Football 2013-2014

[Wooderson]

Moyes getting a minimum of 3/4 years? Really?

Haha

[Wooderson]

40 point swing between LFC and Utd in one season.

[zahidf]

I quite like football 365's dissection of Liverpool.

'Another huge result to narrow the gap to Chelsea to just four points and increase the lead over Manchester United to 11. And yet, owing to their history, it still seems beyond belief that the champions won't cause another twist in the race for fourth place in the final 12 games. How is it possible that they have conceded a 40-point swing to Liverpool from this stage last season?

In part, it is down to Brendan Rodgers adapting his style to introduce a greater sense of urgency. Rather than the often ponderous build-up play of 2012/13, Liverpool now look to break early to make the most of their brilliant strikeforce, with Steven Gerrard always alert to scything passes such as his exquisite through-ball to Daniel Sturridge.

The Reds have dropped from third place on the possession chart to ninth, and yet they have managed 17 more goals thus far - only two fewer than the free-scoring Manchester City side everyone has been raving about. That Liverpool also average 14% fewer shots per match - and the highest number on target per game (a proportional increase of nine per cent) suggests one, or both, of two things: the team are creating better chances by hitting their opponents more regularly on the counter-attack, and/or Rodgers has improved their accuracy.

Having Sturridge for the whole season has certainly helped. The striker isn't yet viewed as favourably as Luis Suarez, but his recent record of nine goals in eight matches - compared to one in six for his teammate - underlines his importance. Sturridge's strike against Fulham was his 30th in 37 games for Liverpool and his 26th in just 32 Premier League fixures. It is phenomenal consistency for a player who only ever showed flashes of his talent at Chelsea. Roman Abramovich must still be scratching his head over how he paid Liverpool £50m for Fernando Torres and allowed them to have Sturridge for just £12m.

There are still concerns for Rodgers in defence, namely Kolo Toure, who has gone from cult status to hot flatus as the season unfolds. The Ivorian's own goal at Craven Cottage was almost his second costly error in three matches and his position should now be under threat. "Kolo is a great guy, it was just unfortunate for him," said Rodgers after the game. It was a defence as weak as the centre-back's attempt to clear Kieran Richardson's cross.

With Daniel Agger sitting on the bench and Mamadou Sakho soon set to return from a hamstring strain, Rodgers has options to replace Toure, if not to mix things up further up the pitch. It will be interesting to see the team he picks for the trip to Arsenal on Sunday. After gaining such a vital win in dramatic fashion, the team spirit will be bubbling, but can the manager afford to keep playing his front six in every game? There is a risk that fatigue could set in before the finish line.

Jose Mourinho may argue that Liverpool have an advantage in the title race owing to their absence from European competition, but he also has a stronger squad to deal with such challenges. In contrast, Rodgers has Iago Aspas.'

[thetime]

40 point swing between LFC and Utd in one season.

[Wooderson]

Reds haven't a hope of winning the league.

[Wooderson]

I like to look on the positive side and say 13 titles swing in 20 years.

[kaosmark2]

Tbf I think they did need a mata type (creative) player. They obviously don't fancy kagawa in that role and want to play Rooney up top. They definately need a holding midfielder as well though like you say, matic has looked brilliant so far.

They need a lot to reach city and Chelsea. I don't think de gea is very good personally, he has no stature and tries to save everything with his feet. Evra is having his worst ever season at

United. They need to new centre halves and I think they should play jones right back. They need a holding midfielder in there with mata, they have good wingers. And the forwards are

top class if they can keep RVP and Rooney.

Begovic

Jones Ogbonna Hummels Shaw

Young/Valencia Mata Gundogan Januzaj

RVP Rooney

Something like that would be strong and is achievable but would cost a lot. Get rid of de gea, vidic, kagawa, evra, Nani to generate some funds.

[eFestivals]

Depends what united fans you ask, if its the young generation then your comment is true. If you are the older fans who took glorious failure in the 80s then 'vast majority' is untrue.

the 'vast majority' I'm talking about are specifically those who post in the guardian comments, I have no idea how representative they might be.

I have however seen how they've turned over time, and they've very definitely turned.

Does not matter what united fans want he will get time, minimum 3/4 years.

I'm not sure that I share your confidence, even tho there's some solid reasons for thinking that might be the case.

No manager who takes over a title winning team who do not lose their players should need even a season to have them playing around the same level.

[pink_triangle]

Tbf I think they did need a mata type (creative) player. They obviously don't fancy kagawa in that role and want to play Rooney up top. They definately need a holding midfielder as well though like you say, matic has looked brilliant so far.

They need a lot to reach city and Chelsea. I don't think de gea is very good personally, he has no stature and tries to save everything with his feet. Evra is having his worst ever season at

United. They need to new centre halves and I think they should play jones right back. They need a holding midfielder in there with mata, they have good wingers. And the forwards are

top class if they can keep RVP and Rooney.

