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Liverpool, Player analysis
Joe Allen: 5 Areas of Improvement Next Season
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Philippe Coutinho, Iago Aspas, Jordan Henderson, Luis Alberto, Stewart Downing, Joe Allen.
Discounting the versatile Luis Suarez, who might be on his way out of Liverpool anyway, the anonymous Oussama Assaidi and reserves Suso, Raheem Sterling, Jordon Ibe and Jonjo Shelvey, that's six players considered first-team options in Liverpool's attacking midfield.
And that's also excluding Daniel Sturridge, who has experience drifting in from wide, and Steven Gerrard, who has been moved back to a more withdrawn playmaking role.
After an excellent start to life following his £15 million move from Swansea City last summer, Joe Allen's form dipped spectacularly as he transitioned from a mainstay to a passenger to an observer. (We placed him in the attacking midfield bracket above as he cameoed in such a role in the second half of the season, though he will obviously also be considered in a deeper position.)
With such formidable competition in the first team next season, how can the Wales international keep his place in Brendan Rodgers' team?
Here are five areas of improvement for Joe Allen in the coming season.
The first order of business is physical fitness.
Joe Allen notably struggled with a shoulder injury since October, according to the Liverpool Echo, which impacted his performances for the club as he gradually diminished in influence and physical presence.
Early in the season, when Liverpool struggled to adapt to Brendan Rodgers' new system, Allen was the standout performer in the heart of the midfield, and even when Lucas was out due to injury, he filled in as a defensive midfielder with impressive ease.
When news emerged of his injury troubles, his drop in form became understandable, but the bigger question was why Rodgers continued to play him despite the shoulder problems.
Allen ultimately missed the end of the season, so he will have had a full summer of rehabilitation before returning to action in the first team.
If he does get over his injuries, perhaps Liverpool fans can see Allen return to his previous good form?
Standing at a diminutive 5'6″, Joe Allen's size does not constitute as an advantage considering that he plays at the center of midfield in a physical and fast-paced league.
While the aforementioned shoulder injury had a part to play in his less wholehearted physical performances after October, the turning point for his confidence (and subsequently, his form) was arguably the 2-2 away draw at Everton on October 28, when Allen proved an unfortunate mismatch against the formidable Marouane Fellaini.
What Allen lacks in stature, unfortunately, it seems he also lacks in tackling. In the previously listed EPLIndex analysis piece, in a comparison with 13 other Premier League central midfielders, Allen's tackle success rate was the lowest, at a mere 64.81 percent.
That he conversely ranked near the top for minutes per possession won (10) had a lot to do with his interceptions, for which he deserves credit. But he also placed bottom in the minutes-per-defensive-error chart (384), which will be a cause for concern.
If he is to establish himself in a high-energy, pressing midfielder who's focused on winning the ball back, he will need to rely on far more than just his anticipation.
(Stats from @Kopology's excellent article in EPLIndex.)
Transitioning in the Counterattack
Early last season, when Brendan Rodgers' new Liverpool side was largely focused on replicating his Swansea successes, much of the approach play was concentrated in short passes and dominating possession in the midfield.
Joe Allen, who thrived in his debut season in the Premier League in such a system, unsurprisingly stood out as the player most comfortable on the pitch. Even the likes of Steven Gerrard struggled at the beginning, when Liverpool were trying to find form on the pitch.
As the Reds' identity began to change during the season, however, things started looking different.
There was much more variability to the attack. While keeping possession was still an important facet of an evolving Liverpool, more long balls were used, especially as Gerrard got into his rhythm of spraying passes all over the pitch from his deeper playmaking position, while counterattacks became much more efficient and devastating.
Add in the speedy January signings in Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge, and suddenly, Liverpool became a team that pounced on the break and could break past opponents if necessary.
A Joe Allen who is most adept at recycling the ball soon found himself out of the team (though his injuries had played a major part as well).
To get his place back, he will need to make up for lost time and catch up with a new, slicker Liverpool.
Final Ball
Stewart Downing made the headlines in his first season at Anfield for notching zero goals and assists, despite being known as a fine crosser of the ball.
So a Welsh Xavi that draws blanks in both areas (in league play) will be equally frustrating and surprising.
It's not that Allen isn't good at passing. He is: At an average 89.7 percent pass success rate, he was the most accomplished passer in the midfield and forward areas.
But a simple drill into passing statistics explains his lack of a telling contribution to the Liverpool attack: With 0.8 key passes and zero through-balls per game, Allen just didn't impress. Compare that to Steven Gerrard, who averaged 2.6 and 0.3, and Philippe Coutinho (1.5, 0.8), and the difference becomes clearer.
A single-faceted midfield player may thrive in a single-minded game, but in an ambitious Liverpool side aiming to vary attacking approaches, Allen needs to vastly up his impact in terms of the final ball.
(Stats from WhoScored.com.)
Shooting and Goalscoring
Now, it's all well and good for a central or defensive midfielder to play a simple game and not manage a single goal throughout a league campaign. (Joe Allen did score two goals elsewhere, against Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup and against Zenit St. Petersburg in the Europe League.)
But as a player who has the positional and technical awareness to cameo as an attacking midfielder, and as a central/defensive midfielder lacking in the previous attributes, perhaps a little more contribution in terms of goals is in order.
Joe Allen simply does not possess the power in his shots to contribute goals from long range, nor the composure and finishing required to put away clear-cut chances. His usual position further behind the attack prevents him from getting in the thick of the action.
Who wouldn't welcome a Joe Allen who added goals to his game?
But focus on improving the first four aspects and that will already be enough to secure Allen a place in the first team this season.
This article first appeared on Bleacher Report, where I contribute regularly on Liverpool and other Premier League-related matters.
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English Football Weekly
English Football Weekly: Week 2 Recap; Fulham's BT Outrage; Final Week of Transfers
EPL Week 2 Recap: Routines, Blanks and Upsets
Simply because the bore draw between Manchester United and Chelsea doesn't really deserve center stage in any weekend roundup do we give it just that. But we should've known, for this was David Moyes' first big game as United boss, and Jose Mourinho's first in his second reign at Stamford Bridge. Mourinho's team selection—a curious 4-6-0 with no Juan Mata or Fernando Torres—overshadowed the match itself, while Wayne Rooney's performance overshadowed the teamsheets in turn. All the same, it will be seen as a point gained for Chelsea, and for United, an uncertain buildup to Liverpool this weekend.
Speaking of Liverpool, they're one of two teams who still hold a 100% record this season. And we're only two games in. This is a big deal at Anfield though: It's been five seasons since they've won their first two league matches. Daniel Sturridge, just as he was against Stoke City last weekend, was the match-winner this time around at Villa Park, as Liverpool transitioned from a dominant possession-heavy side to a deep defensive shape against the young counterattacking pace and power of Aston Villa. Whisper it quietly—but could Kolo Toure and Simon Mignolet actually be upgrades on Jamie Carragher and Pepe Reina?
The other team is, of course, Tottenham Hotspur, and that's not the only similarity: They've also only scored two goals in two matches, both from the same striker. Different from Sturridge's two excellent match-winners, however, is that both of Spurs' goals have come from the spot. Roberto Soldado has proven a reliable option from 12 yards, and the Mousa Dembele-Etienne Capoue-Paulinho midfield triumvirate looks formidable and indomitable. What Andre Villas-Boas has to solve now, given that Gareth Bale looks even closer to the exit, is finding that player to link the midfield play with Soldado. Erik Lamela will do just fine.
Swansea City got outplayed on the ball by a confident and powerful Spurs, but that wasn't the only upset of the weekend. By now, you'll have heard about newly-promoted Cardiff City's famous 3-2 home win over big-spending Manchester City. Cue the headlines about money not being important and that football will still triumph at times. Of course, such headlines ignore the fact that Cardiff may still face a hard season ahead, and City will in all probability finish in the top two. Anyway. Manuel Pellegrini and Joe Hart have a lot of work to do—and who better to have scored the winner than ex-United man Frazier Campbell? Karma, eh?
Oh, Modern Football…
This season, followers and viewers of the Premier League in England will have another broadcaster to choose from: BT Sport have joined Sky in carrying PL coverage, and have already been competing to gain viewers with a variety of different features and attractions. (Brian Barwick has more on the Daily Mail.) Unfortunately, there are inevitable downsides to those fans who still decide to attend matches live—and as Fulham fans found out at Craven Cottage on Saturday against Arsenal, it might prove to be a long season in the stands. The reason? BT's new cameras are quite blatantly blocking the view of season ticket holders.
Now, it's all well and good to be advancing with the times when it comes to studio technology, and BT (and Sky) have done excellent work improving their coverage. But surely the core of football is the fans at the stadiums, and no amount of media rights or television deals should obscure this fact. It gets a bit tricky when older stadiums like Craven Cottage are involved, as they'll likely require more intricate planning and reconstruction to allow for this type of equipment to be installed. But BT's statement in response didn't just lack class; it was a slap in the face to the match-going Fulham faithful.
"BT doesn't decide where cameras are placed at Premier League football grounds, but we always try to minimize the impact of them for fans at the match. We're sorry if any fans at Craven Cottage are upset by the camera position, but hope that thousands of Fulham and Arsenal supporters, who couldn't make it to the match, enjoyed the game on BT Sport." (Daily Mail) Given the choice, I suspect those supporters to plump for the insight and analyses of Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville—who are fast proving to be a star draw—than the monotonic commentary of Michael Owen. Just sayin'.
