Olympiacos (Friendly)

[Whirly]

He has 2 years left on his contract. Sending him on a year's loan is pretty much like giving him away for free / a pittance at the end of it (similar situation as Suso now though the youngster seems to want to extend and stay now). I think we can keep him around for the first half of the season and further assess in January if we should extend his contract, sell him, or loan him out (which would then most likely lead to an eventual cheap move or free agency departure a season later).

I think a lot might depend on whether Ilori goes on loan again. If he does, then either Coates or Toure will be the 4th CB, assuming Agger leaves. In which case, I'd prefer Coates as he's still young and has room for improvement while Toure is clearly only going to decline. I think January will also be the time when we assess Skrtel's situation and decide if he gets a new contract, as he'll be 30 then and entering the final 18 months of his current contract.

Can only see Ilori going on loan if we can't sell Agger. Either way though, Coates is at the bottom of the pecking order, and badly needs minutes.

I think that trumps a contract situation honestly. We can find the money to extend him next season if we need to, and I'd rather have to deal with that issue than him stagnating as a 4th+ choice option.

Can't see him being of any value unless we loan him out and he can properly develop.

 

[Frogfish]

Yep. I see the CB hierarchy as :

Skrtel/Lovren/Sakho
Agger
Toure
Ilori
Coates

I'd like to see Ilori take that 4th spot with Agger & Coates sold and Toure sold or retained as #5 CB.

 

[Frogfish]

Can anyone explain, as I couldn't watch the match, who played where in what formation vs. Olympiakos ?

Cheers !

 

[Ryan]

Yep. I see the CB hierarchy as :

Skrtel/Lovren/Sakho
Agger
Toure
Ilori
Coates

I'd like to see Ilori take that 4th spot with Agger & Coates sold and Toure sold or retained as #5 CB.

Throw Kelly into that mix and we've got 8 centre-backs.

Is there really any need for us to have 8 fucking centre backs?

 

[jexykrodic]

Throw Kelly into that mix and we've got 8 centre-backs.

Is there really any need for us to have 8 fucking centre backs?

Depends who we're playing.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

any match highlights?

 

[Ryan]

any match highlights?

Here's the full match if you want it mate:

 

[Lippy]

any match highlights?

The first 10 minutes. I wouldn't bother after that

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Here's the full match if you want it mate:

Thanks! I'll watch the 1st ten minutes as per Lippy, and then stop (unless you think otherwise?)

 

[Frogfish]

Thanks! I'll watch the 1st ten minutes as per Lippy, and then stop (unless you think otherwise?)

WTF ! It starts at 8.30 mins 😀

 

[LeTallecWiz]

WTF ! It starts at 8.30 mins 😀

Yah 🙁 But we get to see the goal which is well taken.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Can anyone explain, as I couldn't watch the match, who played where in what formation vs. Olympiakos ?

Cheers !

Trying to recall from memory (early morning game for me so maybe I missed a name or two and their positions):

----------------- Jones -------------------
Johnson - Skrtel - Toure --- Enrique
---------------- Gerrard ------------------
------ Henderson ---- Can -------------
Sterling ----- Sturridge ----- Markovic

Subs:

------------- Jones --------------------
Kelly - Skrtel - Coates - Robinson
------------- Lucas --------------------
---- Henderson ---- Allen -----------
Ibe ------- Lambert ------- Coutinho

 

[Frogfish]

Cheers Studsup. Interesting that he played two free-running midfielders together behind the front three.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Yeah at times they left the midfield a bit bare, but I attribute that to the guys not really willing to over-stretch in pre-season, hence not recovering or covering each other as quickly. Henderson, for example, seemed to pull out of a couple of challenges that he'd have gone in harder on during the season.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned (or I might have missed) is that Markovic appeared a little lazy at times in terms of defending, letting his man drift past him and not breaking sweat to catch him, or he wasn't retreating quickly enough to help Enrique. Again, could be just pre-season lethargy, as they've all probably had some tough training sessions.

The Dortmund game will be the one when we can see how ready the squad is. It was the first game for several guys, and as a warm-up for them, it wasn't so bad.