Torres out for 6 weeks/Gerrard 2weeks

[GJM]

It's time for Patches!

 

Yes. One for each eye until this season is over.

[Karl_b]

Dalla valle

 

Save us Dalla Valle, you're our only hope.

 

Mascherano --- Lucas

 

Maxi --- Aquilani --- Riera

 

Kuyt

 

Patches, N'gog and Dalla Valle on the bench.

[bigbak]

I fucking hate January. Was wondering just how it could meet the last three years and it goes and tops it off. Massive questions have to be asked on how the players are being prepared physically, in my view. It's past the point of mere bad luck. The absolute sickner is that the excuse for bringing Heskey back here is now sorted.

 

Maxi--------Aquilani-----------Mascherano------------Riera

-----------------------Kuyt--------------Ngog.

It's passable, I reckon.

 

I'd add Pepe in goal, but agree with you that we've been playing without a defence for a while

[Skidfingers McGonical]

That's a really good comparison. They ended up relying on him far too much and were fucked when he didn't perform. Ronaldo is another example but luckily for the Mancs they've still got rooney.

 

But what can you do? They're your best players and you build a team and a system round them.

 

It's something I've been realising over the last 18 months or so. Thing is you can't post nothing like that because of the responses you get e.g. Red Nick's above.

 

You do build your team around your best players however there comes time when

a) Things need be revised and look at the reliance upon the, in our case, two star players and start giving others a more pivotal role in the team.

Or

b) for the benefit of both parties parting of the ways to help bring on the younger players.

 

I would hope answer a would be the solution, and that's the one I would want to happen.

 

However Arsenal reached a point with Henry and sold him and this has benefitted them hugely, especially Fabregas, he has had the shackles taken off and become the leader of that team and their central focus.

 

I'm not saying it's all Gerrard's fault but there are times when I think sometimes it's to our detriment as the players seem to cautious to upset him as opposed to playing their own game.

 

Henry did a whole load of arm flailing in his last two seasons at Highbury, and Gerrard is doing the same. An example last night was he played a one two with N'Gog and then N'Gog carried on running,Gerrard threw a hissey fit because he wanted it back, but he was crowded out by three players. Now I hope Gerrard takes a bit of a step back and allows the others to play and takes less of the responsibility and delegates it around the pitch, maybe it would help the players relax more, as they are playing like they are too scared to upset him.

 

He takes too much on.

[WaltonRed]

He takes too much on because he feels he has to as captain.

[WhiskeyJar]

Ouy young guns should answer to the call now. They are the key and the reason why I have any faith left in Rafa.

 

He has a great pool of young talent to choose from, and now that we are in need for some firepower, surely he will turn to them, be them ready or not.

 

Either way, we need a miracle and I fucking hope that Rafa has an Ace or two under his sleeve with Patches and Ngoo faces on them.

[Cressa75]

This will keep happening until Rafa builds a team that doesn't rely on Torres and Gerrard. People can point out times when we've performed well without them being on the pitch ie against the mancs last season but to believe anything other than this is just fucking wrong. It's been clear to everyone that Stevie and torres have been unfit for weeks now and the strain of trying to lift us out of this shitty form has taken it's toll both mentally and physically. Raga needs to pull the biggest fucking rabbit ever out of his sleeve over the couple of weeks either in terms of performances or transfers. If he doesn't he's gone and this season is over. End of.

[Skidfingers McGonical]

He takes too much on because he feels he has to as captain.

 

And that's his major flaw, which can be commended but also concerning at the same time.

[WhiskeyJar]

This will keep happening until Rafa builds a team that doesn't rely on Torres and Gerrard. People can point out times when we've performed well without them being on the pitch ie against the mancs last season but to believe anything other than this is just fucking wrong. It's been clear to everyone that Stevie and torres have been unfit for weeks now and the strain of trying to lift us out of this shitty form has taken it's toll both mentally and physically. Raga needs to pull the biggest fucking rabbit ever out of his sleeve over the couple of weeks either in terms of performances or transfers. If he doesn't he's gone and this season is over. End of.

 

[RedKnight]

Watching us is going to be a lot of fun in the next two months.

[Bogman]

Watching us is going to be a lot of fun in the next two months.

