Nice.



Would like to see what the stats look like over all games this season. Carra obviously isn't a contender whilst Agger has been out injured for awhile. Kelly and Enrique bring the ball up more often, and therefore are more likely to lose the ball before passing or are forced to play lower percentage passes due to increased pressure while in enemy territory.



I'm probably pointing out the obvious but since he is the link man between defence and midfield, his passes are shorter and therefore more accurate. I'm surprised he's played more long passes than Adam however. I wonder what the definition of "long pass" is though. Gerrard's been crocked so it's no surprise he isn't in contention.

The difference between the two is this. Because he isn't as mobile, Carroll seems to adopt a "hit and hope" type approach to goalscoring. Yes, he has scored some finely placed goals (most notably against us last season) but most of the time, I get the impression he's content with just smacking it goal wards. Suarez on the other hand tries to place the ball more and if you look at his goal against Stoke in the league cup, he isn't shy to try audacious efforts.

My 2 cents.

Swept under the rug I suspect despite allegations that Marriner knew what Suarez had said 10 times. Hard to imagine there isn't a shred of video evidence to back that up. Like I said earlier, if there is no proof, then action should be taken against the accuser or this will become a trend i.e. Terry - Ferdinand. People get sued for defamation don't they? What's the difference here?

No harm in calling it like you see it. Henderson may yet realize his potential but for now I think he's been crap and has yet to justify his price tag. He's shown glimpses of brilliance but these moments are too far and few in between. Having said that, I hope he is an uncut diamond and shines in the next couple of years.

It's reported to be between 16-20 mil no?

True but if I'm to be harsh I could say that players these days are able to play in a variety of positions mainly because of how a team's formation can morph during the course of a game. I mean Gerrard played rightback towards the end at Istanbul. Kuyt and Downing swap wings. Carra has played in midfield and all across the back four. My criticism of Henderson stems mainly from his lack of composure (which will rectify itself over time as he gains experience), his inaccurate passing and his link-up play. Don't think being played in position will fix these problems immediately. On a more positive note, these are abilities that come naturally with time and exposure. Don't get me wrong. I too hope that he can one day be the successor to our talisman.

Downing's problem is that he's fallen into a stereotype and it's tough for players to fall into a stereotype. It's just like how Peter Crouch is tall and everyone expects him to be an Oliver Bierhoff, ignoring how good he is with his feet. Fans expect to see Downing out wide doing nothing but pumping crosses in. I'm personally pretty pleased with him so far. He looks dangerous whenever he zeroes in on goal and he's hit the post what? Twice already this season? I'd like to see him come inside more, leaving the wide play to Enrique.

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Nov 3 2011, 07:02 PM

Two consecutive 5am nights out in Zouk is giving me a hangover so massive I'm immune to the fact we've dropped another 2 points at home. Nice to see some mancs are still closet fans of ours. So quite in defeat, so annoyingly noisy in victory. Must be the sort who left early when they were annihilated by City. Sorry but words only matter when they come out of the mouth of a credible fan. Else it's just white noise.

It must be something in the water. The same Jekyll and Hyde form's been plaguing us since Houllier. Here's a thought to consider for those of you who are critical of King Kenny. Do remember that over a year ago, we were talking about his appointment being an instant quick fix, a move to boost our flagging morale. In that sense, he's already done his job. Players and fans both responded and Anfield was buzzing with excitement again. Like it or not, Liverpool is a club whose fans support it very much out of sentiment. As you've witnessed first hand, fans do abandon their teams when the mood is bad. Not us.

Now then, in less than a year, King Kenny has revitalized morale. Fenway group's takeover was a key component as well of course. We've given the like of Rafa and Houllier time to work on their 5 year plans, Houllier a year more than that, so I think we should extend the same courtesy to King Kenny. Rome wasn't built in a day. Don't look at the players as individuals. Consider the fact that we have in Henderson, Adam, Downing, Carrol, Suarez and Enrique, we have players that were all brought in within a span of 6 months to play together. It wasn't as thought we slowly integrated them into the side. I'm not saying we should give them forever but is 10 games fair?

I agree. Carroll was always on the radar and the sale of Torres was the catalyst for us getting him to put pen to paper.

At $35 mil, he could yet turn out to be a bargain. Here is a guy who made a big impact in the Championship and brought his form along with him to the Premiership when the Magpies were promoted. He was on the verge of earning his first senior cap. No one would have disputed this back then. 11 games into the season and he is still a little out of sorts but I am still backing him to come good. With all the expectation on his shoulders, I won't be surprised if it takes his awhile to deal with the pressure. Look how it's affected Torres. That missed open goal against the mancs?

Here's another reason for our transfer policy. King Kenny and Steve Clarke are both British and therefore more familiar with players from the region. Sure clubs have scouts but keep in mind that before being a manager, chances are you'd have been involved with the sport in some other capacity be it as a player, physio, youth coach, and so on and will therefore be more inclined to believe reports when you seen or heard of a player first hand.

