Two Liverpool Fans

Assessing a Season Like This: Liverpool FC [Part 1: Performances]

This was supposed to be the season for Liverpool FC. The season was eagerly anticipated following what looked like decent summer buys, and it looked set for exciting times for Liverpool.

However, everything hasn’t exactly gone to the script this season.

In this multiple part feature, I will be assessing many aspects of Liverpool FC, including financial, statistical, along with the state of the boardroom. But today, I will quite simply be talking about the team, the tactics and what went right and wrong with the chalkboard this long 2011/12 season.

This post is where I’ll be talking about the current state on the team – form, performances and the players who gel well with each other, along with a couple of transfer moves to make for Liverpool to strengthen their squad.

This year’s tactics were forced to be changed due to an unfortunate injury to Lucas Leiva. His injury has had an effect on the team an as a result of his injury, the Reds have done poorly in the months that have followed, but it would be wrong to blame poor form solely on missing Lucas throughout the second half of the season.

This year has seen Liverpool play mainly with a back 4 that started rocky, with them leaking goals in the pre-season, along with the opening stages of the season, but has only improved with time. This has resulted in Liverpool being the 3rd best team defensively in the Premier League this term. Injuries have hampered the defence this season, but it is the consistency in selection that has got Liverpool this great track record in terms of goals conceded this term.

Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel, Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique have done well this season, although much has been made of Enrique’s poor form of late. But this has been a solid defensive partnership, and coupled with arrivals of Martin Kelly and Sebastian Coates, this can be a defence to be reckoned with in this era of the Premier League.

Downing.... a poor signing so far.

And now off to the midfield. Perhaps the most overvalued bunch of midfielders in the country. Stewart Downing – 16 million pounds – repays this with 36 appearances, 0 goals and 0 assists. I’m pretty decent at Maths, and I am smart enough to recognise that he has had a horrible debut season for the reds. Apart from that one odd Wembley appearance against Cardiff City where he looked half able to get past the full-back, he’s been disappointing – especially for the fee that he came for – this season.

Steven Gerrard’s injuries meant that the squad have had to rotate, and I struggle to see why Maxi Rodriguez hasn’t played more this season. After those two games against Chelsea where he bagged winners earlier on, I thought he would becom a mainstay in the first XI. What happens? Dumped onto the bench and into the wilderness. I don’t get it sometimes, although I’m pretty sure there was some other reason keeping him from playing the games.

Jordan Henderson has already been covered by me here so go ahead and read that article.

Craig Bellamy’s transfer was a masterstroke, and he has proved to be a key player this campaign, although he, like Steven Gerrard, has had injury problems all season long. I classify him as a left winger, a better one than Stewart Downing this term for sure, and he has been instrumental in saving this less than decent 2011/12 campaign.

Jay Spearing has been decent, but in my opinion, that’s all he will ever be. He is not of the same caliber of Lucas, and won’t be for a while. I personally believe that despite all his passion and his effort, he just isn’t up to scratch – at least just yet – and shouldn’t be starting games for Liverpool. Especially games such as the FA Cup final.

Jonjo has been fantastic, and I think he’s got lots of potential right there, Charlie Adam has looked impressive while looking downright frustrating at the same time this season with his ‘Hollywood passes’.

Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll have had a very long season. For Luis, he was embroiled in that racism saga, and I hope we’ll see the last of this, and we see the Uruguayan at his best more next season. Luis has the ability to get past whole teams, but it has been his finishing, coupled with his indecision that often results in the loss of possession this term.

Andy Carroll has showed lots of signs of improvement. His goal against Chelsea was testament to that. He dummied John Terry, turned a couple of times in almost Suarez fashion, and then finished it off with a powerful shot that hit the roof of the net. He’s been winning everything of late (I won’t count the Swansea game because he didn’t have many proper balls to chase) and he’s quite simply rediscovered himself. Hoping he’ll have a quality season next year.