I'm referring to when Rafa was in charge. That Liverpool team was one hell of a team and nearly pipped united to the league. The football was fast, the pressing was immense and teams in Europe and in the prem struggled with the pace and movement of that team.
As a gooner, I remember when you hammered newacastle away, united away and that breathtaking 4-4 against us as well as the European performances.
Now that style of play was a very European style and simillar to the successfully Valencia team that won la liga 2001. Of course, Rafa brought that style with him so I'm just curious to know why Kenny has adopted a more British core to the team as that surely isn't the way forward
He has spent a fortune on some very poor British players and it is transmitted through the way the team play. We all know that the Spanish style is the way forward so why did pool never stick with the style that Rafa created.
It should have been a philosophy that continued even when Rafa was sacked rather then trying this British model.
When pool played like Valencia!
posted on 23/3/12
so by that commentt, i take it you agree Downing can infact makes runs and scoring opportunities in a 4-5-1.
so long as he is against a weaker opponent... which is about 3% of the EPL.
posted on 23/3/12
comment by ALVIN! (U6117)
posted 1 minute ago
so by that commentt, i take it you agree Downing can infact makes runs and scoring opportunities in a 4-5-1.
so long as he is against a weaker opponent... which is about 3% of the EPL.
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No. How you got that from what I said is beyond me.
What I said that Downing is a good player and hasn;t performed to his best, like all of our midfield and attack due to our terrible system of player a player who is not a striker, as a lone striker.
posted on 23/3/12
Downing has never ever been a top quality player. He is decent and stood out in average / poor teams like Villa and Boro.
As a creative player he doesn't create enough. As a winger doesn't have the trickery or pace to beat a man. He does carry the ball forward well and runs well with the ball. His delivery is usually pretty good, his eye for goals is not so great.
I am not sure how anyone can describe those overall strengths and weaknesses as a top quality player, whatever system he plays in. He is in the Engalnd squad by virtue of him being left footed. If he was a right winger then Walcott, Lennon, Milner, Ox-Chamb, Young would all be in there ahead of him.
posted on 23/3/12
that's not what you said.
what you said is...
' 2 goals, against a team that were destined for relegation. One from a defender from a corner and one after a great run from Downing and shot was fumbled to Kuyt.'
aka the 4-5-1 can work, so long as out attackers are better than the opposition. which isntt very often.
posted on 23/3/12
comment by ALVIN! (U6117)
posted 51 seconds ago
that's not what you said.
what you said is...
' 2 goals, against a team that were destined for relegation. One from a defender from a corner and one after a great run from Downing and shot was fumbled to Kuyt.'
aka the 4-5-1 can work, so long as out attackers are better than the opposition. which isntt very often.
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No. Again I've no idea how you take that from what I said.
posted on 23/3/12
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 3 minutes ago
Downing has never ever been a top quality player. He is decent and stood out in average / poor teams like Villa and Boro.
As a creative player he doesn't create enough. As a winger doesn't have the trickery or pace to beat a man. He does carry the ball forward well and runs well with the ball. His delivery is usually pretty good, his eye for goals is not so great.
I am not sure how anyone can describe those overall strengths and weaknesses as a top quality player, whatever system he plays in. He is in the Engalnd squad by virtue of him being left footed. If he was a right winger then Walcott, Lennon, Milner, Ox-Chamb, Young would all be in there ahead of him.
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I disagree. I think he is great at running at defenders and getting the ball in the box, however when we bought him, we must have been thinking we're gonna have players in the box to score from his assists, so why did that change? Bad management to me.
Of all the players you name of being right footed, I wouldn't pick one of them ahead of Downing as a right-winger, with perhaps the exception of Lennon.
posted on 23/3/12
I would take ox over downing any day
posted on 23/3/12
comment by Lucas The Destroyer (U11770)
posted 4 minutes ago
I would take ox over downing any day
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Perhaps in future but certainly not now.
posted on 23/3/12
He looks like he's going to be an excellent player however but so often with these pacey wingers, they have great potential but fade away. I don;t think he will however. When Pennant was at Arsenal at 15 and 16 he looked outstanding, I mean outstanding, skillfull, fast and could score goals. He hasn't lived up to that however.
posted on 23/3/12
Unfortunately that great football was not played consistently and that is the key to most footballing success - consistency.