Sturridge

[#roadred]

Well yeah, I was proper pissed off when he came on yesterday. You want someone who's going to work hard to see out the game, so he's the last you want on that note. So I thought, "ok, we must be using his pace on the break", only for him to do a Babel and lose control on the one break he had and give it away, culminating in a knackered Henderson doing the same and getting sent off.

He's shite.

Yeah, it may just be a laid back persona, but he looks like he doesn't give a fuck, at 23 and unable to hold down a place at Liverpool or Chelsea he should be at least busting a gut for the chances he gets, he'll disappear pretty soon at this rate. At least when Aspas contributes fuck all, he looks like he is making an effort.

 

[localny]

Well yeah, I was proper pissed off when he came on yesterday. You want someone who's going to work hard to see out the game, so he's the last you want on that note. So I thought, "ok, we must be using his pace on the break", only for him to do a Babel and lose control on the one break he had and give it away, culminating in a knackered Henderson doing the same and getting sent off.

He's shite.

I call it the KIAM - as in the Kewell in Athens (knock on effect) of mediocrity

 

[mark1975]

left wingeritis, he caught it off Babel, who caught it off Kewell.

 

[localny]

Or Riera! Or Gonzalez...

 

[Ryan]

For God's sake. You really need to break away from your preconceptions of him.

Whilst I agree with the thrust of your argument Doc - especially with regard to someone who's scored 20 odd goals and looked generally outstanding, I don't think it's an unfair comment to say he can sulk. Fine, I'll happily put up with it when he's continually doing the business. when he's off-form though, which he's allowed to be, he has the worst body language I've seen in a footballer. He stinks the fucking house out if I'm honest. That said, I doubt he even notices he's doing it.

That's not an unfair criticism in my view.

 

[Whaddapie]

Has there been any word on the extent of the injury?

 

[SummerOnions]

what injury?

reckon it was tactical but it suited that he was limping

 

[Hansern]

Rumoured to be out for the rest of the season.

Fingers crossed thats not true

 

[juniormember]

We've done well without Sturridge and have done well without Suarez.
Hopefully Suarez and our two little attackers can go full pelt against Norwich.

 

[doctor_mac]

Whilst I agree with the thrust of your argument Doc - especially with regard to someone who's scored 20 odd goals and looked generally outstanding, I don't think it's an unfair comment to say he can sulk. Fine, I'll happily put up with it when he's continually doing the business. when he's off-form though, which he's allowed to be, he has the worst body language I've seen in a footballer. He stinks the fucking house out if I'm honest. That said, I doubt he even notices he's doing it.

That's not an unfair criticism in my view.

I agree he doesn't exactly have the most positive body language in the world, but I think that people are heavily influenced in interpreting this by their preconceptions, and to say he has 'the worst' is hugely hyperbolic. There's no way you can say he has worse body language than Torres, for instance (who, in fairness, you were calling out before most). With Sturridge, I just think that's the way he bears himself, and so long as he keeps making the runs (which he has been- unlike Torres) he'll be fine. And talking of body language, nobody stinks the place up more than Suarez- he wears the mask of a Greek tragedian and constantly gives his fellow players pelters or the dirtiest of looks. We know that's just part of his make up, and forgive him because he's fucking ace. Sturridge just seems to repeatedly attract this kind of comment, and I think it is as much to do with people being unable to shake an idea of the player, rather than reflecting what is actually going on in Sturridge's head.

 

[juniormember]

I agree he doesn't exactly have the most positive body language in the world, but I think that people are heavily influenced in interpreting this by their preconceptions, and to say he has 'the worst' is hugely hyperbolic. There's no way you can say he has worse body language than Torres, for instance (who, in fairness, you were calling out before most). With Sturridge, I just think that's the way he bears himself, and so long as he keeps making the runs (which he has been- unlike Torres) he'll be fine. And talking of body language, nobody stinks the place up more than Suarez- he wears the mask of a Greek tragedian and constantly gives his fellow players pelters or the dirtiest of looks. We know that's just part of his make up, and forgive him because he's fucking ace. Sturridge just seems to repeatedly attract this kind of comment, and I think it is much to do with people being unable to shake an idea of the player, rather than reflecting what is actually going on in Sturridge's head.

