Topic: Jay Spearing- Better Late than Never

[new-red]

spearing spends most of his time pointing and directing ,sorry but he hasn't reached that level to be doing that .

Well at least he is communicating. But he was positionally quite  poor.

[Rohit]

Well at least he is communicating. But he was positionally quite  poor.

Just watched the west brom game again( don't ask why) but that point is very apparent. At time he left quite a big gap behind him when going to close a player down only to not do anything at all and the players made runs behind him. Pointing stuff does annoy me, id rather he move into space and show for the ball rather than point the ball away from himself.

[Vidocq]

The lad has a lot of heart and clearly loves the the club and gives his all, but i'm afraid you need much more to your game to that if you want to succeed at the vey top.

you can say the same thing for Lucas

[Jetmir M.]

you can say the same thing for Lucas

Except Lucas actually has that something more to succeed at the top level...

[MiserableP15]

Still a work in progress.

[new-red]

you can say the same thing for Lucas

You need a football education. There is a reason top class managers pick him without exception. Of course you don't understand football past a superficial level as well as possessing the ignorance that comes with only viewing football in one way. Lucas is above your head but that wouldn't be the case if you opened your self to other perspectives on how to play football.

Does the fact that xabi, molby, rafa, kenny, mano menezes all rate him highly mean nothing to you. Surely you would concede that maybe you are wrong. You can't honestly believe that you understand football better than them, can you?

[elfonzo]

Nobody can doubt his commitment - his ability on the other hand can certainly be questioned

exactly, if i played for LFC id be just as commited, its not enough though. i wuda loved it if shelvey was fit, he might have got a look in with stevie g being out

[new-red]

Still a work in progress.

Which I agree with but it depends on what level you have him at now. I think he a very good footballer who still has the potential to be top class. Bringing back pass and move will only facilitate his development.

[WorldChampions]

No one is saying he's good enough to be a regular but there is no other option at the moment so just pipe down and support the lad.

It was only last week he was the new Gerrard because he played well against Sunderland, bunch of c*nts.

[jckliew]

Adams will come in for Spear next season....

[B_I_F]

Adams will come in for Spear next season....

Tony Adams?

[jckliew]

Tony Adams?

Sorry as S too many.... :0  Charlie

[rowan_d]

No one is saying he's good enough to be a regular but there is no other option at the moment so just pipe down and support the lad.

It was only last week he was the new Gerrard because he played well against Sunderland, bunch of c*nts.

Such hyperbole does your argument no favours

[tea_tree]

No one is saying he's good enough to be a regular but there is no other option at the moment so just pipe down and support the lad.

It was only last week he was the new Gerrard because he played well against Sunderland, bunch of c*nts.

Which idiots thought he was the new Gerrard last week? Some people clearly know nothing about football if they thought that!

[Fiasco]

Which I agree with but it depends on what level you have him at now. I think he a very good footballer who still has the potential to be top class. Bringing back pass and move will only facilitate his development.

I'm sorry mate but I think that is a little over the top. I was happy for him last week after the Sunderland game, his best for us. Before then I was sceptical, afterwards still so but happy in the knowledge he could actually put in a very good performance. But he isn't physical enough, nor does he have the footballing ability to become ' top class '. Top class you are talking Iniesta, Xabi, Alonso, Fabregas etc ( I'm not comparing him to them, nor am I saying you did ). But that is the top bracket, and he will never ever be near there I'm afraid. I'd love him to succeed, and part of me is a little naive and thinks he can but I just can't see it. Good passing, decent engine, gives his all. But not for us.


And a little sidenote: not just on the Spearing issue, but any player who has a bad game. Can people stop fucking saying ' Yeah but noone else played well today, so you can't single him out for a bad game '. No you can, because you are probably in the players thread and talking about said player individually. Just because the team played bad, doesn't mean you can't say ' Oh doesn't matter that * Carragher was shit, everyone was so it's alright '. No, it doesn't work like that. A players individual performance can be criticized as well as his role in the teams one. Yes, the team's performance can have an impact on the players individually, but we know that and that isn't the issue. We can talk about why he played bad, or why he wasn't involved, and that may or may not be because of the way the team played.

Sorry for the rant.

* Could be any player.

[buttersstotch]

Don't think he's a bad player. Could see him as a squad player, but he's very average. I think he lacks bite, and goes missing for large parts of the game too often.

