Liverpool FC Forum

Agreed we need to go back to the diamond, I don't think Lallana and Coutinho looked good together

I think Brendan's hands have been tied slightly.

Think he wants to play the diamond but with injuries to Allen and Sturridge is finding it hard to!

You have to give credit to Allen, he gives us a more robust midfield when he'd in there than the likes of Coutinho.

Yeah, that should be the end of the 4-5-1 formation, it just ain't working. If we have to play Lambert or even f*cking Borini then so be it, we just need to get back to the diamond.

Would have been nice if we had Remy in the team right now.

Boocity » Tue Sep 16, 2014 9:01 pm wrote:Agreed we need to go back to the diamond, I don't think Lallana and Coutinho looked good together

I wouldn't blame this pairing a problem as such i think Playing a static single Forward doesn't help the cause as well..I also thought both of them looked pretty poor but it's not like they had a lot of options to pass to...Mario doesn't move and Sterling played from behind...

that was absolute dog-sh!te. we were brutal first half and only slightly better second. we got an unbelievable scabby pen right at the death to give us 3 points we didnt deserve.
we seriously need to get our act together real quick as we will get nowhere playing like that.
where was markovic ?

Markovic was suspended

Redman in wales » Tue Sep 16, 2014 10:44 pm wrote:Markovic was suspended

cheers redman

red till i die!! » Tue Sep 16, 2014 9:36 pm wrote:that was absolute dog-sh!te. we were brutal first half and only slightly better second. we got an unbelievable scabby pen right at the death to give us 3 points we didnt deserve.
we seriously need to get our act together real quick as we will get nowhere playing like that.

Agreed. Absolute fuck1ng rubbish performance. The only positive I can take out of that circus was that we somehow managed to scam a win out of it.

God help us in the Prem if things don't improve drastically. We'll struggle to get draws against the bottom clubs, never mind the top ones.
I had been feeling optimistic and excited about this season, but the performances last weekend and tonight have brought me down to earth kinda suddenly.
Can you imagine what Di Maria would (will) do to that lineup if they perform like that?
Jee zuz.

(Sorry for the rant.)

It doesn't matter what defence we have. The way we set up will leave us open as the midfield offers them no protection whatsoever.

The main positives were the two fullbacks who were both excellent and Balotelli getting his goal. We still got away with one though.

We should play the diamond no matter what. We jus isolate our strikers otherwise. We need to start the next game with Balotelli and Borini.

A win is a win but a stronger side would have severely punished us.

I am giving an explicit opinion of Brendan. His attacking football tactics, diamond formation etc are good, that's why we were probably the most exciting team to watch in Europe. But, his defence set ups are his Archiles' heel. Yes, I know Migs have made a few blunders but those blunders could have been reduced had the defence system been better. Signing Lovren is not a solution to the problem if you don't buck up your defence tactics. I've said before, the central defenders we have last season, Skrtel, Agger, Toure, Sakho are all international players and are decent players, it was the defence tactics that let them down. We can sign the greatest centre back in the world right now but can still leak in silly goals if we don't improve the tactics in  that department.

The other issue with Brendan is, based on the transfers, he gives me the impression he is a low budget manager who is afraid to spend big. Compare the CVs of LVG to Brendan, V.Gaal had managed the big clubs in Barcelona and B.Munich and winning championship titles and the CL. Brendan had managed small clubs like Watford, Reading and Swans without winning a single trophy before managing Liverpool. Brendan was used to managing those clubs with small budgets and he has become comfortable with that which works for a mid table side but not for Liverpool.

I am not praising our enemy's gaffer in LVG, but he was not afraid to spend big in signing di Maria for 60M and Falcao(the best Columbian striker) on loan plus a few more. That's because he is used to managing big clubs and spending big. Had Brendan really wanted di Maria and Falcao which would cost an arm and a leg, Brendan I am certain would not entertain it even though he could get them had he really wanted to because of the LS sale and funding from FSG. Because if manure with no CL football can get them, why not Liverpool with CL. It's just that Brendan is not willing to spend big on anyone player. Even if di Maria and Falcao had begged their clubs to sell them to Liverpool, Brendan would only want them if they can come cheap like under 26M which is a fantasy when you're dealing with players of that calibre.

