Winter is Coming

Rodgers' signings have done quite well actually. All things considered. They make up the bulk of what has made us a successful team of late. Coutinho, Lallana, Can, Sakho, Markovic, Moreno, and even Mignolet has been coming into form again. Meanwhile he also brought Sterling into the first team, helped Henderson on and Sturridge was also one of his signings so...

That said I think Can would be able to fill in for Hendo if necessary. Maybe not a like-for-like identical replacement, but he's industrious and talented and has shown to be quite good so far. I don't think we really needed to do anything this window except keep Mignolet on his toes and maybe grab a back-up striker incase Sturridge goes down again.

Art Morte wrote:I'm not disappointed if we don't sign anyone, we spent a lot in the summer, it's no good buying a new lot of players every six months.

That said, a GK would have been nice and a CM. I really trust only Henderson out of all of our CMs to do a good job in this 3-4-3. If he gets injured of fatigued, we're f***ed as bad as without Sturridge, if not worse.

Lucas is by far our most important midfielder.

Our form with and without him playing this season says it all.

60+% Win percentage vs. 25% win percentage (i think it was actually worse)

Sure, Lucas is the key

Art Morte wrote:Sure, Lucas is the key

I'm glad you're finally coming around.

mr-r34 wrote:

Red Alert wrote:

poolsupporter wrote:Disappointed at the lack of business. I'm not confident of getting a Top 4 finish this season. Given the lack of transfer activity definitely says something about management/ownership as well.

Just a tip: Watch your next words in here son.

Blaming FSG for this window, FML. You guys think the real world transfer dealings are like Fifa football manager.

I'm part of the minority that defends FSG (although criticize them for backing the wrong manager, twice). With that said, I didn't even mention FSG.

???

Rodgers' signings have done quite well actually.

I would have accepted that if you were a bit more balanced in your opinion. Not hitting at you or anything mate, but it's a bit unnerving when decline to criticize Rodgers for anything.

Anyway, happy the window have closed without us wasting any money. Like I said before, there wasn't any available players who could have improved our season. So not buying is good actually.

iftikhar wrote:

Rodgers' signings have done quite well actually.

I would have accepted that if you were a bit more balanced in your opinion. Not hitting at you or anything mate, but it's a bit unnerving when decline to criticize Rodgers for anything.

Anyway, happy the window have closed without us wasting any money. Like I said before, there wasn't any available players who could have improved our season. So not buying is good actually.

Not closed yet!! Today is deadline day!!

But yes we aren't gonna do anything it seems

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-transfer-latest-reds-8559654

Ings interest was legit

Art Morte wrote:Sure, Lucas is the key

So you think we could have had the upturn in our result and performances with Gerrard/Allen playing all those games Lucas has played since end of November ??

What's your take on Asier Illarramendi ??? I heard El Confidential is pretty reliable .

I don't like him. Seems like a very average player every time I've seen him. Couldn't clean Alonso's boots. Really grinds my gears when people compare him to Xabi.

Depending on the price I think he could be a decent fit here. He could deputize for Lucas and possibly even take over for him if we're going to have Can as a CB/Hendo's back-up.

Natalie Portman wrote:

Art Morte wrote:Sure, Lucas is the key

So you think we could have had the upturn in our result and performances with Gerrard/Allen playing all those games Lucas has played since end of November ??

Yes.

Ben Smith ‏@BenSmithBBC 2m2 minutes ago
Told Rickie Lambert to Aston Villa is now a 'real possibility'

Fahim89 wrote:

Ben Smith ‏@BenSmithBBC 2m2 minutes ago
Told Rickie Lambert to Aston Villa is now a 'real possibility'

YES PLEASE MAKE IT HAPPEN.

We cant sell him imo, He's the second best striker at the club ( Exclude Raheem )

But meh 5m, We've made more than 10m in sales this window then.

Ben Smith ‏@BenSmithBBC 2m2 minutes ago

My esteemed colleague @patmurphybbc now saying Aston Villa will not be signing Rickie Lambert ...

I don't think Lambert would want that move anyway. Six months after signing his dream contract for his boyhood club.

Art Morte wrote:

Natalie Portman wrote:

Art Morte wrote:Sure, Lucas is the key

So you think we could have had the upturn in our result and performances with Gerrard/Allen playing all those games Lucas has played since end of November ??

Yes.

Wow.

I think Allen could have done a good job in Lucas' position yes. Gerrard though doesn't have the legs or defensive acumen for it. Honestly. Allen gets so underrated around here.

Art your joking right?

El Cujo wrote:I think Allen could have done a good job in Lucas' position yes. Gerrard though doesn't have the legs or defensive acumen for it. Honestly. Allen gets so underrated around here.

No he can't. Allen tried to deputize Lucas for ONE game and played instead of him in that role and we reverted to being garbage (3-0 loss vs. Man U).

Allen doesn't have half the aggression that Lucas as for that position. If you analyze the underlying numbers of interceptions, headers won, opposition dispossesed, tackles, etc Lucas is very very close to Matic and Schneiderlin this season whom both are recognized as two of the best in that position. Allen and Gerrard numbers don't even come close to it. Not even close.

Joe Allen is the human pinball. He defines average. That's why no one even cared when he was injured for 1 month or so. He's our version of Darren Fletcher...a couple of months of good form in sea of nothingness and averageness. an average, solid squad player whom no one really cares if he's sold in the summer.

Lucas is THE best player we have right now at the club to play that position. Probably only Can comes close in terms of ability.

Allen is a different type of player, he can survive against bottom teams or against those lower league sides for cup game, when we would have lots of possession.

The only thing with Lucas is he doesnt look to play those incisive passes, at which I would dare to say, even Sakho and Can are better. But as long as we dont need that from Lucas, we are fine. It seems like right now we are performing fine without those passes from Lucas.

Art please respond.

No, I don't think Lucas is the reason we've improved. Not that we have anyone else good for that other CM role, because Gerrard hasn't got the legs and Allen has zero strengths, at least Lucas is good at something, but I don't think he's been playing particularly well or had that much an impact on games that he'd be the reason we've been playing better. When we have everyone fit in our 3-4-3, Lucas is the player whom I would first like to upgrade to someone else.

Dw that upgrade is Can in a few years, we need to buy hummels when BD get relegated

Lucas is definitely one of the other reasons we have improved defensively. As I had explained in the 3-4-3 discussion thread, 3 at the back plus Lucas are the foundations of our recent good defensive performance.