I'm not slating him, but I just don't think there's a regular place for him at Liverpool, not with Lucas anyway. Spearing offers little creativity, and him and Lucas playing in the centre together basically NULIFYS our midfield. It's not a fault of the lads. Kenny obviously sees something in him, but our central midfield is lacking in depth. We need to strengthen before we get rid.

[rednich85]

Such hyperbole does your argument no favours

I don't know if its hyperbole mate.

A lad in work is convinved 'Speo' is the new Gerrard after his sunderland performance.

[i_wun_bite]

still on the fence about Spearing. best be if we can loan him out to a smaller PL club or a top championship club.

[hairykewell]

still on the fence about Spearing. best be if we can loan him out to a smaller PL club or a top championship club.

if you take away the Sunderland match you have no reason to be sitting on the fence, the guy is average and doesn't matter how committed he always will be.

[new-red]

I'm sorry mate but I think that is a little over the top. I was happy for him last week after the Sunderland game, his best for us. Before then I was sceptical, afterwards still so but happy in the knowledge he could actually put in a very good performance. But he isn't physical enough, nor does he have the footballing ability to become ' top class '. Top class you are talking Iniesta, Xabi, Alonso, Fabregas etc ( I'm not comparing him to them, nor am I saying you did ). But that is the top bracket, and he will never ever be near there I'm afraid. I'd love him to succeed, and part of me is a little naive and thinks he can but I just can't see it. Good passing, decent engine, gives his all. But not for us.


And a little sidenote: not just on the Spearing issue, but any player who has a bad game. Can people stop fucking saying ' Yeah but noone else played well today, so you can't single him out for a bad game '. No you can, because you are probably in the players thread and talking about said player individually. Just because the team played bad, doesn't mean you can't say ' Oh doesn't matter that * Carragher was shit, everyone was so it's alright '. No, it doesn't work like that. A players individual performance can be criticized as well as his role in the teams one. Yes, the team's performance can have an impact on the players individually, but we know that and that isn't the issue. We can talk about why he played bad, or why he wasn't involved, and that may or may not be because of the way the team played.

Sorry for the rant.

* Could be any player.

Well by top class I mean a great footballer. The players you have listed I designate as world class. He may never reach that level, few do. Xavi is in a class by himself, he is my favorite player and could make any side work because of his ability to create space for himself where seemingly none exists. Alonso is also in a class by himself but he is different player.

Now, I respect your post but you cannot state opinion as fact. You think he will never reach the elite level and that is fair but I believe he can as long as the side commit the pass and move philosophy, which means every player is able to support the attack. We don't do it consistently enough but watching him pull the strings for Brazil against Scotland was awesome. He always had a pass on which let gave him confidence to turn out of trouble instead of releasing the ball to get rid of it. He was also making great diagonal balls and was generally a joy to watch. I think we can create the same sort of quality here. We just need to invest smartly and get players who firstly fit the system and just as importantly are of quality talent.

[BobbyDavro]

We used to have a midfield of Mascherano, Alonso and Gerrard - and incidentally, that trio weren't quite enough to propel us to the league.

If we're discussing a player playing in midfield for Liverpool Football Club, that's the yardstick.
Or McMahon, Whelan and Molby.
Or Souness, Case, McDermott.

Let's not compare them to a player whose so off the pace it's painful - but who also happens to captain Denmark.
Let's compare them to the very best players and judge them.

Spearing has no place at a club wanting to win serious trophies - so make your choices, are we pissing about hoping for a lucky cup win and the odd stab at 4th, or are we serious?

[4-2-3-1]

Not good enough. Never was, never will be. Only getting a look in due to his attitude, which to be fair, is excellent.

[kcbworth]

Surprised to see him starting. Should never be a starter imho.

[rossipersempre]

Well by top class I mean a great footballer. The players you have listed I designate as world class. He may never reach that level, few do. Xavi is in a class by himself, he is my favorite player and could make any side work because of his ability to create space for himself where seemingly none exists. Alonso is also in a class by himself but he is different player.

Now, I respect your post but you cannot state opinion as fact. You think he will never reach the elite level and that is fair but I believe he can as long as the side commit the pass and move philosophy, which means every player is able to support the attack. We don't do it consistently enough but watching him pull the strings for Brazil against Scotland was awesome. He always had a pass on which let gave him confidence to turn out of trouble instead of releasing the ball to get rid of it. He was also making great diagonal balls and was generally a joy to watch. I think we can create the same sort of quality here. We just need to invest smartly and get players who firstly fit the system and just as importantly are of quality talent.

WTF? At what point did your brain give up on defending a clogger like Spearing - as the post you were responding to and in fact this entire thread is about - and somehow start referring to Lucas?

