Liverpool vs West Ham

[rurikbird]

Anyone notice when Can and Skrtel switched positions in the second half? Was it after Carroll went off or after Markovic was withdrawn? Thought that was an interesting switch.

I think it was after Markovic was withdrawn. At least that's when I noticed it. I hope someone asks Rodgers what was that about.

Interesting that Rodgers also chose to play Lallana as a wing-back. It kind of worked, although with West Ham being so tentative it was not a proper test. Usually wing-backs have more speed, although as Moreno has been showing, sometimes speed is not enough... Anyway, Lallana is clearly struggling to recover his pre-injury form; maybe there was a point to leaving him on the bench on Tuesday.

 

[DHSC]

Anyone notice when Can and Skrtel switched positions in the second half? Was it after Carroll went off or after Markovic was withdrawn? Thought that was an interesting switch.

Yeap i picked up on that. Think it was immediately when the 2nd half started. Think is was done to combat Carroll and Valencia both targeting Can.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Ryan's having a great run here ... Coutinho with 2 assists today after Ryan says he's a player who contributes no goals and assists ...

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Ryan's having a great run here ... Coutinho with 2 assists today after Ryan says he's a player who contributes no goals and assists ...

Ryan and Dreamy horrendously wrong on the same day. Ha! 😀

 

[jimmy]

Ryan's having a great run here ... Coutinho with 2 assists today after Ryan says he's a player who contributes no goals and assists ...

Yep. Can Lallana's recent form be attributed to Ryan too? [emoji12]

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Markovic and The Caped Crusader Lucas gave it away far too much.

 

[OLD_Lewy]

Ryan and Dreamy horrendously wrong on the same day. Ha! 😀

they're 2 sides of the same coin

 

[ctlovesred]

Dark Crystal style

 

[Y1]

Great win. Dan is back!

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Yeap i picked up on that. Think it was immediately when the 2nd half started. Think is was done to combat Carroll and Valencia both targeting Can.

Re: Skrtel and Can switch
I've just gone back to watch the start of the 2nd half (here: http://www.footballtarget.com/2015/02/full-match-liverpool-vs-west-ham-united-premier-league-2/2/), and you're right, they switched places right after half time.

Wonder if Rodgers was using the game situation to assess how Skrtel would fare in a RCB role against a pacy attacker out wide, in preparation for bringing Lovren back in the centre against Bolton. Or maybe he wanted Can's better pace and ability on the ball to manage Carroll's pressing down the centre. Hopefully some journo asks Rodgers so we can get an idea what the thinking was behind the switch.

I thought Carroll was hardworking yesterday when West Ham didn't have the ball, pressing hard and urging his team mates to help close down our defenders. I don't recall him being so industrious when playing for us.

 

[dmishra]

I think it was after Markovic was withdrawn. At least that's when I noticed it. I hope someone asks Rodgers what was that about.

Yeah, not sure what was that about. Maybe Rodgers is figuring out if Can can play in a back two?

Anyway, thought Can had a pretty ordinary game.

 

[StevieM]

Pleasing game.

 

[Wiberg]

Ryan's having a great run here ... Coutinho with 2 assists today after Ryan says he's a player who contributes no goals and assists ...

Don't forget his entourage who probably all agreed with their master.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Now you see me:

Now you don't ...

 

[LeTallecWiz]

 

[LeTallecWiz]

"Look Ibe, I'm fit!"

 

[LeTallecWiz]

 

[LeTallecWiz]

 

[white-sox]

Bit young for the old prostate check.

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

But look at that jump ! It's as if Marko's climbing a flight of invisible stairs.

And they say white man can't jump.

 

[MaBigTip]

Re: Skrtel and Can switch
I've just gone back to watch the start of the 2nd half (here: http://www.footballtarget.com/2015/02/full-match-liverpool-vs-west-ham-united-premier-league-2/2/), and you're right, they switched places right after half time.

Wonder if Rodgers was using the game situation to assess how Skrtel would fare in a RCB role against a pacy attacker out wide, in preparation for bringing Lovren back in the centre against Bolton. Or maybe he wanted Can's better pace and ability on the ball to manage Carroll's pressing down the centre. Hopefully some journo asks Rodgers so we can get an idea what the thinking was behind the switch.

I thought Carroll was hardworking yesterday when West Ham didn't have the ball, pressing hard and urging his team mates to help close down our defenders. I don't recall him being so industrious when playing for us.

