Liverpool FC Forum

stmichael wrote:Well after four competitive games, the team looks like exactly what it is to me: new. They're all getting to know each other and the process of familiarisation is not an instant one. It's also being exascerbated by injuries to key players. There weren't any blatant howlers last night, but it's plainly not the well-oiled machine of last season, right now.

Despite my fundamental mistrust of it, I can live with squad rotation - particularly when it's used purely for the purpose of resting players. However, the one area of the team that always makes me nervous to see rotated is the back four. Defending is very much about awareness of, and communication with, team mates and therefore improves when players are used to each other. When the defensive systems used (offside trap & zonal defence of set pieces) are so dependant on these skills, changes to the defence will inevitably lead to wobbles. I guess we are now in a situation where Rafa will almost have to stick with the defence that finished the match as he's got no-one else. Despite both Agger and Aurelio showing great promise, neither is yet as tuned in to our systems as Carra and JAR. Playing together every match is the only way to remedy that deficiency quickly.

I think the lack of familiarity is applicable throughout the team, too. We're by no means sh#te (far from it, in fact), but it's clear that we haven't quite clicked yet. For example, both Gonzalez and Pennant have shown flashes of real quality, but last night we didn't seem to know how to use both of them at the same time. It was virtually all going down the left - especially in the first half. We need Xabi to keep switching the play from wing to wing in order to stretch teams and keep both the wingers right in the game. Once again, this will improve with time as we get used to playing with wingers, but it would help if we stuck with them to speed that process up.

Momo's injury will possibly ensure that now as I assume Gerrard will play in the middle. That's not a worry for most games, but I will be concerned if we have to face Chelsea without our usual defensive shield of Xabi and Big Mo. Gerrard is wasted when he has to limit his attacking instincts. Here's hoping the big fella is not seriously injured.

As for up front, I think Crouchinho showed what we missed at Bramall Lane. He was excellent and a big (no pun intended) factor in the largely comfortable first half. When he plays like that he almost becomes the fulcrum of the side's attacking play. He must be feeling the pressure of Kuyt's arrival and last night was reassuring in that it showed he's going to respond in the best possible way.

Overall, it was a tense affair and my feelings were largely of relief, rather than celebration at the end. Let's hope we can now focus on building familiarity within the squad for new players and tactics as we can't afford to let the process drag on if it impedes results.

stmichael wrote:Well after four competitive games, the team looks like exactly what it is to me: new. They're all getting to know each other and the process of familiarisation is not an instant one. It's also being exascerbated by injuries to key players. There weren't any blatant howlers last night, but it's plainly not the well-oiled machine of last season, right now.

Despite my fundamental mistrust of it, I can live with squad rotation - particularly when it's used purely for the purpose of resting players. However, the one area of the team that always makes me nervous to see rotated is the back four. Defending is very much about awareness of, and communication with, team mates and therefore improves when players are used to each other. When the defensive systems used (offside trap & zonal defence of set pieces) are so dependant on these skills, changes to the defence will inevitably lead to wobbles. I guess we are now in a situation where Rafa will almost have to stick with the defence that finished the match as he's got no-one else. Despite both Agger and Aurelio showing great promise, neither is yet as tuned in to our systems as Carra and JAR. Playing together every match is the only way to remedy that deficiency quickly.

I think the lack of familiarity is applicable throughout the team, too. We're by no means sh#te (far from it, in fact), but it's clear that we haven't quite clicked yet. For example, both Gonzalez and Pennant have shown flashes of real quality, but last night we didn't seem to know how to use both of them at the same time. It was virtually all going down the left - especially in the first half. We need Xabi to keep switching the play from wing to wing in order to stretch teams and keep both the wingers right in the game. Once again, this will improve with time as we get used to playing with wingers, but it would help if we stuck with them to speed that process up.

Momo's injury will possibly ensure that now as I assume Gerrard will play in the middle. That's not a worry for most games, but I will be concerned if we have to face Chelsea without our usual defensive shield of Xabi and Big Mo. Gerrard is wasted when he has to limit his attacking instincts. Here's hoping the big fella is not seriously injured.

As for up front, I think Crouchinho showed what we missed at Bramall Lane. He was excellent and a big (no pun intended) factor in the largely comfortable first half. When he plays like that he almost becomes the fulcrum of the side's attacking play. He must be feeling the pressure of Kuyt's arrival and last night was reassuring in that it showed he's going to respond in the best possible way.

Overall, it was a tense affair and my feelings were largely of relief, rather than celebration at the end. Let's hope we can now focus on building familiarity within the squad for new players and tactics as we can't afford to let the process drag on if it impedes results.

stmichael wrote:Well after four competitive games, the team looks like exactly what it is to me: new. They're all getting to know each other and the process of familiarisation is not an instant one. It's also being exascerbated by injuries to key players. There weren't any blatant howlers last night, but it's plainly not the well-oiled machine of last season, right now.

