The Football News Thread 2014/15 - Everything not Wolves News Related

[FrankMunro-371]

Steve Gerrard has announced his retirement from International football.

 

[Jolemai]

Anyone else think Liverpool are just wasting money again?

 

[Nando]

Anyone else think Liverpool are just wasting money again?

Yes. They've got Spurs written all over them.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

They do seem to have got pretty mental with the cash.

Lallana is a good player but i don't think he's really what they needed, Lambert is a decent option of the bench i guess but nothing special, i know nothing of Markovic or Can, Lovren is good but looks pricey at nearly £20m and again Remy is good but not sure it's really what they need.

Their priority should've been a left back and a centre half, then move Flanagan across to replace Johnson.

How are they likely to line up next season? Something like this?

Mignolet

Johnson Lovren Sakho Enrique

Gerrard Can

Markovic Lallana Sterling

Sturridge​

That leaves possibly 2 new summer signings on the bench in Lambert and Remy, Coutinho benched, arguably their most improved played last season Henderson dropped.

 

[Nando]

They'll have better depth, but it's hard to name a strongest XI. They'll have good options in the final third but the full backs still aren't going to be good enough.

 

[andyc225]

We no longer have to accommodate Stevie G. We could replace him with a midfielder who can actually control a ball properly and pick a telling pass, but I won't hold my breath over it.

 

[Lycan]

I've seen Liverpool linked with Marco Reus and Isco in a few places today as well.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

If Liverpool stick with the same system as the second half of last season, attacking wise it'll be something like:

----------------Gerrard---------

----Henderson--Can----Lallana

----------Remy-----Sturridge----

And they'll be too open again, with a shamefully poor right back (and left back if that joker Enrique comes back in) no consistent CH partnership and they'll leak tons again.

Brentdan is wilfully neglectful with his defence and how the team performs without the ball, as if it's somehow beneath him, the chancing bastard.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

Seems strange really as his Swansea team always had a pretty solid backline, though most of that came as a result of his old possession heavy tactics, suppose that's the trade off for his new gung ho thinking at Liverpool.

Would seem strange to play that way though leaving a £20m signing on the bench and shuting your biggest summer signing out of position slightly to accomodate others, plus you're leaving Sterling out who was as impressive as anyone for them most of last season.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

It's almost as if he's adding to the area of the team that was already fine and ignoring the bit that cost them the league.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

I can see why he's wanted to add some attacking players, they've lost their biggest threat, they've got more games to play, against more difficult opposition too and they had no depth to the squad but he's skewed it massively now. Can looks a bit unneccesary when you've already got Gerrard, Allen, Henderson and Lucas so that's 5 centre midfielders, even if they go for the sort of diamond thing they used at times last year that leaves you with problems then of what to do with Coutinho, Lallana and Sterling at the point of it, only one of them is going to fit into that formation. So they he goes and get's Markovic to give another wide option and open up more of a 4231 sort of option but now he's got 5 centre midfielders going for 2 places at the base of that.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Just to add - I think it's a wider thing in management at the moment, not just Sharknose. Managers forever trying to show how clever they are, what leftfield ideas they can come up with, how they incontrovertibly know best. Look at the way Guardiola teams defend set pieces (or more pertinently, flat out don't bother), his experiment with Lahm in midfield which Löw straight up copied. Kuyt at fucking wing back for Holland.

It's like they see the cult of Mourinho and want a piece of that. Erm, Mourinho has that status because he wins trophies. He doesn't do it through being a mad scientist. Just success and personality.

 

[Freddeno]

if liverpool could strengthen in the full back positions they would be a greaat team...although missing suarez is hugh and nothing is gonna replace that in a second..go for Ibra and you will win the league

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

They wouldn't, they're too open in midfield. They just let teams run on their back four at will.

They are set up badly tactically and if they don't change will get absolutely humped in Europe.

 

[FrankMunro-371]

Regarding the England captaincy, will Rooney be given it now that Gerrard has retired.

 

[Lycan]

I hope not. He's done nothing to deserve it. Not like there are many other options though I suppose.

 

[Kenny]

Regarding the England captaincy, will Rooney be given it now that Gerrard has retired.

He is the Media's choice it would seem, which means he will be classed as the fans choice.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I'd give it to Hart. You can guarantee that barring a catastrophic turn of events he'll be in the team for ages to come. Maybe even a decade.

 

[Freddeno]

captain for england..Cahill for me now, should be nailed on

 

[Kenny]

I'd give it to Hart. You can guarantee that barring a catastrophic turn of events he'll be in the team for ages to come. Maybe even a decade.

Would prefer the Captain to be in the centre of defence but options are limited there.