07 Aug 2015 03:02:35
Gap between liverpool and top 4 is the no of goals.
When we came 2nd we scored 100+, when came out from top 4 it was just 52, really.
Score more goals, theory is back.
Benteke 15 plus, firmino 10 plus, he is a second striker and cam, coutinho and lallana defo 5plus goal scorers 40 plus goals.
Milner and hendo will get goals where ever they play add 10 to the tally. that's almost 60.
Then we have some dark horses and substitues who are really capable.
07 Aug 2015 04:59:45
But we still have a manager that isn't quite sure how or where to play players. When we scored that many goals, we had two class forwards - all we had to do was get the ball to them. Last year showed that when we had to rely on a game plan with tactics only, we fell way short of top 4 quality. We will need Benteke, Sturridge and Milner to be on song this year, plus a heap of luck to make top 4 comfortably IMO.
07 Aug 2015 05:47:02
Goals conceded in three years - close to 150.
07 Aug 2015 07:21:28
Its not how many goals we score that is the key, its how many we stop. I have doubts that we can stop other teams scoring against us. That's why we will miss out on top 4.
07 Aug 2015 08:08:30
Sturridge?
07 Aug 2015 08:14:53
Well, when we came second we had the worst defensive record in our history.
I don't want to go back to that. Winning teams are built from the back.
07 Aug 2015 09:07:58
I totally agree with you all that the defense has got to be tight and that all league winning teams have a solid back line.
However just going back to the year we finished second, I don't remember anyone complaining about our defense because we were playing such open attacking football.
If the opponent scored 3 then we would score 4 or 5.
It was just so exciting and encouraging at the time knowing that Liverpool were going into a match thinking we would score several goals.
It was brilliant as a supporter and must have been for the players as well, the confidence that we all had was amazing.
Suppose it came back to bight us in the bum. :(
07 Aug 2015 10:06:12
Everyone saying it's more important to stop goals than scoring them. You don't win many matches 0-0.
07 Aug 2015 10:31:04
Big Murdo
We did not complain as we were sure and certain to reinforce the defense in the summer which we did and yet we conceeded 50. There lies the problem.
07 Aug 2015 10:41:51
I like how 40 + 10 = almost 60 :)
07 Aug 2015 10:51:41
Exactly muscatred. It's all about the goals.
We had a miserly defence under Kenny actually, but look how many draws there were.
One point for a draw is no good these days.
Better to win 3-2 or whatever.
Third and forth positions in the league (which is what we are fighting for IMO) will be decided by the most effective attack.
07 Aug 2015 11:25:51
It's not a matter of "complaining" about our defence. It's just absolutely factual that in the season before last we were scoring for fun but conceding at a record rate too.
Last window we didn't succeed in addressing the defensive issues - neither by shipping out nor bringing in.
This year I think Clyne will make things a lot better and Gomez just might turn out to be a major find. So we are better.
But. in my view, we still have not sorted out the 2 major issues in our back 5.
07 Aug 2015 12:32:05
agree that attack will be more important. our defence isn't the best but had we scored more goals last year, top 4 would have been easy.
we kept 14 clean sheets in the end so having a striker who bagged 20 goals would have been the difference.
07 Aug 2015 14:23:37
Southampton also conceded 15 less goals than us but finished below.
07 Aug 2015 14:45:53
I don't think Sturridge has been a factor for 12months now DJP
07 Aug 2015 15:56:52
Haych,
That doesn't mean he won't be in the next twelve.