Liverpool FC Forum

[puroresu]

no pace upfront = no penetration
arsenal were very comfortable at the back because every arsenal defender was faster than crouch and kuyt, they could play high up the pitch and queeze our midfield.
we on the other hand had to play deeper because henry and van persie are quicker than all our defenders giving their midfielders space to run into and score!

can't play crouch and kuyt away from home, you have to have bellamy in the side for the other defnce to play deeper and hen give gerrard space to run into.

also fed up of alonso running back to the centre halves to pick up the ball - i'm sure carra, hyypia or agger can pass the ball to the midfieders higher up the pitch, it looks like we have 3 centre halves  at times with alonso so deep.

The modern game makes Pace a Necessity

[stmichael]

:bump

Just bringing this back to the top because I think it's relevant again after yesterday's game.

Once again, if you look at our play, despite controlling the game for long periods, most of our play was in front of their midfield and defence. Not once did we look to get in behind them We had very little penetration, and when we break, we don't seem to counter with much pace, which allows teams to get bodies behind the ball, and then we just stroke the ball around in front of them again.

Contrast this with Manure against Blackburn the other day. Their game is simple but effective. Carrick and Scholes out to Ronaldo or Giggs and then into the box. They are also lightning on the counter attack.

I just don't see us doing this because we don't have any real pace in the side.

Pennant and Gonzalez have the pace...but they lack the confidence or ability to take on their man and get in behind.  One of the few bright sparks yesterday was when Finnan supported the right wing and played Pennant in.  He got through a couple of time and i thought was unlucky not to get an assist.

Yeah last year, as much as we criticize him, when Kewell was in form, at least he beat his man and crossed a lot of good balls and stretched defense wide. As a result, Gerrard found space in the right and the middle and was effective. Had Gonzalez done that today - ie run at defenders and cross a lot of balls - Gerrard, Crouch and Kuyt would have all been very effective. The solution could be to play Pennant right and Garcia left with Gerrard middle or even Gerrard left IF Pennant could CONSISTENTLY take on defenders and cross.

At the moment, our wingers are simply not good enough or consistent enough. So, its understandable that Rafa went for Gerrard on the right.