Loans at Anfield and Blockbusters at the Emirates
Rejoice, for it's the last week of the summer transfer window! What's been an interesting start to the season—with a new era of unpredictability across Premier League results, and with the enhanced coverage that has been introduced to TV audiences—has been obscured by the long-running sagas that have dominated the summer. When is Gareth Bale moving to Real Madrid? Wayne Rooney to Chelsea? Willian to Liverpool—sorry, Spurs—sorry, Chelsea? What's Joe Kinnear doing to stop players arriving at Newcastle United? Is Arsene Wenger ever going to sign someone?
Quietly doing their work behind all the smoke and (lack of) fire are Liverpool, who are still doing this work now because their previous work to land Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Diego Costa and Willian failed. So it's time to knuckle down and actually aim for realistic targets, which is why the rumors of Juan Mata making a move to Anfield have died down and those linking Victor Moses with the Reds have ramped up. Linked to Liverpool back in the Rafa Benitez days, Moses has fallen off his star at Chelsea, but still has loads of potential. Not a marquee signing for sure, but look at Toure and Mignolet for more reasons to believe in the "transfer committee."
Over at the Emirates Stadium—where they're reportedly smoking something—there finally seems to be some activity. Yes, that's right, a "chief negotiator" has arrived at Arsenal's London Headquarters to work on transfers, according to the Daily Mail, which makes you think why he didn't do that a couple of months earlier, when he'd still have time to get signings in, you know, before the season actually started. Two seasons ago, that infamous loss to United prompted some frantic last-gasp transfer activity. The Gunners are being linked with Karim Benzema and Angel Di Maria this week—but last time around, it was Andre Santos. Watch this space.
This piece was part of my English Football Weekly column for SWOL.co.
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Liverpool, Premier League match reports
Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool: 6 Positives and Negatives
Michael Steele/Getty Images
An exquisite goal from Daniel Sturridge sealed the points for Liverpool in what was a hard-fought afternoon at Villa Park, where the Reds managed to brave a second-half Aston Villa onslaught to take home a 1-0 win.
After their impressive opening weekend win against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, Villa put in an impressive performance against Chelsea, only to end the match empty-handed.
But Paul Lambert's young side had already shown that their energy and pace would have the potential to cause opponents problems this season.
Liverpool traveled to Villa Park on the back of a 1-0 home win over Stoke City on opening day, an arena where the home side had secured just one victory in their last 15 meetings.
With the maximum six points after two matches, Liverpool have secured their best league start in five years, with Sturridge getting match-winners on both occasions.
What else did we learn from Liverpool's victory on Saturday? Read on for our take on the positives and negatives from the match, and let us know your opinions in the comments below.
Daniel Sturridge with Yet Another Match-Winning Performance…
It's tempting to say that it was all Philippe Coutinho, who allowed the goal to happen with his expert dummy on Jose Enrique's pass, but in reality it was all Daniel Sturridge.
One shimmy, two shimmies, another rounding of the keeper, and—just as the ball looked like it was forced a little too wide—a quick swish of the outside of the left boot. 1-0.
More than a few shades of Luis Suarez to the goal, but for Liverpool fans, this shouldn't be news anymore.
Daniel Sturridge has produced the goods time and again since his January move to Anfield from Chelsea, and after his blistering match-winning strike against Stoke last week, it was yet another Sturridge beauty that won it this time around.
However, it wasn't just the goal that set Sturridge apart.
It was his hunger, his attitude, his work rate and his overall movement across the pitch, chasing down balls in the second half when Aston Villa had the majority of the possession.
But it will be his expertly taken goal that sticks with everyone until the visit of Manchester United, and rightly so.
Brendan Rodgers has since claimed, via the Telegraph, that Sturridge has all the tools in his locker to become the best English striker in the Premier League.
On this form, Sturridge should be wearing the No. 9 shirt leading the line for England at the World Cup next summer, if passage to Brazil is secured.
…But Philippe Coutinho Must Learn to Deal with Extra Attention
If Sturridge stole the limelight and Philippe Coutinho seemed to take more of a backseat on Saturday, that's because, in many aspects, that was indeed what happened.
The Reds came flying out of the blocks, and for the opening 40 minutes they took the game to Villa, playing an enjoyable possession-based style of football, but Coutinho was noticeably subdued.
Full credit to Paul Lambert and his charges, who already showed their admirable work rate and intense midfield pressure on Arsenal talisman Jack Wilshere at the Emirates last weekend. At the weekend, they appeared to replicate this tactic on that most influential and unpredictable of playmakers, Coutinho.
That his touch seemed to be slightly off didn't help his cause, and that he helped create an exquisite goal by not touching the ball in the build-up further reflected an altogether quiet showing from the Brazilian starlet.
In a high-tempo match against a high-energy Villa team, Coutinho put in an admirable shift doing the defensive work, especially after Liverpool ceded possession of the ball to the hosts.
His tracking back was important, and his work off the ball will have impressed Rodgers.
It's not just about the flashy stuff all the time, but Coutinho must surely be wising up to the fact that he'll be attracting much more attention in his first full campaign in English football than he did in his first half season.
But that just shows the impact he's made since arriving from Internazionale—and even good players are allowed a quieter game once in a while.
Kolo Toure and Simon Mignolet Impress Again…
Since the turn of the year, Liverpool have enjoyed an impressive league record—losing just three out of 20 matches in the 2013 calendar year—and January signings Sturridge and Coutinho have captured most of the headlines.
But their new signings this summer will claim a bigger say in what happens for the second half of the year, and in these first two showings, Kolo Toure and Simon Mignolet have already established themselves as fan favorites.
Let's start with Kolo Toure, who followed up a strong performance against Stoke with another commanding display on Saturday.
Against the considerable pace, energy and power of Christian Benteke, who has carried last season's form into this, Toure was impeccable. He also kept Benteke's forward partners Gabby Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann quiet.
His pace, positioning and experience were on full display as he was at the center of a resolute Reds defence, especially in the second half when Liverpool sat back and defended more deeply.
His use of the ball and his passing game also caught the eye in the aesthetically pleasing opening 40 minutes.
Having earned Liverpool two points with his double save at the death last weekend—one of which was a penalty save against Jonathan Walters—Mignolet displayed his considerable shot-stopping abilities with impressive stops on Saturday, including a thrilling near-post parry of a powerful Benteke low drive.
So much for the negative impact that Jamie Carragher's retirement and Pepe Reina's loan departure to Napoli was supposed to bring.
In fact—whisper it quietly—maybe their replacements have even been an upgrade.
…But Lucas Exposes Himself as the Weak Link in the Team
Yet another Liverpool upgrade on show at Villa Park was defensive midfielder Lucas Leiva: He has seemingly recovered from his injury nightmare, and his performance levels have stepped up a notch from the unconvincing displays in the second half of 2012/13.
The problem is, even an improved Lucas has his faults, and more often than not, it was Lucas who threatened to shoot his team in the foot with a series of mistimed challenges and poor positioning in the midfield.
It is commonly said that Liverpool are another attacking player away from assembling a much more accomplished side capable of challenging for the top four—Brendan Rodgers has claimed, through the Guardian, that he is still on the lookout for a left winger—but reality dictates otherwise.
With Luis Suarez still to return, and Kolo Toure and Aly Cissokho providing experienced additions to the backline, Liverpool are balanced across the team, with the notable exception of the central midfield line.
The easiest reference was on show at White Hart Lane on Sunday. Tottenham Hotspur's midfield trio of Mousa Dembele, Paulinho and Etienne Capoue provided pace, energy, tackling, positional nous and attacking threat in a dynamic Spurs performance, even if life after Gareth Bale wasn't the most inspiring in terms of chances created.
With Lucas marshaling the defence against Villa, it was his mistakes that led to a succession of set pieces that troubled the Liverpool box, while Benteke and co. were put through because of his lack of positioning.
If Liverpool are to build a competitive side capable of sustaining a challenge near the top of the tree, they must acquire an upgrade in the defensive midfield area. A decent squad player Lucas might be, but a top-four starter he is not. Etienne Capoue only cost Spurs £9 million.
Brendan Rodgers the Realist…
For the first 40 minutes or so at Villa Park, Liverpool were the embodiment of a Brendan Rodgers ideal:
Positive attacking movement, dynamic interchanging across the midfield and forward lines, patient distribution at the back, impressive maintaining of a high line of defence, constant pressing to win back lost possession and composed clearing of the lines across the floor.
Given the way that they sat back and absorbed the incessant pressure with a defensive line after the 40-minute mark, one could be forgiven for thinking that the players let complacency set in, never seized the initiative back, and had to ride out the storm as a result.
That would've been cause for an internal inquisition from Rodgers and his backroom team after the final whistle had gone.
Not so.
As it turned out, sitting back and defending more deeply was part of Rodgers' game plan against a threatening and pacy Villa side, according to this BBC Sport report. Liverpool's aim was "to just to keep our lines tight together and deny them many chances"—and they did just that.
Which is yet another encouraging step in the evolution taking place at Anfield since Rodgers' appointment last summer.
From a team setting out to play a possession-based game perhaps a bit too stubbornly, Liverpool developed into a fearsome counterattacking unit with the help of January arrivals Sturridge and Coutinho.
And now they've even added a mean streak to their game that sees victory as the most important aim of all.
Brendan Rodgers, the philosopher, the ideologue…the realist? Who would've thought it?
…But Winning Ugly is Better Than Not Winning at All
As Liverpool prepare to take on Notts County in the second round of the League Cup on Tuesday, a sobering reality sets in: They are in this position because they didn't manage to qualify for any European competition this season.
Or in other words, last season's seventh-place finish was simply not good enough.
As club owner John Henry jetted in to deal with the Luis Suarez situation a few weeks ago, he will have reminded Rodgers of his objectives this season.
Indeed, in this Telegraph report, just as telling as his stance on keeping Suarez was his public pronouncement that he had high expectations and intended to "surprise people this year."
