Faborno? Borini

[Buddha]

So we finally got a chance to see him make a case for himself last night and..... he highlighted his mobility, clever movement and darn hard work ethic. He also showed some nice touches alongside his lack of physicality (he really needs to baulk up physically and mentally).

Has he got a future here? Should he be pushing for a weekly start up top either as a lone striker (can he play that role?) or alongside Balotelli?

For my part, I think he's done enough in his last two appearances to suggest that he should get his chance alongside a (deeper lying) Balotelli against Chelsea or at least as a wide forward in Rodgers' favoured 4231 or 433. There's more to come from Fabio...

 

[Wizardry]

I'm far from convinced by him but he's the only forward we have who will come close to working and pressing like Suarez unless you include Lallana as a forward.

However, work ethic and movement were never the questions being asked of him - at least they weren't in my mind. The question is whether he can score. At the moment we need goals more than just about anything else and he's done nothing here or on loan at Sunderland to suggest to me that he can be a solution to such a problem. If Sturridge was playing or if Mario was on form and knocking them in then his other attributes would be very complementary to the rest of the team.

Until such time as the goals are going in from either of these two players, however, Borini is more a relief hitter than an option IMO. When the goals are going in then he's a genuine option albeit one which, IMO, we should improve upon.

 

[HC]

Fabio borini in a starting xi screams mid table.

Hard worker but I hope he's not starting too many games beyond this season as he's not good enougj

 

[SummerOnions]

He'll be gone when we get Origi

 

[ILD]

I don't think Fabio is good enough for us long term. He's a 3rd/4th striker at best for us behind Sturridge and Balotelli. I think he will be moved on in the summer (Origi replacing him) or even in Jan if a suitable bid comes in for him.

I like him on a personal level though, he is willing and full of running but unfortunately lacks the guile to really hurt teams on his own. I remember a few of us defending his decision to turn down a move to Sunderland and QPR. Where are all the people who said he committed career suicide and would never play for us again?

 

[leftpeg]

Fine as a 3rd or 4th choice but we need quality.

 

[Buddha]

Didn't he score 10 goals as a wide forward for Sunderland on loan?

I think he would get 10-15 for us if we were playing as a cohesive attacking unit. Granted, that's not enough to be a 1st choice striker, we have Sturridge and Balotelli for that role, but given his other attributes it'd be enough as a second (of 2) striker or wide forward.

 

[RedStar]

He offers something completely different to Balotelli, hes relentless in his running, hes got good movement no real pace or power and hes not really a finisher, but essentially he has the same problem as Mario, he cant play upfront on his own and provide any sort of goal threat. We seem to have reached a point where its clear none of our strikers bar Sturridge are capable of carrying the burden of playing upfront without a striker partner. It doesnt matter whether we are playing Balotelli or Borini at this point unless we play them together the returns will be minimal.

I think long term Borini will be moved on, I admire his determination to stay and fight this season but its not happening for him and he needs to go somewhere else to make the most of his career, we need a better alternative. He seems to be Italian version of Aspas, I cant understand why we signed an identical player to one we already determined wasnt good enough for us

 

[kingjulian]

If you are going to play one forward....it helps to play one or two brutally hardworking advanced mid fielders...

Rafa knew this ..which is why Kuyt was undropable...

 

[Delinquent]

Good movement and work ethic, no goal threat. He's never been good enough. Which doesn't necessarily mean he shouldn't be starting, it just means that none of our other strikers (bar Sturridge, obviously) are any good either.

 

[refugee]

Didn't he score 10 goals as a wide forward for Sunderland on loan?

I think he would get 10-15 for us if we were playing as a cohesive attacking unit. Granted, that's not enough to be a 1st choice striker, we have Sturridge and Balotelli for that role, but given his other attributes it'd be enough as a second (of 2) striker or wide forward.

How many were from penalties? And how many of those penalties did he win?

 

[cloggypop]

Great goal last night.

 

[localny]

Was his goal justifiably denied?

No-one thinks he should be here long term, but we need a mobile striker solution from now until January and he may be it.

 

[ILD]

Was his goal justifiably denied?

No-one thinks he should be here long term, but we need a mobile striker solution from now until January and he may be it.

Slight contact on Ramos who went down very easily.

 

[Leo]

Qpr have more goals for Liverpool this season than he has in two seasons.

 

[Windom Earle]

I don't think it really matters who plays upfront at this point. Borini offers movement but, last night aside, there's rarely any movement in midfield. Balotelli slows the play, but the play isn't quick enough before it gets to him anyway. Sturridge is a better finisher than both, I guess the hope is that he fashions more goals out of the scraps than the other forwards.

But I don't think who plays in that one position is going to make a world of difference. All of that movement and inventive play from last season was not solely down to Suarez and Sturridge, there are an awful lot of outfield players in the squad performing far below last year's level.

 

[Ryan]

He's an 'on the shoulder' striker which is fine for most teams, but not when you're playing away to Madrid and have 10 behind the ball for the entire night. It also highlighted his appalling first touch and general close control.

He won't be with us in 12 months time.