Jump to content
IGNORED

Liverpool Football Club Thread

glb

By glb
in Sport

 Share

Recommended Posts

lolly

lolly

Posted
Posted

I only saw the last 20-30 minutes of the game and am wondering if I'm seeing the same things re Benteke or was he doing nothing for the previous 65 minutes to warrant notice?

Brad Smith tries a pass (when he probably should have tried a shot) that was blocked by the defender , Benteke is running in on the 6 yard line , onside, ready to tap it in. The right place the right time, not the right ball(as in it didn't get to him). Free kick came in about 10 minutes later - Collins(?) gets to it just before he does and goes out for a corner, but again he's in the right area - he probably should be in front of his marker for that particular ball but it's easier to score when you're behind your marker and they don't know where you are.

While I admit that he doesn't seem to work as hard as other players if the service in to him in the right areas improves ( couple of glaring misses in previous matches where he's scored notwithstanding) he'll score more goals - which is what he's there for. It's the creation of quality chances rather than the strikers themselves that are the issue- Suarez just did it all himself and 2 seasons on people seem to expect that from the strikers still?

For me the ball isn't moved quickly enough in the final 3rd (man city aside) to pull defenders out of position and create space for the strikers- we've seen glimpses of it thus far only.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Istanbul

Istanbul

Posted
Posted

I only saw the last 20-30 minutes of the game and am wondering if I'm seeing the same things re Benteke or was he doing nothing for the previous 65 minutes to warrant notice?

Brad Smith tries a pass (when he probably should have tried a shot) that was blocked by the defender , Benteke is running in on the 6 yard line , onside, ready to tap it in. The right place the right time, not the right ball(as in it didn't get to him). Free kick came in about 10 minutes later - Collins(?) gets to it just before he does and goes out for a corner, but again he's in the right area - he probably should be in front of his marker for that particular ball but it's easier to score when you're behind your marker and they don't know where you are.

While I admit that he doesn't seem to work as hard as other players if the service in to him in the right areas improves ( couple of glaring misses in previous matches where he's scored notwithstanding) he'll score more goals - which is what he's there for. It's the creation of quality chances rather than the strikers themselves that are the issue- Suarez just did it all himself and 2 seasons on people seem to expect that from the strikers still?

For me the ball isn't moved quickly enough in the final 3rd (man city aside) to pull defenders out of position and create space for the strikers- we've seen glimpses of it thus far only.

Benteke has been dire.

He's scored some match winning goals that has papered over the obvious deficiencies in his performances. Some people would argue that doing that is enough. He's a striker, he's there to score goals only. But, if that's all he's doing, he's got to be doing that regularly and in abundance.

In a Klopp team especially, and I think in the eyes of most managers in the modern game, who don't employ a tactic of hoofball up to the target man, he certainly doesn't do enough. Nobody is asking him to be a Suarez, as that would be impossible, but they are asking him to do more than just stand there like a lemon for the majority of the game. He's essentially dead weight unless supplied with the perfect ball. He's a player he needs the ball given directly to him, he doesn't appear to be someone who will work at all to make space or contribute to the team in any way. The likes of Coutinho, Lallana etc like to play those little angled balls into the box, but that is dependent on the striker being aware and making the appropriate run or movement. If Benteke isn't doing this, then I'm not sure what they can do other than hit him completely directly like Villa used to do.

I think that's why, even when fit, Klopp has had him on the bench a few times. I'd say he's only starting now as all of our other strikers are injured. Sturridge, Origi and almost certainly Ings would be a lot more suited to the Klopp style and mentality.

I'm not sure if he can turn it around, I hope he can, because he obviously has ability and can score a cracking goal on his day, he also seems a likeable guy. Just a few changes here and there, and I think he can be a goof player for us. At the moment, and I stress at the moment...it seems like a crazy decision to indulge Brendan Rodgers with £32.5m to spend on him, only for Rodgers to go a few months later. In effect, Liverpool seems to have paid £32.5m for Aston Villa to be relegated.

2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Chewylegs

Chewylegs

Posted
Posted

I only saw the last 20-30 minutes of the game and am wondering if I'm seeing the same things re Benteke or was he doing nothing for the previous 65 minutes to warrant notice?

Brad Smith tries a pass (when he probably should have tried a shot) that was blocked by the defender , Benteke is running in on the 6 yard line , onside, ready to tap it in. The right place the right time, not the right ball(as in it didn't get to him). Free kick came in about 10 minutes later - Collins(?) gets to it just before he does and goes out for a corner, but again he's in the right area - he probably should be in front of his marker for that particular ball but it's easier to score when you're behind your marker and they don't know where you are.

While I admit that he doesn't seem to work as hard as other players if the service in to him in the right areas improves ( couple of glaring misses in previous matches where he's scored notwithstanding) he'll score more goals - which is what he's there for. It's the creation of quality chances rather than the strikers themselves that are the issue- Suarez just did it all himself and 2 seasons on people seem to expect that from the strikers still?

For me the ball isn't moved quickly enough in the final 3rd (man city aside) to pull defenders out of position and create space for the strikers- we've seen glimpses of it thus far only.

Yep, for the other 60mins he did fuck all but make some dumb ass runs and his first time control was awful! He really doesn't look like he's on anyone's wave length.

