Liverpool FC Forum

[Thommo's perm]

Ball watching caused Fletchers goal. He was standing on his own all through that piece of play.
Professional players should be guilty of schoolboy errors
KK needs to sort it asap

[stmichael]

we've only conceded 10 goals in 9 games and 4 of those came in one catastrophic game at spurs. what's worrying however is our inability to hold onto leads and the fact that we haven't kept a clean sheet in any of our last 6 home games.

we need to get a settled back four now and stick with it. i thought johnson looked a bit rusty at the weekend but he'll improve.

[Johnny Boy]

I think we need to get Johnson and Agger back playing.

[red till i die!!]

i thought defensively we have improved over the last few games but were still prone to mistakes which are costing us the result.
last week when hernandez strolled in unmarked and equalised and on sat when reina closelined johnson and carra,both mistakes by individuals and its down to concentration as neither utd or norwich had us under the kosh for any long period during the games.
we are on +2 gd atm but the top 3 are already on double figures.ours along with spurs is the worst in the top 10.
it doesnt matter what you concede as long as you score more and thats were our problems lie atm and shows the massive divide between the top 3 and us.

[stmichael]

bring back zonal marking  

[Rimetto_]

i hate to say this because i'm a massive fan but i think Carra needs to looked at. i just think he's looking a little lacking in reaction times and with skirtel alongside him he just can't cover like he used to. His commitment is unquestionable i just think it's getting to the point where that's just not enough for him now.

makes me very sad having to mention it because he is a legend

[jacdaniel]

what's worrying however is our inability to hold onto leads and the fact that we haven't kept a clean sheet in any of our last 6 home games.

Possibly mental issues?  We're creating so many chances in the first half of nearly every match... yet we're still only going in level or one up at the break.

Then in the 2nd half the players get the "here we go again" feeling.

[aCe']

Going forward, we'll probably need to improve the position with Carra aging and Skrtel and Agger lacking that extra bit needed for a championship run. However atm, we should potentially have enough to compete at the level we seek without much trouble.

Looking at where we go wrong this season, I think the back4 as a unit need to step up the pitch a bit more when we are on the ball and attacking. The fact that all our midfielder (Lucas aside) are somewhat limited defensively and more importantly from a positioning perspective means that when we lose the ball, we become vulnerable to counter attacks with huge gaps opening up in the space between the back4 and the midfielders. If the back4 push up a little and get closer to our midfielders to close down space that would limit the oppositions chances of getting time on the ball in dangerous areas considerably.

The main problem is that our central defenders (Carra and Skrtel specifically) are reluctant to push up to the extent they should given their lack of pace and the way our fullbacks push up. Im not sure if its down to instructions from management or if its just the players operating in their comfort zone but one way or the other its causing us problems.

[stmichael]

The main problem is that our central defenders (Carra and Skrtel specifically) are reluctant to push up to the extent they should given their lack of pace and the way our fullbacks push up. Im not sure if its down to instructions from management or if its just the players operating in their comfort zone but one way or the other its causing us problems.

This is exactly the point I was making a few weeks back. I was saying that Carra shouldn't be an automatic first choice for this entire reason. I was looking as the team as a whole rather than individual strengths and weaknesses. Yes you could argue that Carragher is still our best out and out defender but when he plays it means our defence drops so deep that the midfield does the same often leaving the strikers isolated, especially away from home.

With our fullbacks being so attacking it is important that we have cover when they do push on. This is what Mascherano was so good at when he was here. Lucas is not that type of player unfortunately.

[Rimetto_]

The main problem is that our central defenders (Carra and Skrtel specifically) are reluctant to push up to the extent they should given their lack of pace and the way our fullbacks push up. Im not sure if its down to instructions from management or if its just the players operating in their comfort zone but one way or the other its causing us problems.

This is exactly the point I was making a few weeks back. I was saying that Carra shouldn't be an automatic first choice for this entire reason. I was looking as the team as a whole rather than individual strengths and weaknesses. Yes you could argue that Carragher is still our best out and out defender but when he plays it means our defence drops so deep that the midfield does the same often leaving the strikers isolated, especially away from home.

With our fullbacks being so attacking it is important that we have cover when they do push on. This is what Mascherano was so good at when he was here. Lucas is not that type of player unfortunately.

i totally agree with that.

a high line is important especially if we are to press the ball high up the pitch like we have done when we've had the best games under KK. we have the forwards and midfield to harry and press teams but as you say we need to have confidence that if we do get turned our back line will have the pace to recover and at the moment i don't think we do.

Maybe a chance for kelly to show us what he can do at centre half?

[stmichael]

It still baffles me that we didn't sign a top class centre back in the summer, especially with Agger being so unreliable. Coates may be the answer but he's just a kid still. Tonight will be a reality check for him, especially with Stoke pumping balls into the box left right and centre. At fullback I think we've addressed the issue now but centre back still worries me.

All in all though I think it's an epidemic in the League at as a whole. There isn't really an outstanding defence and the art of defending has been lost imo. Arsenal's centre backs are average. At Chelsea Terry is getting on and Luiz is an accident waiting to happen. At United Ferdinand is past it and injury prone, same for Vidic. I rate Kompany at City but Toure and Lescott are both distinctly average.

I never got the clamour to sign the likes of Cahill and Dann either. Cahill in particular has been shown up this season for exactly what he is and the thought of paying £15m+ for him is just madness. He'd be a typical Spurs signing.

[stmichael]

amazing how much better we look when we have a quicker back four with a higher defensive line isn't it? there's been no aimless hoofing which is great to see.

[jimmy brighton]

I've been very critical of Skittles lately but this evening he looked solid alongside the very impressive Agger. Want to see Coates in there though. Bar the mistake the other night he was excellent and with Carra still about I think the defence is looking really good.

[red till i die!!]

amazing how much better we look when we have a quicker back four with a higher defensive line isn't it? there's been no aimless hoofing which is great to see.

that was really noticeable today with carra's absense.
the back 4 today were fantastic and limited them to nothing.they were comfortable and sniffed out anything from odemwingie and tchoy.
we were able to sit further up the field and we controlled the midfield as a result.
might not work in every game but very effective today and away from home too.
might not be much cause for concern after all

[Octsky]

we play the best defense all season against west brom,
i am still a firm supporter of Carra but will love to continue seeing Skertel partnering Agger.
if it aint broken, dont fix it right ??