QUOTE(prophetjul @ Jan 15 2013, 07:35 AM)
Someone elses. Thats why its quoted...............
Depends how much we want to progress and how fast....
i am still at the stage where the jury on BR is still out....whether he will cut it or not to bring this club
to whereever FSG wants to go..
My guess is top 4 for CL qualifcation. Timeframe- not sure. Most likely FSG will want it to be next year due
to income expansion.
Mental state is very important...the mental state of a manager easily rubs off onto the players.
When we face the top teams, the managers instills his tactics into the team to take the field.
They will know whether the gaffer is confident or not.
No doubt BR is still a greenhorn at the top levels.
Goes back to the question: how fast does FSG wanna see CL?
The summer transfer coffers will give an indication of their ambitions AND confidence in BR.
You cant get away from quality players to do the job. Spurs have been pretty good at this especially
during Redknapp's tenure. They have now a pretty good team which IMO is better than Arsenal's.
Hwever to get quality, you have to PAY for it. Thats the world today.
Its much more difficultt to spot cheap talent like michhu.
i am not saying quality players in all positions, but some critical positions.
IMO i dont think our midfielders are top rung now. Thats where the problem is. The engine room.
BR's blue eye boy Allen is too lightweight for my liking. Many times now, when pressured he
makes awful passes and bad decisions.
Hopefully Lucas can come back to pre injury levels.
So IMO quality players make the blueprint of a team. So RATE of progress depends on
how we aquire them.
From evidence thus far FSG may not get their wish to CL soon. Their policy appears to be
young age 20 to 24 price around 10 to 13mil type of hopefuls........as it is, just hopeful
as with the manager.
I agree with most of what you said. From where I'm sitting, BR has done nothing wrong in terms of player management. You draw a correlation between his tactics and confidence. More often than not this season, we've dominated our opponents in the area of possession and shots on goal. In terms of instilling confidence in his players, I think it says a great deal that he's backed Suarez to the hilt, each and every time. He has also put a lot of faith in young players. He has never come out to say that we need more quality signings, thereby undermining the positions of any of our current crop. He is also very clear on how he wants us to play, for better or for worse. In this sense, he is almost single minded and definitely determined.
Quality players. You either buy them or you develop them. At this point it looks to be the case of the latter. You mentioned FSG's policy which indicates that they will give the manager time. Competing for the CL next season is a nice thought but until and unless they decide to invest in a couple of star players, they in my opinion would not expect success this quick. How long will they be willing to wait? I reckon they'll let Brendan see out the duration of his contract and chart his progress at the end of it. Will they at some point decide to purchase big names? Yes, I do believe they will but as they have said, they will not indulge in deficit spending. When our cheque books reflect positive income, they will show us the money, so to speak. It's why in his interviews, John Henry talks about our financial health and not what happens on the pitch. This is indicative of where our priorities lie at the moment.
Our midfield is certainly not amongst the best in the league unlike when we had Stevie G, Alonso, Sissoko and Mascherano in the side, prompting the song, "best midfield in the world". What we do have is a next generation of players with the potential to become a good unit. Joe Allen, Jonjo Shelvey and Jordan Henderson are all 22 or under. Lucas is already a veteran at 26. Joe Allen may be a tiny bloke but he exemplifies the saying, "it's isnt about the size of the dog in a fight, it's about the size if the fight in the dog". He is a tenacious bloke. People focus on his errant back pass against the mancs. Some claim he's been making bad passes and yet he has a pass completion ratio of over 90% so I don't know where that's coming from. Being in the role that he plays, he is often put under pressure. Defenders look for him as an outlet and he in turn passes the ball to someone with more vision and range like Gerrard. It can't be easy having to run back to our defenders, pick up a pass, have someone hound you, and look for a fellow teammate with your back to them. Anyway, back to the game against the mancs. He did almost rack up an assist in the wrong end of the pitch but few note his excellent double challenge in the second half.
I'm not deluded enough to say that Allen has been a success story. I am however a little protective of him just as I am any player who bleeds for the team. If a player tries, he deserves our respect at least, if not our love. These days I see a lot of harsh criticism aimed at under performing players, to the point it is filled with spite and hate. I say no player with the interest of the club in mind who puts in a laborous shift deserves it. You brought up Shankly earlier and if there is one thing I remember about being a Liverpool fan, it's that we have always shown appreciation for players who work hard, despite them lacking talent. The names of Erik Meijer, Titi Camara and Igor Biscan come to mind. It is the way I was brought up as a fan and I will remember my roots. Not saying Allen is beyond criticism but just like how some fans were harsh in their comments in Dalglish, I feel Allen needs to be given some appreciation for at least trying.
Jan 13 2013, 04:11 PM, updated 13y ago
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