Momo

[BG]

I feel we are really really missing him. When he plays we normally get control of midfield and can't suffocate teams in their own half. He also protects the centre backs and allows us to play a high line as the defenders can be fairly sure that their midfielders won't have a lot of time and space to pick a pass as Fabregas did today.

 

His presence also gives Xabi more time to play, and Gerrard more freedom to get forward.

 

It's much harder to do that with Hamman who plays much deeper than Momo and is much much less mobile.

 

Clearly having a forward who constituted a threat would help a bit too.

[Guest Sabre]

Spot on.

[alias75]

yep his workrate is badly missed, Didi does a simialr job but he does it in a different way.

 

At the moment we dont have many out balls, be it a quick winger that can relieve the pressure or a quick striker with good touch that can make something out of nothing.

[Falconhoof]

Get well soon Momo, we need you

[CarraLegend]

I feel we are really really missing him.

 

Bigtime

[Cam]

Can't agree with it. I'm not a huge fan of Momo. We still have Hamann, Alonso & Gerrard. What we've witnessed all season is the legacy of breaking up the Stevie/Xabi partnership. Alonso's form has gone to pot while Gerrard's been stuck out wide to accomodate Sissoko and to cover up transfer failings.

 

If we stick with Gerrard & Alonso for the rest of the season (ban excluded) then we'll be fine, we won't miss Sissoko. FFS, they're our first choice central midfield partnership. Or should be.

[Atticus Finch]

I've been thinking this ever since he got injured. We are not the same team without him. You look at us in the last three weeks and we seem like we are lacking energy and drive - Momo was providing that to the team, and his presence allowed Alonso and Gerrard to play better and concentrate on their biggest strengths (passing and getting forward respectively). With Momo out Alonso is having to do more work harrying the opponents and isn't looking as composed when he is in possession, meanwhile Gerrard is having to do more defensive work and so hasn't got forward so much.

 

Massive compliment to a 21yr old that he is missed so much - I think his value to the team is being shown during his absence. Get well soon lad.

[Ian Garro]

I've been thinking this ever since he got injured. We are not the same team without him. You look at us in the last three weeks and we seem like we are lacking energy and drive - Momo was providing that to the team, and his presence allowed Alonso and Gerrard to play better and concentrate on their biggest strengths (passing and getting forward respectively). With Momo out Alonso is having to do more work harrying the opponents and isn't looking as composed when he is in possession, meanwhile Gerrard is having to do more defensive work and so hasn't got forward so much.

 

Massive compliment to a 21yr old that he is missed so much - I think his value to the team is being shown during his absence. Get well soon lad.

 

Good post. Spot on.

[Kindred]

I've been thinking this ever since he got injured. We are not the same team without him. You look at us in the last three weeks and we seem like we are lacking energy and drive - Momo was providing that to the team, and his presence allowed Alonso and Gerrard to play better and concentrate on their biggest strengths (passing and getting forward respectively). With Momo out Alonso is having to do more work harrying the opponents and isn't looking as composed when he is in possession, meanwhile Gerrard is having to do more defensive work and so hasn't got forward so much.

 

Massive compliment to a 21yr old that he is missed so much - I think his value to the team is being shown during his absence. Get well soon lad.

 

Im inclined to agree. Im not certain if the balance is quite right with Gerrard & Alonso in the centre. Maybe at home against lesser sides, but we seem to have a better balance througout the team with Momo or Hamann in there with Gerrard provisionally on the right.

 

The question that leads to is whether we need a new number 1 right midfielder and also is Gerrard happy to play there on a more permanent basis. I think the comparison has been made before but maybe Gerrard should start to mould himself more as a Nedved type player than a box to box central midfielder.

[salkavalka]

Momo is a world class.

[Atticus Finch]

Im inclined to agree. Im not certain if the balance is quite right with Gerrard & Alonso in the centre. Maybe at home against lesser sides, but we seem to have a better balance througout the team with Momo or Hamann in there with Gerrard provisionally on the right.

 

The question that leads to is whether we need a new number 1 right midfielder and also is Gerrard happy to play there on a more permanent basis. I think the comparison has been made before but maybe Gerrard should start to mould himself more as a Nedved type player than a box to box central midfielder.

 

I don't think it is any coincidence that our best performances this season have been when we have had a midfield 4 of Kewell, Alonso, Sissoko and Gerrard. It has an excellent balance to it and whilst Gerrard will excel in whatever position you play him (including full back!) if he starts wide he seems to play with more freedom than when he is going through the middle - and his goals total is a testament to that.

 

I think we still need a right midfielder capable of starting and doing well, as Momo's absence is showing up the paucity of options when Gerrard moves inside.

 

Edited to include

 

Momo is a world class.

 

A world class what?!

Edited March 12, 2006 by ajr

[magneto]

Rafa's best buy 2nd to Pepe.

[Guest Sabre]

I'd go so far as to say that Momo in the middle with Alonso against Benfica would have seen a very different outcome at Anfield. We're able to keep the pressure on the opposition with him in the team

[John am Rhein]

I feel we are really really missing him. When he plays we normally get control of midfield and can't suffocate teams in their own half. He also protects the centre backs and allows us to play a high line as the defenders can be fairly sure that their midfielders won't have a lot of time and space to pick a pass as Fabregas did today.

 

His presence also gives Xabi more time to play, and Gerrard more freedom to get forward.

 

It's much harder to do that with Hamman who plays much deeper than Momo and is much much less mobile.

 

Clearly having a forward who constituted a threat would help a bit too.

 

Yep.

 

Probably the main difference between us last season and us this season - and no coincidence that we've recaptured last season's form since he's been out long term.

[Atticus Finch]

Rafa's best buy 2nd to Pepe.

 

I'd be tempted to have alonso in there as 2nd best, Momo 3rd

[Puskas]

I was thinking exactly this earlier today. Momo has been missed.

 

I think that with him out Gerrard has to play in the middle - otherwise we have no pace in the middle of the park. Arsenal were passing the ball round Alonso and Hamann yesterday.

[fred milne]

Momo was exactly what we needed out there today, we needed to be a lot more physical in midfield. Instead, we hardly got any tackles in at all, leaving Andy Gray to fawn over Fabregas.

In a nutshell.

[So Cal Red]

we miss Momo's energy, tackling, & intimidation... no doubt about it!!

 

i'd imagine we'll play something like this after this summer's dealings (hopefully) in a 1-3-2-4 formation:

 

-----------new prolific striker--------------

Kewell--------Gerrard-------new right winger

----------Xabi--------Momo------------

Riise----------------------------Finnan

---------Hyypia-----Carra--------------

----------------Pepe--------------------

 

good solid balance to that