Small wonder, then, that Rodgers has developed and integrated a more pragmatic side that sees victory just as important as the football.
To date, the 2013/14 Premier League campaign has yet to see the scintillating football that resulted in high-scoring margins like the 6-0 win at Newcastle United's St. James' Park, and Daniel Sturridge is the only player to have scored in a Red shirt this season.
But a win is a win is a win. And three points is three points is three points.
As they look to progress through to the third round of the League Cup and then onwards to prepare for the visit of Manchester United this weekend, they'll be aiming not to appear in the second round again anytime soon.
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Ranking Liverpool's Central Midfield Options
With less than two weeks to go until the summer transfer window closes, Liverpool are still active in the market, having confirmed on Tuesday the signing of French left-back Aly Cissokho from Valencia on a season-long loan, as reported by Andy Hunter in The Guardian.
In less encouraging news for the Reds, Brendan Rodgers' high-profile move for Shakhtar Donetsk winger Willian has apparently fallen through due to interest from Tottenham Hotspur, according to BBC Sport.
However, Liverpool's transfer activity this summer has meant that all positions have been strengthened at the club, barring one: central midfield.
As we ponder whether this is down to Rodgers' confidence in his own options or that he is still scouring the market for a quality addition, let's take a look at the central midfield options currently at his disposal—and why not rank them in order of importance?
Read on and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
5. Luis Alberto
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New signing Luis Alberto, who arrived from Sevilla this summer after spending last term on loan at Barcelona B, comes in fifth on our list, simply because his status is still as a young squad member.
Alberto honed his skills at the Sevilla academy, making 77 appearances and scoring 25 goals for Sevilla B and graduating to the first team, before heading out to Camp Nou on loan.
Comfortable on the ball, both in dribbling and passing, and with a knack for scoring goals—he scored 11 goals while on loan at Barcelona B last season—the versatile Alberto is capable of filling in across the midfield and forward lines.
He was played in a deeper, more withdrawn position during Liverpool's preseason tour and provided glimpses of a typical Spanish cultured midfielder, also scoring a goal in a friendly against Valerenga.
What counts against Alberto at the moment is his lack of experience at the top level of club football. While he made a few appearances for the Sevilla first team, he's done most of his goalscoring and made most of his impact playing in the B level in Spain.
We would also expect that Alberto undergoes some strength training so that he won't be overwhelmed by the physicality of the Premier League.
At £6.8 million, his transfer didn't come too cheaply for a reserve, so we wouldn't be surprised if he made appearances off the bench or in domestic cup competitions, but he will have to deliver consistently impressive performances to force his way up the ladder.
4. Joe Allen
A key cog in Rodgers' Swansea City side, Joe Allen was his first signing after his appointment as Liverpool manager last summer, and cost a cool £15 million.
After starting last season in inspired form alongside Lucas, Allen's confidence petered out after suffering near-total domination against the towering Marouane Fellaini in the Merseyside derby.
Asked to fill in at defensive midfield following Lucas' injury, Allen's form continued declining with a reported shoulder injury, before the Brazilian's return allowed Allen to finally cut his season short and go under the knife.
Allen has started the season well, performing to rave reviews in Liverpool's preseason tour, buthe was an unused substitute in their first league game of the 2013/14 season against Stoke City.
Allen's biggest strength is undoubtedly his comfort and technique on the ball, which means passing is his strongest suit. Early last season when he started his Anfield career, his short passes enabled an effective recycling of the ball in the midfield, whereas his long passes reminded the Kop of former favorite Xabi Alonso.
As a player who came of age in Brendan Rodgers' passing system, Allen was the first to arrive with the philosophy ingrained in his midfield play and is deployable in all three lines of the midfield: defensive, central and attacking.
His diminutive stature, however, continues to be a glaring weakness, especially against more physical sides that take advantage of their height in the Premier League. This was presumably one of the reasons he wasn't chosen in Liverpool's first league game this season against Stoke.
For a midfielder in a dynamic and interchangeable team, Allen's goalscoring leaves much to be desired. He has improved his attacking presence, however, and scored a goal in Steven Gerrard's preseason testimonial against Olympiakos.
While his form after the opening few months of last season left a poor impression on many Reds fans, he displayed his undoubted quality before sustaining his shoulder injury.
A passing team like Liverpool will always have a place for technically gifted and composed midfielders like Joe Allen, and his ability to play further up the field will work in his favor, but the reality is that Allen is very much a squad player at the moment.
3. Jordan Henderson
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Following the departures of Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam and Andy Carroll, Jordan Henderson is the only "big-money flop" left at Anfield from the financially disastrous reign of Damien Comolli and Kenny Dalglish.
The quotes are in place in the previous paragraph because of the way Henderson has turned his Anfield career around. From being offered to Fulham as a makeweight in a deal for Clint Dempsey (which ultimately fell through), Henderson has stormed back into first-team contention and has impressed Rodgers with his work rate and ability, so much so that he was awarded a start in Saturday's match against Stoke, where he put in an impressive performance.
Which makes us think if Henderson hadn't been bought for £16 million, he might even be seen as a shrewd capture now.
The first thing that comes to mind regarding Henderson is his sheer persistence, hard work and professionalism, making him a likeable character and a player who has come through adversity and an underwhelming first season with aplomb.
But there are other clear factors that work in his favor: His technique is underrated—his passing and finishing abilities can sometimes go under the radar—whereas his work off the ball is instrumental in putting pressure on opposition midfields and defences, a key facet of Liverpool's current approach. His positioning has also improved by leaps and bounds, and with an evident rise in self-confidence he is much more likely to assert himself on a match.
There's also his versatility. While Henderson started his career as a central midfielder, he was played predominantly on the right in his final season at Sunderland and in his debut season at Liverpool, and he has also featured on the left and in the central attacking midfield positions under Brendan Rodgers.
While Henderson has a variety of skills and is a valuable squad player, he can only be classed in the "jack of all trades, master of none" category at the moment: There isn't any outstanding attribute in his locker that elevates him towards a permanent first-team starting place just yet.
It is precisely due to this versatility and all-roundedness as a midfielder that has seen Henderson become an important part of the squad, and his attitude and improvement have considerably moved him up the pecking order.
Liverpool's pursuit of Willian outlined Rodgers' wishes to strengthen his attacking midfield, and it's probable that he will look to strengthening the center of his midfield down the line, so the 2013/14 season might prove to be make-or-break for the No. 14.
But there's no denying how far he's come from the shy, gangly and often-criticized youngster that came from Sunderland on a price tag that was simply too big.
2. Lucas
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At this point, we've all heard of the journey that Lucas has taken from Liverpool scapegoat to Anfield hero. The Brazilian midfielder, who arrived as a 20-year-old prodigy from Gremio in 2007, has undergone a near-complete transformation in his Anfield fortunes.
From being fourth-choice in a formidable midfield lineup under Rafael Benitez featuring Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano, Lucas backed his claims for a first-team place with his hard work and attitude, and as the latter two left, he became first-choice for the defensive midfield position.
Since then he has also gained recognition at the international level, as he has taken up the famed No. 5 jersey for the Brazilian national team on many occasions.
Starting out as a box-to-box midfielder in Brazil, Lucas has since been recalibrated as a defensive midfielder at Anfield. His short-passing skills have carried through, while he's massively improved his tackling—he frequently tops the charts with the number of tackles he commits for his club.
The No. 21 might be more famous for his dedication to the cause and professional attitude, as he finally won over the Reds faithful with his hard work. The Brazilian went from being cast aside as not good enough at the beginning of his Reds career to being voted the Standard Chartered Fans Player of the Year of the 2010/11 season.
Despite such an impressive turnaround, to a certain extent Lucas has combined two of the weaknesses of the box-to-box and defensive midfield positions.
His goalscoring, while never prolific even in Gremio colors, has been almost non-existent for Liverpool, and his preference to stay back and anchor the play, while an important element of the midfield, has deprived the team of an extra source of goals.
In addition, while his tackling has often been praised, his positioning is still yet to match that of top-notch, world-class defensive midfielders. His tendency to play reactively has led sometimes to gaping holes in the center of midfield, allowing opponents to attack through the middle of the park. His turn of pace has also come under the spotlight in duels with fast and physical attacking midfielders.
There's no denying that Lucas assumes an important place in Liverpool hearts: Fans have taken to him after his "transformation," whereas managers and coaches have always been a big fan of his attention to detail and willingness to learn. The fact that Brendan Rodgers has not been linked with a defensive midfielder this summer indicates the trust that he has in Lucas.
However, Lucas' second place on this list hasn't come about solely because of a complete skill set or a reputation as a world-class defensive midfielder. Rather, it is because he is the sole member of the Reds midfield that has a more defensive or destructive tendency.
1. Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard, the boyhood Liverpool fan who has become a Reds icon, one of the greatest midfielders in his generation, a proven match-winner and big-game player, and arguably the best Liverpool player of all time.
Our recap of his greatest achievements at Anfield would serve as a better tribute (or introduction) to the current Liverpool skipper.
Simply put, Gerrard has it all: pace, power, dribbling, passing, finishing, long-range shooting, set-piece delivery, heading, tackling and—most important of all—the ability to inspire and lead his teammates to victory.
At his peak, Gerrard was one of the premier midfielders on the European continent and frequently won Liverpool matches singlehandedly.
As he's aged and as he continues to age, however, Gerrard has moved into a more withdrawn position in the midfield, and his direct match-winning influence as waned.
His tendency to adopt a freer role and relative tactical indiscipline have also been put forth as weaknesses in his game, especially in a metronomic current Liverpool setup.
There have been many false seasons of transitions at Anfield in recent years, but as Brendan Rodgers' revolution shapes up and enters a critical year, the leadership of Steven Gerrard is needed more than ever.