It's also very tough for him, as people will inevitably compare him to Suarez.
Like with most strikers in the history of the game, Sturridge will be very ineffective when he's having an off day (but like you say, he still makes numerous runs behind the defence to give us options and to create more space in midfield). With Suarez, he can be falling all over the place, or getting greedy when he doesn't have to be and getting dispossessed, or getting silly fouls, but he still manages to get involved in the majority of goals our team scores. He's a phenomenon.
I agree that 'worst body language' is beyond hyperbole.

 

[Hansern]

Wonder if we'll recall Ibe. Anyone from the U-21s/u-18s we can prmote to the bench?
Lussey, Kent, Wilson?

 

[juniormember]

Wonder if we'll recall Ibe. Anyone from the U-21s/u-18s we can prmote to the bench?
Lussey, Kent, Wilson?

Hope not. We've no idea how any of the youngsters will handle the pressure at this point in the season (biggest 4 games now in 25 years, probably more), and I'd be too scared to test them when the stakes are so high.
They'll have plenty of time to prove themselves to the manager in the summer when most of our first team will be having a break after the world cup.

 

[Hansern]

We'll be two players short on the bench though against Norwich. Possibly 3 against Chelsea

 

[keniget]

We'll be two players short on the bench though against Norwich. Possibly 3 against Chelsea

Jones, Kelly, Agger, Alberto, Teixeira, Moses, Aspas


Crap bench but whatcha gonna do.

 

[Hansern]

Agreed. Moses cant play against Chelsea though. Cissokho in there aswell. Christ thats an awful bench

 

[FoxForceFive]

Teixeira is untested at this level, but could well cause players problems.
Alberto I like, he can put his foot on the ball & slow the game down, which has worked well for us at times this season.
Aspas may not have tonnes of quality but runs his arse off so again, can do a job & for instance, would've done a helluva lot better than moses on Sunday.
Agger is Agger.
Kelly doesn't fill me with confidence simply cos he hasn't had a long run in the side, but he's looked strong on occasion.
Cissokho, I'd prefer he didn't have to play, but we've seen much worse at fullback in the past.

It's not a strong bench, but there's a couple of options should we need to change things or rest legs.

We only play one game a week though, & we've done more with less in the past, most importantly, stevie is still in there.

 

[Mystic]

This is why we wanted to get Konoplyanka in the winter, we'd feel a lot better knowing that he'd be there to take Sturridges place.

 

[Hansern]

This is why we wanted to get Konoplyanka in the winter, we'd feel a lot better knowing that he'd be there to take Sturridges place.

Yeah, I was thinking this earlier. Shame we didnt get him in and I hope a shite transfer window wont cost us in the end.

 

[mark1975]

Yeah, I was thinking this earlier. Shame we didnt get him in and I hope a shite transfer window wont cost us in the end.

For the sake of 4 games, it's a bit of a myopic view. If we'd had that 4th player, we'd have had to accommodate him for some stretch of games, while he's acclimatising. I agree in the long run we need a strong squad, but the players we currently have between Sturridge, Suarez, Sterling, Coutinho, Gerrard, Allen, Henderson and Lucas - to take up 6 positions is more than enough for a side without any distractions.

As said, he hasn't been playing too well of late anyway, neither has Suarez, so we've been carrying at least one of them with the only threat being their ability on the break. To still have a possibility of Coutinho/Suarez/Sterling won't be that significant at this stage

We've lost two of them and are down to six, with a couple of fringe options who might just make themselves heroes. We can do it!

 

[Mystic]

For the sake of 4 games, it's a bit of a myopic view. If we'd had that 4th player, we'd have had to accommodate him for some stretch of games, while he's acclimatising. I agree in the long run we need a strong squad, but the players we currently have between Sturridge, Suarez, Sterling, Coutinho, Gerrard, Allen, Henderson and Lucas - to take up 6 positions is more than enough for a side without any distractions.

As said, he hasn't been playing too well of late anyway, neither has Suarez, so we've been carrying at least one of them with the only threat being their ability on the break. To still have a three of Coutinho/Suarez/Sterling won't be that significant at this stage.

