If we look past the many poor refereeing decisions on Sunday, it was quite evident from the defeat to Spurs, that Liverpool still have a long way to go before they are competing for a Premier League title. I have highlighted five key examples from yesterday as to why the Reds have a big rebuilding job ahead of them in the summer.
1) I have given tremendous credit to Jay Spearing over his last few matches. He had seemed to be getting towards a consistent level of pressurising opponents, winning the ball back and passing simply to team mates. Without being too harsh, Jay didn’t really have one of his best games yesterday and didn’t play to his best in any of the three areas highlighted. Consistency is key when you want to become a first team player, and after a few good performances, I thought I had saw a new Jay Spearing emerging but the display against Spurs demonstrates that there is a need to look for another holding midfield player in the summer. Jay can still be a squad player, but when Christian Poulsen departs, somebody with greater qualities than the Dane and Jay must come in to strengthen this area. King Kenny has shown a lot of faith in Spearing but I think he would have realised too, that more steel is needed in midfield.
2) Maxi Rodriguez – A typical performance from the Argentine. After seven goals in 3 games, he puts in a performance which can only be described as anonymous. To win Premier League titles, you need players, especially on the wings, who can change games when things are not going your way. Maxi typically turns up when the team is playing well, and when the team doesn’t perform, he is normally one of the eleven who has underperformed. Again, like Jay, he can be kept as a squad player, but a couple of top class wide players have to be the priority in the summer.
Shelvey will come good, he needs games.
Summary: Liverpool were rubbish under Roy Hodgson…and are still rubbish under “King” Kenny.
Several years of stumbling around in fifth sixth beckon.
I agree with the above, adding that we must keep reina from going eksewhere since hes instrumental, as well as look for a high quality central defender
we must use andy carroll to our best advantage, our plaYers need to learn this, one – give him long balls to take on the chest bouncing first if need be, two – dont belt a ball for him to head on if you can see there is no one to head it on to. place him at the far back post to head the ball back in but others must be prepared to then go in where it hurts, OR PLACE SOMEONE TO HEAD IT BACK IN TO HIM, three – he is not just tall he can jump so he needs to run on to crosses comming wide from in front or at least level. four – if we are breaking fast andy should release the ball almost if not as soon as it comes to him so others can use their pace – five use andy as a hold up player to give others time to get forward. ITS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.
Shelvey looks to have the heart to make it big at this level. With a little luck, that shot could have gone in. His corners and were great. I would love to see him loaned out to a premier league team next season and he’d become a real star! Carroll aint getting decent service as well as Suarez. Its just that Suarez drops deep to pick d ball and run at defenders. Wingers and a very creative playmaker like charlie Adam would do us wonders. Adel Tarabt is another player that we can invest on a mid-term investment!