Liverpool FC Forum

Hustler 2 » Tue Aug 27, 2013 3:25 pm wrote:Would have been good had we still had Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy to utilise. Good squad players.

Eh, no, Ted....

bunglemark2 » Tue Aug 27, 2013 6:19 pm wrote:

Hustler 2 » Tue Aug 27, 2013 3:25 pm wrote:Would have been good had we still had Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy to utilise. Good squad players.

Eh, no, Ted....

Ted Bundy?

Father Ted, Dougal

With the  modern approach of more flexible formations and the fact that I watch matches on TV I'll admit that I'm not really sure what formation we play now, is it 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1 ?

Looking at the squad, we now have 4, what I would call midfield players (Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson & Allen) and 8 forwards (Suarez, Sturridge, Aspas, Coutinho, Sterling, Ibe, Alberto & Moses). Does this mean we intend playing with 2 midfield players and 4 forwards ?

With the players we have we could now field 2 teams playing 4-2-3-1 but we'll struggle if we intend using 3 out of the 4 midfielders every match:

                                 Mignolet                                                                                                         Jones
Johnson          Toure                 Agger             Enrique                                 Wisdom/Kelly      Skrtel             Sakho       Cissokho

                         Lucas              Gerrard                                                                                 Henderson       Allen

      Moses                  Coutinho                Suarez                                               Sterling                   Alberto             Ibe

                                 Sturridge                                                                                                       Aspas

I reckon the first team is quite strong and the other team contains a few youngsters up front but if we bring Henderson or Allen into the team who makes way ?

If we play 4-3-3 with a number ten type we could see either Coutinho or Suarez doing the number ten role with 2 of Allen/Lucas/Gerrard behind them.

The problem with playing with more forward thinking players in the No10 position and out wide is that Gerrard and Lucas will be isolated and overrun in the midfield. 
While on paper it looks fantastic to have Sturrdige up front, coutinho in behind and Suarez /Moses on the wings... how much hard work will these players do for the team?

For this to work I'd imagine we need to be playing a little higher than we have been and pressing more up front.  (Something we don't seem capable of doing for 90 mins).

As soon as we lose steam we'd have to consider packing the centre midfield area a bit more.

jacdaniel » Tue Sep 03, 2013 11:20 am wrote:The problem with playing with more forward thinking players in the No10 position and out wide is that Gerrard and Lucas will be isolated and overrun in the midfield. 
While on paper it looks fantastic to have Sturrdige up front, coutinho in behind and Suarez /Moses on the wings... how much hard work will these players do for the team?

For this to work I'd imagine we need to be playing a little higher than we have been and pressing more up front.  (Something we don't seem capable of doing for 90 mins).

As soon as we lose steam we'd have to consider packing the centre midfield area a bit more.

Yep I agree - think it is a risk , with a bit more of a beast in the middle it could allow someone like Coutinho a bit more freedom.

Benny The Noon » Tue Sep 03, 2013 6:40 am wrote:If we play 4-3-3 with a number ten type we could see either Coutinho or Suarez doing the number ten role with 2 of Allen/Lucas/Gerrard behind them.

Pls enlighten, what's the difference btw 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1?

Would have liked to see us bring some authority into our midfield at DM/CM.

Diame was a good shout but I wouldn't have objected to Barry who's now gone to the bitters

woof woof ! » Tue Sep 03, 2013 11:51 am wrote:Would have liked to see us bring some authority into our midfield at DM/CM.

Diame was a good shout but I wouldn't have objected to Barry who's now gone to the bitters

I think only Rio Ferdinand is slower than Barry, can't see how he would cope with our quick and short passing system. He will fit far better into a side that thrives on long balls. 

Regarding the CM/DM comment, I read that Llori can also play DM. He is only 20 (good mobility) and a good passer by all accounts.

The Man Utd game in the league cup is going to be idle for these new or returning ones to get some decent playing time. I can see Sakho, Llori, Cissohko (if fit), Moses and Suarez all starting that one.

