ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - Liverpool- Five days and counting

Posted by Kevin Brodie on 08/08/2011

Finally less than a week to go before the season starts. Time for me to put pen to paper. I have watched all of our pre-season games. Now that our previous owners have left I'm comfortable handing over £44 to this new regime for an e-season ticket.

I kind of miss the old days when you would only see a line or two in the paper about Liverpool's pre-season. Obviously today every pass or dribble is dissected. I was disappointed by our performance at Hull as I thought we were just terrible. The game this week in Norway was a bit better but giving up that late goal was frustrating.

The game on Saturday was a nice run out for the new boys, including Carroll. After 15 minutes of the first half I turned to my dad and said Kenny should take off Aurelio as he didn't need to prove anything more to me. He is our best left back, when fit. Not a knock on young Robinson, who looks very comfortable on the ball, it's just that Fabio is one of the best footballers on the team. His instant relationship with Downing was nice to see. I also thought Agger was very composed at the back and only once or twice was Reina tested, which is a big difference between our other pre-season games. I thought Carroll was full of running and showed he has some pace. His tackle that saw him get booked was crazy and if that is done during the regular season he couldn't have had any complaints if he would have seen red. The red mist needs to get toned down during the season from the big man.

Downing was the best of the 3 new players and I was not impressed by Henderson but I trust he will be a good addition to the squad. Adam was solid and clever in the mid-field however some of his decision making was annoying. Everyone's pre-season favourite Aquilani showed exactly why a move to Italy would suit him. He didn't get involved and didn't tackle. I think we have done pretty well in the transfer market but I still think we need a forward. Personally I would go with Shane Long as we need someone who might accept a backup role but could produce the goods when called upon. In saying that thought Ngog did pretty well when he came on the field Saturday.

Ok, so unbelievably we have mid week international friendly games and if everyone stays fit this is what I think the line up will look like next Saturday.

Reina
Johnson if fit, Kelly if not - Carragher - Agger - Aurelio
Kuyt - Adam - Lucas - Downing
Henderson - Carroll

If he goes with Suarez take out Henderson and place Suarez in the team. Roll on Saturday!

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Comments

Posted by donney on 08/08/2011

well let me just say i'm impress for what i saw in our last pre_season match against a well organize team of valencia. All our lads did put in a good run in the game. And we're still lacking a back up striker and a Cn back and more especially a left back is needed, the likes of shane long or park chu young, gary cahil or scott dann, and jose enrique and let not forget we still in need of a right winger in swansea's dyer.

Posted by Robbie on 08/08/2011

Hey mate, that's almost the same team I predicted. When I think there is still Maxi, Shelvey, possibly Lucas (I thought of Aquilani to start) on the bench as well as probably Ngog. Gerrard out Skrtel out. We actually have a good chance on Saturday though. I feel we should do the business. If KD doesn't go for Suarez or Henderson, then Maxi or he might start with Joe Cole even.

Posted by Will on 08/08/2011

why not mierless ahead of adam

Posted by kamal on 08/09/2011

I think you are being harsh on Aquilani as he was getting very little service especially from the 2 CMs in the first half. Try counting how many times Spearing and Adam passed the ball to him in the first half. I did. My count was 1 pass each. That's right, the 2 CMs made a grand total of 2 passes to the CAM in 45 minutes of football. Ridiculous.

Posted by John on 08/09/2011

It is amazing that your team for Saturday looks decent even without gerrard, meireiles and Suarez. And if carragher also sits it out nit says a lot about the depth that daglish has built.

Posted by Lucas G on 08/09/2011

Surely, if Suarez doesn't play, Kuyt would be up front with Henderson on the right.

Posted by sai on 08/09/2011

aquilani doesnt tacle coz he is an attacking midfielder.. thats when lucas comes in to the team for.!

Posted by riccardo on 08/09/2011

i agree with you aquilani doesn't belong in premier league just look at how well he did at juventus last year so i think my milan should replace pirlos exit with aquilani but thats for a different blog... in your formation however, why is henderson partnering carroll in attack? last i checked he was a central midfielder, perhaps an attacking midfielder and also id much much prefer meireles over adam in the midfield who i believe is a little over-hyped and is going to be a disappointment

Posted by John steve on 08/09/2011

Hederson shoudn't be the one to support carroll rather i would prefer kurt then mereles will then come up in kurt position thanks

Posted by Keith on 08/09/2011

As usual, I agree with most of your analysis. I will say, watching Carroll in the pre-season - he seems to tire easily, somewhat unambitious in getting forward, and very petulant. The tackle on Saturday was typical of his "I deserve better" attitude toward opponents. When the ball is taken from him or he loses a header he seems to carry a chip on his shoulder. If he's going to get to the level of a Liverpool player he needs to elevate his attitude as well as his game.

Posted by Bob Spencer on 08/09/2011

Aquilani:

"didn't get involved, and didn't tackle".

Oh dear.

Aquilani is one of my favourite players, probably my favourite for Liverpool, so I was watching him with eagle eyes all game.

If you're talking about 'getting involved' in an attacking sense, it's hard to disagree, because he was hardly ever given the ball. Not a great deal he can do to change the game when he hasn't got the spherical thing at his feet.
Defensively, your argument falls to pieces. He was running around all over, working hard to close down opponents and put pressure on, especially high up the pitch (one time in the first half he went sprinting towards the goalkeeper around his six-yard box, as an example)

Making tackles can only be done if they are there to be made, players often offloaded the ball before he was in close proximity, so what you say is moot

A move to Italy would suit him -agreed. Equally, staying in England would-he's a class player whose game suits LFC's pass-and-move style.

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