He continues to dictate results from a deeper position in the midfield—his nine league goals and nine assists last year are a testament to his continuing importance—and his status as a role model serves to inspire new generations of talent and act currently as the best ambassador for Liverpool Football Club.
Further Additions Needed?
As in any positional analysis, besides dissecting the merits and roles of each player currently available, an additional exercise is needed: introspection on whether further strengthening is needed.
There is a host of midfield options, with a vast array of talent and attributes, currently at Brendan Rodgers' disposal, and he has duly taken advantage of these resources by deploying different midfield combinations in different scenarios.
However, it is clear that to move forward as a club and regain the formidable dominance of years gone by in the middle of the park, additions are needed at Liverpool.
Let's look first at the defensive midfield position, for which Lucas may be the only specialist currently at the club.
We touched a bit on his weaknesses—areas that a high-caliber signing like Tottenham Hotspur new boy Etienne Capoue could have addressed impressively—and while he has been on his way back from injury and into peak form, a top-tier defensive midfielder must be brought in sooner or later, if Liverpool are to succeed on the domestic and European levels eventually.
Then there's the matter of Steven Gerrard's ageing years.
It would be silly to expect anyone to go in and replace Gerrard and his talismanic, near-superhuman powers when he eventually retires, but the effort must be made to secure this long-term replacement before the need becomes urgent.
The likes of Luis Alberto and Joe Allen do not offer the same completeness that Gerrard has for many years. Jonjo Shelvey was once tipped as the captain's successor, only for high expectations and underwhelming performances to lead to a summer move to Swansea.
Which leaves Jordan Henderson, and at this point in time, the No. 14 still has plenty of work to do before he comes remotely close to inheriting Gerrard's position.
There are, of course, prospects in the Academy that have been earning rave reviews: The likes of Jordan Rossiter, Jordan Lussey and Daniel Trickett-Smith have been touted for big things, but surely time has to be afforded to these young talents.
For the time being, what's clear is that Liverpool presently have a good array of options in the midfield, but to push on and secure a bright future, more work has to be done.
English Premier LeagueJoe AllenJordan HendersonliverpoolLucasLuis AlbertoMidfielderssteven gerrard
English Football Weekly: Style, Efficiency and Early Observations from Week One
City, United and Chelsea Turn on the Style
Manchester City might have been the latest to start their Premier League season, but by Monday night they were topping the table. Newcastle United have always been willing prey for City, but the manner of the 4-0 dismantling showed plenty of promise for season to come at the Etihad Stadium. Edin Dzeko, who didn't end up on the scoresheet, was central to their attacks throughout, while Fernandinho and Jesus Navas made big impressions on their debuts. Manuel Pellegrini's appointment raised expectations of adding a style element to City's play, and if Monday's result was anything to go by, City fans have a lot to look forward to this season.
Not that Manchester United were too far behind. David Moyes has had two competitive matches in charge, and both of them have been convincing wins. This latest result at the Liberty Stadium not only confirmed the sheer class of Robin van Persie, but also went about disappointing some critics who had been writing off Moyes' chances at the reigning league champions (myself included). There are long ways to go yet, but Danny Welbeck doubled his league tally last season in one match on Saturday. In his cameo, however, new Swan Wilfried Bony showed enough to suggest that he, too, will be a force to reckoned with this season.
Save the biggest celebrations—certainly the biggest at a stadium on opening day—for Jose Mourinho's return to Stamford Bridge. The Happy One was welcomed back in heroic fashion, and duly delivered a sublime display of attacking football in the first half, before Chelsea calmed down in the second. The trio of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Kevin de Bruyne were all over the pitch, interchanging play nicely with Fernando Torres, while Frank Lampard provided a timely reminder of his undeniable goal-scoring prowess. The football that Chelsea played in the first half was out of this world. Who would've thought that possible under Mourinho?
Three Points and Early Conclusions
Plenty of domination, possession, exciting attacking play and shots on goal, but Liverpool once again had a solitary goal to show for it. The difference: the winner was scored by a still-not-fully-fit Daniel Sturridge; a heroic double save was required at the death by their first first-choice keeper in eight seasons; and it was their first opening-day home win in 12 years. Results and points have always teetered on a fine edge for Liverpool, and a win to kick off the season bodes well for the future. Kolo Toure, Jordan Henderson and Iago Aspas impressed, and if Willian really does arrive at Anfield, this could be a forward line that oozes quality—and goals.
Tottenham Hotspur also endured a nervy afternoon at sprightly Crystal Palace. For Spurs fans, this was possibly a sign of things to come, if indeed Gareth Bale does depart White Hart Lane for pastures new, but there were signs of comfort as Paulinho, Nacer Chadli, Roberto Soldado and later Etienne Capoue all debuted to great effect. Unfortunately for the Eagles, their lack of Premier League-quality players was all too evident: Here, endeavor just wasn't enough. As for Tottenham, this new forward line could do with a sprinkle of Bale's quality, but they showed enough to suggest that life after Bale might not be too bad after all.
Even given Arsenal's lack of transfer activity, the ease with which Aston Villa came away with all three points will have been alarming. Indeed, most forums exploded with the anti-board (and anti-Wenger) anger usually reserved for the likes of Rafa Benitez at Stamford Bridge, and the atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium has gotten all the more venomous. You get the feeling that this is a make-or-break season for the Gunners, and it might be too late even for that. As for Paul Lambert's side though, they look young and irresistible, especially if Christian Benteke continues his imperious form. His penalty-taking, though, needs some work.
There were also wins for West Ham United, where Stewart Downing finally did something resembling decent wing work, Southampton, where Rickie Lambert followed up a debut England goal with a peerless penalty winner, and Fulham, who left the Stadium of Light with a good three points. Sunderland failed to capitalize on their dominance, while Cardiff City and West Bromwich Albion just didn't have enough in the tank. As for the most entertaining encounter? A 2-2 draw between Everton and Norwich. Ricky van Wolfswinkel's excellent debut was only one out of multiple encouraging signs of things to come at Carrow Road.
Latest Signings and Verdicts
As we enter the final two weeks of the transfer window, the rumors are really heating up. It's well-known that Arsenal need to strengthen—badly—and in delaying their transfer activity to after their first loss, Arsene Wenger may well have to repeat his panic buy period of 2011. But there are other teams who still need to add. There's Newcastle United, who haven't really strengthened at all this summer, and Crystal Palace, who still lack the quality to compete in the Premier League, and Manchester United's joint bid for Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines reflects the need to improve the overall squad still.
But there have also been some excellent business done in the past week. Hull City added two Tottenham midfielders in Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore, who should add class, composure and PL pedigree to the Tigers squad. Etienne Capoue to Spurs was a shrewd piece of business, while Pablo Osvaldo to Southampton has been a real statement of intent. But Darren Bent and Scott Parker to Fulham represent exactly the type of low-risk, high-possible-return transfers that the Premier League needs more of. These are two new arrivals who could slot in immediately at Craven Cottage—and become instant hits.
This piece was my second instalment of English Football Weekly for the 2013/14 season for SWOL.co.
arsenalchelseaEnglish Football WeeklyEnglish Premier LeagueEPLliverpoolmanchester citymanchester unitedTottenham Hotspurtransfers
Liverpool 1-0 Stoke: 6 Things We Learned
August 20, 2013 Vince Siu 2 Comments
Kicking off the 2013/14 English Premier League season, Liverpool secured their first win of the new campaign. The victory came in their first game against Stoke City on Saturday, courtesy of both Daniel Sturridge's sublime 25-yard strike and Simon Mignolet's thrilling double save right at the death.
In the process, the Reds finally ended their opening-day hoodoo: This was Liverpool's first opening-day home win in 12 years, and while it was done in style, it wasn't without its fair share of drama.
But Brendan Rodgers will have been delighted to see his new signings come through the game in fine form, and he'll have been happy to end the first week of league action with three points and a clean sheet.
Here are six things we learned from Liverpool's 1-0 win over Stoke. Enjoy and let us know your views in the comments below.
Kolo Toure: One of the Best Signings of the Summer
Let's start with the individuals, and one of the standout performers on Saturday was Liverpool's new No. 4, Kolo Touré.
Slotting seamlessly into the heart of the Reds defence, Touré was at his imperious best, closing down attacks, moving the ball purposefully and committing whole-hearted tackles. More importantly, he ensured that the retired Jamie Carragher wasn't a big miss.
His presence alongside Daniel Agger ensured that the high defensive line was a success, and allowed full-backs Glen Johnson and José Enrique to bomb down their respective flanks at will.
On the attacking side, there was also his scintillating charge up-field on an attack that he instigated; he ended up inside the box as an unorthodox forward option as Daniel Sturridge opted to shoot.
And if it weren't for the crossbar at the Anfield Road end, Touré would've opened his Reds account on his debut from a first-half Steven Gerrard corner.
Add his wealth of experience and the fact that he's clearly already gained the trust of his manager and teammates, and Touré represents a fine addition to Brendan Rodgers' squad.
At a total transfer cost of zero, Kolo Touré, who joined Liverpool on a free from Manchester City, might turn out to be one of the best signings in the whole of the summer transfer window.
Jordan Henderson Fully Deserves Brendan Rodgers' Faith
Throughout preseason, Joe Allen earned rave reviews from his manager, colleagues and fans alike for his hard work and improved showings compared to last season, and was widely expected to have forced his way into first-team contention in one of the advanced midfield positions.
So it came as something of a surprise that Jordan Henderson was the one chosen to start alongside Philippe Coutinho and Iago Aspas behind lone striker Daniel Sturridge on Saturday.
