Liverpool FC Forum

[Benny The Noon]

Looking over the years gerrard has had his best seasons at either wide right or up higher behind Torres - the evidence is overwhelming .

[fivecups]

That's a good article by microLFC Benny, agree with pretty much all of it. I didn't see Roy's tactical switch from 4-4-1-1 to 4-2-3-1, did anyone else? I'll blame the stream. I hope he sticks with a 4-5-1 variant rather than reverting to a 4-4-2.

[red_guy]

As I said in the opener, the only real difference last night which I could be sure of was that we completely omitted to press the ball in their half much of the time, and to that end Aquilani was given the freedom to not really bother getting involved in it. I'm not even necessarily sure I agree with it (and I'm fairly sure Rafa wouldn't have had it that way to be totally honest and since everyone keeps talkign about him), but that was my take on things so far.

To drop it would be a mistake IMO. I'm a big fan of pressing football - we were brilliant at it in 08-09. As soon as the opposition got the ball one or two Liverpool players were on them, with Masch, Xabi, Kuyt and Gerrard all superb at regaining possession. Obviously it requires a fit, well organised team. Inter did it well in the CL last season and I think Germany could have given Spain a better game if they pressed more quickly in the WC.

IMHO, it's too early to judge. Since most of the kids in the squad last night weren't experienced enough to play at that level (mickey mouse / disney cup or whatever, it's still a European game)  , maybe the manager tend to play safe by instructing them to sit back , holding their position rather than pressing the ball and unintentionally open up spaces for the  opposition to make a move on us. We will know  soon enough when all the senior players are available.

Pressing football - requires a fit, well organised team. Yes, i agree.

[fivecups]

As I said in the opener, the only real difference last night which I could be sure of was that we completely omitted to press the ball in their half much of the time, and to that end Aquilani was given the freedom to not really bother getting involved in it. I'm not even necessarily sure I agree with it (and I'm fairly sure Rafa wouldn't have had it that way to be totally honest and since everyone keeps talkign about him), but that was my take on things so far.

To drop it would be a mistake IMO. I'm a big fan of pressing football - we were brilliant at it in 08-09. As soon as the opposition got the ball one or two Liverpool players were on them, with Masch, Xabi, Kuyt and Gerrard all superb at regaining possession. Obviously it requires a fit, well organised team. Inter did it well in the CL last season and I think Germany could have given Spain a better game if they pressed more quickly in the WC.

IMHO, it's too early to judge. Since most of the kids in the squad last night weren't experienced enough to play at that level (mickey mouse / disney cup or whatever, it's still a European game)  , maybe the manager tend to play safe by instructing them to sit back , holding their position rather than pressing the ball and unintentionally open up spaces for the  opposition to make a move on us. We will know  soon enough when all the senior players are available.

Pressing football - requires a fit, well organised team. Yes, i agree.

You could be right mate, as you say, we'll get a better idea when the first team players are all back.

[bigmick]

My worry is that if we go down the route of sitting in, not pressing and carrying Alberto or whoever else plays in there, we are going to have extreme trouble breaking down mediocre teams. As a few have said and they're probably right, it's almost certainly sensible not to read too much into the way we played as it was all youngsters and we'd only worked on things for a couple of weeks. Even so, I would like to see us play with more energy without the football than we showed last night.

It'll certainly be interesting to see how we develop in this sense.

[red_guy]

My worry is that if we go down the route of sitting in, not pressing and carrying Alberto or whoever else plays in there, we are going to have extreme trouble breaking down mediocre teams. As a few have said and they're probably right, it's almost certainly sensible not to read too much into the way we played as it was all youngsters and we'd only worked on things for a couple of weeks. Even so, I would like to see us play with more energy without the football than we showed last night.

It'll certainly be interesting to see how we develop in this sense.

The feeling is mutual mick. Let's wait and see. Just hope for the best.

[Number 9]

My worry is that if we go down the route of sitting in, not pressing and carrying Alberto or whoever else plays in there, we are going to have extreme trouble breaking down mediocre teams. As a few have said and they're probably right, it's almost certainly sensible not to read too much into the way we played as it was all youngsters and we'd only worked on things for a couple of weeks. Even so, I would like to see us play with more energy without the football than we showed last night.

It'll certainly be interesting to see how we develop in this sense.

Total waste of time and effort to worry about how we played last night....just pointless!
That was not an exhibition of what is to come from our new manager,it was just getting the job done and it worked.He said himself before the game he was worried as he had no players and a team with a fraction of our potential....no need to worry!


