Match Preview: Liverpool v. Norwich City, 10.22.11

Carroll is out of the team, Henderson as well. Surely not long before Downing and Adam join them. The buy British policy has been a disaster as suspected. Can anyone name a British player purchased by the club that has been a success since the days of Barnes and Beardsley?

The only British players who have been a success are home grown scousers like Gerrard, Fowler, Carra and McManaman.

Gonna sleep in my Agger shirt tonight, but that's only me guessing I'll be too drunk to change clothes. I'll go ahead and say it's for luck. Go Reds.

Weren't the last 30 minutes or so of the match against United played with a 3 man midfield of Henderson, Gerrard, and Adam?

yup yup.  coincided with our best play as well... although if it works over a whole game who knows...

According to the BBC, Pilkington is an ex man utd product, hence he's pretty useful infront of goal.

How about we give Jonno a go at Winger?  He has been known to score goals, he can cross, dribble, shoot.  He's fast and he's strong on the ball.  Plus, I think he would be a much better choice than Hendo in terms of helping out Kelly.  I feel like he can provide Adam with those long ball runs and he also knows how to pass and move the ball well.  Just a thought, but we def need more options on the right wing (in terms of not considering Hendo a right wing) and Kelly looks composed in the back. 

This has been talked about so much, and I think in certain games he could offer a good optionm. Rafa used Riise as a wide midifelder, so as a particular tactic it could be benficial.

its a bit of a cooky idea, and just because it came off late against united doesnt mean itll work over a full 90 - but what about a three man mid of hendo, adam and gerrard with stevie playing deepest?  obvious defensive concerns aside, these are the types of games that we should be well comfortable enough in that we can afford a bit of tactical maneuvering/risk taking, and hendo's mobility, plus stevie's class would just cover adam's defensive ineptness (although his movement was much better last week), and then just rock 3 up top with some combination of kuyt, suarez, downing, carroll, or bellers...

just a thought.  also would love to see spear-o get a game, cuz one thing for certain, lucas was unbelievably knackered last week - kinda torres-after-the-cup tired, that ish was pretty scary...

I think you'd need Spearo's engine rather than Adam in that set up. There would be little width, so I'mnot sure Carroll would be a good fit.

no real argument here, other than to say that hendo's got the best engine in the side after lucas and kuyt, and it seems like kenny's bought into him one way or the other.  so have i to be fair, i think we'll see a different hendo for the next several week's after his man utd performance.  had one of his shots gone in he wuda been motm...

I think that this is what will happen, too, cooky or otherwise (read: daft). I think Kenny sees the need to go for goals on top of goals in this fixture, to boost confidence, plus he clearly loves Jordan. No holding mid. Sure, put Stevie and Adam slightly deeeper, but include fluidity between the three as we attack and defend in transition. Its terrifying from a cautious, defensive standpoint (read: smart), but also terrifyingly exciting if it is pulled off successfully. Plus, maybe Chuck can learn a thing or two about rotation/responsibility/tackling when there isn't a strictly holding mid partnered next to him...or maybe its too late to teach an old dog new tricks.

man u went no cdm early this year to great avail, spurs have done so as well...and was it just me or did adam just seem more energetic with the captain playin next to him? 

Have a feeling we will concede but I would love it.. love it if we won coming from a goal down

Rafa's blog sets the record straight on using zonal marking in set piece defense. Just in case anyone cares...

What I like about that blog is that despite his long coaching career and being all over Europe, there's only one club that's ever featured on the site...

A true Red.  Wears his heart on his sleeve.

wish he'd got a chance with the new owners.  think we would have got some awesome purchases.

So do I.  Despite his questionable transfer record, if you look at his first-choice targets (those that he wanted but could never get because management was too cheap/slow), so many turned out to be fantastic players.  

Of the few first-choice targets he was allowed to actually sign, I can recall Xabi Alonso, Fernando Torres, and Robbie Keane.  Two eventual superstars and one whom we evaluated quickly and moved on soon after at hardly any loss.  And of course one Lucas Leiva, which I can't remember if he was ever top of Rafa's transfer list, but Rafa definitely saw the potential in him way before most people.  

