Post by Gianni Infantino on Dec 28, 2013 18:38:14 GMT
So, we're halfway through the Premier League and the Football League clubs have played 22/23, so how have your team fared this season? Have the players you brought in over the summer improved the squad, or has that one key departure slowed your progress down monumentally? Do you need to strengthen heavily in January, or can you get by without any new signings? How do you rate your manager's performance, in terms of tactics, signings, refereeing criticism? Be as detailed as you like.
Brendan Rodgers - 8/10 for me. Been fantastic at ironing out all the issues we've had against the smaller sides. But his tactics against the big boys have at times been a big suspect. Still, his vision has really come to fruition so far, hope it continues.
Simon Mignolet - 8.5/10. Been brilliant, made his first mistake leading to a goal on Boxing Day but he has been class for us. Glad we got him for such a good price. Worth far more than what we paid.
Glen Johnson - 5/10. Been dire, can't explain why. Lack of competition? We need a new right back.
Jose Enrique - 6/10. Give him a 6 just because I can't even remember the last time he played, but I don't remember being over-the-top pissed off with him. Just normal levels of "fuck off Enrique" rage.
Kolo Toure - 6/10. Started off brilliantly, but as Sakho came in he's taken to the bench a lot and has looked shaky when playing. That said, very good free signing.
Daniel Agger - 5/10. Haven't been impressed with him at all, probably our third or fourth best CB these days, Sakho has rightly ousted him.
Mamadou Sakho - 8/10. He has a 5 minute spell every game where he could easily commit three mistakes all leading to goals. But for the other 85 he's absolutely brilliant. I love the guy. He's shown how much of a marquee signing he is.
Aly Cissokho - 6/10. You know what? I don't even think he's been that bad. I've given him some stick but in games where he's allowed to get forward, he's fantastic. In big games, he can't work with Coutinho on the left because the latter has no defensive desire, showed against City.
Martin Kelly - 5/10. Couple of cameos, hasn't done much. Looks sluggish and can't seem to mark his man any more.
Martin Skrtel - 7.5/10. Come under fire of late for doing something every defender in the world does. Been very good, much better than last season. He and Sakho work well together and they've been steady.
Jon Flanagan - 8/10. He might not have the raw talent that some of our squad has, but his determination not to let his man pass him has been fantastic. Brick wall, very impressive. Gutted he's injured, honestly.
Luis Alberto - 6/10. A few cameos, usually sitting deep, showed his creativity against Spurs with an underrated pass to Suarez for the latter's second. Would like to see him get in for the FA Cup behind the striker, looks very comfortable on the ball.
Steven Gerrard - 7/10. I've criticised him a lot but you do realise when he's out just what he offers to the team. Not to say we've suffered without him, but his influence on the team can't be questioned. Looking forward to his return.
Philippe Coutinho - 6/10. Christ he's frustrating, he has the ability to pick any pass in the world, but half the time he can't be arsed and goes for goal himself. When he clicks with Suarez and, in recent weeks, Henderson and Sterling, the results can be fantastic, but it's been all too rare. Needs to step up.
Victor Moses - 5/10. Won't miss him, but we improved against City once he came on as he helped Cissokho a lot, fair play to him.
Jordan Henderson - 9/10. Been absolutely fantastic in the further role in the midfield, and has picked up more assists than United's midfield combined. His form of late has seen people stand up and take notice. Hope he continues, he's guaranteed to still be in the team when Gerrard comes back, hopefully he doesn't cave to Gerrard's status.
Lucas Leiva - 7/10. Standard, keeps the team ticking, cuts things out before they get started. Were it not for the outstanding performances of the other two around him, he'd be getting noticed a lot more. Thankfully, that hasn't been necessary.
Joe Allen - 7.5/10. Derby miss aside, when he came into the side following Gerrard's injury, he hasn't complained, he's slotted in perfectly and his energy alongside Henderson and Lucas has been vital in cutting teams out before they reach the penalty area. He'll probably be dropped for Gerrard but it shouldn't be so cut and dry.
Raheem Sterling - 8/10. Didn't expect anything from him this season, but he's brought pace to the frontline we didn't previous have, and his runs off Suarez may have slowed Suarez's goals down a little bit, but they've definitely helped the team out a lot more. Getting amongst the goals now, he's been very good.
Iago Aspas - 5/10. Got injured a few games into the season and hasn't ever really looked like scoring. Feel for him, he should get a few chances soon.
Daniel Sturridge - 8/10. Helped us monumentally in the first month or so when Suarez was out with his ban, slowed down but still scoring when he's not injured. Last minute equaliser against Everton was brilliant, could be key in the run-in if he keeps his pre-injury form.
Luis Suarez - 10/10. I don't care if he's a flat track bully. He's absolutely fantastic and is as close to the best in the world as anyone in this league. Best player I've seen in my life at Liverpool and his 19 goals in 13 games is just unheard of in this league. Hope he keeps it up in the second half of the season. Only criticism is his failure to score against the big teams, but I don't care, we've got other players who can score against them. He just needs to keep getting four against Norwich and the like.