We've lost two of them and are down to six, with a couple of fringe options who might just make themselves heroes. We can do it!

True, but I think there were times since the winter where he could have come on in the place of Sturridge, Sterling maybe even Suarez, which would have helped keep them all a bit fresher. I suppose you can't really moan too much considering we haven't lost a game since then.

 

[Whirly]

For the sake of 4 games, it's a bit of a myopic view. If we'd had that 4th player, we'd have had to accommodate him for some stretch of games, while he's acclimatising.

Who's to say there would've been an acclimatization stage? Look at how quickly Matic settled at Chelsea.

I realize Matic was at Chelsea previously, but they've gone through major squad and manager changes since that point.

Either way, it seems like a harsh assumption that we would have to afford him a bedding in period.

 

[mark1975]

Who's to say there would've been an acclimatization stage? Look at how quickly Matic settled at Chelsea.

I realize Matic was at Chelsea previously, but they've gone through major squad and manager changes since that point.

Either way, it seems like a harsh assumption that we would have to afford him a bedding in period.

I'm not assuming, I'm just saying it's easy saying this now. Continuity has got us where we are, who knows how it would have effected results. Does anyone seriously think we'd have spunked silly money on him, for him to sit on the bench and only offer a fresh pair of legs in place of one of SSS? No, he'd have played and yeah, he could have hit the ground running like Matic, or he could have been hit and miss, like Willian, or Salah.

 

[Whirly]

I'm not assuming, I'm just saying it's easy saying this now. Continuity has got us where we are, who knows how it would have effected results. Does anyone seriously think we'd have spunked silly money on him, for him to sit on the bench and only offer a fresh pair of legs in place of on of SSS? No, he'd have played and yeah, he could have hit the ground running like Matic, or he could have been hit and miss, like Willian, or Salah.

I don't think there were too many people who were necessarily happy that we missed out on Konoplyanka in the January window though. It's not just a point of hindsight, we really did need another attacker with first team quality available. I'd also say that 15M isn't "silly money", it was a pretty fair fee for both sides.

I do agree though that he would have been no sure thing by any means, and it's impossible to definitively say that he would have been an asset. The point is that we should have at least given ourselves that opportunity.

 

[Hansern]

I agree with all of that Mark. But I also think we needed another attacking outlet in January. We've been saved by Sterlings amazing performances imho.

4 cup finals to go and we can do it regardless. Its so close now that everyone will be up for it and Stevie will probably count for 2 players these last few games.
Its in these situations though were Chelsea and City show their strength.

 

[mark1975]

I agree with all of that Mark. But I also think we needed another attacking outlet in January. We've been saved by Sterlings amazing performances imho.

4 cup finals to go and we can do it regardless. Its so close now that everyone will be up for it and Stevie will probably count for 2 players these last few games.
Its in these situations though were Chelsea and City show their strength.

It is, but I think Mourinho coming to Anfield and trying to play for the tactical narrow win, will be in for a shock. Allen looks fresh legged and maybe that will help freshen things up. I wouldn't be adverse to only putting one of him or Lucas in and then maybe giving someone else the nod up top, and keeping Coutinho in midfield.

 

[Hansern]

It is, but I think Mourinho coming to Anfield and trying to play for the tactical narrow win, will be in for a shock. Allen looks fresh legged and maybe that will help freshen things up. I wouldn't be adverse to only putting one of him or Lucas in and then maybe giving someone else the nod up top, and keeping Coutinho in midfield.

Me neither but the thought of Aspas up there doesnt fill me with confidence.
Still, he's got to be motivated if he's given a chance.

 

[the count]

Me neither but the thought of Aspas up there doesnt fill me with confidence.
Still, he's got to be motivated if he's given a chance.

I reckon Aspas is going to score a couple of goals in the remaining games and eventually depart Anfield a cult hero

 

[Judge Jules]

We're lucky Suarez has a tremendous work ethic to go with his talent. There isn't a forward in the league better placed to carry the load if Sturridge *is* now out for the season.

Can we fetch Borini back? Obv.the Mackems would howl about it, but "needs must" and all that.

 

[Hansern]

I reckon Aspas is going to score a couple of goals in the remaining games and eventually depart Anfield a cult hero

I'd love if that happened!