Perhaps this was a decision taken with the opposition in consideration: After all, Joe Allen's form went downhill after he nearly suffered humiliation against the towering Marouane Fellaini in the Merseyside derby against Everton last year.
But Henderson's performance proved that it was much more than that. In a performance showing plenty of energy, hard work, useful movement and goal threat, the No. 14 was one of the most impressive Liverpool players on the pitch.
And if he had shown a bit more composure in a one-on-one against AsmirBegović, or curled his shot just an inch closer to bounce in off the woodwork instead of back out, Henderson would have notched the goal that his performance deserved.
A far cry from his status last year as a makeweight in a player-plus-cash deal to Fulham for Clint Dempsey, and from his reputation as yet another big-money flop from the Damien Comolli-Kenny Dalglish era.
It seems that even Brendan Rodgers has been won over by the enthusiastic and professional Henderson. If he keeps up his form and confidence, any new attacking signing—and Luis Suarez—might face a fight to take his place from Henderson.
Await Lucas and Daniel Sturridge's Return to Full Fitness
There was a period last season when Liverpool looked just a bit too lightweight in the center of midfield: Following Lucas' enforced absence due to injury, Joe Allen, who was carrying a shoulder injury, had to deputize in a defensive midfield role that ultimately became the undoing of his early promising reputation.
And even when Lucas returned to the first-team fold, he was nowhere near the Lucas that Anfield had come to know and love.
Too many times he was found wanting in the midfield, seemingly having lost his pace, acceleration and tackling nous due to lack of match practice. And his absence of mind and body was to blame for one of the most embarrassing goals Liverpool conceded last season—a simple stroll through the middle of the park by Southampton's Jay Rodriguez.
Fast forward a few months, and Lucas has seemingly returned. His tackling and positioning were much improved against Stoke, and even if he still had the tendency to commit a needless foul or to be just slightly too reactive, the defensive midfield area became much less of a liability.
Leading the line was another player stepping up his return to full fitness.
Daniel Sturridge, who had only made his first-team comeback in a preseason friendly a week prior against Celtic, scored two goals in a behind-closed-doors midweek friendly against Newcastle United. He also fired in the winner on Saturday with a rather sumptuous strike from 25 yards out.
There was still room for improvement: Sturridge's movement, pace and strength still seemed a bit rusty, but a Sturridge on his way back to full fitness still proved the difference on the day.
A few weeks down the line, Brendan Rodgers could well have a fully fit Lucas and Sturridge in his side. That would be a massive boost to the team, judging from Saturday's display.
Simon Mignolet Passes His First Test
It's never easy for a goalkeeper making his home debut at Anfield, especially a new first-choice keeper.
For the best part of eight seasons there has been one main man between the sticks. That man was Pepe Reina, who signed for the Reds in the summer of 2005. He has since departed on loan to Napoli.
Simon Mignolet certainly had the hearts of most Liverpool fans in their mouths as his early flap at a deep cross allowed Robert Huth to hit the bar with a fierce volley.
A solid flying save from Jonathan Walters later, and Mignolet soon rediscovered his confidence, and never looked back.
And he passed his Anfield test with flying colors as he became Liverpool's first-ever goalkeeper to save a penalty on his debut. His stop from Walters' last-gasp spot-kick was as thrilling as it was important, and his instinctive save from the follow-up ensured that the Reds would end the day with three points instead of one.
A special mention to Mignolet's opposite number, Asmir Begović, who, barring a fine match-winning strike from Daniel Sturridge, kept Liverpool at bay time and again with a series of excellent stops.
That Liverpool were linked with both Mignolet and Begovićc this summer will have been encouraging in hindsight to Liverpool fans: Both showed their undoubted quality on Saturday and either would have represented fine signings by Brendan Rodgers.
A Nervy Win That Should Become Routine
As usual, Liverpool's opening goal was met with a series of attacks from the opposition in response.
Last season, the period immediately following the Reds taking the lead was the period that Liverpool were the most vulnerable to conceding a goal.
Against a physical Stoke City side, Liverpool fans could have been forgiven for worrying that the equalizer would come immediately—or indeed would arrive inevitably as Begović represented a one-man wall preventing the home team from extending their lead.
Sure enough, Daniel Agger obliged with a handball inside his own penalty area, and Brendan Rodgers had Simon Mignolet to thank for saving the day: The fevered celebrations from his outfield colleagues in the immediate aftermath were a sight to behold.
But as the game wore on and became increasingly nervy, it looked more and more like the type of game that Liverpool would have thrown away last season.
Instead, they held on to preserve the narrow one-goal lead, and in the process ensured that this season's start—unlike last year's 0-3 capitulation against West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns—would ultimately be an encouraging one.
With the first potential banana skin out of the way, Rodgers needs to ensure that this mentality persists in his young side. Their attention must now turn to transforming those narrow leads into routine wins.
A Result That Bodes Well for the Future
It is precisely the end result that may shift the expectation from an inevitable dropping of points to a routine three points on the board.
A young and technical Liverpool side, especially one playing a higher defensive line, had always been susceptible to a physically dominant team: Stoke's 3-1 win over the Reds just over half a year ago was testament to this.
If the relentless and eye-pleasing attacking can be turned into three points, and if the dominance in possession and shots on goal can be translated into match-winning goals, then Brendan Rodgers will have added the all-important end result onto his formula.
With the arrival of Coutinho and Sturridge, Liverpool have had to rely less on the talismanic Luis Suarez, and if Iago Aspas and company provide further upgrades to Rodgers' squad options, this could be a Reds side that has access to further victories.
Perhaps it is too early to draw definitive conclusions for the season to come from their opening game, but it's clear that the signs at Anfield were encouraging.
Now for the hard part—ensuring that they can sustain this for 38 games over the course of a season, starting with a visit to Villa Park this coming Saturday.
As Rodgers will remember well, a certain Christian Benteke tormented them at Anfield last December.
Daniel SturridgeEPLJordan HendersonKolo Toureliverpoolmatch reportpremier leagueSimon MignoletStoke City
Why Philippe Coutinho is Liverpool's Most Important Player This Season
Amidst all the posturing from Luis Suarez and the public relations moves by Steven Gerrard during Liverpool's preseason tour of Asia, the convincing wins and the classy performances of their new star Philippe Coutinho have perhaps gone under the radar.
In the media, the Liverpool headlines are on Suarez's future at Anfield, or on further speculation of the next signings to arrive at the club. And abroad, it was all about Gerrard and manager Brendan Rodgers, and how the club conducted themselves during the whirlwind tour of Jakarta, Melbourne and Bangkok.
Whisper it quietly, but Liverpool have got themselves going in professional fashion this summer. The early signings in June might have petered out into an unsteady July, ending with a slightly controversial loan move for Pepe Reina to Napoli, but Liverpool have nonetheless strengthened their squad.
Four clean sheets in four preseason friendlies, all won with respectable margins, shows a new-found efficiency about the Reds, with the players focused on doing the job with minimal fuss and keeping an eye on their defensive responsibilities.
A quick comparison with Manchester United's nine goals conceded in five preseason fixtures under David Moyes shows not only the stability that a year brings for a new manager, but also the importance of a settled squad enjoying their responsibilities and their football.
And spearheading the Reds into an exciting new era is their young Brazilian wearing No. 10, signed only in January from Internazionale, aged still 21.
Simply put, Coutinho has got it all: dribbling ability, pace, acceleration, work rate, composure, creativity, flair, an eye for a telling pass, innate understanding of his position, match-winning unpredictability.
Even the usual worries for a South American player arriving in the Premier League were allayed instantly: he started his Liverpool career with a bang, and finished the second half of the 2012-13 season with that same bang, notching three goals and five assists in just 12 starts. There were no signs of him struggling with the long-infamous physical side of the English game, and in the process he made himself known as a master of the through-ball.
Worries about "second-season syndrome"? So far unfounded, after a thrilling series of performances in Liverpool's preseason, with three goals in just four matches. Since Luis Suarez's competitive ban towards the end of last season,Coutinho has assumed the central attacking playmaker role—the No. 10 role—effortlessly.
Which means, even if Suarez stays at Liverpool, he will face a fight on his hands to retake his favored role behind Daniel Sturridge (or another option like IagoAspas, depending on Sturridge's injury status) from Coutinho.
Rodgers has claimed, via the Mirror, that he structured his team around Suarez last season in a bid to keep his No. 7 at Anfield. On current evidence, Coutinhohas already shouldered much of that burden, and the way Liverpool's attacks have been channeled through him this preseason suggests the Brazilian prodigy is now the focal point of the Reds' attack.
So what's next for the youngster who was let go by Inter for just £8 million? The easy answer is that the only way is up and the world is at his feet.
While Suarez still recorded an impressive season last year and was Liverpool's undisputed player of the season, it was their January signings Sturridge andCoutinho that settled the squad's nerves in front of goal, and pushed them towards a pacy, technical and dynamic attacking style.
Suarez's public flirtations with Arsenal and Real Madrid this offseason have harmed relations with his fans and manager. While Gerrard has scored two goals this preseason and looks to be storming back to full fitness, he is alas 33 and will be orchestrating and influencing play from his new deep-lying position.
Which leaves Coutinho as the new talisman, the new provider of match-winning brilliance, the new fan favorite—already reflected through this season's shirt sales, according to the Daily Mail. (Edit: Steven Gerrard has since resumed his usual No. 1 place on the list, but the point still stands.)
And Liverpool's most important player coming into the 2013-14 season?
If he manages to sustain his form over 38 Premier League games and moves Liverpool back into the top four, don't be surprised to see Coutinho in the running for both the Player of the Year and the Young Player of the Year awards come next May.
Coutinholiverpoolluis suarezPhilippe Coutinhoplayer analysissteven gerrard
Jordon Ibe: First-Team Player or Liverpool Loanee?