I hope we see him back at Anfield in some capacity some day.  Not just because of nostalgia, but because I think he can really achieve something special with the right backing.

yeah.  we're all chuffed with Kenny at the helm so I'm more than happy and I think the team will have a strong run in 2nd half of the season.  

Have you read any tomkinstimes stuff on Rafa's transfers?  Not too bad a record at all.  

The squad purchases varied, but that's partly from dabbling in the bargain end of the market.  And some of those were very good.  Yossi, Arbeloa, Riise, Aurelio to name a few.  
Can't remember any of the really young buys working out.  But when people trot out names of half a dozen flops, they often add up to under £6m for the lot of them - and they were often 3rd or 4th choice players.

I really think it was the circumstances under which he was operating.

We've got every chance of making 4th, especially if Adebayour loses interest after a while.  But for the life of me, I can't imagine what him and Comolli will get up to if we do!!

Riise was at Anfield around 3-4 years before Rafa...

true. sorry about that.
I think the overriding thing for me is that Rafa did know how to create a top draw 1st team, not all superstars, and make it perform - that's a big deal, not many managers can do that and in his position, most English managers (who thrive at mid table) would have walked out and into the courts for settlement.

The circumstances he had to work under meant that the squad was dodgy though of course he must take responsibility for that.

However, I reckon that given the choice he would have had a strike force of Torres, Bellamy, Crouch, Babel - instead he had to sell. 

It's just that dealing in that 'few million' basket is basically about taking a punt when you're trying to do more than sit in the middle of the table plus or minus a few positions.   

Player profit is not the aim of the game, but it's amazing that other managers/media don't acknowledge the net spend part of his record.  I surprised chairmen don't notice it given financial pressures on ownership.

Anyhow, we now have a man who knows how to make a team play, and proved it again admirably last season.  Here's to his future.  

His contract means he's got 2 seasons to make good solid progress and create the foundation for the following 5 years, and hopefully a very long era of stable ownership and management - which will inevitably lead to a global Champions League or even league.

Shoot for first I suppose.  That's the only target that matters.  Win everything there is to win.  And then do it again.  And again.  Resume normal service at LFC.

If it doesn't say that zonal marking is the cause of all set piece lapses, it's wrong.

Gosh Ed, I expected better from you! What are you going to do next, get fired from Sky Sports for being sexist?

You really should listen more closely, you're missing out on lots of things that aren't any good because they're not inherently British.

I was very angry when liverpool stupidly, yes almost retartedly paid 35 mil for an hugely overrated player. For me carrol is only just above average for a striker. Can he improve? Yes he can, he can become very good especially in the PL where physical play is very important, I would be very happy if he could become a Mario Gomez type of player. Not very talented, but good movement and positioning. But with Gerard back I would prefer Suarez gerrard combo as well, and hopefully that becomes the new Torres-gerrard combo. So let's just bench the 35 mil man and let him rot there until he proves us otherwise.

I think it's a tough call for Dalglish and Comolli.  On the one hand, on current form it's clearly Suarez over Carroll every single time.  On the flipside, they really need a stable front man to build a long term team around, and that man can't be Suarez because of his (character) unpredictability and the fact that he's off to Barca the minute they come calling.

So, either they have continue to give Carroll minutes despite his form and hope he comes good, or they need to bring in another long term prospect whom they can rely on to become an integral part of the Liverpool team for years to come.  Either way, they need to strike a balance between putting out our best team now (Suarez-Gerrard), and taking care of Liverpool's long-term future (and we have to assume that's without wee Luis).   

If Carroll goes on the bench, should we not build the team to get the best out of Gerrard/Suarez? In my expert-anonymous opinion -- that means tidy passing, quick movements and flexible/fluid positions. It also means spreading the field as much as possible to give LS/SG the room to roam and exploit.

This is where I struggle to assume Downing is the best fit...or perhaps better put, this is where I think we have players who would do a better job than Stewie. Maxi or Bellamy would do really well feeding the "Suarrard"

I've mentioned this once before but a fully fit Agger makes Adam all the more expendable. The Dane can move ball forward, occupying (and in some ways overrunning) the deep space Charlie likes to collect the ball (a topic you guys have covered). Agger needs forward moving outlets out wide - and industry to cover his maundering (legal obligation to call them that) runs. 

