Adam has good shooting skill, but defensive responsibility wise is really worry.
You cannot play against big or good team with totally ignoring the defensive duty side.

And yesterday performance especially the defence is really worrysome despite with clean sheet, a number of occasion, nobody closing down Everton player in front of penalty box, resulted Reina is screaming at the defenders.
You need clean sheet especially against big and good team to win those match, means defence must solid tight across, and not letting opponent has free run and free shooting opportunity like that.

If Lucas out of position due to tracking others to whatever reason, there is little people to close down opponent already.

It is totally out of mind to expect Liv to be title contender.

It is all about rebuilding and back to top 4 contention candidate.
Please be realistic.

Even from the 7 games played, we can see Liv still lack of cutting edge or potential champion candidate that can easily kill off opponent and win in convincing way.

The ability to keep a clean sheet is worrysome.
Since the season start, only 2 clean sheet achieved, and out of the 2 clean sheet, opponent was playing with 10 men.

As said before, inability to keep clean sheet will cost points.
Defence is shaky and nervous a lot of time.
2 well positioned defenders and GK cannot keep out a single header.
Reina partly was fault at the goal as well.
When Gk decided to come out, must ensure will win/punch the ball.
Don't get me wrong, Reina performance was ok and not meant to pick up him.

In front of goal, not clinical enough.
Even Bellamy goal was resulted from some luck that hit Norwich defender leg, while the original shoot can be hitting the post or not towards the goal one.

Like that performance aka
Unable to keep a clean sheet,
Not clinical in front of goal,
not deserved a Europa place either.

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Added on October 23, 2011, 11:28 amStill long way to go for rebuilding.


This post has been edited by cherroy: Oct 23 2011, 11:28 AM

There was a period of tight defence when finished the season at 2nd place.

This season, without ability to score 2 or more goals in a match, no win already.

In training, they always practice to hit the woodwork?

Almost every game hit the woodwork... and none of those back into the net, if not mistaken.

If want to play a more defensive especially against bigger/better team, Kelly is preferred, at least chance of out of position may be lesser and more solidity in defence and more discipline.

But for offensive, Johnson has more threat, in term of overlapping and can score you a goal.

They nearly score 3 as well (one open goal in front of 12 yard, one spill by Reina, and one Reina nearly let Swansea player to tackle just 1-2 yards out, sand make Liv lose.

It is a poor game and no urgency, linked on final third is poor, passing is not good.
Lack of leadership and control in midfield, Adam is really disappointed, I taught he is more like playmaker, but most of the time missing in midfield.

One thing to mentioned, this is another consecutive match hitting the woodwork.
If count the hitting woodwork number, Liv is on top of the league hitting woodwork, and so far none is going in after hitting the woodwork.

AC purchased was/wasn't mistake, we can't look from this angle.
It is not the like you have time, scouse for player like during summer transfer window.

Torres want out, and there was 50 million offer on the table.
Henry has said before, it is about Torres price that dictate the AC price the club willing to pay.

At that time, there was little time left for negotiation, while Liv was on bottom half of table, with threat of relegation battle as well.

No spent on the 50 mil received on prospect player can mean fighting in relegation zone, which is dangerous/humilating for the club.
Also, not every player is available during winter window, it is not the like you have money, already can buy whoever player, opposition club may not agree to sell, the player may not want to come either.
After all, AC was on fire and scored a number of goals (one of top scorers before Dec) as well prior before the transfer, it looks one of most promising prospect.
Somemore he had aerial ability which Liv at that time, has almost none with Kyut as sole strike (if included Ngog), only 2 recognised striker only.
You need to rush to the transfer, no time to see whether the mistake or not.
After all, not every new purchased of player will turn good one, most club did at least more than 5 transfer during summer, and mostly 1-2 turn good only, due to various kind of reason, including other big club.

Top 4 may be too distance away, but at least this year, constantly at top 6-7, with gap open up the rest 8-10 place.
It is not the like Liv is playing badly like last year.
It is about not clinical enough in front of goal, and taking chance that created, and inability to keep clean sheet to win 1-0.
There are a number of matches that Liv should kill off the opponent early on, from the match against Sunderland, to against Norwich, turn those a few draw into the win, the league position/points tally can be totally different as now.

Criticise still ok, but not the like sack the manager, sell the player, buy this and that player, soon after the draw.
After change manager and player, a period of poor result, and drawing game, sack again...

There is not a must promoted team must/can be won with 2-0, 3-0.
Some promoted teams indeed can play good football and their fighting spirit can be much better than existing PL team.

If Carroll strike that hit the bar and went in, and lead to 1-0 win, every comment change all together.
That's how marginal difference nowadays.

3 points every home game, means title contender already. Liv realistic target is 5-7 with a shout on 4th only.
The damage done was quite severe, rebuilding take time and lot of money.

There is not much attacking option apart of Kuyt and Bellamy.
Midfielder, Spearing is not known as attacking, so little option left.
The team is thin and not good enough.
You need Gerrard type of player to lead the team, clearly currently none is able to provide especially the team badly need a goal time.

This post has been edited by cherroy: Nov 7 2011, 11:24 AM

This is a reality, and realistic expectation, that won't able to finish 4th, 5-7th is the realistic expectation and what the team looks like to head to currently.
Fourth is just like big bonus only.

Why everyone expect Liv can sudden turn the corner with just a short period of time, and just about 50 millions spent?
Football is so easy?

It take years to build the club/team into a dominance force.
But it take days and month to dismantle it.

Yes, I never disagree the focus is top 4, but realistically, just after last year languishing at relegation zone, and just spent a couple of ten millions (may be 50 million+ AC+ Suarez), changed 5-6 players, and a manager, suddenly become a steady top 4 candidate?
Also, it looks like the whole team need to be "overhauled" all together, Carra and Gerrard are getting old.

It is not an easy task, somemore other clubs also has the financial power to buy new/good players.
2 Manchester club almost like 99% will finish the top 2, only left 2 place, Chelsea seems can make it despite a couple of poor result, left 1 for Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool, black horse Newcastle, Villa.

And realistically, in term of fire-power, attacking play, threat to opponent, in general Liv still behind Arsenal and Spurs.

I don't buy no European match can make you better in league.
Yes, European match can make the team distract a bit, but no European match doesn't make you better.

Liv need to built up the financial power to stay at top 4. 40+k stadium is not enough.
Modern day football need plenty of $$ to stay on top.

International football vs PL is totally different.

League football can be more competitive than international football, despite international football choose the top players around.
In fact league football has more fluency, more determination showed most of the time.

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Added on November 12, 2011, 4:17 pmIn league, managers have all the time and most of the time to train the player, analyse how opponent players play, get use how opponent player play, and can go in very details.

Somemore, PL can be more physical, and unlike international football, some body check may not get you a foul in league.
Also more pace, more intense.

This post has been edited by cherroy: Nov 12 2011, 04:17 PM

In league football or PL, player may have less time and space, before being body checked/tackled.