Liverpool FC Forum

by **Scottbot** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 2:02 pm

At the start of the season GH said he would produce a team that played more fluid attacking football instead of his favoured counter-attacking style. Unfortunately le boss has not been able to produce this type of football. Personally i do not feel he is capable of coaching a team to play in this manner & almost believe results would have been better this season if he had stuck to his own footballing principles.

GH is a staunch believer in 4-4-2. Personally, i also prefer to play this way and coach the football team at the college i work in to play the same way. However, i have recently been thinking why doesn't GH try something different and go with 3 at the back and go 3-5-2 or 3-4-1-2. It might be seen as the last throw of the dice but the guy only has one die left anyhow. We don't exactly have personnel to fit this system perfectly but it would be worth a try. How about:

Owen Baros

Kewell

Hamman Gerrard
Riise Finnan

Carragher Henchoz
Hyppia

Kirkland

Riise is not the greatest LB but could make a decent Wing-back + Kewell has not really shined out on the left and could be more involved playing a more central role. Despite his form in the last few games, Finnan has enough attacking ability + the engine to get up and down. Our back 3 lack pace but Sami reads the game so well he could sweep up while Carra and Henchoz are excellent man-markers.

This might not be the answer but i wish GH would grow the balls to try something different. What do you guys think? Would you tinker with the formation.

by **Scottbot** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 6:12 pm

anyone got any thoughts on this? Or is it a crappy post?

by **115-1073096938** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 8:06 pm

4-4-2 or 4-5-1 are the only ways to play in England.

You need adaptability to change in the game but your basic should always be a 4-4-2.

Imo playing players out of position to disguise there weeknesses isn't a good idea.

Kewell is a left winger. Riise is a left back. Carragher is a Full back.

I can see what you are saying but this formation is easy to shut down and a ba#ta#d to work. Yes its easier to play an offside trap, yes its easier to play higher up the pitch but you are only looking at players positions rather than there abilitys. You need to consider both and look at the shape of the side.

We don't have a natural penalty box striker, IE Fowler, RvN, Shearer and we don't have a pacey cetnre back. Its a hard system to use properly and to be honest i think unless your in europe against someone who is swamping your midfield then this isn't the way to go.

by **Owzat** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 10:38 am

I am tempted by the 3-5-2 formation as it would suit our side, but my main concern is the third centre-back. Carragher and Traore are the two viable options, I would not rush into it readily. (btw stu, it might happen if O'Neill comes to Anfield!

)

GK Dudek
LCB Carragher/Traore
CB Hyypia
RCB Henchoz
LWB Riise
LCM Kewell
DCM Hamann
RCM Gerrard
RWB Finnan
LCF Owen
RCF Baros

It should release the wing-backs to provide width and give Kewell and Gerrard more freedom.

by **Starbridge42** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 12:24 pm

I know Kewell hasn't shined at Anfield yet but I still feel that he should be played as a left winger. With leeds in the UEFA Cup and at times during the champions league he terrorised defences from that position and I think GH or whoever is manager next years should try and get that style of play out of him again.

by **115-1073096938** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 1:37 pm

Owzat you talk bullsh#t.

O'Neils overated anyways.

by **zardd** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 7:42 pm

GH always stuck with 4-4-2 whether he changes any players or whether his team is losing or not. why can't he make changes to formation as the game progress....it will make the opponents think & that might cause disruptions to their playing flow

by **Scottbot** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 2:32 pm

I agree. I would like to see the manager atleast try something different during the game if we are losing or need another goal. When Heskey came on at the weekend for Diouff he slotted straight into to right mid - I would have liked to have seen us play 3 up - We never seem to take a bit of a gamble.

Also, i don't think its a given that 3-5-2 doesn't work in England. The way we have played this season anything is worth a try

by **stmichael** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 2:35 pm

if o'neill did come to anfield everyone knows he likes playing 3-5-2. we'd need to sign another centre-back anyway.

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Three at the back - Some different tactics?

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