Despite my fundamental mistrust of it, I can live with squad rotation - particularly when it's used purely for the purpose of resting players. However, the one area of the team that always makes me nervous to see rotated is the back four. Defending is very much about awareness of, and communication with, team mates and therefore improves when players are used to each other. When the defensive systems used (offside trap & zonal defence of set pieces) are so dependant on these skills, changes to the defence will inevitably lead to wobbles. I guess we are now in a situation where Rafa will almost have to stick with the defence that finished the match as he's got no-one else. Despite both Agger and Aurelio showing great promise, neither is yet as tuned in to our systems as Carra and JAR. Playing together every match is the only way to remedy that deficiency quickly.

I think the lack of familiarity is applicable throughout the team, too. We're by no means sh#te (far from it, in fact), but it's clear that we haven't quite clicked yet. For example, both Gonzalez and Pennant have shown flashes of real quality, but last night we didn't seem to know how to use both of them at the same time. It was virtually all going down the left - especially in the first half. We need Xabi to keep switching the play from wing to wing in order to stretch teams and keep both the wingers right in the game. Once again, this will improve with time as we get used to playing with wingers, but it would help if we stuck with them to speed that process up.

Momo's injury will possibly ensure that now as I assume Gerrard will play in the middle. That's not a worry for most games, but I will be concerned if we have to face Chelsea without our usual defensive shield of Xabi and Big Mo. Gerrard is wasted when he has to limit his attacking instincts. Here's hoping the big fella is not seriously injured.

As for up front, I think Crouchinho showed what we missed at Bramall Lane. He was excellent and a big (no pun intended) factor in the largely comfortable first half. When he plays like that he almost becomes the fulcrum of the side's attacking play. He must be feeling the pressure of Kuyt's arrival and last night was reassuring in that it showed he's going to respond in the best possible way.

Overall, it was a tense affair and my feelings were largely of relief, rather than celebration at the end. Let's hope we can now focus on building familiarity within the squad for new players and tactics as we can't afford to let the process drag on if it impedes results.

Kash_Mountain wrote:

stmichael wrote:Well after four competitive games, the team looks like exactly what it is to me: new. They're all getting to know each other and the process of familiarisation is not an instant one. It's also being exascerbated by injuries to key players. There weren't any blatant howlers last night, but it's plainly not the well-oiled machine of last season, right now.

Despite my fundamental mistrust of it, I can live with squad rotation - particularly when it's used purely for the purpose of resting players. However, the one area of the team that always makes me nervous to see rotated is the back four. Defending is very much about awareness of, and communication with, team mates and therefore improves when players are used to each other. When the defensive systems used (offside trap & zonal defence of set pieces) are so dependant on these skills, changes to the defence will inevitably lead to wobbles. I guess we are now in a situation where Rafa will almost have to stick with the defence that finished the match as he's got no-one else. Despite both Agger and Aurelio showing great promise, neither is yet as tuned in to our systems as Carra and JAR. Playing together every match is the only way to remedy that deficiency quickly.

I think the lack of familiarity is applicable throughout the team, too. We're by no means sh#te (far from it, in fact), but it's clear that we haven't quite clicked yet. For example, both Gonzalez and Pennant have shown flashes of real quality, but last night we didn't seem to know how to use both of them at the same time. It was virtually all going down the left - especially in the first half. We need Xabi to keep switching the play from wing to wing in order to stretch teams and keep both the wingers right in the game. Once again, this will improve with time as we get used to playing with wingers, but it would help if we stuck with them to speed that process up.

Momo's injury will possibly ensure that now as I assume Gerrard will play in the middle. That's not a worry for most games, but I will be concerned if we have to face Chelsea without our usual defensive shield of Xabi and Big Mo. Gerrard is wasted when he has to limit his attacking instincts. Here's hoping the big fella is not seriously injured.

As for up front, I think Crouchinho showed what we missed at Bramall Lane. He was excellent and a big (no pun intended) factor in the largely comfortable first half. When he plays like that he almost becomes the fulcrum of the side's attacking play. He must be feeling the pressure of Kuyt's arrival and last night was reassuring in that it showed he's going to respond in the best possible way.

Overall, it was a tense affair and my feelings were largely of relief, rather than celebration at the end. Let's hope we can now focus on building familiarity within the squad for new players and tactics as we can't afford to let the process drag on if it impedes results.

Precisely.  Couldn't have put it better myself, good post.

Oi, StMick couldn't had put it into better words himself that's why he has a tendency to copy and paste posts from other forums. 

So there's a very good chance that he didn't write that. In fact most of his posts, I end up reading twice at one point or another. 

Kash_Mountain wrote:

LFCFan4Life wrote:

Kash_Mountain wrote:

stmichael wrote:Well after four competitive games, the team looks like exactly what it is to me: new. They're all getting to know each other and the process of familiarisation is not an instant one. It's also being exascerbated by injuries to key players. There weren't any blatant howlers last night, but it's plainly not the well-oiled machine of last season, right now.

