bigmick wrote:It just seems to me Phil that we don't get enough bodies in the box often enough to make things happen. If you really look at it, it's hard to see how we are going to score goals with any regularity in this system. We don't get behind teams from wide and put any quality in, if we did we only have Crouch in the box, nobody 'arrives' at that moment in the style of a Cahill or our friend Robbie Earle. We don't cut teams open with incisive passing movements, only Gerrard posesses enough pace to worry teams coming from deep. Only Gerrard had the look of a fella who can score with any consistency with a shot from out side the area and we never flood the box with any numbers to rely on a lucky bounce. We haven't got a channel ball because Crouch doesn't posess the pace to run into that area, and even if he did that would leave nobody in the middle at all. We have two midfielders sitting infront of our back four and then wonder why we look solid (notwithstanding today). Mourhinho said we are difficult to play against and I'm sure we are but do we pose enough of a threat with this system?
Dont worry, im not here for long. Just thought id pop in and see what’s going on since I had spoken of coming back after the two games
Bigmik-
That’s fair judgment.
Firstly id like to give props to Rafa for giving Risse a game.
I watched both games closely and I think Rafa has not only a big but an immense task on hands. Some might not realize the degree of the problem he faces, but those who do will understand what im trying to say.
This 4-5-1 system is being used for one reason only - defense. Now I dont mean to play defensively, but to make sure Liverpool are a good defensive team, and that’s the way to start building a team. What Rafa is doing is spot on in a way, and totally wrong in another.
Spot on - He wants to start building from the back. He wants to start first and foremost with a good keeper, that’s why Reina was bought. I know a few have their doubts on Reina, I do too, but I think its fair to say he is an improvement form Dudek.
The back 4. IMO he has done a good job in setting them up. Carragher is the best defender at the club by a mile. Finnan might not be your 'super full back' but he does a steady job. You know you can count on him and if he isn’t having a good game he wont venture forward but will make sure he defends well.
Your problem lies in Hyypia and Traore. Hyypia no doubt is a quality player, has been for many years. But his legs are getting weak, Rafa spotted this and that was the reason he was so adamant on buying a 'quality' CB as cover. That will be your first purchase this summer.
Traore had a nightmare of a game. I don’t think he is as bad as he was last night, it was just a bad day, but he isn’t that good either and is defo no where near as good as Finnan. Purchase 2 - quality LB.
Your Midfield 3 are spot on too.
Alonso - DMF - has all the qualities. Can pass the ball well, can cover, can take free kicks, is versatile and can play anywhere in the MF3.
Sissoko/Hamman - I think Sissoko will takeover from next game on and Didi will be used only in CL games. Sissoko is another versatile player, can play OMF, DMF, or even supporting box-box.
Gerrard - I dont need to say much about him. Props to him for the goal, it was a good strike and he always does his best to lift the team ---> and that’s where the problem lies (will come back to this point at the end)**
Totally wrong-
In the 4-5-1 the 4-3 are ok, but the 2-1 is where the problem is.
Risse cannot play out wide. He is a good player and I wont argue on that, but he cannot bring anything to the team in an attacking sense.
Garcia has been extremely poor this season. I barely noticed him last night. Not only is he a waste of space, but his talent and his plus points are not being looked at. If he is more effective playing centrally then why cant he play there? If he has to play a game and has to start every game then isn’t it wise to use him where he is capable of producing, as opposed to sticking him wide right where he will give the ball away 11 times out of 10.
Crouch - I was skeptical of his move for 7M. But I have been impressed. Im going to make myself to say that "Crouch is a good player" - he has shown enough for me to feel that. He does his job well, he might not win all the headers that he is supposed to (Ricardo did a good job) but what’s 'important' is that he gets involved. He gets a tad back centrally and gets involved in play, he moves around, he is intelligent. What he does by getting back is giving the opposition DMF a problem and when it takes those 20 seconds to sort the problem out the likes of Gerrard and Garcia are on the scene, which could prove for a break or a steal of the ball - all this created by him getting 'involved'
...so he is trying to 'force' a system with lack of the 'type' of players required for that system. The system will work right if the players are right. ATM the players are wrong and he has tried a lot of options ...
LW - Risse, Zenden
RW - Pongo,Garcia,Cisse
... and none of them work. So he is confidend of the system, its only the player profiles that are letting him down.
And therefore, due to this system not workign right for whatever reason, there will be a different system in the next game - im sure of it.
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There is nothing wrong with 4-5-1. Some might say its not good to play that at home, im not going to comment on that because that’s Rafa's business. As a visiting fan I can only talk about the tactics and why I feel Rafa is a smart manager.
The drawback is not in the system, its in the players.
The system will work fine if the players are right. Thats why he bought Zenden (who hasn’t worked), that’s why he tried for Solano, Simao, Joaquin etc ...
So purchase 3 and 4, one right winger, one young winger as cover.
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I also didn’t understand the Subs. Cisse has clearly not don’t much on that right for the first 6 games, why play him there again?
Pongo came on too late to change the game.
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2 Games
Rafa played an open game on Wednesday. I thought we were woeful that night. There was so much space to move into but we made 0 effort. Our overall play was poor and Robben was
. The only impressive part to our play was the fact that we restricted you to 0 shots on goal.The break - Rafa and Carra said a lot of things in the press, that got to us a bit.
Sunday - It was the same game. The same space, only this time we made the most of it.
After watching both games I realize why we didn’t press on Wednesday. In the CL if you win your home games and draw away you are set to qualify. Rafa's objective is to qualify, as is ours. We didn’t play for a win because we didn’t need to. We got our point, we left Rafa thinking, he played the same game, and this time we filled the space.
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I cant think of any solution to your goals problem. Im not as smart as Rafa or Jose, and if Rafa cant figure it out after 7 games then there seems to be a problem on hand.
I can only imagine Cisse should be given a start. He might not be first choice, but if things are not working its only imminent that changes are made. Risse-Alonso-Sissoko-Gerrard look a good MF 4, Cisse and Pongo upfront is a pairing that has goals in it. Give Crouch a rest, play Pongo and Cisse together, they are both fast, one tricky the other a commet. Im sure they will find the net.
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** The Gerrard factor.
Its him who has been carrying the team for too long now. He gets all the goals, he provides all the inspiration and everyone looks to him when they are down. Sure he is a great leader, but his leadership isn’t effective at this moment. This team cannot be a one man army. Some of the weight has to be shifted to others shoulders.
His stamp on the team is as big a downfall as the advantage that it is. ---- And if you understand what I mean by that, you understand why Lfc has problems.
Good wishes.
Cheers
by 