Some of you may say, we need to spend wisely because we cannot compete financially with the likes of City and Chelsea. Well, if that's the case, then FSG should not be in the game at all unless they are contented with a mid table finish every season. I know we have been one of the biggest spenders in the summer window, but the amount he spent on each player is not a huge sum ie all under 25M and what's the point of having ten above average players which I believe the players he signed are when you can have one or two expensive marquee players in the same bracket as LS to change the game. Just compare us now with a deeper squad with last season where squad not so deep but with a star player. Some of you may strongly disagree, but I prefer a less deep squad but having a di Maria and Falcao present than a squad of mostly above average players. I am afraid we will be the Tottenham of 14-15 if Brendan is going to continue to sign players on the bargain.

Listen we were lucky, that is clear.

However, what have we learned from this experience.

- A few players are still not match fit - Lallana, etc
- Without Sturridge we struggle with movement in the final third. For all the faults with Sturridge, he does facilitate chance creation
- Despite Balotelli not having the same work ethic as Suarez, he does have the ability to win a match. We need to learn to play to his strengths - I see Sturridge as the key to this. 
- Our formation and tactics beyond our preferred first team is yet to prove it's worth. I am sure this is a case of rustiness but clearly needs to be fixed for us to be effective moving forward.
- Sakho has strengths but is not as strong as Skrtel. Our best CB partnership is Lovren-Skrtel

Red Focus » Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:34 am wrote:A win is a win but a stronger side would have severely punished us.

I am giving an explicit opinion of Brendan. His attacking football tactics, diamond formation etc are good, that's why we were probably the most exciting team to watch in Europe. But, his defence set ups are his Archiles' heel. Yes, I know Migs have made a few blunders but those blunders could have been reduced had the defence system been better. Signing Lovren is not a solution to the problem if you don't buck up your defence tactics. I've said before, the central defenders we have last season, Skrtel, Agger, Toure, Sakho are all international players and are decent players, it was the defence tactics that let them down. We can sign the greatest centre back in the world right now but can still leak in silly goals if we don't improve the tactics in  that department.

The other issue with Brendan is, based on the transfers, he gives me the impression he is a low budget manager who is afraid to spend big. Compare the CVs of LVG to Brendan, V.Gaal had managed the big clubs in Barcelona and B.Munich and winning championship titles and the CL. Brendan had managed small clubs like Watford, Reading and Swans without winning a single trophy before managing Liverpool. Brendan was used to managing those clubs with small budgets and he has become comfortable with that which works for a mid table side but not for Liverpool.

I am not praising our enemy's gaffer in LVG, but he was not afraid to spend big in signing di Maria for 60M and Falcao(the best Columbian striker) on loan plus a few more. That's because he is used to managing big clubs and spending big. Had Brendan really wanted di Maria and Falcao which would cost an arm and a leg, Brendan I am certain would not entertain it even though he could get them had he really wanted to because of the LS sale and funding from FSG. Because if manure with no CL football can get them, why not Liverpool with CL. It's just that Brendan is not willing to spend big on anyone player. Even if di Maria and Falcao had begged their clubs to sell them to Liverpool, Brendan would only want them if they can come cheap like under 26M which is a fantasy when you're dealing with players of that calibre.

Some of you may say, we need to spend wisely because we cannot compete financially with the likes of City and Chelsea. Well, if that's the case, then FSG should not be in the game at all unless they are contented with a mid table finish every season. I know we have been one of the biggest spenders in the summer window, but the amount he spent on each player is not a huge sum ie all under 25M and what's the point of having ten above average players which I believe the players he signed are when you can have one or two expensive marquee players in the same bracket as LS to change the game. Just compare us now with a deeper squad with last season where squad not so deep but with a star player. Some of you may strongly disagree, but I prefer a less deep squad but having a di Maria and Falcao present than a squad of mostly above average players. I am afraid we will be the Tottenham of 14-15 if Brendan is going to continue to sign players on the bargain.

