Charlie Adam
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I'm sorry doc, I was being facetious.
I don't think I'm as much of a hater as you think I am. I just think that ultimately, he's not good enough to hold down a regular place for us. I'm happy to have him as an option, but I doubt he'd be happy with that, so it's probably best for all concerned if we part company.
Good one.
I don't think he's inconsistent in the sense of having one good game, and then a bad one, but inconsistent in the sense of doing good things in a game, and failing to do several simple things in the same game. That sort of inconsistency is more difficult to get rid of than the former IMO because it's down to an inherent lack of ability rather than an issue in application, motivation or mentality.
Adam has some good qualities, I won't deny (such as his ability to create chances every now and then). He doesn't however have the qualities (which are very many, and not just the ability to create) to be a top quality central midfielder.
See I think this is just wrong. Very few midfielders have it all. Scholes is a great example- he's been an amazing midfielder but has never, ever been able to tackle; Lucas isn't creative; Xabi was often guilty of being caught in possession; SG takes on too much responsibility, and doesn't allow the players around him to express themselves. These players have all got excellent qualities, but it is in finding the role for them, and the correct partners that is the most important thing.
Lucas *needs* a creative player beside him for instance, and Adam, it is fair to say, needs an industrious and disciplined player beside him. Adam has plenty of very good qualities. I'm not saying he has had a great season, but it certainly wasn't the car wreck some would make it out to be, and actually he performed very well at times.
For me the real proof of Adam's quality was our woeful game against Utd at Old Trafford. We were having a horrible game- no-one wanted the ball, and we had created absolutely nothing. As soon as he came on, he gave us possession, took responsibility, created a goal, and put a ball on Suarez's head in the last minutes which should have been the equaliser. He showed in that game that he is someone well worth a place in our squad.
Good post Doc.
I don't get the non stop hate for Adam,we signed him for a reasonable fee and he had some excellent games last season.
I have no problem with Adam as a footballer but the modern day game requires most central midfielders to be a box to box athlete which Adam will never be.I would keep him as a squad player,and along with Aqua,Henderson,Lucas and Gerrard we have some varied options with strength in depth.
I don't get the non stop hate for Adam,we signed him for a reasonable fee and he had some excellent games last season.
I have no problem with Adam as a footballer but the modern day game requires most central midfielders to be a box to box athlete which Adam will never be.I would keep him as a squad player,and along with Aqua,Henderson,Lucas and Gerrard we have some varied options with strength in depth.
True very few midfielders have it all but the ones you mention are world class at what they do, can't say the same about Adam.
Yup, that performance made me forget every poor game he's played. Clean slate for next season I say!
You don't show in one game that you're worthy of a place the squad. You show it consistently, over many games. There are plenty of journeymen footballers who have played the odd blinder. Now I'm not saying Adam is a journeyman, but he's shown over many games (including those for Blackpool) that he is chronically inconsistent. He got away with it at Blackpool because he was surrounded by dross, and expectations were low.
The comparison with Scholes isn't particularly helpful either, because save for the last couple of years perhaps, Scholes has been consistently brilliant throughout his career. What's more, he is much less error prone, and doesn't go from the sublime to the ridiculous in the space of a couple of minutes.
I know you were singing Adam's praises before he came here, and I think perhaps that's causing you to be a little over-protective of him. As always, he's not nearly as bad as some make him out to be, but neither is he good enough to drive the club forward. Unless we're happy with our current league position, he simply isn't the calibre of player that we need.
I agree he hasn't been consistent this season, or in the second half of last season (which was understandable give he thought he was signing for us), but it is simply untrue to say he has always been inconsistent. He was consistently good for 2 seasons with Blackpool, and rarely let Rangers down either. He was let go by Rangers not because of his quality, or lack of consistency, but because he was a victim of politics at Rangers– he was one of the few players that revelled under Paul le Guen, who made him his captain (demoting Barry Ferguson). After the coup d'etat that season, Adam was the inevitable victim, despite having probably a better season than any of his colleagues.
