Let’s Talk: 5 Points on 0-0 with Swansea

1. Downing CAN play left-back, but doesn’t mean he should.
I’m gonna say it now – We should keep Downing just for the fact that he can be our utility player, like how Khalid Boularouz was in Chelsea under Jose Mourinho. Downing can play on either wing, on either side of the midfield, and at left-back. That’s a lot of positions covered by just one player.

However, just because he can play at left-back, doesn’t mean he should always be there. Many people slate Downing for his performance against Swansea yesterday, and it’s a fair one at that. However, where was Jose Enrique? If Downing were to be at the wing, he would track back to defend, but why didn’t Enrique do so? (And especially since Jose didn’t have a great performance in the second half).

The performance by Downing at left-back was bad yesterday, despite him playing fairly decent so far when called upon to be a full/wing-back. I’d rather have him upfront and attempt to run the left flank with the chance of a decent ball crossed into the box.

2. Average Joe’s?
Well, Joe Allen was average, but Joe Cole wasn’t even close.

You’ve got to admit, Joe Allen hasn’t had a good game for a while now. His “spectacular” passing accuracy have shown to be due to playing relatively safe passes in midfield. Yesterday, he played aggressively average in my opinion. Giving up the ball too easily, making a few clumsy tackles, and not really building momentum to push the team forward. He’s still somewhat young, and I have nothing but hopes on him that he’ll progress and develop to be an amazing deep-midfield playmaker for Liverpool in the future.

While Joe Cole assisted in a goal and even got himself a goal of his own against Young Boys in midweek, I honestly think he didn’t play well in that game. It was lucky, and a matter of “right place, right time” for him. His introduction ahead of Suso was a puzzling one at that. Did anyone notice him on the pitch last night when he came on? Because I sure didn’t. That says it all about his performance.

3. Shelvey and Henderson are ones’ for the future.
The England Under-21 teammates (well, until recently) are a solid base to build Liverpool for the future. These two midfielders are of different natures and play styles, but hopefully they gel to be a solid midfield partnership.

Jonjo Shelvey has been dubbed “the next Steven Gerrard”, while Jordan Henderson is already the England Under-21 captain. Shelvey is a more attacking-minded midfielder, always going forward with the mentality to score and create chances, while Henderson is a very underrated player, having abilities to move the ball across midfield and into attack.

Yesterday, Henderson had a fairly quiet game, but his performance was sound. Always hustling for the ball and pressuring the oppositions is what a midfielder has to do. The midfield is the first layer of defence before the back four, and Henderson is excelling very well in that role. Jonjo Shelvey came on as a substitute later on, and his ferocious shot on goal in the dying minutes of the game was denied by an on-form Tremmel who was up to the challenge.

A combination of the both at their peak seems to be similar to a midfield combo of Gerrard and Alonso that was greatly enjoyed by Liverpool fans. While both have their ups and downs so far in their Liverpool careers, constant determination and training will get them far for sure.

4. Speaking of Gerrard…
He hasn’t been the same Steven Gerrard we know and love. I know that. I also know that he tends to give the ball away too easily and a bit too casually. But I also know that the team won’t be nearly as good without him, and let me tell you why from my perspective.

His passes are just phenomenal. His defence-splitting passes takes a whole lot of vision, skill, technique and courage to do. While he doesn’t have the highest passing rate, you need to look at his type of pass attempts. Joe Allen may have a better pass rate, but what are his types of passes? Mostly square passes, some back passes, all relatively short and safe. Gerrard plays passes that bring the team forward as a whole, opening play when needed and creating chances.

He played an excellent through ball to set Sterling free on the right flank and yet another chance was created. Just at half time itself, Gerrard had 4 chances created, closest to him had only 1.

Imagine a midfield of Henderson-Allen-Sahin/Shelvey. The game in the middle of the park would be so direct and only a few times would chance-creating passes be made. While short passing retains possession, you need risky-but-rewarding passes to actually be on the offensive end of things.

I’m saying this now, pass rates, possession, they are MERE numbers. Instead of looking at figures, why not watch the game in its true form and judge from there? That’s why, Gerrard is irreplaceable, at least for now.

5. Patience (and a while lot of it) is needed.
January cannot come soon enough? True and untrue. A change of tactics, formations, players can all change the way we play now. On the other hand, a top striker would certainly be welcomed, as well as a creative player to bring that spark into the squad.

We as fans need to be patient, but be realistic and accept when the team doesn’t play well, just like yesterday. Do I think that Liverpool deserved a win against Swansea? Honestly, no. A point is more than deserving based on the performance. We were very, hesitant (for a lack of a better term) up front in the final third. We were shaky at the back, with Swansea almost breaking the deadlock multiple times.

Sometimes, the scoreline doesn’t mean anything because judging the performance is what gets us going forward and improving at the squad. Did the scoreline reflect our performance against Swansea? Yes, quite accurate too I might add.

Pointing out negatives shows where the team can and should improve on, and isn’t that what every fan wants? Be realistic in judgement, and that’s what makes statements and opinions as accurate as it can be.

As always, have hope in your heart, and You’ll Never Walk Alone.

7 Quick Fixes for Liverpool FC

To start off this blog and it’s first article, let’s have a quickie. Here are my 7 Quick Fixes that Brendan Rodgers and the Liverpool squad can do to possibly get a better team until January’s transfer window comes along.