With four new signings confirmed in June, Liverpool entered their July period with, by and large, a healthy squad, and until their defeat against Celtic in Dublin on Saturday, the Reds had won all six of their friendlies, scoring 17 goals and letting in only one.
Slightly unusually for a Liverpool preseason, not many fringe players got a run-out during the seven matches. The group that toured Asia with the club mainly consisted of the tried-and-trusted first-team contingent, including the four new signings. All of them had made sizeable appearances for the first team before, bar one.
Jordon Ibe, signed from Wycombe Wanderers in December 2011, was the jarring exception.
The 17-year-old winger, who had only made his senior debut in May with a productive start against Queens Park Rangers, where he notched the only assist of the game for Philippe Coutinho's long-range strike, traveled with the first team.
Not only that—he figured prominently and finished the seven-game schedule as one of the most impressive performers over the preseason period.
Scoring his first ever senior goal in the first preseason match against Preston North End, Ibe never looked back as he displayed pace, power and raw ability with a series of exciting performances that showed just why he is so highly rated in the corridors of Melwood.
Indeed, his most exhilarating contribution was his burst of pace and subsequent pass that set up Oussama Assaidi and Raheem Sterling for a simple finish in Indonesia.
The question now is whether Jordon Ibe is good enough to become a member of the first team this season or if he should spend time out on loan to gain experience elsewhere.
Ibe the Loanee
Let's first consider the case for Ibe the loanee.
The most immediate rationale for Ibe going out on loan—be it to a team in the Championship or in the Premier League—is his young age and lack of top-flight experience.
At just 17, Ibe has plenty of years in front of him, and a season honing his skills to deal with the physicality of top-level English football would do him plenty of good.
Just ask Jonjo Shelvey, who spent the first half of the 2011/12 season on loan at Blackpool: Shelvey scored six goals in just 10 appearances for the Seasiders, was recalled amid an injury crisis and went on to become an important squad player for the next year. (Ultimately, he didn't fit Brendan Rodgers' plans and was sold to Swansea City this summer, but that should not be a deterrent here.)
A season away from Anfield at a club that could grant him regular playing time could prove vital in his development. This kind of thinking would presumably be behind the recent loan departures of young left-back Jack Robinson and midfielder Suso to Blackpool and La Liga new boys Almeria, respectively.
In a squad that currently boasts a host of options in Ibe's attacking midfield position—Raheem Sterling, Iago Aspas, Philippe Coutinho, Joe Allen, Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson, Oussama Assaidi, Luis Alberto, Fabio Borini, Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge are all capable of playing there—the No. 44 may find his first-team chances limited in his first full season in the Liverpool senior team, to cup and substitute appearances.
To ensure his development isn't stunted on the bench, Rodgers may well consider sending Ibe out on loan.
Ibe the First-Team Player
But with the raw speed, dribbling and ability to excite that Ibe has in abundance, Liverpool fans would be forgiven for wanting the young prospect to fly down the Anfield wings and terrorize opposition defenders.
And it is this combination of raw ability that sets Ibe apart: None of his direct rivals in the first team have such an impressive combination of physical attributes, and those who have the pace (like Coutinho) may not marry it with the dominant physique that Ibe also has.
Does this mean there might be a place for him in Rodgers' first-team squad?
Given current rumors, it would be unrealistic to assume that both Downing and Suarez will still be at the club by September, and given that Rodgers prefers using Sturridge and Borini as out-and-out strikers and Gerrard in a more withdrawn playmaking role, Ibe could well fit in as a squad player whose unique attributes will grant him playing time.
After all, it was comfort on the ball, pace, dribbling and upper-body strength that saw Raheem Sterling become a key member of the Reds XI just a year ago, albeit in an injury-stretched squad—and Sterling earned rave reviews and an England call-up to boot.
Against lower-table teams who might have a tendency to play more defensively and to sit back and deny space to Rodgers' possession-based footballing approach, Ibe could be another option that provides the cutting edge that Liverpool have sorely lacked in recent seasons, another outlet on the flanks, another potential source of goals, and perhaps even another match-winner.
Any concerns that Ibe would be overexposed at such a young age—Sterling himself burned out after a sustained period in the first team and found himself out of the team in the second half of last season—should be dispelled after Rodgers' experience with Sterling.
At any rate, the additions of Aspas and Alberto, two seemingly immediate squad players, have upgraded the quality of the bench in that area of the pitch, which should ensure more necessary balance in first-team appearances across the board.
And it is under this premise that we will conclude for now that Jordon Ibe deserves a run in the first team, an arrangement that could end up working well for all parties.
Ibe could get further chances to shine and make a difference, while Brendan Rodgers will have another potential match-winner with a unique set of abilities at his disposal over the course of the season.
Things could change in the remaining weeks of the summer transfer window, of course: Liverpool could end up letting go of two attacking players and getting none, making Ibe a more essential keep, or they could also sign one of the multitude of players currently linked to Anfield.
At the time of writing, however, all signs point to Jordon Ibe enjoying a productive spell of first-team football, not at somewhere else on loan, but as a Liverpool player.
Bleacher Reportbrendan rodgersfirst-teamJordon Ibeliverpoolloanplayer analysisRaheem SterlingSuso
English Football Weekly: Hello, New Season! Predictions, Teams and Players to Watch
Top Four Watch: A Reality Check for Manchester United
Manchester United won the Premier League at a canter last season, but 2013/14 won't be so easy for them, especially with Sir Alex Ferguson having retired in the close season. So it's a dilemma for David Moyes: Does he want the SAF effect to wear out, or can it keep papering over the cracks? Regardless, this is not a strong United squad—Robin van Persie is arguably the only world-class player in the team, and there should be upgrades to the defence and midfield at the very least. Both of which haven't happened.
Across town, the noisy neighbors are about to crank the volume and heat up. Manchester City ruthlessly dispensed of Roberto Mancini, and brought in Manuel Pellegrini with eyes on bigger prizes. And they've provided the financial backing to ensure it happens. It might not sit well with some, but the splurging done on the likes of Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, Stevan Jovetic and Alvaro Negredo has ensured that City start the season with a formidable squad. They'll take some beating—and might still bring in more players before September.
But there's Chelsea to deal with, and Jose Mourinho has been building an encouraging team. Contrast their buying policy this summer with his first year in 2004, and it's clear that there's a much stronger emphasis on youth this time around. There's been plenty of movement in the forward lines, but like United, not as much in the middle and at the back. Can Mourinho reestablish Stamford Bridge as a fortress with a less convincing backline? If he does—and adds Wayne Rooney and/or Samuel Eto'o—Chelsea would take the fight right down to the wire.
Every year, Arsenal get written off as the team to drop out of the top four, but this year, Tottenham Hotspur look the real deal. Regardless of Gareth Bale's destination, Andre Villas-Boas has already ushered in a new forward line: Roberto Soldado, Paulinho and Nacer Chadli are hugely impressive additions that will ensure goals and excitement up top. This is a squad that could well finish third—and if Bale stays and carries his form from last season, might be dark horses for the title outright.
As it stands, my top four picks (in order from 1st): City, Chelsea, Spurs, United.
Relegation Watch: Underachievers and Disappointments
As in any early-season relegation predictions, let's look first at the promoted clubs. Cardiff City, backed by an ambitious Malaysian owner, have been the most aggressive, and their big-money signings Andreas Cornelius, Steven Caulker and Gary Medel bode well. Hull City and Crystal Palace don't look as confident on paper though. Steve Bruce has added a contingent of Premier League players who he'll be hoping can contribute something more than just experience, but Crystal Palace in particular look in trouble. Their biggest summer signing? Dwight Gayle from Peterborough. For £8.5 million.
Newcastle United have had a worryingly weak summer window, especially when compared to other sides around them. Only Loic Remy has arrived as a first-team player, and with the backroom turmoil involving Joe Kinnear's appointment as Director of Football, they look more likely to underachieve further than to get back to mid-table mediocrity. Sunderland, despite their busy summer, also look shaky. Their summer activity seems more quantity than quality, although the same was said last year, of course, of Aston Villa (more on them later).
Southampton and Villa move from relegation candidates to top-half contenders in my book, so we'll finish this list with Stoke City, who managed to finish six points clear of the relegation zone last season. After a few years of stagnant progress and luxurious spending, Stoke have replaced Tony Pulis with Mark Hughes, but while he hasn't gone on a ridiculous QPR-style splurge, he's only signed two players. Decent players, Marc Muniesa and Erik Pieters, but the overall squad may not have the quality to sustain their Premier League status for another year.
As it stands, my relegation picks (no particular order): Crystal Palace, Hull, Stoke.
Teams to Watch: It's All Happening in Wales—and Maybe the Midlands?
We touched on Cardiff a bit in the previous section, so let's start with that. Here is a team led by an ambitious owner and a young and talented manager, Malky Mackay, and with the exception of three big-name signings, a squad that they've taken largely from the Championship up to the Premier League with them. But further additions look likely before the transfer window shuts, and in Kim Bo-Kyung, Cardiff might just possess one of the unsung heroes of the season. And—he's 34 now—but we can't afford to forget about Craig Bellamy.
But Cardiff will be no match for the slick and classy unit that will take to the field at the Liberty Stadium this season. In their third year in the Premier League, Swansea City look closer to European qualification via league finish than ever dropping out, such is the success that they've enjoyed. Michael Laudrup has strengthened brilliantly this summer, with Wilfried Bony, Jonathan De Guzman and Jonjo Shelvey his most high-profile signings. The challenge for them now is to push on—and balance their Europa League campaign while they're at it.
