26 Apr 2015 17:01:40
I think today has proved that the squad isn't quite there yet, but that is all it has proved. It doesn't show that LVG is out of his depth or the players are useless or we need to sell everyone, or that Klopp would do much better.
All it shows is that without Carrick we are not as well covered in defense and that at the same time, our defense is not good enough. The role of holding midfielder is one that needs addressing, we can't pin our hopes in every tough game on Carrick (who would get pulled apart in the CL by the top sides).
I don't see the need for panic. Top 4 is still looking odds on and a Chelsea win today would do us a favor. We will be there or there abouts next year when we get a leader in defense, a real top class defensive midfielder and in all honesty, a striker like Lewandowski who knows what their job is and do it well - not a striker that constantly drops deep (Rooney), an injury prone one (RVP), a useless one (Falcao).
{Ed004's Note - I thought both Smalling and Shaw were very good today. We lost to a counter, a corner and an offside goal. McNair and Valencia need replaced badly.}
26 Apr 2015 17:33:27
McNair looks a very good prospect but I feel he is being thrown too early. You need good experience when you face the likes of Lukaku. A year in a lower half team would do McNair better.
LVG really missed it when he felt McNair and Blackett are deputy reserves. We should have signed a player or Thorpe and Keane should both have been ahead of them. Keane performs better in a defensive 2.