Starting to see more and more great analysis on this site. A new era has begun.

 

[red_maradona]

Re: Skrtel and Can switch
I've just gone back to watch the start of the 2nd half (here: http://www.footballtarget.com/2015/02/full-match-liverpool-vs-west-ham-united-premier-league-2/2/), and you're right, they switched places right after half time.

Wonder if Rodgers was using the game situation to assess how Skrtel would fare in a RCB role against a pacy attacker out wide, in preparation for bringing Lovren back in the centre against Bolton. Or maybe he wanted Can's better pace and ability on the ball to manage Carroll's pressing down the centre. Hopefully some journo asks Rodgers so we can get an idea what the thinking was behind the switch.

I thought Carroll was hardworking yesterday when West Ham didn't have the ball, pressing hard and urging his team mates to help close down our defenders. I don't recall him being so industrious when playing for us.

I think it could herald the start of Can becoming a libero - sitting back and watching the game and breaking up attacking and, marauding forward and opening up teams.

All hail the Caiser.

 

[StevieM]

I think playing Can in the centre certainly means he can step forward and play in the sort I'd DM role that Gerrard was playing in last season and allow the to CM's more freedom to get forward and help the attack & press higher up the pitch.

Means we can push 2 up front as well & play an AM centrally.

So l, essentially - like our set up at the end of last season.

I have done concerns with doing this - but it can work - and flexibility will be a good asset.

 

[mark1975]

I don't think there's anything wrong in being frustrated with Coutinho - it's not necessarily a negative viewpoint - more of a view of where Coutinho needs to be better for us to be better.

He's about the age where he has to start consistently delivering and justifying being a regular starter.

He's been better of late - and that's a good thing.

I don't have a problem with people criticising him, he's young, he can frustrate, but he's a real gem of a prospect who's ability on his day is top drawer. Like I said, I'm a big fan of Lallana, but making comments like this - "I'd have Lallana in the side, every day of the week ahead of Coutinho, Lallana scores and creates goals, Coutinho evades opponents on the halfway line", is just fucking daft, when neither the stats or current form back it up.

 

[dmishra]

I don't have a problem with people criticising him, he's young, he can frustrate, but he's a real gem of a prospect who's ability on his day is top drawer. Like I said, I'm a big fan of Lallana, but making comments like this - "I'd have Lallana in the side, every day of the week ahead of Coutinho, Lallana scores and creates goals, Coutinho evades opponents on the halfway line", is just fucking daft, when neither the stats or current form back it up.

Agreed.

I also pointed out last week that I think Coutinho's playing a different role for us this season. He's putting in a shift every game now, and you no longer see him ceasing to be effective after 60 mins.

I find it baffling that he's being criticised when he's actually been in excellent form, and probably been our best player over the last 2 months.

 

[StevieM]

I don't have a problem with people criticising him, he's young, he can frustrate, but he's a real gem of a prospect who's ability on his day is top drawer. Like I said, I'm a big fan of Lallana, but making comments like this - "I'd have Lallana in the side, every day of the week ahead of Coutinho, Lallana scores and creates goals, Coutinho evades opponents on the halfway line", is just fucking daft, when neither the stats or current form back it up.

I dunno Mark - Lallana has scored more and created at least the same in much less playing time - unfortunately he got injured just as he was finding a sweet spit in consistency & end product.

Ryan also has been pretty consistent in saying that he's a wonderfully talented player.

There's room for both Lallana & Coutinho - but with Sturridge back and Sterling likely to revert to a deeper role - one of the 3 is going to lose out.

..... and that's before we consider that Gerrard may play a more forward role as well.

 

[Dahuge]

the fact that we have three quality players for 2 places is good news and on current form it is Sterling and Coutinho, then when one drops or we need to give sterling a rest the other comes in.

This is good to have and again that doesn't even bring into the equation Gerrard.

Long term though Coutinho is the one who hopefully like Sterling will turn into world class....

 

[Silver Sean]

I'm so glad I have Ryan on ignore.

 

[SummerOnions]

Remember last season when we had to bring Lucas into an attacking position cos we had no-one else and we got merked v Chelsea?

At least that shit won't happen now

 

[Ryan]

I'm so glad I have Ryan on ignore.

How do this cunt know I've posted if he's got me on ignore?