Southampton are a curious case. They finished just five points above the relegation zone last season, but the mood at St. Mary's is optimistic, as well it should be. Mauricio Pochettino has fashioned a young, energetic side specializing in pressing and counterattacking football. That there's not been much transfer activity this summer suggests that he has confidence in his squad rather than the lack of player availability: After all, their two additions, Dejan Lovren and Victor Wanyama, provide enough pedigree and suggest that they too will be looking at the top half.
Let's round this off with Aston Villa, who went through a dangerous slump midway through last season. Paul Lambert's gamble with his young signings paid off in the end—we all know how Christian Benteke turned out, but Ashley Westwood and Matthew Lowton were inspired signings as well. This summer he's added another contingent of young prospects, but as Villa march on comfortable in this new philosophy and system, the likes of Jores Okore and Antonio Luna could have just as big an impact.
Players to Watch: AKA Fantasy Picks
Now that we're done with our team to watch, here are some players that are either very interesting signings or ones to pay attention to this season. Fantasy picks? You'll be sure these aren't your Robin van Persies or Gareth Bales, so there might just be a bargain or two to be considered here.
First, a trio wearing Liverpool red. You've probably heard enough of Philippe Coutinho by now, but the rave reviews are worth the while and do him justice. He'll be looking to turn that productive and exhilarating half-season partnership with Daniel Sturridge into a prolific one over the course of the season. And helping them do that will be Iago Aspas, signed from Celta in the summer. He's had an encouraging preseason for Brendan Rodgers, and his brand of football, mixing technique and aggression, reminds of a certain wantaway No. 7.
If you're new to this column and missed out on last season's episodes, you'll come to realize my admiration for Swansea and Michael Laudrup. Michu was the unquestionable bargain buy of last summer, and this year he'll be back in his support striker role he started in, following the exciting acquisition of Wilfried Bony. Michu enjoyed his most prolific spell in a Swans shirt when he played behind a strike last season, and Bony blew Malmo FF away with a competitive debut double after a thrilling 31-goal season with Vitesse Arnhem. Watch this space.
What about that most maligned, big-money, ex-Liverpool duo now at West Ham United? Well, soon to be at West Ham anyway, given that Stewart Downing's move hasn't been officially confirmed yet, but for a combined sum of Downing's Liverpool transfer (£20 million), Sam Allardyce will be bringing in Downing and Andy Carroll. That's a crossing and heading partnership that Kenny Dalglish failed spectacularly to harness at Anfield, but could be right up Big Sam's alley. And they'll be looking to impress in a World Cup year.
Our final pick belongs to the team that might gatecrash the top three in spectacular fashion: Tottenham Hotspur. Bale's contribution may be sizeable as always, or the signings that his transfer fee brings in could well take the squad's overall quality up a notch. Where am I going with this? Well, Villas-Boas has chosen Roberto Soldado to spearhead his attack as a lone striker. With Chadli, Aaron Lennon, Paulinho and Mousa Dembele supporting him already, Soldado looks to enjoy a Premier League goals feast.
This piece was my first instalment of English Football Weekly for the season for SoccerWithoutLimits.com.
English Football WeeklyEnglish Premier LeagueFantasypredictionsRelegationTop Four
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Point-of-Care Ultrasound for the Diagnosis of Thoracoabdominal Injuries After Blunt Trauma
POCUS for Thoracoabdominal Injury
Significant thoracic injuries or abdominal free fluid 18.5 (95% CI 10.8-40.5)
Significant thoracic injuries or abdominal free fluid 0.27 (95% CI 0.19-0.37)
Source: Stengel D, Leisterer J, Ferrada P, Ekkernkamp A, Mutze S, Hoenning A. Point-of-care ultrasonography for diagnosing thoracoabdominal injuries in patients with blunt trauma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Dec 12;12:CD012669.
Narrative: Trauma is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, representing one of the top ten causes of both death and disability-adjusted life years by the World Health Organization.1, 2 Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is commonly performed during or after the primary survey to identify whether significant thoracic injuries or abdominal free fluid are present, particularly when patients are unstable or cannot receive a computed tomogram (CT).3 However, it is important to determine the accuracy of this modality to ensure proper application in trauma patients.
The Cochrane Review discussed here4 included retrospective and prospective studies assessing the diagnostic accuracy of POCUS for thoracoabdominal injuries in patients with blunt trauma (defined as any non-penetrating force). The reference standard included CT scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), laparotomy or laparoscopy, thoracotomy, or autopsy. The primary outcome was the diagnosis of any thoracoabdominal injury, which was defined as: free fluid in the thoracic or abdominal cavity, retroperitoneum, pericardium, or mediastinum; organ injury (e.g. splenic, other solid organ, hollow viscera, or other organ laceration); a vascular lesion (e.g. dissection of rupture of aorta or other vessels); and other injuries (e.g. pneumothorax). Subgroup analyses were performed for pediatric patients versus adult patients, as well as abdominal versus thoracic injury.4 Approximately, half of the trials were conducted in the United States, and half of the study subjects were enrolled in level 1 trauma centers.
The authors of the Cochrane review identified 2872 records, of which 34 studies (n = 8635 patients) met inclusion criteria.4 Overall, POCUS was 74% sensitive (95% confidence interval [CI], 65% to 81%) and 96% specific (95% CI, 94% to 98%) with a positive likelihood ratio (LR+) of 18.5 (95% CI, 10.8 to 40.5) and a negative likelihood ratio (LR-) of 0.27 (95% CI, 0.19 to 0.37). Among pediatric patients, POCUS was 63% sensitive (95% CI, 46% to 77%) and 91% specific (95% CI, 81% to 96%). In adults alone, POCUS was 78% sensitive (95% CI, 69% to 84%) and 97% specific (95% CI, 96% to 99%). POCUS was 68% sensitive (95% CI, 59% to 75%) and 95% specific (95% CI, 92% to 97%) for diagnosing abdominal injuries specifically. For thoracic injuries, POCUS was 96% sensitive (95% CI, 88% to 99%) and 99% specific (95% CI, 97% to 100%). Assuming an overall baseline pretest probability of thoracoabdominal injury of approximately 28% (based on the median prevalence of such injuries in all of the included studies), POCUS would hypothetically miss injuries in 7.3% of patients and falsely suggest the presence of injuries in 2.9% of the patients. Assuming a pretest probability of thoracoabdominal injury of approximately 31% in pediatric patients (based on the median prevalence of such injuries in the included studies), the miss rate (false negative) would increase to 11.8%, and the false positive rate would be 6.2%.4
Caveats: The overall quality of the trials included in this meta-analysis was unclear due to limited reporting of the selection of participants and choice of diagnostic testing used for the reference standard. The most important limitation of the original review was the inclusion of all organ injuries (rather than free fluid) in the outcome assessment. The American College of Emergency Physicians guidelines states that the primary indication of the FAST examination is to "identify pathologic collections of free fluid or air released from injured organs or structures."3 Consequently, assessing for the presence of any organ injury is beyond the scope of the FAST examination. Additionally, it is unclear how many injuries were significant enough to require an intervention. In this case, while a solid organ injury may have been missed with the FAST exam, it may not have been clinically significant. Therefore, it may have been preferable to focus on the identification of intraperitoneal free fluid and clinically significant organ injuries.
Furthermore, a number of different gold standards were used, which can lead to differential verification bias. There was also significant heterogeneity with regard to both the patient and study characteristics. Training protocols also varied and were not explicitly defined in most studies. Additionally, provider experience and specialty, as well as the POCUS machine utilized differed significantly between studies. These factors may have further contributed to the heterogeneity between the trials. Moreover, most studies assessed abdominal injury and only four studies assessed thoracic injury. Finally, there was limited reporting of multiple methodological parameters, including how studies accounted for inconclusive results.4
While the trials included in the meta-analysis do not report the harms associated with using POCUS for identifying thoracoabdominal injuries, false positive findings might subject the patients to unnecessary diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. False negative findings might falsely reassure the providers and cause them to miss injuries. The level of training and the experience of the operators might reduce the risk of such harms. Future trials are needed to assess the risk of such harms and identify the methods by which they could be reduced.
Based on the existing evidence, POCUS appears to be highly sensitive and specific for identifying significant thoracic injury. Additionally, POCUS appears to be highly specific but insufficiently sensitive to exclude abdominal injury. This suggests that a positive POCUS is strongly suggestive of an abdominal injury and should prompt subsequent targeted intervention, particularly in unstable patients. However, a negative POCUS examination does not exclude significant injury and should be followed by advanced imaging (e.g. CT), especially in pediatric patients. Keeping the limitation of this diagnostic modality in mind, this non-invasive and rapid test could provide useful information to the clinician and guide the proper diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, we have assigned a color recommendation of Green (Benefit > Harm) to the use of POCUS for identifying thoracoabdominal injuries after blunt trauma.
Author: Michael Gottlieb, MD; Alex Koyfman, MD; Brit Long, MD
Published/Updated: March 15, 2019
Lozano R, Naghavi M, Foreman K, Lim S, Shibuya K, Aboyans V, et al. Global and regional mortality from 235 causes of death for 20 age groups in 1990 and 2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet. 2012;380:2095-128.
Murray CJL, Vos T, Lozano R, Naghavi M, Flaxman AD, Michaud C, et al. Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for 291 diseases and injuries in 21 regions, 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet. 2012;380:2197-223.
American College of Emergency Physicians. Ultrasound Guidelines: Emergency, Point-of-Care and Clinical Ultrasound Guidelines in Medicine. Ann Emerg Med. 2017;69:e27-e54.
Stengel D, Leisterer J, Ferrada P, Ekkernkamp A, Mutze S, Hoenning A. Point-of-care ultrasonography for diagnosing thoracoabdominal injuries in patients with blunt trauma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Dec 12;12:CD012669.
