*** Pre-season Friendlies Thread ***

It seemed to be a case of nothing too risky from either manager as neither wanted to lose.

Without further signings though, neither will be challenging for a Champion's League place.
 
Pigeon_Killer said:
Our midfield was far better in the second half [...]
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True - they were a different team in the second half [and I don't just mean literally]. Adam and Spearing did themselves absolutely no favours with their performances today.

[...] but it's hard to see where the goals are going to come from this season. If we're going to play with 3 in the centre at least one of the 3, assuming Lucas plays the holding role again, needs to be capable of getting in to double figures and I can't see any of our options getting anywhere near that.
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Bear in mind that there's not been one proper team performance yet - Brendan's still assessing. His system needs players to learn where team-mates are going to be at all times, and there's been no time for that to develop.

This is one of the reasons why Brendan's so keen to get Allen in [unfortunately for us] - it's a shortcut to a more knowing midfield. With Allen and Gerrard and some team-gelling time, there'll be chances and goals, don't you worry.
 
Not an exciting game but it's more minutes under our belt against half decent opposition.

In all three of our matches I've been impressed with how we've looked to keep the ball; even Carra has always looked to keep it on the deck where possible.
The__Malteser said:
That is why I said Liverpool played a team full of youngsters, because they were the ones who did proper pre-season.
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I'm still not sure how we could be ahead of Roma in our pre-season. Even the kids had only been training for around 2 weeks and that was their 2nd game. For Roma to have already played 5 games (with a near full strength squad), they must have been back in training for quite some time.
Pigeon_Killer said:
If we're going to play with 3 in the centre at least one of the 3, assuming Lucas plays the holding role again, needs to be capable of getting in to double figures and I can't see any of our options getting anywhere near that.
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You can't see Gerrard getting 10 goals? I can and providing the front 3 each get into double figures, it's not a massive issue if the midfield aren't score that many.
 
simisker said:
This is one of the reasons why Brendan's so keen to get Allen in [unfortunately for us] - it's a shortcut to a more knowing midfield. With Allen and Gerrard and some team-gelling time, there'll be chances and goals, don't you worry.
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I don't know much about Allen but a lot of Liverpool supporters seem to think he would be a good signing but looking at his stats and style of play from last season he's basically another safe player. He doesn't get many assists, he barely scores but he keeps the ball well. We've got a squad full of those type of players (Henderson in particular should negate the need for Allen if he plays as well under Rodgers as I expect him to) but very little creativity and pace.

You can't see Gerrard getting 10 goals? I can and providing the front 3 each get into double figures, it's not a massive issue if the midfield aren't score that many.
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He's still got the ability but I wouldn't bet on him playing enough games to manage it.
 
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Pigeon_Killer said:
He's still got the ability but I wouldn't bet on him playing enough games to manage it.
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It's unlikely that he'll miss as much of this season as he did last season and even then he managed 9 goals.

I do agree to an extent with what you're saying though. Like I said after the Roma game, unless we bring another attack minded CM in (and assuming Aquilani leaves) then I'd like to keep both Adam and Shelvey around as 5th and 6th choice CM's and sacrifice Spearing.

I know you don't like fat, ginger Scots but Adam's not nearly as bad as you make out. His biggest issue last season came with Lucas's injury; he was used to having 2 other CM's doing the donkey work for him, allowing him to get forward with freedom but with Lucas's injury he was being asked to play a more withdrawn role that he wasn't capable of playing. In a 3 man midfield, he's a more than capable of filling in for Gerrard.
 
His biggest issue this season will be the way Rodgers likes to play football. Quick one touch passing simply doesn't suit him because he can't control the ball without taking multiple touches which in turn means he's not capable of one touch passing.

He might have a place in the team as a backup to Gerrard but I wouldn't want to rely on him for half as season any more than I wanted to rely on Spearing when Lucas got injured.

At the moment I think we could do with a decent backup to Reina, a decent backup to Lucas, a quality wide man and a quality forward. Assuming Carroll and Aquilani leave I still think at least one or two players will have to leave to be able to afford those players and Adams along with Downing are the two I'd most like to see leave.
 
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Ephemera said:
Southampton lost at home to Ajax today 1-0.
Played poorly in the opening 20 minutes but gradually got into the game and in the end felt a draw was a fair result.
Fonte looked poor today and really needs to up his game in time for the Prem because he was suspect last season. Lambert looked abit overweight but hopefully the next 3 weeks will sort that out.
Fox was torn apart by Ajax's Ozbiliz which is worrying seeing as he'll face players of his calibre a lot more this coming season. Fox's crossing and passing is so good it's a shame he can't play in midfield.
Lallana looked good aswell as JWP and Clyne played a very impressive 45 minutes.
Need at least 2 new first team players before Man City and maybe a few others to push for places.
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Just back home from that! Draw was fair considering one or two dodgy offside decisions our way.