He also failed to win every header he went for when the ball went long.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Gabe

Gabe

Posted
Posted

I only saw the last 20-30 minutes of the game and am wondering if I'm seeing the same things re Benteke or was he doing nothing for the previous 65 minutes to warrant notice?

Brad Smith tries a pass (when he probably should have tried a shot) that was blocked by the defender , Benteke is running in on the 6 yard line , onside, ready to tap it in. The right place the right time, not the right ball(as in it didn't get to him). Free kick came in about 10 minutes later - Collins(?) gets to it just before he does and goes out for a corner, but again he's in the right area - he probably should be in front of his marker for that particular ball but it's easier to score when you're behind your marker and they don't know where you are.

While I admit that he doesn't seem to work as hard as other players if the service in to him in the right areas improves ( couple of glaring misses in previous matches where he's scored notwithstanding) he'll score more goals - which is what he's there for. It's the creation of quality chances rather than the strikers themselves that are the issue- Suarez just did it all himself and 2 seasons on people seem to expect that from the strikers still?

For me the ball isn't moved quickly enough in the final 3rd (man city aside) to pull defenders out of position and create space for the strikers- we've seen glimpses of it thus far only.

None of these are new issues though, that's the problem. I was saying loads last season that whilst we created chances, we didn't create many good chances. Coutinho, Firmino and Lallana all like to try and play cute little balls to feet in and around the box, which really needs a mobile striker making intelligent runs behind defenders and that isn't Benteke's natural game.

We also play through the middle far too much and whilst Ibe can provide some genuine width, he's still young and developing and needs a lot of work on his final ball.

We all know that this is still Rodgers' team and nobody expected miracles from Klopp but it's still frustrating the chances we're squandering to make progress - and the nature of the toothless displays over the last month - given how open the league is this year. I suppose this may, in a way, help Klopp go to the board and say we need some serious investment - not this month I don't think, but in the summer, certainly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
glb

glb

Posted
  • Author
Posted

It's all the more frustrating because the side is only five points off fourth (albeit potentially more by the end of the afternoon). Consistency in the next 18 games would all but secure a top four spot because of how unpredictable the league has been this season.

That said would rather win the Europa League and get in the Champions League that way than via fourth place, but guess that's wishful thinking because either looks extremely unlikely right now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
JohnnyNolan

JohnnyNolan

Posted
Posted

The squad we have now isn't up to the job of competing consistently at the top level. My biggest concern is giving how badly we've spent over recent years would be trying to address that in the transfer market, and our awful transfer dealings date before Rodgers tenure.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
JohnnyNolan

JohnnyNolan

Posted
Posted

I agree we'll be fighting for the scraps in the transfer market. We're not a big draw for players due to lack of Champions League, wage budget and location.

I think the issue I have in recent years is us spending big tends to be us signing players who never really work out for us. Many of them have fans scratching their head about them being the right player for our system, see Carroll and Benteke. Others like Firmino just leave you wondering what they're meant to be bringing to the side!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
glb

glb

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Yeah, some of the signings are baffling. Benteke is a decent striker in the right system, but he doesn't suit our style of play. He didn't really fit in with the system Rodgers was trying to play either. We can spend, but our transfer policy appears erratic at best. Klopp made some canny purchases at Dortmund so I'd like to think we'll see an improvement given time. The year after the year after next year will be our year. Maybe.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Chewylegs

Chewylegs

Posted
Posted

It doesn't matter whether Benteke cost us £32m or £3.2m, he was never suited to our style of play. I don't really care how much people cost as long as they are right for the club. He isn't. I do wonder whether we'd be moaning so much if we had Sturridge and Ings fit. I'd imagine Benteke wouldnt look so bad coming off the bench when we're 2-0 up thanks to one of those two.

At this moment in time we have one out of form striker fit, that's it! That's our problem!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DeNeo

DeNeo

Posted
Posted

And we've not even got anyone at u21 or Academy level who can step up. Problem is, we can't really buy anyone unless we sell Benteke, because that'd leave us with 5 strikers when everyone is fit. And getting someone on loan would be pretty difficult.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DeNeo

DeNeo

Posted
Posted

At this point, Sturridge is a pure luxury player and shouldn't be counted then. So might be a good idea to buy someone after all...

I thought this was an interesting stat though:

"Indeed, of the outfield players starting against West Ham, only three (Sakho, Coutinho and Lucas) had been at Liverpool when they finished 2nd in 2014 (or in Ibes case, a regular part of the squad)"

No wonder we don't look like a team.

1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Gabe

Gabe

Posted
Posted

Have we secretly employed Arsenal's doctors and physios or something?

Anyway, you can see from the way we're playing why Benteke isn't working at the moment, the front 3 (slightly less so since Coutinho came off) are always looking to play little triangles and short passes in and around the area. At times you just need to keep it simple and we lack that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Gabe

Gabe

Posted
Posted

Firmino had a golden chance against West Ham at the weekend (before they scored if I remember) and his touch was awful then too, amongst other examples.

Anyway, I think Milner coming back might not a bad thing at all. He adds a bit of simplicity to our play - I really like Can but he (along with the front 3) all like to get a bit extravagant at times and Milner will be more likely to play a more straightforward pass (as he did to set Lallana free). Helps balance it out a bit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • glb changed the title to Liverpool Football Club Thread

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. Use of this website is subject to our Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, and Guidelines.

  I accept