It was the same with Rafa wasn't it? Players like Torres, Alonso, Arbeloa, Garcia, Reina, Riera, and Josemi were brought into the first team while the likes of San Jose, Pacheco, Baraggan and Duran played for the juniors. Houllier put his faith in Cisse, Cheyrou, Traore, Pongolle, Le , Diomede, Vignal and Aprexhad. One must consider also that whist Diao, Dioud, Smicer and Riise aren't French, they were playing in the French league at the time they were signed.

It's the same with smaller clubs. Managers like Curbishly and McLaren signed mostly British players for Charlton and Middlesbrough with exceptions of course. With there being less British managers in the Premiership now it's natural to see so many different nationalities being thrust into the first team which is why the 6+5 rule is being talked about, to protect domestic youth players.

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Nov 7 2011, 09:38 AM

Fooking hell! How did it come out as that?

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Added on November 7, 2011, 9:39 amAbsolutely nothing wrong with criticism as long as it's constructive la. I mean if for example you get someone who rarely watches our games criticise the team, it does get a little annoying.

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Nov 7 2011, 09:39 AM

Having expectations and being realistic. The line is a little blurry here. I expect us to be a top four side again, but realistically, I accept it isn't going to happen over night. Like I said earlier, give King Kenny time. He hasn't even been in charge for a full year yet and we gave Rafa 5. Why am I so pleased despite our inconsistent form on the pitch? Every success story stems from having a solid foundation, something Fenway group are working very hard to establish at the moment. It says something that despite not winning the league title for 20 over years, that the club is still commercially viable and has so many fans worldwide. With new sponsorship deals, a new proposed stadium, and other commercial deals being struck around Asia in particular we are building a solid foundation to build success on. It some ways, it was the same when Shankly took charge of a flagging club.

Do note that Torres is averaging a goal every 7 games for Chelsea at the moment. Prolific isn't a word I'd use to describe him based on current form. Torres on his day is a player who can create something out of nothing much like Suarez. I think we'd be best served however looking for a goal poacher. Someone who operates mainly in the box and not around it. Nothing fancy. Simple, neat and direct.

Yeah Carroll was supposed to be our man in the box but he seems to have forgotten to bring his form with him from Newcastle. We need Rushie to put on his boots again.

Here's what Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers and winger, Wayne Routledge had to say about the fans after coming away with a valuable draw at Anfield. http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/media-watch...ute-to-lfc-fans

Makes me so proud to be a Red. I hope to emulate them.

Buy Torres for half price? After he left us in the manner that he did? Don't get me wrong for I bear no animosity towards him but do you not remember how he appeared to sulk on the pitch? A goal every 7 games at Chelsea including a 2 guilt edge misses, the latest being last weekend where he succeeded in putting it over the bar from yards out while one on one with the keeper? I look beyond the a players ability. The lack of loyalty he showed just weeks after declaring he was staying is something I can accept, but not condone.

Really? Why?

Sorry but I cannot believe that anyone can harbor the thought of having Torres play for us again after the manner in which he left. Does the term, "Liverpool type player" still mean anything to anyone? Now I've said time and time again that I don't have a bad thing to say about Torres and I still secretly do the Torres bounce and sing the song because in truth we had good times, but like any breakup, we all need to move on amicably.

We aren't a Football Manager type team. Sentiment is one of the key reasons Kopites support the team. It is an emotional relationship. It is the reason that we don't leave the stadium or turn the Telly off early when we are losing. I cannot fathom abandoning someone or something I love during turbulent times, and in truth, Torres did abandon us for a better looking broad as much as I understand his reasons for doing so.

It irritates me when others criticize us for living in the past not realizing that honoring it is quite different but wishing for Torres or Rafa to return is to me, living in the past. King Kenny is at the helm now and our focus should be on what can be done with what we have and not buying or selling players and managers like they are but names on your computer screen.

Lastly, get a grip. Yes it's frustrating to drop points at home against the likes of Norwich and Swansea but everything off the pitch is taking shape at the moment or has no one noticed? Certainly very few talk about anything other than what player we should buy and which player we should play. What about the work someone like Ian Ayre is putting in? We are in this for the long haul, not looking to by overnight success which is temporary. Take care of everything off the pitch and we'll have success on it. A lot of work is being put in to do what Rick Parry should have done years ago.

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Added on November 10, 2011, 12:56 pmI have one thing to say about this whole buying crap English players thing. Fergie has played a lot of British players but did that stop the mancs from winning the Premiership again and again? Always try to remember what Rafa in particular once said, that it isn't about buying the biggest names, it's about buying the right player. Obviously King Kenny feels he's bought the right players to achieve his vision of how he wants to see us playing so let us wait awhile longer shall we?