You're right on Lambert, he's not quite ready yet and neither is Sharp.

Fox needs help with his defending though that Ozbiliz guy looked very good.

Really impressed with Clyne (especially for 2.5m) those 45 mins sold me as our new first choice RB really.

Ward-Prose looked like he's the next big thing to watch out for really, come on loads in the last few months and picked out some quality passes, plus had the energy to be up and down the pitch all game. I'm expecting a few games for him this year (with Chaplow sold) along side a few know it all comments from Alan Handson and the other idiot about watching him for years...

Rodriguez looks good, but really isn't a left midfielder so didn't get going till the second half when he was much further up field.

We only need a CB as Fonte looks shaky and could do with a RM, but can get by with who we have, just.

I'm just really excited to who else is coming out the academy, Shaw looked alright (considering his age and position) so I assume someone else is looking good from there.

Oh and hate the new kit now, seeing it in person really didn't do it for me at all (just want the sash back)
 
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Pigeon_Killer said:
His biggest issue this season will be the way Rodgers likes to play football. Quick oce touch passing simply doesn't suit him because he can't control the ball without taking multiple touches which in turn means he's not capable of one touch passing.

He might have a place in the team as a backup to Gerrard but I wouldn't want to rely on him for half as season any more than I wanted to rely on Spearing when Lucas got injured.

At the moment I think we could do with a decent backup to Reina, a decent backup to Lucas, a quality wide man and a quality forward. Assuming Carroll and Aquilani leave I still think at least one or two players will have to leave to be able to afford those players and Adams along with Downing are the two I'd most like to see leave.
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In an ideal world you'd bring in better quality cover for Gerrard but not only are we not likely to have the money to do that, it's going to be difficult keeping 5-6 CM's happy.

For now cover for Gerrard isn't a priority. Assuming we sign Allen then he'll provide decent cover for Lucas as well as being able to play alongside him. The attack is the hardest area to judge right now; I imagine the club are trying to get rid of Carroll, Cole and Bellamy but it's not certain that any will leave and I don't think we can/will bring in attacking players until they go. All 3 will need replacing if they leave though.
 
pingwing said:
Ward-Prose looked like he's the next big thing to watch out for really, come on loads in the last few months and picked out some quality passes, plus had the energy to be up and down the pitch all game. I'm expecting a few games for him this year (with Chaplow sold) along side a few know it all comments from Alan Handson and the other idiot about watching him for years...

Rodriguez looks good, but really isn't a left midfielder so didn't get going till the second half when he was much further up field.

We only need a CB as Fonte looks shaky and could do with a RM, but can get by with who we have, just.

I'm just really excited to who else is coming out the academy, Shaw looked alright (considering his age and position) so I assume someone else is looking good from there.

Oh and hate the new kit now, seeing it in person really didn't do it for me at all (just want the sash back)
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Have to say the new kit looked good on the tv but have yet to see it up close. Would love the sash back but can understand the new direction.

JWP looked exceptional for a 17 year old. He has the potential to be the best player we've brought through the academy (IMO).

Shaw had a good game and Adkins said after the match that the youth players will play a part this coming season.
 
On the fan base it looks naff, on the team it doesn't look much better, just old Liverpool kits which is a real shame :( I think it's just to make us stand out from Stoke and Sunderland which is sensible, but it's not for me sadly.

I do agree on JWP, he looks like he could do a decent job for the first team now (as several of the big academy products did at 17/18) and will be something very special in the future, just really hope we get to hang onto him this time.

Shaw isn't ready yet, good but not ready. Do like Adkins and his attitude towards building the team, seems to look pretty good so far.
 
So, it only took Ibra 3 minutes to score for his new club. Fantastic goal too... and some people say he isn't anywhere near the level of Messi or Ronaldo. I wouldn't say he is far off.


Game ended 1-1 though.
 
Moses said:
That's because he isn't.

He may have the talent to be on their level, but he hasn't used it well enough. As an extreme example, Ravel Morrison had/has the ability, or potential, to be rather good, apparently... but he hasn't used it.

With Ibra, you know that in any given match he could do something amazing and win the game. With Ronaldo/Messi, you expect that to happen.
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I never said he was on the same league as Messi and Ronaldo. He is close to being there. 3rd best striker on the planet.

Anyway, Messi gets a hat trick.

 
charlie adam trying to end bale's season again i see.

awful, awful player. the sooner adam realises bale is far superior to him, and stops attempting to tackle him, the better.
 
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