Soccer Focus: Soccer is all about getting results

Steve McMahon, ESPN | Sports | Sat, September 08 2012, 8:51 AM

Liverpool may have improved their style of play, and it does look more
attractive to the eye, however they are still not delivering the results.
The team may be passing the ball better, but Liverpool is very vulnerable on
the counterattack. Worryingly, their main weakness is putting the ball into
the net.
It was an absolutely poor decision by Brendan Rodgers to let Andy Carroll go.
When alls said and done, hes 35 million worth and yet the current England
international was allowed to go out on loan.
This leaves Rodgers side with no other replacement up front. He may have
been trying to bring in a replacement for Carroll, but its just not good
enough from the young manager. He shouldnt have let Carroll go without
getting adequate cover first.
Now Liverpool have a mountain to climb. Rodgers may say that Raheem
Sterling will definitely be one for the future, but you cant reach the future
without being in the present.
Nuri Sahin had a very average debut, he still needs to find out what his role
is in the midfield, and with Joe Allen doing what Steven Gerrard is supposed
to in bringing the ball up the pitch, Liverpools legendary captain looks out of
sorts.
To me, Gerrard just looks to be a different kind of player now that his
responsibilities are after they have been given to Allen.
As for Arsenal, I think that they are finally learning to adapt to life after RVP.
Its good to see other players coming into the fore and the team is still
playing their tippy-tappy soccer right up into the 18 yard area.
However I just feel that there is a bit more cutting-edge with the side with
the addition of Lukas Podolski, Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud with the
Frenchman being a real handful for defenders.
As for Arsenals departed captain, Manchester United may see that the large
amount of money repaid sooner than expected.
Lets face it, van Persie will get you goals. The signing of RVP was not an
investment; it is not like signing a youngster and selling him later on when
his value shoots up. They want him to score to help Man United win trophies
immediately. With goals flowing freely from RVP, Manchester United look a
little more solid despite Wayne Rooneys injury setback.
But Liverpool have taken a step backwards with no end product for their new
brand of attractive soccer.

Mohamad Amirudin (1206240650)