[DanA]

I think we should be aiming higher than Spearing even for squad players. Right now I think he's good enough to hold down a spot for a Championship team maybe even a relegation battling Premier League team. Our squad players should be better than that though. Guys like Adam should be our squad players not Spearing.

[rossipersempre]

Only getting a look in due to his attitude, which to be fair, is excellent.

The sceptic in me says him being from Wallesey rather than say Walsall, is a major reason too. As for his attitude, maybe so in general, but his excruciating habit of pointing off the ball as if he's some world class playmaker, is beyond embarrassing.

[WorldChampions]

Such hyperbole does your argument no favours

Yeah right. You seriously think it's beyond the realms of possibility that such a thing could happen? It's not like RAWK is ever over the top and knee jerk is it.

[John C]

A lad in work is convinved 'Speo' is the new Gerrard after his sunderland performance.

Huh! Do you give him a corner of his own to work in, or I imagine if he was a painter his paint brush would need to be tied to his sleeve so he doesn't lose it.

[Groundskeeper Willie]

There´s nothing in Spearings game that earns him a spot in the squad. He´s a local lad that´s all. Should be let go in the summer.

[carling]

Does the fact that xabi, molby, rafa, kenny, mano menezes all rate him highly mean nothing to you. Surely you would concede that maybe you are wrong. You can't honestly believe that you understand football better than them, can you?

You could apply an argument like that to pretty much any discussion and just close the forum down.

[new-red]

You could apply an argument like that to pretty much any discussion and just close the forum down.

How many times has that argument been raised. We have been discussin the guy for four years and he is coming good and people still refuse to see it.

[Neil D]

Far from our biggest problem on Saturday.

[Vidocq]

Far from our biggest problem on Saturday.

[kopitecrash]

if you take away the Sunderland match you have no reason to be sitting on the fence, the guy is average and doesn't matter how committed he always will be.

Why are people implying that Sunderland has been his only good game this season? It's utter twaddle. The majority of his games have been good games and the moment he's in a losing team people turn on him. No wonder players don't have any loyalty - fans are no fucking better.

[leivapool]

Why are people implying that Sunderland has been his only good game this season? It's utter twaddle. The majority of his games have been good games and the moment he's in a losing team people turn on him. No wonder players don't have any loyalty - fans are no fucking better.

Fundamentally Spearing isn't good enough, which is why he never gets a game when Meireles, Lucas and Gerrard are fit.   He has never displaced one of those 3 in a league game.  But, at the moment he is all we have.   If the majority of his games were good, he would have played instead of the three mentioned No?

[Red James]

Best backup player we have at the moment unfortunatly. Says it all about our midfield really. Not having a go at the lad, he tries his best every game but he just isn't good enough. Wouldn't be surprised if we sold him in the summer to a lower league team

[SamiSamiHyypia]

Far from our biggest problem on Saturday.

Very true.

[scatman]

he wasnt really the main problem on Saturday.

But I have real issues with his pointing and it's been a constant in his game for years, he needs to just show for the ball, the pointing and that is not good tactical play at all, he's practically telling the opposition midfield and defence who to run to.

[Fiasco]

Well by top class I mean a great footballer. The players you have listed I designate as world class. He may never reach that level, few do. Xavi is in a class by himself, he is my favorite player and could make any side work because of his ability to create space for himself where seemingly none exists. Alonso is also in a class by himself but he is different player.

Now, I respect your post but you cannot state opinion as fact. You think he will never reach the elite level and that is fair but I believe he can as long as the side commit the pass and move philosophy, which means every player is able to support the attack. We don't do it consistently enough but watching him pull the strings for Brazil against Scotland was awesome. He always had a pass on which let gave him confidence to turn out of trouble instead of releasing the ball to get rid of it. He was also making great diagonal balls and was generally a joy to watch. I think we can create the same sort of quality here. We just need to invest smartly and get players who firstly fit the system and just as importantly are of quality talent.

Woah crossed line here pal, thought you was on about Spearing. Lucas is a gem and I believe he will captain this club in a few years. 

[leivapool]

he wasnt really the main problem on Saturday.

But I have real issues with his pointing and it's been a constant in his game for years, he needs to just show for the ball, the pointing and that is not good tactical play at all, he's practically telling the opposition midfield and defence who to run to.

What is all that pointing about anyways?

He was pointing to Lucas at one point telling him where to go and stand when defending one corner (I think). Lucas didn't move, and a few seconds later just told Jay where to go to stand, which he duly did!!