Poll Moreno Vs Smith

[Frogfish]

Nice piece in the Echo. Who do you want to start in the PL ? How about Flanno or Gomez (next season) ? Smith now for me. Between him and Gomez next season (Flanno vs Clyne on the right). In the Summer there's no need to spend valuable transfer kitty on FBs but Moreno can go, we are well stocked.
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According to WhoScored , Smith has a better overall rating than the Spaniard (7.19 to 6.88), has won more aerial duels and also registers more tackles and clearances per game than Moreno, whose defensive qualities have been called into question this season.
The most damning statistic from his perspective is that he has been dribbled past 0.8 times per match - the worst total of any Liverpool defender so far in 2015/16.
Conversely, Moreno attempts 0.6 dribbles per match from an offensive point of view, a total which is once again bettered by the foraging Smith (1.5) and he is also dispossessed 0.8 times in a game on average.

It's not entirely one-sided though.
The oft-maligned full-back does prevail in some defensive categories, however, having made nearly two times as many interceptions for the Reds than Smith this season and he has also committed less than half the number of fouls made by Smith (0.9 to 2).
Klopp's current primary pick in the position has two assists to his name this season to Smith's none and when it comes to passing, Moreno holds a clear advantage having amassed an average of 42.5 passes per game against his rival's own 30.5.
Moreno is also up on key passes (2.5 to 1.5), passing success (83.9% to 79.8%) and long balls (2.8 to 1.5) - illustrating the areas in which Smith can still continue to develop his game.
There are certainly improvements to be made by the Australian and he is by no means the polished product just yet but, if he continues this kind of form, it won't be long before he is able to oust Moreno and cement his place as Liverpool's No.1 at left back.

 

[Best Believe It]

Not really sure its fair to have Brad Smith and Caulker on that list because they've barely played. That said, I'd have Smith in the team ahead of Moreno on current form. But then maybe he'd struggle playing next to Sakho.

 

[Mamma Mia]

We need them all.

 

[mark1975]

Smith has a few flaws defensively, he lets players get by him too easily on the outside, but his positioning and decision making when attacking is much better than Moreno's.

 

[davud graham]

Nice piece in the Echo. Who do you want to start in the PL ? How about Flanno or Gomez (next season) ? Smith now for me. Between him and Gomez next season (Flanno vs Clyne on the right). In the Summer there's no need to spend valuable transfer kitty on FBs but Moreno can go, we are well stocked.
---------------------------------
According to WhoScored , Smith has a better overall rating than the Spaniard (7.19 to 6.88), has won more aerial duels and also registers more tackles and clearances per game than Moreno, whose defensive qualities have been called into question this season.
The most damning statistic from his perspective is that he has been dribbled past 0.8 times per match - the worst total of any Liverpool defender so far in 2015/16.
Conversely, Moreno attempts 0.6 dribbles per match from an offensive point of view, a total which is once again bettered by the foraging Smith (1.5) and he is also dispossessed 0.8 times in a game on average.

It's not entirely one-sided though.
The oft-maligned full-back does prevail in some defensive categories, however, having made nearly two times as many interceptions for the Reds than Smith this season and he has also committed less than half the number of fouls made by Smith (0.9 to 2).
Klopp's current primary pick in the position has two assists to his name this season to Smith's none and when it comes to passing, Moreno holds a clear advantage having amassed an average of 42.5 passes per game against his rival's own 30.5.
Moreno is also up on key passes (2.5 to 1.5), passing success (83.9% to 79.8%) and long balls (2.8 to 1.5) - illustrating the areas in which Smith can still continue to develop his game.
There are certainly improvements to be made by the Australian and he is by no means the polished product just yet but, if he continues this kind of form, it won't be long before he is able to oust Moreno and cement his place as Liverpool's No.1 at left back.

Them stats can only be from league games as it states that Smith has no assists but he certainly crossed for one of Origi's goals against Southampton in the League Cup. It makes the stats worthless for the most part as Smith has been used almost exclusively in cup games (only 1 league appearance for half an hour against West Ham away).

 

[keniget]

I don't know how much is in it defensively but Smith looks more of a threat attacking wise.

I'd be up for giving Smith a go.

 

[Mors]

I like Smith, and I'd have though he'd be right up a managers street as he looks pretty tidy at attacking, and they love that shit from their FB's. Whether he can be taught to defend is another matter. He's got time on his side though.

 

[Buddha]

I'm delighted Smith is getting some love on here following a difficult start (injuries / 'that' Chelsea performance) to his career here, having long championed him and felt he had all the tools to be a real asset on the left side.

That said, he's still pretty raw defensively.