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Nov 10 2011, 12:56 PM

John Henry also said it was going to take awhile before we'd be a top side again. King Kenny hasn't even been in charge for a year yet. Our new look team has just played 11 competitive games together. I'm not suggesting we wait forever but surely it's too soon to ring the alarm bells. Like you I've been a Liverpool supporter all my life and if there's one thing I've learnt it's to exercise patience. Liverpool fans are amongst the most patient and loyal in the world. What's wrong with waiting if we're moving in the right direction? Again, focus on things off the pitch that have improved, that we have no debt for one. We were on the brink of financial collapse as RBS refused to refinance the massive loans taken up by Tom and Jerry. Huge sponsorship deals with Standard Chartered and Warrior? I don't know about everyone else but I'm well cuffed by this.

In my opinion success on the pitch is a privilege, not a expectation I place upon my club. I'll support them wholeheartedly and if we win trophies, it will be a bonus. I don't expect them to win something each season and then get mad at them when they don't.

Yes it's nice having someone who can change the face of a game single handedly but how many players in the world have that influence? I'd rather exercise patience by having a bunch of team players play together until the the understanding between them becomes almost telepathic than buy someone who carries the team in his own shoulders. Sure we can buy a bunch of top players and win more games here and there but if we're in the process of building a team who plays as a team as the mancs do, then I'd persist with the players we have even if it takes them until the end of the season to play effective free flowing football. I want to see us playing pass and move football again. That way it won't matter that we don't have the best players in the world because we function well as a team.

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Added on November 10, 2011, 8:48 pmDo have a read.

http://paisleygates.com/?p=6296

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Nov 10 2011, 08:48 PM

Newcastle fans were incensed by Ashley and were very vocal about their disdain for him. He would sell players without consulting the manager but winning games has a profound effect on fans, doesn't it? I don't hear too many complaints now and I imagine it will be the same for us.

Thing is I think that fans need to note that whilst we may have been waiting for a long time, it's unfair to blame the current manager of players. We may have been waiting over 20 years for the elusive Premiership title but King Kenny has been in charge for less than 1 year and the new lads are just 11 games into a season. Stop looking at things from your own perspective and start looking at it from the perspective of the team.

Are you sure we never made an inquiry? Also, do you reckon he'd leave a team who qualified for Europe for one who isn't in it altogether? Why Downing? Why not? Were you totally against the idea at the time we wanted to sign him or only now that he isn't setting the world alight? Would Mata have settled into English football? Would he have settled to life in England? Would he pack his bags and leave if we don't qualify for the Champions League again? Yes, British players however overpriced, are a safer bet when it comes to adaptability. For every successful foreigner there is a Fernando Morientes, Andrei Shevchenko or Juan Sebastian Veron. It's also been said before that managers from a particular region prefer to work with players from that region.


We spent a lot but what is the average age of the players we've spent on? Buying young players isn't an indication of our intent to look to the future? Perhaps you need to be reminded that we have a wage structure and the focus is on young players hence why we didn't add to the salary of Meireles. I disagree that Carroll was a panic buy, it was a statement of intent by the owners, that they would spend money if they deemed it necessarily and would not do so foolishly. It was timely as well as fans were skeptical after Tom and Jerry promised much and spent nothing out of their own pockets, loading us with debt instead. Read between the lines. We got 50 for Torress and at the time Carroll was in fine form and I still have high hopes for him. So easy to criticize when results are less than satisfactory. Who not spend more time finding answers to your own questions? I think we owe it to the manager, the club and the players to understand and empathize rather than to criticize, no?

I see so we totally forget the fact that there were already reports of our interest in Carroll prior to signing him? You are free to see it however which way you want but rest assured that not everything is as it seems and learning to read between the lines helps you see things other people don't. If you think someone as intelligent as John Henry would spend that amount of money foolishly and condone Kenny'a request to do as he wishes with his money, then maybe the owner we have and the one we read about isn't the same person. John Henry did the same thing when his consortium first bought the Red Sox but bear in mind that it was easier to reap the rewards almost instantly in a league which tries to be fair to all teams with salary caps and player drafts being practiced. He isn't afforded the same luxury in football which is why he says the transition will take time.

Plus I will defend King Kenny because I have faith in him and he's only been in charge for such a short time with the players he's wanted. Oh and the fact that he is a legend to all of is does carry some weight in Merseyside I hope. Yes sometimes we do have to put sentiment aside but that time has yet to come and I'm firmly behind a man who is Liverpool through and through just as I am behind players who give their all despite not being incredibly gifted e.g. Carra, Biscan, Camara, Meijer and so on.

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Added on November 11, 2011, 8:07 amUsed to follow when The Rock reigned supreme but not anymore. Anyway, best not to copy any article from that publication here

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Added on November 11, 2011, 8:12 amI'm a big fan of Martin Kelly and I'm happy he's scored for the England U-21's. I was pretty vocal back then about him being nominated for young player of the year but alas, he had to contend with other more illustrious names like Mario Balotteli, Gareth Bale and Jack Wilshere amongst others. I tipped him for an England spot by the end of this season, providing he stays healthy but it's just become tougher for him with the emergence of Tottenham's Kyle Walker. Keep up his good form and it could even be Glenn Johnson who makes way for him for both club and country.

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Nov 11 2011, 08:12 AM