I'd also add that Man Utd have had very few players with the quality of Scholes; they've had Fletcher, Carrick, Butt, Gibson etc., as part of title winning squads. Adam is good enough to contribute for us in a side that is pushing for better things.
I'm as big a fan as you are Doc. When people were talking about him being inconsistent though, I think he's inconsistent within the game itself. First off, I wouldn't give much credit to the notion that he constantly gives the ball away, he tries more than most do to play the killer pass, to spread the play, etc. People forget that Alonso used to lose possession alot aswell if the game wasn't as open as he'd like for his passing to flourish, but in the percentages game he'd begin moves or create chances more than most because he tried it more than most. That's part and parcel of creative players. The Scholes comparison is harsh as they're completely different types of player, Scholes can play the long pass, though he's hardly a specialist, but his strengths were always in making darting runs through the centre and having good movement off the ball. He's also a liability when asked to play the more defensive game, as we've seen countless times down the years. And I don't think Adam benefited from having to alot of spade work in protecting the back four. He gave fouls away needlessly, got bookings, let his head drop and too often played too deep to make a difference.
That said, it wasn't all about positioning. I do think he's fitter than most give him credit for and that he covers the ground. The problem is that his natural game is to sit in the centre of the park, but not too deep. We expect our midfielders to drag wide and cover the gaps, to spend alot of the time off the ball, pressing and harassing (our passing game is still largely being implemented, the side still suffers alot from the mentality of previous managers). I do think he has issues in this respect over his stamina, which in turn has a negative impact on his ability to make an impression on the game. He's not fat, he's just one of those players (like Spud) who lack the natural stamina and capacity to complete the 90's minutes and to cover the ground without it taking it's toll on his energy (and his legs).
He's a good player, but there's a certain degree of compromise in incorporating him into the side. He struggled last season and his set pieces (a big facet of his and one of the reasons we bought him) were well below the standard he set at Blackpool. So as ever, between the players own struggles to make an impression while his Liverpool career is in it's infancy, and fans being impatient and wanting star studded performances week in week out, the actuality rests somewhere in the centre. Does he need to improve? Course he does. Does he deserve time and can he part of a top squad? You only need watch his handy work for the winner at Stamford Bridge again to be reminded of what he can do. But then, you and I knew that already.
Bullshit.
We're talking about a slow, unfit player who barely makes it past the 60 minute mark.
He was better playing alongside Lucas? Yes he was because Lucas had to work his socks off to cover for his deficiencies.
Who doesn't remember his remarkable juggernaut defending. Tracking back when arsed and bundling over players trying to get ball back too quickly. Or his Xabi Alonso-esque positioning (sarcastic)?
He's not gonna get better, he's got so many flaws in his game calling him average is a compliment.
In order for him to play well we need to have a team built around him and that got Blackpool relegated.
One of the worst transfers we've ever made.
We're talking about a slow, unfit player who barely makes it past the 60 minute mark.
He was better playing alongside Lucas? Yes he was because Lucas had to work his socks off to cover for his deficiencies.
Who doesn't remember his remarkable juggernaut defending. Tracking back when arsed and bundling over players trying to get ball back too quickly. Or his Xabi Alonso-esque positioning (sarcastic)?
He's not gonna get better, he's got so many flaws in his game calling him average is a compliment.
In order for him to play well we need to have a team built around him and that got Blackpool relegated.
One of the worst transfers we've ever made.
you're angry cos he's right, mark.
No he isn't. No I'm not angry. Why would I be? He's a renowned WHOPPER.
yeah, i don't agree with modo at all but it's hard to see adam staying imo.
Well there's an easy remedy for that, let's sign some above average players for a start.
I think Adam is the most likely departure this summer.
Adam is not a man for taking us further in my opinion.. but one of the worst signings we ever made? What tabloid hysteric place is this turning into? Behave people!
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