: It may get a lot of Americans who follow the USMNT but not the BPL so much to become LFC supporters. I know most Brits don’t care about that in the slightest, but a lot of Americans (myself included) would buy his jersey just because he’s an American, and a lot of jersey sales = additional revenues for LFC = us having more money to spend on higher wage/transfer bills. He might end up paying for himself.
I’d have to strongly disagree with your assessment of Omar Gonzales. I’ve seen virtually every Galaxy game in the last two years, I’ve seen him live at HDC often, and with the national team. I don’t remotely think he’s good on the ball. He’s big but he’s not comfortable receiving the ball under pressure and making sound decisions. Against Mexico he was unable to pick out passes out of the back and his standard response is to hoof it under pressure. His balls out of the back for the Galaxy are rarely to feet unless it’s an easy no brainer pass. He was at fault for that goal the USA conceded against Honduras. He was caught out. Not only that recently the Galaxy have been conceding late. And lapses in concentration are things our back line has suffered from all season. He’s good for a US that has zero depth at centerback but I’d take Skrtel & Coates over him anyday, and I’m not thrilled with Skrtel or Coates. Not only that I’d rather have Wisdom at centerback over Omar. Wisdom did great in his last 45 minutes playing there. But I simply don’t think Omar is technical enough or tactical enough. What he does is considered technical in MLS, but in England not. Geoff Cameron is a more technical American defender and I don’t think he’s great either. I’m not sure how much of an impact on shirt sales he’d make. Is Dempsey responsible for making spurs rich off Dempsey shirt sales? Nah. Fulham? Nah. I’m not saying shirts wouldn’t sell but I don’t think it would be a big thing. And I surely don’t Omar is good enough for Liverpool. Maybe, maybe a bottom of the table team. But I just don’t rate him right now. He needs to go somewhere and prove himself before he gets a shot a team with top 4 ambitions. And if it took anyone from the Galaxy it would be Jose Villareal, but he’d be stuck in the reserves and behind a lot of guys especially after seeing Ibe’s debut.
FINALLY I’ve heard someone else say it. I’ve been saying it since January. Top 3 should be Coutinho left, Sturro at the point and Suarez right. Also, play Suso in behind them, Hendo as the box-to-box to take Gerrard’s role for the future and Lucas (hopefully he gets his legs sorted after a summer break). That’s the starting 6 I’d like to see. Obviously, we’re not going to not start SG so this starting line-up is a year out, which means we need to do well enough to keep Suarez.
I know that Suarez was excellent for us as the main striker, however I think that’s more because he’s just world class and can do what he wants on the field than because he’s truly a great striker. What he IS undoubtedly great at though is cutting people up on the touch-line. It was joked about on this podcast a few months ago, that defenders usually shuttle forwards towards the endline, but with Suarez HE takes them to the endline and then has his way with them. I would prefer seeing him on the right and turning the corner on people than having him play in the center and putting Sturro outside which he obviously isn’t as comfortable with. Also, to those who are afraid that it will cut down his scoring numbers, yes maybe a little but I think the 3 of them would have enough movement and shifting that he’ll still get plenty of scoring chances. In my head the three of them play up top similarly to how Hazard-Mata-Oscar rotate and create space for each other in Chelsea’s midfield.
BR tried it, it worked, but then swapped Suarez and Sturry, rendering Daniel very ineffective and Suarez back to his head-down trying save the world himself.
I think most of us would like to see Studge up top with the other two doing what they like behind him.