Liverpool FC Forum

Benny The Noon » Tue Jul 23, 2013 3:18 pm wrote:

LFC1990 » Tue Jul 23, 2013 9:08 pm wrote:Because he doesnt want that. He never had it at Swansea. Thats not the BR Style of playing.

Then he will have to adjust his style - if he doesn't it will be the undoing of him. If fine sticking to a style but only if its working and successful. If not the managers need to adapt to get the best results. It was clear and still is the team lack the physical power to compete in the prem when it gets a bit rough - it's great playing loving tippy tappy passing football but some teams won't give us the space to do that and will over power us - it happened last season and it will happen again unless the manager brings some players in to combat it.

This is a great point.  And unfortunately for all the work the lads get in over the preseason, the season kicks off against the epitome of what you are talking about.  Stoke, even though they have a new manager, I don't see them adapting to some sort of beautiful football while having at least 8 players on the pitch that would like nothing more than to kick the fu.ck out of a Carlos Kickaball and go home with a point.

Pretty much exactly the point I'm making - we will need to find a way to combat that kicking they are going to attempt

Stoke will always play that way.

How Shawcross never got sent off last year is beyond me

Benny The Noon » Tue Jul 23, 2013 3:33 pm wrote:Pretty much exactly the point I'm making - we will need to find a way to combat that kicking they are going to attempt

Actually it in some way was the downfall of Rafa (Leaving the finances and ownership meddling and such) inability to adapt against the smaller sides (Well bigger physically, but you know what I mean) actually cost us the league in the 08/09.  We bossed the fook out of the upper teams in the league.  Lost to Middlesbrough, drew against teams like Stoke and Hull home and away (I think).  It was failure to adapt that cost us the league.  Granted the stakes aren't quite at that level at the moment.  The premise remains the same though.

Bradley could be a good gamble.  He seems to be that player that's never going to be the best on the pitch, but he'll work harder than anybody and he'll get to that level where he's in control.  Better than Lucas physically, but Lucas is a better passer.  Bradley can actually score some decent goals tho too.

Not sure if it's a huge upgrade on Lucas when Lucas is at his best, but Lucas has clearly not been at his best on a consistent basis.  Bradley is relatively consistent.  He wasn't fantastic in his first season at Borussia Mon. but Roma saw something and have really benefited from it.

I would have preferred Wanyama in all honesty tho.

Benny The Noon » Tue Jul 23, 2013 7:31 pm wrote:

ycsatbjywtbiastkamb » Tue Jul 23, 2013 8:28 pm wrote:with allen and lucas in the squad we wont be looking for a DM.

It's not just a DM we need though - neither Lucas or Allen provide a physical dominating presence in the middle of the park

Listening to Rodgers interview on the anfield wrap from the other day he was asked about whether he thinks the side needed more physical prescence and his response was no.
He was saying that bigger more powerful players are not what he thinks we need. He wants the players we have to press in the right areas and thinks that was more the problem last season.

So it is extremley unlikely that we are going to sign anyone of the Wanyama, Diame ilk.

I would personally have preferred to get someone like that in as i think we got overrun at times but Rodgers must think Lucas will get back to his best and after spending big on Allen he is obviously not wanting to write that off.

Time will tell if he is right.

Ben Patrick » Wed Jul 24, 2013 8:00 am wrote:

Benny The Noon » Tue Jul 23, 2013 7:31 pm wrote:

ycsatbjywtbiastkamb » Tue Jul 23, 2013 8:28 pm wrote:with allen and lucas in the squad we wont be looking for a DM.

It's not just a DM we need though - neither Lucas or Allen provide a physical dominating presence in the middle of the park

Listening to Rodgers interview on the anfield wrap from the other day he was asked about whether he thinks the side needed more physical prescence and his response was no.
He was saying that bigger more powerful players are not what he thinks we need. He wants the players we have to press in the right areas and thinks that was more the problem last season.

So it is extremley unlikely that we are going to sign anyone of the Wanyama, Diame ilk.

I would personally have preferred to get someone like that in as i think we got overrun at times but Rodgers must think Lucas will get back to his best and after spending big on Allen he is obviously not wanting to write that off.

Time will tell if he is right.

Similar to Rafa, we'll see if Rodgers falls on his sword. As you say, time will tell - but I firmly believe, and specifically to England, you have to earn the right to play.

http://www.eplindex.com/34672/lucas-lynchpin-stats-compared-to-rival-defensive-midfielders.html

A decent article here on Lucas and the DM role in Rodgers system.
In theory, the DM role should become an easier role with a high defensive line that Rodgers apparently wants to use.

Benny The Noon » Tue Jul 23, 2013 3:54 pm wrote:Big and strong are not normally words used to describe Henderson - certainly not seem him use those attributes much so far even when playing well - good engine and energetic yes

He is bigger in size than Stevie and has a more muscular physique, and Stevie is big and strong for a midfielder. He needs confidence that is all. He may be suited to the destroyer role if we need one.

Ben Patrick » Wed Jul 24, 2013 9:00 am wrote:

Benny The Noon » Tue Jul 23, 2013 7:31 pm wrote:

ycsatbjywtbiastkamb » Tue Jul 23, 2013 8:28 pm wrote:with allen and lucas in the squad we wont be looking for a DM.

It's not just a DM we need though - neither Lucas or Allen provide a physical dominating presence in the middle of the park

Listening to Rodgers interview on the anfield wrap from the other day he was asked about whether he thinks the side needed more physical prescence and his response was no.
He was saying that bigger more powerful players are not what he thinks we need. He wants the players we have to press in the right areas and thinks that was more the problem last season.

So it is extremley unlikely that we are going to sign anyone of the Wanyama, Diame ilk.

I would personally have preferred to get someone like that in as i think we got overrun at times but Rodgers must think Lucas will get back to his best and after spending big on Allen he is obviously not wanting to write that off.

Time will tell if he is right.

Well lets hope it's not the same as last season because if he hasn't seen the glaring problem in terms of some power and strength in the team then we will have the exact same issues as last season. We are playing in the prem - not La Liga.

Benny, what does the Prem and La Liga have to do with anything? I'm no La Liga expert but I'm sure I've watched lower teams in that league be overly physical towards the better sides. The notion that the prem is more physical is a pile of sh!t. I agree we're missing a presence but that doesn't necessarily equate to a piece of the formula being missing. Loads of sides have had success without that specific role in the side

City always had more success when Toure was pushed further up or allowed a box to box role, yes he's a destroyer but there's a lot more to him than that

The player doesn't have to be a destroyer - just look at all the teams that win and they have players in their team that add some power and physical presence - whether that be at CB or in the midfield or even up front - we though don't - even our CB's are supposed to be more "ball playing" as opposed to dominating the opposition players.

Our squad is very technical and small but I don't think can handle a physical battle against teams like Stoke etc who will look to kick and fight - teams that will be in our faces and not giving us the space we want , teams that will come at us with big lumps . We couldn't handle players like Diame or Dembele or Toure over the last two seasons and when Carroll goes up against Agger and Toure he is going to have a field day.

Without that ingredient in the team then we will struggle ( IMO ) just like we did last season

Well I dont' think Man U's midfield is particularly hard or their defence but they've coped just fine

Vidic provides the physical part , along with players Luke Rooney and even RvP. They are able to cope with a physical battle.