You point out our defensive frailties.  Have you not noticed United's?

Red Focus » Wed Sep 17, 2014 3:34 am wrote:A win is a win but a stronger side would have severely punished us.

I am giving an explicit opinion of Brendan. His attacking football tactics, diamond formation etc are good, that's why we were probably the most exciting team to watch in Europe. But, his defence set ups are his Archiles' heel.

Can only hope that one day BR realises that a specialist defensive coach would be a welcome addition to our backroom staff. However the problem with employing a (imo badly needed) defensive coach is that his instructions would no doubt be in conflict with BR's attacking philosophy, which is probably the reason why we no longer have one    .

Red Focus » Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:34 am wrote:A win is a win but a stronger side would have severely punished us.

I am giving an explicit opinion of Brendan. His attacking football tactics, diamond formation etc are good, that's why we were probably the most exciting team to watch in Europe. But, his defence set ups are his Archiles' heel. Yes, I know Migs have made a few blunders but those blunders could have been reduced had the defence system been better. Signing Lovren is not a solution to the problem if you don't buck up your defence tactics. I've said before, the central defenders we have last season, Skrtel, Agger, Toure, Sakho are all international players and are decent players, it was the defence tactics that let them down. We can sign the greatest centre back in the world right now but can still leak in silly goals if we don't improve the tactics in  that department.

The other issue with Brendan is, based on the transfers, he gives me the impression he is a low budget manager who is afraid to spend big. Compare the CVs of LVG to Brendan, V.Gaal had managed the big clubs in Barcelona and B.Munich and winning championship titles and the CL. Brendan had managed small clubs like Watford, Reading and Swans without winning a single trophy before managing Liverpool. Brendan was used to managing those clubs with small budgets and he has become comfortable with that which works for a mid table side but not for Liverpool.

I am not praising our enemy's gaffer in LVG, but he was not afraid to spend big in signing di Maria for 60M and Falcao(the best Columbian striker) on loan plus a few more. That's because he is used to managing big clubs and spending big. Had Brendan really wanted di Maria and Falcao which would cost an arm and a leg, Brendan I am certain would not entertain it even though he could get them had he really wanted to because of the LS sale and funding from FSG. Because if manure with no CL football can get them, why not Liverpool with CL. It's just that Brendan is not willing to spend big on anyone player. Even if di Maria and Falcao had begged their clubs to sell them to Liverpool, Brendan would only want them if they can come cheap like under 26M which is a fantasy when you're dealing with players of that calibre.

Some of you may say, we need to spend wisely because we cannot compete financially with the likes of City and Chelsea. Well, if that's the case, then FSG should not be in the game at all unless they are contented with a mid table finish every season. I know we have been one of the biggest spenders in the summer window, but the amount he spent on each player is not a huge sum ie all under 25M and what's the point of having ten above average players which I believe the players he signed are when you can have one or two expensive marquee players in the same bracket as LS to change the game. Just compare us now with a deeper squad with last season where squad not so deep but with a star player. Some of you may strongly disagree, but I prefer a less deep squad but having a di Maria and Falcao present than a squad of mostly above average players. I am afraid we will be the Tottenham of 14-15 if Brendan is going to continue to sign players on the bargain.

the problem is not as you say our defenders as many of them would get into most of the EPL team, the problem is the midfield or in particular defensive midfield. No defence will hold up if they have no cover in front of them and the goal last night just highlighted that problem. We need a top notch DM someone in the mould of Viera, Masc, Didi, Essien etc, sorry but SG is not the answer.

Regarding mark signings, we seem to baulk if the price gets up to £30m or above and probably Andy's signing is the reason. last year we made a play for Costa but as his price had increased due to the season he had with AM we showed no interest this time. Also regarding Sanchez, did we actually make a serious bid for him, did we match or pass the Arsenal price, I wonder. Fabregas would have been a good buy but that would have been seen as direct and instant competition for SG and that is something BR seems to shy away from.