Other Gastrointestinal Diagnostics
Gastrointestinal Interventions
Other Genitourinary Diagnostics
Genitourinary Interventions
Other Trauma Diagnostics
Trauma Interventions

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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News Releases /
Auto Club, MADD, LAPD, CHP, Metro and Uber Join Forces to ...
Auto Club, MADD, LAPD, CHP, Metro and Uber Join Forces to Remind Drivers to "Arrive Alive this Season"
December 15, 2022 Transportation and Traffic Safety
Of the 9.2 million Southern Californians expected to travel for the Year-End holidays, the Auto Club projects 8.1 million of them will take road trips. With the increase in traffic on the roads and more holiday gatherings and celebrations, the Auto Club, MADD, law enforcement, L.A. Metro and Uber teamed up to remind drivers to "Arrive Alive This Season. Don't Drive Intoxicated. Don't Drive Intexticated."
"We want everyone to have a memorable holiday season that is full of joy and laughter and not for a tragedy that could have easily been prevented," said Auto Club Corporate Communications Manager Doug Shupe. "Please think safety first and foremost this holiday season and don't do anything that could forever change your life or the lives of other people."
According to NHTSA, 11,564 people died in alcohol-impaired crashes in 2020. So far this year in the City of Los Angeles, 16 people have died in DUI crashes. In addition to impaired driving, distracted driving also poses a threat to everyone on the roads. NHTSA reports 3,142 died in distracted driving crashes in 2020. Over the last three years, LAPD officers have issued nearly 58,000 citations to drivers for using a cell phone when not hands-free, mostly for texting while driving. Traffic safety advocates and law enforcement remind drivers to put their phones out of reach and focus only on the road ahead. They also urge everyone who plans to celebrate the holidays with alcohol to have a designated driver, alternative transportation, or a place to stay overnight when celebrating.
"Drunk driving is not acceptable behavior. It is essential to plan a sober ride home before you ever leave for a holiday party," said MADD California State Executive Director Patricia Rillera. "There are too many resources to get you home safely. There are no excuses for impaired driving."
Deadra Johnson, a MADD Victim Volunteer, lost her 26-year-old son, Brandon Simpson, to a DUI crash in South Los Angeles in 2017. Brandon was driving home when an impaired driver going 78 mph on a surface street, ran a red light and t-boned Brandon's car, killing him.
"It almost tore my family apart. It didn't affect just our family, it affected everybody he knew, all his friends and extended family as well," said Johnson. "It's just not the same anymore. Our whole family dynamic has changed."
Simpson had just graduated from Los Angeles Trade–Technical College with a degree in plumbing and was about to apply for a business license to start his own plumbing business at the time of his death. Johnson says the loss of her son is particularly difficult this time of year.
"He loved the holidays, so he would always help me in the kitchen. I have no daughters and Brandon's grandmother taught him how to make sweet potato pies and cakes, so he would always make the holiday desserts for us," said Johnson. "Around this time of year, it is always hard because there's no Brandon."
Los Angeles Police and California Highway Patrol will be out in full force this holiday season to prevent impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding and other reckless driving behaviors.
"The holidays are a special time of year for many, and we want our community members to enjoy this season responsibly and safely," said LAPD Transit Services Bureau Deputy Chief Donald Graham. "We need commitment from drivers that they'll help keep the roads safe and if they don't, we will be there."
Drivers are also reminded to obey all traffic safety laws, including the state's Slow Down Move Over Law. This law requires drivers to move over one lane, if it is safe to do so, or slow down when approaching an incident where tow truck providers, police, firefighters, emergency medical service crews or municipal vehicles are stopped on the side of a freeway or surface street.
"Deaths and injuries can be avoided if drivers slow down and move over when approaching emergency vehicles with lights flashing," said CHP Lieutenant Martin Geller. "Please give roadside rescuers the space they need to safely help stranded drivers or do road repairs."
Meanwhile providers of alternative transportation options are encouraging drivers to consider using them.
"Drinking and driving is never a good option during the holiday season, so Metro is very proud to do its part to offer free rides on both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve," said Glendale City Councilmember and Metro Board Chair Ara J. Najarian. "We want to ensure your journey around Los Angeles County is a safe one, so Go Metro and leave the driving to us."
"The impact impaired driving has on our society is emotionally damaging, costly, and oftentimes life altering," said Uber, Public Policy Manager John L. Finley. "As a rideshare leader, Uber is committed to doing our part to be a reliable ride within reach and help put an end to impaired driving. We are proud to stand with MADD, the Auto Club of Southern California, and law enforcement in encouraging everyone to "Arrive Alive" this Holiday Season."
To prevent impaired driving:
Remember it is never OK to drink and drive, even after only one alcoholic beverage.
Designate a non-drinking driver for the entire evening.
Use Uber, Lyft or public transportation. L.A. Metro will once again offer FREE service on all Metro-operated bus and rail lines on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
Make plans before parties begin to stay overnight instead of driving home.
If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement.
Take keys away from friends or family who are about to drink and drive and help them get home safely.
To prevent distracted driving:
Place your mobile device out of sight to prevent temptation.
If using a navigation system, program the destination before driving.
If you have to call or text while on the road, pull off the road safely and stop first.
If riding with someone, seek their help to navigate, make a call or send a message.
Speak up if the driver of your vehicle is distracted.
Avoid calling or texting others when you know they are driving.
Doug Shupe
LA-based media contact
shupe.doug@aaa-calif.com
Anlleyn Venegas
San Diego-based media contact
Venegas.Anlleyn@aaa-calif.com


E2 Services act as full energy partners for Northwood Regional UK, taking care of multiple aspects of the property portfolio's utility use. Using the energy data, along with knowledge of the building plant and occupancy, E2 have built a monthly energy performance report (MEPR) to cover the main sites within the portfolio.
This reports on energy use at each of the sites, along with the status of tickets that have been raised in response to unusual energy use profiles. These are then communicated to the appropriate parties, from asset managers to BMS maintenance contractors, and chased until the issue is resolved or explained. Having this service in place prevents issues from becoming embedded, and eroding the hard-won energy savings from projects and control improvements.


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Ghost in the Shell Getting 3D Treatment
By Stephen Schleicher on	 April 15, 2008 0 Comments
DreamWorks is on a major scramble to nab up all sorts of properties, and the latest acquisition is the Japanese manga Ghost in the Shell, which the company plans on turning into a 3D live-action movie.
Created by Masamune Shirow, "Ghost in the Shell" was first published in 1989. It went on to generate two additional manga editions, three anime film adaptations, an anime TV series and three videogames. The second anime film, "Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence," was released in the U.S. by DreamWorks in 2004.
Jamie Moss will write the adaptation with Avi Arad, Ari Arad and Steven Paul producing.
via Variety
3d dreamworks ghost in the shell Manga movie
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Stephen Schleicher
Stephen Schleicher began his career writing for the Digital Media Online community of sites, including Digital Producer and Creative Mac covering all aspects of the digital content creation industry. He then moved on to consumer technology, and began the Coolness Roundup podcast. A writing fool, Stephen has freelanced for Sci-Fi Channel's Technology Blog, and Gizmodo. Still longing for the good ol' days, Stephen launched Major Spoilers in July 2006, because he is a glutton for punishment. You can follow him on Twitter @MajorSpoilers and tell him your darkest secrets...
Geek History Lesson #350 – Wonder Woman (The Silver Age)
Geek History Lesson #349 – Cheetah (Wonder Woman)


We are so thrilled that Madison and Shay's wedding has been featured in the latest Blush Magazine issue. You can purchase the magazine at stores across Canada as well as view the feature online! They also had an amazing wedding video created by DC Brandon Films if you want to check it out here. Hair/Makeup: Stefanie Carlson. Bridesmaid hair: Caitlyn Steinbrenner. Credits: Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, Eternal Reflections Photography, A Chair to Remember Inc., Cake Couture – Edible Art, DC Brandon Films, Pure Bridal,Pronovias, Moores Clothing Thanks again Madison and Shay for having us as part of your big day!
We were thrilled find out that we got a Blush Magazine feature for Kelsa and Shane's winter wedding along with so many amazing vendors in Edmonton. You can find the feature in their Fall Winter 2015 issue in Chapters as well as online. Moments in Digital Photography, Atmosphere Productions Inc.,FaBLOOMosity, Latitude 53, Behind the Blush: Professional Makeup Artists/Hair Stylists, Novelle Bridal Shop, Watters, Elegant Touches Inc,Special Event Rentals and more.
When we heard that a couple was thinking about hiring us for their Iceland elopement this past July all we could do was hope that they would end up booking us and they did! In the 3rd week of July we traveled with Schimine and Stephen along with Nicole Ashley her husband Jon and Stef's husband Drew. Nicole was shooting the wedding along with Jon and Drew came along to drive and play guitar on their wedding day. We wanted to show some behind the scene photo's that Nicole shot since their full magical wedding post is up on her site now. Having a couple like Schimine and Stephen was a dream for us. They let us help them choose what looks to have for their wedding day and their second day of shooting after their wedding. We were on site with them all day to touch them up and make sure they looked absolutely perfect. I even officiated the wedding ceremony and Stef shot the whole wedding on a GoPro. For Schimine's wedding day look we went with a very Vicoria Secret look with bronzed eyes and a peachy lip with bombshell curls. One the day that we shot their second look we went with a smokey neutral eye and a vampy lip matte lip color from MAC called Sin. Stephen had longer hair so Stef was able to style it in a way that looked truly magnificent blowing in the wind. We can't thank Schimine and Stephen enough for trusting us all with their wedding day and we know that it was a trip that none of us will forget.