Begovic

Jones Ogbonna Hummels Shaw

Young/Valencia Mata Gundogan Januzaj

RVP Rooney

Something like that would be strong and is achievable but would cost a lot. Get rid of de gea, vidic, kagawa, evra, Nani to generate some funds.

[eFestivals]

I quite like football 365's dissection of Liverpool.

yup, i'd say that's pretty accurate.

There are still concerns for Rodgers in defence, namely Kolo Toure, ....

I read something last night that made me laugh a lot - tho I don't know for sure it's true.

Supposedly, last season the Prem player still playing who has scored the most goals against Liverpool was....

Jamie Carragher.

[kaosmark2]

thetime, I've said this before, but I think you're naive to think the vast majority of Man U fans are older and remember the failures of the 80s.

[zahidf]

the 'vast majority' I'm talking about are specifically those who post in the guardian comments, I have no idea how representative they might be.

I have however seen how they've turned over time, and they've very definitely turned.

I'm not sure that I share your confidence, even tho there's some solid reasons for thinking that might be the case.

No manager who takes over a title winning team who do not lose their players should need even a season to have them playing around the same level.

Edited February 13, 2014 by zahidf

[eFestivals]

Nani will fetch a noticable sum

Do you think?

I can't see them getting more than about £8M for him.

[kaosmark2]

Well they can forget about gundagon and hummels if they aren't in the champions league.

I think Rafael is fine as a right back. I think Jones should be given a year to make the centre back position his own, along with a new signing. If he fails he should be shipped out.

I don't agree the wingers are good and think man u should move on from the outdated 4-4-2 thinking. To me the key positions are centre back and centre midfield to reinforce the spine. Shaw may be an upgrade but probably wont be the difference between success and failure, most of the other top teams have relatively average players in.that position.

[kaosmark2]

Do you think?

I can't see them getting more than about £8M for him.

[eFestivals]

I still think Shaw's just getting an insane amount of hype because he's English, he's played well but there's a lot of left-backs of similar quality out there, the question to me is how his game develops.

I agree with all that, but he's the best English left back prospect out there, and given Soton's history with developing excellent players he's less of a gamble than he would be from another club.

If I was running any of the top 6 teams I'd defo try and get him, tho how far I'd stretch with the money to get him is something else.

[eFestivals]

£8m is a noticeable sum when you're in mid-table.

what's so very very weird is that he's one of Utd's more valuable players. It's both wacky and very very funny.

Utd are just utterly threadbare.

[kaosmark2]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/feb/13/iverpool-luis-suarez-race-row-patrice-evra-all-false

I agree with all that, but he's the best English left back prospect out there, and given Soton's history with developing excellent players he's less of a gamble than he would be from another club.

If I was running any of the top 6 teams I'd defo try and get him, tho how far I'd stretch with the money to get him is something else.

[eFestivals]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/feb/13/iverpool-luis-suarez-race-row-patrice-evra-all-false

One of the at-least two different versions Evra told cannot be other than false.

So while Suarez is a prat for re-opening something that won't go anywhere good for him, he's factually accurate to at least some extent.

I think personally he could go for anything between £5-12m, it'll be a club on the fringes of the Champions League or a club from a weak country (prob Portugal) that typically does qualify and doesn't get far that goes in for him.

the ever-ongoing rumour is that Rafa wants him at Napoli.

Welbeck and Hernandez could both go for similar sums to Nani as well, the "probably just shy of £10m" mark, but they need to keep at least one of them.

given the rarity of reliable strikers I could see either of them going for well over £20M. They could go for what you say as well tho.

If someone did pay £20M for Welbeck they'd have massive regrets.

Edited February 13, 2014 by eFestivals

[DomDom1984]

Do folk still think the squad Moyes took is anything other than bang average?

Obviously Moyes will get more time.

[eFestivals]

Do folk still think the squad Moyes took is anything other than bang average?

lots of people had had the same thoughts about the Utd squad across most of the last 20 years ... and yet fergie had them winning titles, exactly as fergie managed with the squad that won the title last year but who now look exceedingly average.

[thetime]

Utd are just utterly threadbare.

[eFestivals]

Threadbare? de gea, janusaj and rooney alone would go for close to 100m.

Rooney is worth £30M tops.

DDG is worth £20M tops.

Janusai is worth £20M tops.

I make that just £70M - if you're lucky.

[hot_ice]

lots of people had had the same thoughts about the Utd squad across most of the last 20 years ... and yet fergie had them winning titles, exactly as fergie managed with the squad that won the title last year but who now look exceedingly average.

[thetime]

Rooney is worth £30M tops.

DDG is worth £20M tops.

Janusai is worth £20M tops.

I make that just £70M - if you're lucky.