Liverpool FC Forum

[Stu the Red]

Yeah agree with that. Gerrard is not the problem, it's the way he's being used that is the problem. Funnily enough I heard that he may have a knock and if that is the case I'd rest him for Fulham and bring Allen back.

The point is we need him.

Allen, Henderson and Lucas are nothing players. Henderson is the better of the three but he's nothing more than decent back up.

[stmichael]

Good article on the midfield issues:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1836 ... -0-victory

[Benny The Noon]

Agger has never played as a DM in his career , he is a CB , can see why people might think it could be worth him player because of his ability on the ball but I have a feeling it won't suit him and that's why he hasn't played there before

Ilori has played there before and against Fulham it is certainly worth the risk to play him.

I personally don't think it is worth the risk. Arsenal aside we have been playing well enough to maintain the existing set up. I don't think the set up is broken and as such no need to rock the boat by changing it.

I suspect the best opportunity to start to tinker with the set up will be in January when the FA Cup starts up (subject to the opponents we draw of course).

Don't think we have been playing well enough at all - 2 players have played well - Suarez and Sturridge, but when they don't we struggle.

[jacdaniel]

Its not really just the midfield thats a concern.  I'm concerned with how deep we sometimes become.  We often see Suarez or Sturridge pressing high up the field and the opposition defence pass the ball past them and suddenly our closest player is Gerrard on the half way line. 

The reason for this is that Gerrard and Lucas are not able to press high.  They don't have the pace or mobility.  at least not anymore. 
So they have to stay deeper.  This in turn causes the defence to sit deeper. 

Lucas and Gerrard are not the only issue though.  Skrtel is also not capable of playing higher up the pitch, becomes too prone to errors in such a system.  Also Mignolets distribution is not great so he would find it hard to play as a sort of sweeper keeper. 

How do we solve the issue?  Well, the below formation might work a bit better.

                                   Mignolet
                         Toure            Agger
Johnson                                               Enrique
                                      Lucas
                       Henderson         Allen
Suarez                                                    Coutinho
                                   Sturridge

I can see a line up like that having much more control in a game.

[red till i die!!]

either he refuses to acknowledge it, or just doesnt see it, but something has got to happen because it isnt working.
they created nothing and no wonder suarez looked frustrated.
need's instant improvement in january

[Stu the Red]

:bump
either he refuses to acknowledge it, or just doesnt see it, but something has got to happen because it isnt working.
they created nothing and no wonder suarez looked frustrated.
need's instant improvement in january

Lucas and Henderson again contributed absolutely zero to the performance/lack of.

Typical performances from that two players unfortunately.

Granted, they weren't the only ones...

[parchpea]

Brendan Rodgers knows only too well what we need to be right at the top let alone sneaking into 4th place but is shackled by financial
constraints.

This summer we where linked with some terrific players all of whom are doing brilliantly well right now, Costa, Mkhtriyan, and with those
guys we would be on another level.

Rodgers isn't perfect and no manger is but with money I think would be a real force and outwit anyone in this league.

[Stu the Red]

Brendan Rodgers knows only too well what we need to be right at the top let alone sneaking into 4th place but is shackled by financial
constraints.

This summer we where linked with some terrific players all of whom are doing brilliantly well right now, Costa, Mkhtriyan, and with those
guys we would be on another level.

Rodgers isn't perfect and no manger is but with money I think would be a real force and outwit anyone in this league.

Why not sell players to raise the funds needed?

Johnson
Skrtel
Lucas
Henderson

Would all carry value in the market...

Why waste £30,000,000 on Sahko, Alberto and Ilori?

None of them are even close to being regulars. Sorry, but the "if we had money excuse" doesn't wash.

[Fowler_E7]

Something has to change in the center of the park, we are absolutely awful in there. Id give Alberto a game against Norwich to see how he does and to try something new, he cant be any worse than Lucas or Henderson at present, well at least i hope not.

[red till i die!!]

Brendan Rodgers knows only too well what we need to be right at the top let alone sneaking into 4th place but is shackled by financial
constraints.

This summer we where linked with some terrific players all of whom are doing brilliantly well right now, Costa, Mkhtriyan, and with those
guys we would be on another level.

Rodgers isn't perfect and no manger is but with money I think would be a real force and outwit anyone in this league.

rodger's has spent over 80mil, 15 million allen sitting beside a 17million defender alongside several of his other purchases. granted we where linked(sketchy as well) with those players and they are doing well but thats no excuse for not doing a lot with the bit you did spend.
i think you need to read that last sentence to yourself a few times

[red till i die!!]

Something has to change in the center of the park, we are absolutely awful in there. Id give Alberto a game against Norwich to see how he does and to try something new, he cant be any worse than Lucas or Henderson at present, well at least i hope not.

id like to see what he has to offer also. norwich on wednesday should be a comfortable enough game to let him loose in.

[Redman in wales]

Must admit I think there is a genuine lack of depth.

Gerrard is still a class player, his first half performance against United where he was head and shoulders above everyone on the pitch proved this. He did however waine in the second half and as a result Liverpool lost there way. Lucas is a steady eddie but he's never going to win you games.

I think ideally it would be Gerrard, Lucas and Coutinho as the central three, this would give us the balance we need. But then it means playing either Sturridge or Suarez out wide... Sturridge is no winger and Luis is our best player.

For me the lack of quality out wide and at the back are more of a concern, however I do worry that if Gerrard picks up an injury, we'll be found wanting in central midfield too.

An injury to Gerrard and I'd be comfortable with Henderson alongside Lucas. He's not a direct replacement by anymeans (is anyone?) but he's improving all the time and has even shown leadership qualities and a lead by example commitment, though is still fairly young.

Seriously did you just say that...

Stop and think a second... An injury to Gerrard and I'd be comfortable with Henderson alongside Lucas... 

Henderson this season so far hasn't let anyone down, I'll give you that and the lad ALWAYS runs his ***** off but for me he's absoloutely nowhere near the standard we need. As a fourth choice he'd be ok I suppose, but the fact that we keep finishing where we do the last few years is because we accept players like this all too readily these days.

so yeah... after todays games I stand by what I said a few months back. comfortable with Henderson in the side in  gerrards absence (ok so he wasn't alongside lucas, but with allen in, further up the pitch is also fine by me.

he's A LOT better than "ok for 4th choice" though stu 

[RED BEERGOGGLES]

Every player in our midfield looked comfortable on the ball ,and passed it quickly and incisively .....I have been waiting for a display of that ilk
all season .......... It can only be described as phenomenal the graft Henderson , Lucas ,and Allen put in earlier ...Just brilliant ,couldn't be happier
right now.

[stmichael]

The pressing was the difference from the very start. Great to see.

[RED BEERGOGGLES]

The pressing was the difference from the very start. Great to see.

Pressing for practically the full 90 mate ,jostling spurs players into making mistakes whenever they gained possession was essential to us seizing the
initiative to maintain control of the middle.