Job done,we will beat them at home and then its onto Arsenal and then Man City....that is when we will judge and compare him to Rafa if you fancy.........Welcome to LFC Roy!

[zarababe]

BM you are a real stirrer ay your start this thread and then your expect the personalisties not to be part of the discussion

Roy's Liverpool / Rafa's Liverpool.... ummmm ok

[PabloMedina28]

Surely its 2 early 2 compare?

[Number 9]

And anyway if you were so against Rafa and glad he has gone why mention him so much?Why compare the new manager to him after one game...I dont get it!

And dont hit us with the season long story either...please dont tell me you are gonna highlight everything we do right from here on in and compare it to what Rafa did wrong,because anyone with eyes can see if this is the case...it wont be about managers it will be about you high fiving yourself and saying look at me,I'm right.I was right...if Roy can do it why could Rafa not have etc etc........ same boring sh,ite...BigMick being his own biggest fan like every other day!

[Owzat]

More on the interesting comparison of starts of both managers :

RAFA

- Won 2-0 away in Europe
- Faced North London club in opening Premiership fixture (spudz D1-1)
- Played Man City in second Premiership fixture (W2-1)

WOY

- Won 2-0 away in Europe
- Faces North London club in opening Premiership fixture (Arsenal)
- Plays Man City in second Premiership fixture

Rafa lost the return leg in Europe 0-1 vs Graz, if that happens here (unlikely) then spooky! All boxes ticked so far, same first result away, then a North London club first in the Premiership followed by Man City.

[supersub]

On those stats I'll book my hotel now for the Europa Cup Final in Dublin

[dawson99]

On those stats I'll book my hotel now for the Europa Cup Final in Dublin

Biggest City in the world dontcha know

(because it is always Dublin in size)

It's gonna be a long season

[bigmick]

And anyway if you were so against Rafa and glad he has gone why mention him so much?Why compare the new manager to him after one game...I dont get it!

And dont hit us with the season long story either...please dont tell me you are gonna highlight everything we do right from here on in and compare it to what Rafa did wrong,because anyone with eyes can see if this is the case...it wont be about managers it will be about you high fiving yourself and saying look at me,I'm right.I was right...if Roy can do it why could Rafa not have etc etc........ same boring sh,ite...BigMick being his own biggest fan like every other day!

It's not about highlighting "everything Rafa did wrong". Infact the thread wasn't intended as any of the things which you've mentioned. I do like the "high fiving yourself" line, but it isn't about that either.

See there are hundreds of threads on here, many of which don't interest me in the least. I just don't post in them. People who don't like this thread and don't want to talk about football should just do the same I reckon.

The thread is called Roy's Liverpool/Rafa's Liverpool, and is supposed to be a comparision between the way the two teams pan out in terms of set up, approach, formation etc etc. I'm well aware that many people aren't interested in the detail of football, and fair enough. It's just a shame that they desperately try and put the kybosh on anybody else discussing it, by insults, trench warfare and the inevitable interventions from the same old faces. And they call me boring  .

[Thommo's perm]

And anyway if you were so against Rafa and glad he has gone why mention him so much?Why compare the new manager to him after one game...I dont get it!

And dont hit us with the season long story either...please dont tell me you are gonna highlight everything we do right from here on in and compare it to what Rafa did wrong,because anyone with eyes can see if this is the case...it wont be about managers it will be about you high fiving yourself and saying look at me,I'm right.I was right...if Roy can do it why could Rafa not have etc etc........ same boring sh,ite...BigMick being his own biggest fan like every other day!

It's not about highlighting "everything Rafa did wrong". Infact the thread wasn't intended as any of the things which you've mentioned. I do like the "high fiving yourself" line, but it isn't about that either.

See there are hundreds of threads on here, many of which don't interest me in the least. I just don't post in them. People who don't like this thread and don't want to talk about football should just do the same I reckon.

The thread is called Roy's Liverpool/Rafa's Liverpool, and is supposed to be a comparision between the way the two teams pan out in terms of set up, approach, formation etc etc. I'm well aware that many people aren't interested in the detail of football, and fair enough. It's just a shame that they desperately try and put the kybosh on anybody else discussing it, by insults, trench warfare and the inevitable interventions from the same old faces. And they call me boring  .

Take no notice mate, youre not boring







Youre just not very interesting...