 

And it is at the moment? ;)

[Unrighteous]

Well there's the excuses sorted for the next month or so anyway.

 

My thoughts exactly.

[a stoner]

Ouy young guns should answer to the call now. They are the key and the reason why I have any faith left in Rafa.

 

He has a great pool of young talent to choose from, and now that we are in need for some firepower, surely he will turn to them, be them ready or not.

 

Either way, we need a miracle and I fucking hope that Rafa has an Ace or two under his sleeve with Patches and Ngoo faces on them.

 

It's funny, while I was reading through the thread this is exactly what I was thinking. We seem to have lost the ability to dip into the reserves other than to finance another poor purchase. How has the club got to this point? So many of our heros in the past came from the club itself and not from foriegn shores. Lets top wasting time and money on over paid freeloaders and start giving the keds who WANT to play in OUR colours the chance. Even if they are wet behind the ears many of them will rise to the challenge, some may even thrive on it. Just the possibility of running out to a packed kop WILL inspire them to greatness. Lets face it this season is fucked and 4th spot looks a mighty long way off so lets use it as an exploritory training session for the youngsters.

But, alas, I doubt it will happen as Rafa will stick to his usual tactics and usual suspects who don't seem to give a flying fuck what happens.

:wallbutt:

[WhiskeyJar]

Watching us is going to be a lot of fun in the next two months.

 

I still hope for the best although to be honest, thats like a small dwindeling candle on its last centimetre of wax.............unless rafa can light it up again by spilling lighter fuel on it....

[Alan Sex]

 

I'm so fucking sick of this fucking season. Fuck it up the bum.

 

Very eloquently put, and exactly how The Sex feels. Repped.

[WhiskeyJar]

It's funny, while I was reading through the thread this is exactly what I was thinking. We seem to have lost the ability to dip into the reserves other than to finance another poor purchase. How has the club got to this point? So many of our heros in the past came from the club itself and not from foriegn shores. Lets top wasting time and money on over paid freeloaders and start giving the keds who WANT to play in OUR colours the chance. Even if they are wet behind the ears many of them will rise to the challenge, some may even thrive on it. Just the possibility of running out to a packed kop WILL inspire them to greatness. Lets face it this season is fucked and 4th spot looks a mighty long way off so lets use it as an exploritory training session for the youngsters.

But, alas, I doubt it will happen as Rafa will stick to his usual tactics and usual suspects who don't seem to give a flying fuck what happens.

:wallbutt:

 

If we dont buy a stirker, a winger and another CM we are going to be short on firepower and numbers for the next 2 weeks at least.

 

He has to take a chance now, and surely some of the young ones are mouth watering at the prospect.

 

All hands on deck now....

[RedKnight]

Well the transfer window is open so Rafa should be putting all of his energies into getting a loan striker for the next two months.

[diego]

This will keep happening until Rafa builds a team that doesn't rely on Torres and Gerrard.

 

Agree. We need to rebuild and may as well do it this year. But we should not proceed by finding interim subs for Torres and Gerrard. I would sell Gerrard to the highest bidder - if I could get him to accept a move. I'd keep Torres but find him a decent attacking partner and back-up. I'd find a dominating, dependable defender and use Carragher far less. I'd sell Škrtel. I'd get a fit, dependable left back and use Insua and as back-up. Fabio is out of contract. I'd offer him a pay as you play or something similar.

 

The priority is the defence. We no longer have a reliable defence and it is affecting everybody's confidence.

 

The second priority is to replace Gerrard. He is no longer focused on LFC. He is injury prone. When he is not on song he disrupts the team and inhibits the other players. He is not particularly good as captain.

 

If Mascherano goes, a strong defensive midfielder would then be a priority.

 

If money allows, a specialist fast winger - left or right.

 

I would keep Rafa. He is one of the few ranking experts who has the knowledge skill and guts to rebuild the first team squad and the academy.

 

I'd also ignore all the moaning glory hunters on here.

[Redmek]

And that's his major flaw, which can be commended but also concerning at the same time.

 

It was the same problem with England & Beckham, and I remember after Beckham was dropped by the "wally with the brolly", Gerrard commenting about the team playing together now rather than one person running around doing everything.