 

[Kay Age El]

I really like what I have seen from Smith so far, he looks ready. I also don't mind Moreno even though he's got his obvious flaws.

I think both are needed in the squad and though I wouldn't mind see more of Smith this Season, I would probably play Moreno slightly more frequently to improve his game under Klopp and give him some momentum.

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

He has an incredibly boring name though.

 

[rurikbird]

He has an incredibly boring name though.

Just call him Agent Smith

 

[Squiggles]

Smith to me has done more than enough to warrant a first team place and I'm surprised Klopp has waited this long. Hopefully that penalty was the final straw.

 

[Markeh]

Smith needs a couple of league starts, surely after the amount of screaming Klopp has been directing at Moreno he will fancy dropping the Spaniard. Moreno deserves the chop for his defensive play but I'm not sure Smith is fantastic in that area yet himself, surprisingly it's actually in the attacking part of his game that could see Smith best Moreno.

Gomez looked in a similar state to Smith, very promising but still has an error in him. They need coaching, games and time to grow. Moreno is a bit young to be giving up on too.

 

[beejay]

Full back is not a priority area, we have enough of those to fill. Keep Flanagan, Gomez, Clyne, Moreno & Smith and that's more than enough cover & competition for places.

 

[Grjt2]

Full back is not a priority area, we have enough of those to fill. Keep Flanagan, Gomez, Clyne, Moreno & Smith and that's more than enough cover & competition for places.

I disagree - theyre all priority areas (GK, virtually whole defence, a CM, a better goalscorer than Benteke) which is why everyone is so nervous about this coming summer.

Just take the defence for a sec: what is the point in "pulling a Houllier" and getting 2 starting CBs in if were not going to bed Clyne and A.N. Other with them at the same time so they can build a settled unit through preseason (and, by the way, put a fucking bullet in our existing keeper at the same time)?

That is why I'd be so keen to give Smith a run in the team to see if he can fill that role...otherwise we need to get into the market for a better option.

 

[Frogfish]

I disagree - theyre all priority areas (GK, virtually whole defence, a CM, a better goalscorer than Benteke) which is why everyone is so nervous about this coming summer.

Just take the defence for a sec: what is the point in "pulling a Houllier" and getting 2 starting CBs in if were not going to bed Clyne and A.N. Other with them at the same time so they can build a settled unit through preseason (and, by the way, put a fucking bullet in our existing keeper at the same time)?

That is why I'd be so keen to give Smith a run in the team to see if he can fill that role...otherwise we need to get into the market for a better option.

Point of order : there is no such thing as a 'settled team' any more. We play so many games, and injuries are a natural result of that for all clubs, that it is truly a squad game today. Better players in those positions will lead to higher confidence levels, and theoretically better performances, anyway.

 

[SummerOnions]

Chelsea won the league on having the same back 5 every game though

 

[Rafiagra]

I'd give Smith a run. We've nothing to lose by doing that now for the rest of the season.

I think we've seen of Moreno to see he hasn't a clue defensively and isn't cool enough in the final third.

 

[Dreambeliever]

Anyone bar Moreno the useless fuck

 

[Spionkop69]

He's been doing well but I thought he got caught out of position quite a bit, but he puts tackles in and shows heart. I thought he was at fault for their first goal the other night because he got sucked in and was ball watching. That said, we need to do better at stopping the cross in the first place.

He's not th finished article. The question is; is he good enough for our current level and can be help us get back to where we need to be? I'm not so sure. I'm not sure he'd ever play for one of the other so called big clubs.

We need players who can take us back, not just perform solidly and reliably at the level we are at. I'm not dismissing him, I'm just not sure about him.

 

[Mystic]

They're quite similar players in both style and ability, I do think Moreno is a better player, but Smith is more than capable to play in his place when Moreno is off form or injured.

 

[LarryHagman]

F) Anyone but Moreno.

 

[mark1975]

I don't think they are that similar. Smith knows when to deliver a cross early or to get to the byline, and even when his crosses get cut out, you can see they were delivered with purpose. Moreno more often than not fails to pick out the right delivery, or puts it into row Z. Defensively Smith is a bit raw, but we're comparing a player who's mostly performed at reserve level, and a lad who's played at the top level in Spain, in a European final and with a couple of Premiership seasons now under his belt, and he still can't tackle properly. That full body lunge he does when he gets back after being caught out of position is one of the most pathetic, amateurish things I've seen at this level.

So any sort of parity they have with defending, has to be looked at from the perspective that one is still learning and can have his defensive flaws worked on, while the other is now an experienced player who should know better at his stage of his development.