Liverpool FC Forum

[mrt]

Are you suggesting we appoint Lucas as our permanent captain?

[Roger Red Hat]

if you look at Daggers team and the one Benitez left behind for my money we have swapped Suarez for Torres and beyond that its pretty much the same.

Not sure it's at all anything similar...

Rafa's last team...

Riena, Carra, The greek, Agger, Masha, Gerrard, Lucas, Maxi, Benny, Kuyt, Aqualani

unless I'm missing the point totally that looks like we're by far better off now than back then. If that was our starting XI this season we'd be screwed.

Thats not Rafa's last team.

it's the team from Hull vs Liverpool...      errr Rafa's last game.

[mart]

if you look at Daggers team and the one Benitez left behind for my money we have swapped Suarez for Torres and beyond that its pretty much the same.

Not sure it's at all anything similar...

Rafa's last team...

Riena, Carra, The greek, Agger, Masha, Gerrard, Lucas, Maxi, Benny, Kuyt, Aqualani

unless I'm missing the point totally that looks like we're by far better off now than back then. If that was our starting XI this season we'd be screwed.

Thats not Rafa's last team.

it's the team from Hull vs Liverpool...      errr Rafa's last game.

Eh are you comparing the first team in one game against our current squad? If its going to make any sense you have to compare the squads.

[JC_81]

We lack confidence, when the score is 0-0 the players know what to do and play well and attack with menace, but once we get a lead or find that 45 mins of attacking hasn't worked we run out of ideas. Our players overall seem scared once we get a lead and think they need to sit back, and I blame this in part on the 'small club' mentality that downing, Henderson and Adam probably have, where they are used to
playing against bigger better clubs. In the last few games I have seen an improvement in Adams application and as he has been used correctly, in Hendersons confidence. The main issue is do we continue with Carroll or play the guys that are and can link up well together, as the system against Chelsea is one I have thought would work. I think that our results will get better, bar city we have had the most shots at goal.

The problem is we dont have a leader
If Gerrards absent its Carragher. If Carraghers not there who is it?
This lack of leadership has cost us points and the sooner its rectified the sooner we will see consitency

Have to disagree with this mate.

I think we have plenty of leaders in that team.

Reina is good at organising things at the back.  Agger isn't afraid to take responsibility and carry the ball out from defence.  Lucas competes for everything and leads by example, as does Kuyt who has a wealth of experience and has been at the club a long time.  Bellamy is an International captain and Maxi was captain at Athletico at one point.

There is no doubt that Carra and Gerrard are the natural leaders, but it is the absence of their footballing ability rather than their leadership that hurts us more in my opinion when they don't play... sadly less so for Carra this season, but I'd still play him ahead of Skrtel.

[Thommo's perm]

We lack confidence, when the score is 0-0 the players know what to do and play well and attack with menace, but once we get a lead or find that 45 mins of attacking hasn't worked we run out of ideas. Our players overall seem scared once we get a lead and think they need to sit back, and I blame this in part on the 'small club' mentality that downing, Henderson and Adam probably have, where they are used to
playing against bigger better clubs. In the last few games I have seen an improvement in Adams application and as he has been used correctly, in Hendersons confidence. The main issue is do we continue with Carroll or play the guys that are and can link up well together, as the system against Chelsea is one I have thought would work. I think that our results will get better, bar city we have had the most shots at goal.

The problem is we dont have a leader
If Gerrards absent its Carragher. If Carraghers not there who is it?
This lack of leadership has cost us points and the sooner its rectified the sooner we will see consitency

Have to disagree with this mate.

I think we have plenty of leaders in that team.

Reina is good at organising things at the back.  Agger isn't afraid to take responsibility and carry the ball out from defence.  Lucas competes for everything and leads by example, as does Kuyt who has a wealth of experience and has been at the club a long time.  Bellamy is an International captain and Maxi was captain at Athletico at one point.

There is no doubt that Carra and Gerrard are the natural leaders, but it is the absence of their footballing ability rather than their leadership that hurts us more in my opinion when they don't play... sadly less so for Carra this season, but I'd still play him ahead of Skrtel.

To my mind there is only one leader. The Captain.
The others may marshall their particular areas but the captain calls the shots, kicks the ar'ses and praises good work.
Souness was the epitome of a leader for me. Demanded respect and led by example. People listened and took notice. I just feel that we dont have a singular focal point on the pitch at the moment and thats why weve dropped points.
That could change as people become more confident of their role in the squad and the team, but at the moment there isnt that cohesiveness

[Roger Red Hat]

if you look at Daggers team and the one Benitez left behind for my money we have swapped Suarez for Torres and beyond that its pretty much the same.

Not sure it's at all anything similar...

Rafa's last team...

Riena, Carra, The greek, Agger, Masha, Gerrard, Lucas, Maxi, Benny, Kuyt, Aqualani

unless I'm missing the point totally that looks like we're by far better off now than back then. If that was our starting XI this season we'd be screwed.

Thats not Rafa's last team.

it's the team from Hull vs Liverpool...      errr Rafa's last game.

Eh are you comparing the first team in one game against our current squad? If its going to make any sense you have to compare the squads.

no mate, it gets far worse when you look at who was on that bench compared to our bench now.

What I posted was Rafa's last team as you said , look at the last team.

[The Good Yank]

Well now that it's confirmed and Lucas is out for the season, what does this mean from a tactical standpoint?  Do we sit the midfield back more as a whole to defend as a team instead of relying on Lucas?  Or do we press higher up the pitch and make teams try to hit us on the break?  Or do we just try to plug in Spearing or Shelvey into Lucas' role and continue as is?

[stmichael]

Well now that it's confirmed and Lucas is out for the season, what does this mean from a tactical standpoint?  Do we sit the midfield back more as a whole to defend as a team instead of relying on Lucas?  Or do we press higher up the pitch and make teams try to hit us on the break?  Or do we just try to plug in Spearing or Shelvey into Lucas' role and continue as is?

it makes me wonder if we'll go in for an out and out defensive/holding midfielder in january now as we don't have one. spearing does a lot of defensive work, so does adam but neither are going to sit infront of the back four. shelvey is more of a playmaker in the adam role aswell. i think we'll predominantly see 4-5-1/4-3-3 now or even possibly 3-5-2 on some occasions. of course gerrard can play there no problem when he's back but i'd still like to see him off suarez where he can do the most damage. those two with the likes of bellamy and maxi buzzing around would be devastating.

[andy_g]

i certainly think this will have an impact on our january business. we've been linked with various DMs for some time now and its a bummer that defour when to porto in the summer. he'd have been ideal.

[Fowler_E7]

i think we  should go to a 4-3-3 now that Lucas is out for long while, Spearing as the tackler for now with Adam and Henderson until Gerrard returns. Bellamy has to play now, he links really well with Suarez and the team flows so much better when Carroll is not in the team, Maxi deserves an opportunity as well, he's a goal threat and works well with Bellamy and Suarez.

If we stick with 4-4-2 then id have Maxi on the right, with Bellamy and Suarez upfront  as Henderson and Kuyt are awful out there.

[Madmax]

Kenny gives Fergie  A christmans pressy

[ethanr]

Kenny gives Fergie  A christmans pressy

Love it

[Madmax]

Kenny gives Fergie  A christmans pressy

Love it

Yup    gets better every time you watch it.

[jimmy brighton]

Kenny gives Fergie  A christmans pressy

Brilliant    Lets hope that by 7.15pm the king of Manchester will have a villa to go with the palace

[Kenny Kan]

Kenny gives Fergie  A christmans pressy