 

If people can step up to the plate now, maybe when everyone is fit we'll have a more cohesive team. We really are shocking sometimes, and I'm sorry to say this, the hoofballs from Carra don't help.

[Delmar]

Agree. We need to rebuild and may as well do it this year. But we should not proceed by finding interim subs for Torres and Gerrard. I would sell Gerrard to the highest bidder - if I could get him to accept a move. I'd keep Torres but find him a decent attacking partner and back-up. I'd find a dominating, dependable defender and use Carragher far less. I'd sell Škrtel. I'd get a fit, dependable left back and use Insua and as back-up. Fabio is out of contract. I'd offer him a pay as you play or something similar.

 

The priority is the defence. We no longer have a reliable defence and it is affecting everybody's confidence.

 

The second priority is to replace Gerrard. He is no longer focused on LFC. He is injury prone. When he is not on song he disrupts the team and inhibits the other players. He is not particularly good as captain.

 

If Mascherano goes, a strong defensive midfielder would then be a priority.

 

If money allows, a specialist fast winger - left or right.

 

I would keep Rafa. He is one of the few ranking experts who has the knowledge skill and guts to rebuild the first team squad and the academy.

 

I'd also ignore all the moaning glory hunters on here.

 

I would do exactly the same. Good post, thus...

[a stoner]

We could give most of the first team a holiday for a few weeks and get in most of the reserves, at least they would play with some bottle and commitment to the club and not with their own agenda. I am starting to wonder if it may be time to have a really deep clear out of the first team but I would like to see the up and coming talent within getting a shout before we start selling and buying in again. Yes there are pros and cons for doing this and I think the pros are starting to outweigh the cons. We would all be happier, even if we lost, if the team went out and played their arses off, rather than the laughable bunglings of what should be one of the best teams in the prem.

[aws]

It's something I've been realising over the last 18 months or so. Thing is you can't post nothing like that because of the responses you get e.g. Red Nick's above.

 

You do build your team around your best players however there comes time when

a) Things need be revised and look at the reliance upon the, in our case, two star players and start giving others a more pivotal role in the team.

Or

b) for the benefit of both parties parting of the ways to help bring on the younger players.

 

I would hope answer a would be the solution, and that's the one I would want to happen.

 

However Arsenal reached a point with Henry and sold him and this has benefitted them hugely, especially Fabregas, he has had the shackles taken off and become the leader of that team and their central focus.

 

I'm not saying it's all Gerrard's fault but there are times when I think sometimes it's to our detriment as the players seem to cautious to upset him as opposed to playing their own game.

 

Henry did a whole load of arm flailing in his last two seasons at Highbury, and Gerrard is doing the same. An example last night was he played a one two with N'Gog and then N'Gog carried on running,Gerrard threw a hissey fit because he wanted it back, but he was crowded out by three players. Now I hope Gerrard takes a bit of a step back and allows the others to play and takes less of the responsibility and delegates it around the pitch, maybe it would help the players relax more, as they are playing like they are too scared to upset him.

 

He takes too much on.

 

Hard to disagree with any of that.

 

If we don't get 4th then the summer will be the time for major retrenchment because the ramifications are going to run far deeper than just sacking Rafa and whistling for Mourinho to come and save us. Sadly for us the yanks will still be in charge and even if they pick the right replacement for Rafa he won't get the their full backing to do what is necessary.

[anfieldmods]

if carlsberg made fucked up seasons

well this is the best one ever.

whats all the worrying about peeps weve got aquaman & roddy to fall back on.

Lets not forget the mighty lucas to take charge in place of gerrard. we have ngog n kuyt up front absolutely no probs 4th spot dead cert now.

 

 

YES MOTHER I KNOW THE MEN IN WHITE COATS ARE AT THE DOOR AND ITS TIME TO GO BACK.

 

DOOMED I TELL YA.:no:no:no:no:no

[Kennys_spell]

Knee injury,not Hernia!!

 

If he's out for six weeks - get them both done at the same time.

[Red Mist]

Torres was never this injury prone at Athletico was he? What the fuck has happened to him? I blame the club. Must be the training and crap medics that we have that are responsible for all these injuries.

No Johnson, Benayoun, Gerrard and Torres. We are completely fucked. A top 8 finish would be a miracle at this rate.