Who do we need? A right back, maybe a left back as well. We've been told we need attacking options as well but I think we're alright there, another midfielder would be nice as 16 year old Jordan Rossiter has been in the squad of late, not the best depth there. Overall though, I'm very happy with us so far this year. Anything is possible.
Brendan Rodgers - 8/10 for me. Been fantastic at ironing out all the issues we've had against the smaller sides. But his tactics against the big boys have at times been a big suspect. Still, his vision has really come to fruition so far, hope it continues.
Simon Mignolet - 8.5/10. Been brilliant, made his first mistake leading to a goal on Boxing Day but he has been class for us. Glad we got him for such a good price. Worth far more than what we paid.
Glen Johnson - 5/10. Been dire, can't explain why. Lack of competition? We need a new right back.
Jose Enrique - 6/10. Give him a 6 just because I can't even remember the last time he played, but I don't remember being over-the-top pissed off with him. Just normal levels of "fuck off Enrique" rage.
Kolo Toure - 6/10. Started off brilliantly, but as Sakho came in he's taken to the bench a lot and has looked shaky when playing. That said, very good free signing.
Daniel Agger - 5/10. Haven't been impressed with him at all, probably our third or fourth best CB these days, Sakho has rightly ousted him.
Mamadou Sakho - 8/10. He has a 5 minute spell every game where he could easily commit three mistakes all leading to goals. But for the other 85 he's absolutely brilliant. I love the guy. He's shown how much of a marquee signing he is.
Aly Cissokho - 6/10. You know what? I don't even think he's been that bad. I've given him some stick but in games where he's allowed to get forward, he's fantastic. In big games, he can't work with Coutinho on the left because the latter has no defensive desire, showed against City.
Martin Kelly - 5/10. Couple of cameos, hasn't done much. Looks sluggish and can't seem to mark his man any more.
Martin Skrtel - 7.5/10. Come under fire of late for doing something every defender in the world does. Been very good, much better than last season. He and Sakho work well together and they've been steady.
Jon Flanagan - 8/10. He might not have the raw talent that some of our squad has, but his determination not to let his man pass him has been fantastic. Brick wall, very impressive. Gutted he's injured, honestly.
Luis Alberto - 6/10. A few cameos, usually sitting deep, showed his creativity against Spurs with an underrated pass to Suarez for the latter's second. Would like to see him get in for the FA Cup behind the striker, looks very comfortable on the ball.
Steven Gerrard - 7/10. I've criticised him a lot but you do realise when he's out just what he offers to the team. Not to say we've suffered without him, but his influence on the team can't be questioned. Looking forward to his return.
Philippe Coutinho - 6/10. Christ he's frustrating, he has the ability to pick any pass in the world, but half the time he can't be arsed and goes for goal himself. When he clicks with Suarez and, in recent weeks, Henderson and Sterling, the results can be fantastic, but it's been all too rare. Needs to step up.
Victor Moses - 5/10. Won't miss him, but we improved against City once he came on as he helped Cissokho a lot, fair play to him.
Jordan Henderson - 9/10. Been absolutely fantastic in the further role in the midfield, and has picked up more assists than United's midfield combined. His form of late has seen people stand up and take notice. Hope he continues, he's guaranteed to still be in the team when Gerrard comes back, hopefully he doesn't cave to Gerrard's status.
Lucas Leiva - 7/10. Standard, keeps the team ticking, cuts things out before they get started. Were it not for the outstanding performances of the other two around him, he'd be getting noticed a lot more. Thankfully, that hasn't been necessary.
Joe Allen - 7.5/10. Derby miss aside, when he came into the side following Gerrard's injury, he hasn't complained, he's slotted in perfectly and his energy alongside Henderson and Lucas has been vital in cutting teams out before they reach the penalty area. He'll probably be dropped for Gerrard but it shouldn't be so cut and dry.
Raheem Sterling - 8/10. Didn't expect anything from him this season, but he's brought pace to the frontline we didn't previous have, and his runs off Suarez may have slowed Suarez's goals down a little bit, but they've definitely helped the team out a lot more. Getting amongst the goals now, he's been very good.
Iago Aspas - 5/10. Got injured a few games into the season and hasn't ever really looked like scoring. Feel for him, he should get a few chances soon.
Daniel Sturridge - 8/10. Helped us monumentally in the first month or so when Suarez was out with his ban, slowed down but still scoring when he's not injured. Last minute equaliser against Everton was brilliant, could be key in the run-in if he keeps his pre-injury form.
Luis Suarez - 10/10. I don't care if he's a flat track bully. He's absolutely fantastic and is as close to the best in the world as anyone in this league. Best player I've seen in my life at Liverpool and his 19 goals in 13 games is just unheard of in this league. Hope he keeps it up in the second half of the season. Only criticism is his failure to score against the big teams, but I don't care, we've got other players who can score against them. He just needs to keep getting four against Norwich and the like.
Who do we need? A right back, maybe a left back as well. We've been told we need attacking options as well but I think we're alright there, another midfielder would be nice as 16 year old Jordan Rossiter has been in the squad of late, not the best depth there. Overall though, I'm very happy with us so far this year. Anything is possible.