SouthCoastShankly » Tue Sep 03, 2013 12:56 pm wrote:

woof woof ! » Tue Sep 03, 2013 11:51 am wrote:Would have liked to see us bring some authority into our midfield at DM/CM.

Diame was a good shout but I wouldn't have objected to Barry who's now gone to the bitters

[b][b]I think only Rio Ferdinand is slower than Barry,[/b][/b] can't see how he would cope with our quick and short passing system. He will fit far better into a side that thrives on long balls. 

Regarding the CM/DM comment, I read that Llori can also play DM. He is only 20 (good mobility) and a good passer by all accounts.

The Man Utd game in the league cup is going to be idle for these new or returning ones to get some decent playing time. I can see Sakho, Llori, Cissohko (if fit), Moses and Suarez all starting that one.

@ Barry comment. Still think he could have done a job for us but wtf, we are where we are. Hopefully we'll cope and if not Rodgers and the rest of us can look forward to the January window.

Observation so far: As cliche as it may sound we appear to defend as a team and attack as a team.

For example, when we attack or are bossing possession the entire team as a unit is pushed up, the defense 20 yards (or so) from the 18 yard box with the midfield and attack in front of them respectively.

Last season (to me anyway) when we committed men forward there was gaps that our opponents exploited especially on the counter between defense and midfield, this season every position, defense, midfield & attack look closer together.

When we defend, we defend Houllier style - the whole team behind the ball closing space down.

It looks to me (so far) like the possible frailty of midfield has been compensated by both defense and attack pulling closer/tighter together when we either defend or attack.
At times when the game gets stretched our midfield look undermanned and overworked but in the three games so far there seems to be a pattern emerging - generally speaking.

Kenny Kan » Tue Sep 03, 2013 12:23 pm wrote:Observation so far: As cliche as it may sound we appear to defend as a team and attack as a team.

For example, when we attack or are bossing possession the entire team as a unit is pushed up, the defense 20 yards (or so) from the 18 yard box with the midfield and attack in front of them respectively.

Last season (to me anyway) when we committed men forward there was gaps that our opponents exploited especially on the counter between defense and midfield, this season every position, defense, midfield & attack look closer together.

When we defend, we defend Houllier style - the whole team behind the ball closing space down.

It looks to me (so far) like the possible frailty of midfield has been compensated by both defense and attack pulling closer/tighter together when we either defend or attack.
At times when the game gets stretched our midfield look undermanned and overworked but in the three games so far there seems to be a pattern emerging - generally speaking.

Yes, our positional discipline has been impeccable so far.

SouthCoastShankly » Tue Sep 03, 2013 12:56 pm wrote:

woof woof ! » Tue Sep 03, 2013 11:51 am wrote:Would have liked to see us bring some authority into our midfield at DM/CM.

Diame was a good shout but I wouldn't have objected to Barry who's now gone to the bitters

I think only Rio Ferdinand is slower than Barry, can't see how he would cope with our quick and short passing system. He will fit far better into a side that thrives on long balls. 

Regarding the CM/DM comment, I read that Llori can also play DM. He is only 20 (good mobility) and a good passer by all accounts.

Toure also used to play CM for Arsenal.

So if/when Coutinho is moved inside we have only 2 CM spaces to fill from:

Lucas / Toure / Ilori
Gerrard / Henderson / Allen


Obviously you'd prefer 2 from Gerrard, Lucas and Henderson to start, but any serious, or multiple injuries to them, I think Toure could step in a do the job on a short term basis (which would also  aliviate the 5 in to 2 centre back problem)

Redman in wales » Tue Sep 03, 2013 1:50 pm wrote:
Toure also used to play CM for Arsenal.

So if/when Coutinho is moved inside we have only 2 CM spaces to fill from:

Lucas / Toure / Ilori
Gerrard / Henderson / Allen


Obviously you'd prefer 2 from Gerrard, Lucas and Henderson to start, but any serious, or multiple injuries to them, I think Toure could step in a do the job on a short term basis (which would also  aliviate the 5 in to 2 centre back problem)

Now that you mention it in his early Arsenal days I recall him playing as a right back and a DM. Looks like we might have more options than we first thought.