1. Pick Goalkeepers Based on FORM, not CLASS.

Yes, it’s sad but it’s the truth – Pepe Reina is not the same keeper from Benitez’s days. He very well may spike in form again, but at least not for now. So far this season, his form can be described in one word: Clumsy.

A bit harsh, but again, it’s the truth. While he did pull off some amazing saves (like the point blank header from the game against Udinese), he also did let go some awful goals (such as the second Norwich goal).

Am I the only one over the years, fears every corner that comes against us because I’m not fully certain nor confident that Reina can save it? Probably, probably.

No matter how good Pepe was, he isn’t our best keeper now. Brad Jones took over for the past few games and performed to expectations so far. Until Pepe performs well in training, BR should continue fielding Brad Jones to be the man between the sticks.

2. Shore Up The Defence.

While we have (arguably) the best defensive centre-halves in the league, boasting two strong defenders in the forms of Agger and Skrtel, we’re still conceding goals that should and could be defended better.

Barring the fact that we’re unlucky to not have Martin Kelly and Jon Flanagan due to injury, we still have sufficient players to play match day after match day. There’s still 4 centre-halves (5 if you include Wisdom), Glen Johnson as our only true right back and 2 left backs. The problem is the inability to clear our lines.

Game after game, we get the 1-0 lead and we’re struggling to defend. We were lucky to get clean sheets against Reading and Anzhi, the defence was absent when Everton scored 2 goals to equalise during the Merseyside derby and the 3-1 defeat to Swansea is self-explanatory.

3. Stop With the Back-Passes.

We’ve seen what back passes has done this season. Skrtel’s really ridiculous back pass caused us to get a mere point against Manchester City while Stoke almost capitalised on another back pass that could’ve made us fall to another defeat.

Passing back the ball should only be done when absolutely necessary, like a last resort. Puts the goalkeeper under unnecessary pressure, it’s risky, and it’s unproductive.

Martin Skrtel is the main culprit here, no doubt. Famous for his back passing when he has options passing forward. Try telling me a game when he doesn’t turn around after receiving a pass.

4. Don’t FULLY Rely On Wisdom at Right-Back.

While many are impressed with Andre Wisdom, I for one isn’t fully impressed, yet. He’s strong, he’s a bit of a thinking-player, but no where capable of holding down the right back spot on his own.

Defensively, he’a been consistent and at most, decent. My problem with him being at the full back spots is that he’s not good on the ball enough to start an attack from the back if needed, and as with most young players, he’s inexperienced.

Against Anzhi, he’s been indecisive at times after receiving the ball on the right, and doesn’t find passes that bring the play forward. Often times, he passes back to the centre-halves. Don’t even get me started on his performance against Everton that led to his early substitution.

His ball distribution and ability on the ball isn’t ideal, I would say, to play as a full back. Defensively, yeah sure, he’ll be alright, but not going forward.

Should we continue playing him there? Until Glen comes back, I don’t see any choice other than an ageing Jamie Carragher or Henderson being wasted at right-back rather than his most effective position in midfield.

I repeat, he is decent at right back, but not great.

5. Change Up The Formation.

For now, we’re playing a simple 4-3-3, while good because of the simplicity of it, also brings a few negatives. In a 4-3-3, there will be a lone striker, and often times no one to back up and support him apart from the two wingers.

Also in a 4-3-3, it prompts the need for two midfielders to hold back a bit while one more should push forward. Often times, there will be a lack of connection between midfield and attack.

I’d much prefer it if we played 4-1-4-1, where Joe Allen will play in front of the defence to stop attacks and to distribute the ball. This allows an extra layer in the midfield to link the defence to the midfield, to the attack a little easier.

6. Let the Youth Step Up.

If there’s something we’ve learn since Brendan took over, it’s that he doesn’t hesitate in bringing in the youth players into the first team. We’ve seen Sebastian Coates, Andre Wisdom, Jack Robinson, Suso, Raheem Sterling, Daniel Pacheco and Samed Yesil all getting a run out be it in the league games, or in cup competitions.

We’re having a striker crisis with Luis Suarez being our only recognised striker after Fabio Borini picked up an injury. However, I don’t believe that there are no solutions for it until January.

We have Daniel Pacheco, Samed Yesil and Adam Morgan all playing in the under-21 squad, but now they have to be included into the first team, even if it means being an unused substitute.

The argument here would be that they aren’t ‘recognised strikers’, but it’s better than nothing. Who knows? Playing them might actually let them show their potential, like how Federico Macheda stepped up for Manchester United seasons ago, for example.

Jack Robinson and Sebastian Coates should also be given more game time in the defence. Both of them had great outings in the Europa League, probably on-par with Andre Wisdom’s introduction to the side.

7. Shoot!

The problem with the passing game is that there is so much emphasis on passing the ball around and retaining possession that players forget to shoot!

How many times in recent seasons have we dominated possession, camped in the oppositions’ third but still drew the game?

It’s simple really, the more chances you created, the more shots you’ll be able to take, the higher the chances of scoring a goal. And I’m not talking about Suarez alone, but the team as a whole should start shooting more.

There’s absolutely no point building up play without getting at least a shot on goal at the end of it. As the saying goes, you don’t shoot, you don’t score.