How about these apples?

Kelly  Carra Agger  Enrique
          Spearing 
    Gerrard    Hendo
Kuyt                 Maxi/Bellers
          Suarez

And your triple substitution change-up of Carroll (Kuyt) Downing (Maxi) & Adam (Hendo) brings the smash-and-grab winner if one is so required.

Ifwe go for a 4-3-3, then I think the simple passing of Spearing and Hendo would work well with gerrards dynamism. I think a Bellamy/Kuyt/Suarez combo would work well. If its 4-3-3, theres really no room for Carroll in respect of getting used to the way we're playing.

I wonder if he'll go with his new purchases but also give Coates a run out.  Stoke next week might be a tough one for his full debut.  Also expecting suarez on the bench to be rested.

Kelly/Johnson, Agger/Carra, Skyrtel/Coates, Enrique
        Spearing Adam
  Hendo    Gerrard   Downing/Bellamy/Maxi  
               Carroll
Hendo and Gerrard could be swapped, Bellars in for Maxi 2nd half, or possibly start with Downing instead of maxi given it's Carroll up front.

have you just saved me a lot of money? I can now get "Suarrard" on one shirt rather than buying too.
And will be made up explaining the term down the pub to all who ask

what about bellard...sounds better

Wholeheartedly agree w/ that 11 - my preference is Maxi over the crazy-eyed-welshman (that is not a slight). I also wouldn't mind seeing Downing in, rather than Hendo, but am fine w/ him being rewarded for a nice display last time out. I'm a little afraid that Spearing won't get the call and Stevie or Adam will be given the holding CM role. As I think y'all or Nate wrote a post on last year, Stevie G has not always performed the "holding" part of that role very well, choosing instead to stray out of position and f up the team's defensive shape, leaving too much space for counterattacks to develop.

As an aside, I wish everyone would calm down over Carroll (see Nasty's post, above); yes, he looked unenthusiastic in the midweek scrimmage. Kenny will get on his jock and he will learn his lesson. He's f'ing 22; I know the pricetag pisses people off, but he had no role in that. Let the boy grow into himself. The season is 8 games old. He's played well in 2 of his matches. Not so well in others. It happens.

honestly, i cudnt care less what type of form anyone was in during that rangers game - biggest bullshit game ever...

I'd love to see Maxi get a start.  He's quality.

whynot bellamy?

Because Maxi fits in more with the pass-and-move game that Liverpool are trying to engender - dominating possession, always keeping the ball under control, and with enough creative spark in the team to manufacture chances from smart player/ball movement and positioning.  ie. What Borrell and Segura are trying to do with our entire youth system, and what will eventually form the core of Liverpool's style of play.  Maxi has those qualities.

Bellamy is a fantastic player in his own right, but IMO would fit better as an impact sub to add that extra finishing touch up front, or in situations where we've built up a cushioned lead and only look to hit on the odd counter.  Or perhaps a system that Rafa once employed where we're extremely organized in midfield and defence, and are very effective suddenly breaking out as a team and attacking at pace.  Different players for different systems, that's all.  Not that Maxi is any better or worse than Bellers on the whole. 

i agree with you...but with pass and move pace on the flank wont hurt.it would work really well.

I would love to see that eleven, and agreed on Agger/Adam, just not going to be convinced that Adam's seen as expendable until it actually happens.

I like it. I personally prefer a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3, though that could be more semantics than anything. I also like the idea of inverting Downing:

Kelly-Carra-Agger-Enrique
-----Spearo-Hendo------
Downing-Gerrard-Dutch Assassin
---------Suarez-----------------

I like the idea of tucked in inverted wingers. I'd prefer Maxi to Kuyt in this set up simply from a ball playing perpective/possession based approach. 

Oh Maxi...really wish he wasn't designated to just Carling Cup action

I really want to see the wingers set up that way too.

Here's hoping to see some DAgger maundering (legal obligation to repeat your adverb and plagiarize your disclaimer) runs.