Liverpool F.C. - Back on the Perch

Hendo the PoTM - that kinda sums things up, huh?

2013-11-21 18:41#145204 Arvind : Hendo the PoTM - that kinda sums things up, huh?

He's actually pretty good on this game

Despite dropping three points against Norwich, Liverpool look a little better than last month. There are only two points between them and 4th-placed Manchester City. The Reds took points from Crystal Palace and Swansea, while also holding high-flying Chelsea to a 2-2 draw. All in all, it was a fairly satisfying month.

Player of the Month

Even with Simon Mignolet returning from injury, Jamie Carragher has continued to give Timo Horn chances between the posts, and the young German has taken them. Horn kept clean sheets against Crystal Palace and Swansea, while also playing a part in keeping out Chelsea's Samuel Eto'o in their draw against the Blues. The only game he did not play this month was the match against Norwich, and without Horn, Liverpool lost 2-1.

2013-11-22 04:57#145375 Glenn T :

Even with Simon Mignolet returning from injury, Jamie Carragher has continued to give Timo Horn chances between the posts, and the young German has taken them. Horn kept clean sheets against Crystal Palace and Norwich, while also playing a part in keeping out Chelsea's Samuel Eto'o in their draw against the Blues. The only game he did not play this month was the match against Norwich, and without Horn, Liverpool lost 2-1.

I like your match format, and unlucky vs Norwich. Very good work vs Chelsea but come on, you gotta be in front of Everton!

Bold-ed Norwich as I think you meant Swansea instead.

Unlucky with the result against Norwich but the rest of the results was a good improvement on the last month

2013-11-23 00:41#145416 lolbaconboy :

2013-11-22 04:57#145375 Glenn T :

Even with Simon Mignolet returning from injury, Jamie Carragher has continued to give Timo Horn chances between the posts, and the young German has taken them. Horn kept clean sheets against Crystal Palace and Norwich, while also playing a part in keeping out Chelsea's Samuel Eto'o in their draw against the Blues. The only game he did not play this month was the match against Norwich, and without Horn, Liverpool lost 2-1.

I like your match format, and unlucky vs Norwich. Very good work vs Chelsea but come on, you gotta be in front of Everton!

Bold-ed Norwich as I think you meant Swansea instead.

Yeah, I meant Swansea. Thanks for that

2013-11-23 00:49#145422 pompeyblue : Unlucky with the result against Norwich but the rest of the results was a good improvement on the last month

Thanks

23 December 2013

December has been... alright so far. We dropped two points against West Bromwich, but we also held Manchester City to a draw, an unnaturally hard task, while also beating our rivals Everton in the Merseyside derby.

Timo Horn has been fantastic, and the defending has definitely stepped up. We have kept clean sheets in three consecutive games, including the match against City. Keeping out the likes of Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko is not an easy task, especially for a young 20-year-old, but he has continued to impress.

The decision to drop Simon Mignolet to the bench after his fairly alright start for Liverpool cannot even be questioned. Tim showed just why Simon has been benched - in the previous three games. He has been fantastic whereas Simon has only been average.

Of course, Simon's injury was a bit unlucky for him, but it was an opportunity to showcase how ready Tim is for a first-team role, despite being only 20. I'd expected to throw him into the youth teams after Simon returned but his development has been too incredible for me to do so.

Aside from Tim and the defense, there is an issue that has to be addressed with the attack. Phillipe Coutinho, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge is a three-man attacking force that has to ensure you goals. Instead, all three haven't scored for the last three games, with the last goal between the three of them coming at the end of last month where Luis bagged a brace against Chelsea.

Against Everton, it was again up to a defender, Aly Cissokho, to seal the winner with a nice header.

Compared to his fantastic form last season, Luis has only been average this season with only 4 goals from 9 appearances.

If we want to have any chance of getting into the Champions League next year, we need Luis to rediscover the form that almost landed him the Golden Boot.

Well, January is coming soon, and I have a list of potential Liverpool players. Hopefully we can snag some of our targets, and also get rid of some of the dead weight hindering our progress.

Hint hint: Iago Aspas.

Going strong for Liverpool, love the last update

Well done so far Glenn

2013-11-24 01:10#145607 AlexTHFC : Going strong for Liverpool, love the last update

Thanks Alex

2013-11-24 07:18#145683 Inquisition : Well done so far Glenn

Thanks Inq

Hey mate,
loving the story so far! As an Arsenal fan, let me tell you, Liverpool's players have been criminally underrated! Sturbridge, Mignolet and even Suarez have all been harshly judged in terms of their stats!
Keep up the work though mate. Strengthen in January?

2013-11-24 14:07#145702 Lowelife23 : Hey mate,
loving the story so far! As an Arsenal fan, let me tell you, Liverpool's players have been criminally underrated! Sturbridge, Mignolet and even Suarez have all been harshly judged in terms of their stats!
Keep up the work though mate. Strengthen in January?

Many thanks for the feedback! Yeah, I definitely think some of our players have been really underrated by the game. I mean, seriously, Mignolet is crap in FM14, and so is Sturridge and Luis Alberto

I'll definitely be looking to strengthen in January though, so hopefully we can keep that top four push going.

Jamie Carragher's Liverpool went unbeaten throughout the entire month of December, despite playing top teams like Arsenal and Manchester City. Carra's defensive philosophy has also been visibly taking shape. Out of 6 games this month, Liverpool kept 4 clean sheets, as well as conceding only 2 goals. However, their attacking issues will need to be addressed, with the club's star forward Luis Suarez having absolutely no part in any goal scored this month.

Premier League Manager of the Month

Jamie Carragher comes in 2nd just behind Tottenham's Andre Villas-Boas in the Premier League's December Manager of the Month award.

Premier League Young Player of the Month

Again, it is a case of Tottenham beating Liverpool with Erik Lamela just passing Philippe Coutinho to grab the Young Player of the Month award.

Player of the Month

Liverpool's personal Player of the Month award goes to left-back Aly Cissokho, who has done well to oust Jose Enrique from the first team at least for this month after his convincing performances. Now a hero in the eyes of many Liverpool fans after his match-winning goal against Merseyside rivals Everton, it remains to be seen whether the French loanee will be returned to his parent club Valencia at the end of the season. If he keeps up his form, Jamie Carragher might just have to reconsider.

Ballon d'Or

Winner: Cristiano Ronaldo
2nd: Lionel Messi
3rd: David Silva

World Player of the Year

Winner: Cristiano Ronaldo
2nd: David Silva
3rd: Lionel Messi

World Team of the Year

Neuer; Lahm, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Kroos, Schweinsteiger; Ronaldo, Mata, Silva; Messi

European Golden Boy

Winner: Erik Lamela

World Award Winners 2012? I do believe you mean 2013