Scottbot wrote:tonyeh wrote:Scottbot wrote:tonyeh wrote:I disagree, 4-5-1 is no good for Liverpool. It'll always mean that the lone striker will get isolated and we'll be chasing a goal from anywhere, meaning no clear focus and that's bound to come undone at some stage.
Rafa's approach seems to be to wait and see what the other team will do. That's dangerous ground IMO.
It's not as simple as that, otherwise we would see the lone striker getting isolated and starved of possession on a regular basis. 4-5-1 works fine IF:
- You have good spells of possession (which we generally do)
- You get your wide-men high and wide to occupy their full-backs which gives your lone striker a much better chance against 2 centre-halves
- You get your full-backs involved in play and if possible, push them on
- BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY you have to have the right man to do the job up-front (see my previous post on Kuyt in this thread). We didn't (and often don't) play this system with the right front-man.
You've essentially agreed with my point then...
4-5-1 is no good for Liverpool.
Not at all. You're saying you don't think it can work, and i am saying it can work just fine IF you play the right players in the right positions.
But that's the point Scott. I'm not saying 4-5-1 is a "bad" formation per se. I'm saying it's bad for Liverpool.
You say it's ok if certain conditions are met. Liverpool don't have the players, manager or the mentality needed to meet those conditions or to make that formation work with regular success.
Some people say it's good for us based on a limited run of success last year with Torres up front. I say that was a one off and won't repeated.
If Liverpool continue to utilise a formation based on a defense midfield with a single lone striker, they are always going to struggle for goals and they will always drop points to lesser teams...an most importantly they won't win the title.