Despite my fundamental mistrust of it, I can live with squad rotation - particularly when it's used purely for the purpose of resting players. However, the one area of the team that always makes me nervous to see rotated is the back four. Defending is very much about awareness of, and communication with, team mates and therefore improves when players are used to each other. When the defensive systems used (offside trap & zonal defence of set pieces) are so dependant on these skills, changes to the defence will inevitably lead to wobbles. I guess we are now in a situation where Rafa will almost have to stick with the defence that finished the match as he's got no-one else. Despite both Agger and Aurelio showing great promise, neither is yet as tuned in to our systems as Carra and JAR. Playing together every match is the only way to remedy that deficiency quickly.

I think the lack of familiarity is applicable throughout the team, too. We're by no means sh#te (far from it, in fact), but it's clear that we haven't quite clicked yet. For example, both Gonzalez and Pennant have shown flashes of real quality, but last night we didn't seem to know how to use both of them at the same time. It was virtually all going down the left - especially in the first half. We need Xabi to keep switching the play from wing to wing in order to stretch teams and keep both the wingers right in the game. Once again, this will improve with time as we get used to playing with wingers, but it would help if we stuck with them to speed that process up.

Momo's injury will possibly ensure that now as I assume Gerrard will play in the middle. That's not a worry for most games, but I will be concerned if we have to face Chelsea without our usual defensive shield of Xabi and Big Mo. Gerrard is wasted when he has to limit his attacking instincts. Here's hoping the big fella is not seriously injured.

As for up front, I think Crouchinho showed what we missed at Bramall Lane. He was excellent and a big (no pun intended) factor in the largely comfortable first half. When he plays like that he almost becomes the fulcrum of the side's attacking play. He must be feeling the pressure of Kuyt's arrival and last night was reassuring in that it showed he's going to respond in the best possible way.

Overall, it was a tense affair and my feelings were largely of relief, rather than celebration at the end. Let's hope we can now focus on building familiarity within the squad for new players and tactics as we can't afford to let the process drag on if it impedes results.

Precisely.  Couldn't have put it better myself, good post.

Oi, StMick couldn't had put it into better words himself that's why he has a tendency to copy and paste posts from other forums. 

So there's a very good chance that he didn't write that. In fact most of his posts, I end up reading twice at one point or another. 

What are you on about.

he means that many of mike's posts appear on RAWK 

adamnbarrett wrote:

Kash_Mountain wrote:

LFCFan4Life wrote:

Kash_Mountain wrote:

stmichael wrote:Well after four competitive games, the team looks like exactly what it is to me: new. They're all getting to know each other and the process of familiarisation is not an instant one. It's also being exascerbated by injuries to key players. There weren't any blatant howlers last night, but it's plainly not the well-oiled machine of last season, right now.

Despite my fundamental mistrust of it, I can live with squad rotation - particularly when it's used purely for the purpose of resting players. However, the one area of the team that always makes me nervous to see rotated is the back four. Defending is very much about awareness of, and communication with, team mates and therefore improves when players are used to each other. When the defensive systems used (offside trap & zonal defence of set pieces) are so dependant on these skills, changes to the defence will inevitably lead to wobbles. I guess we are now in a situation where Rafa will almost have to stick with the defence that finished the match as he's got no-one else. Despite both Agger and Aurelio showing great promise, neither is yet as tuned in to our systems as Carra and JAR. Playing together every match is the only way to remedy that deficiency quickly.

I think the lack of familiarity is applicable throughout the team, too. We're by no means sh#te (far from it, in fact), but it's clear that we haven't quite clicked yet. For example, both Gonzalez and Pennant have shown flashes of real quality, but last night we didn't seem to know how to use both of them at the same time. It was virtually all going down the left - especially in the first half. We need Xabi to keep switching the play from wing to wing in order to stretch teams and keep both the wingers right in the game. Once again, this will improve with time as we get used to playing with wingers, but it would help if we stuck with them to speed that process up.

Momo's injury will possibly ensure that now as I assume Gerrard will play in the middle. That's not a worry for most games, but I will be concerned if we have to face Chelsea without our usual defensive shield of Xabi and Big Mo. Gerrard is wasted when he has to limit his attacking instincts. Here's hoping the big fella is not seriously injured.

As for up front, I think Crouchinho showed what we missed at Bramall Lane. He was excellent and a big (no pun intended) factor in the largely comfortable first half. When he plays like that he almost becomes the fulcrum of the side's attacking play. He must be feeling the pressure of Kuyt's arrival and last night was reassuring in that it showed he's going to respond in the best possible way.

Overall, it was a tense affair and my feelings were largely of relief, rather than celebration at the end. Let's hope we can now focus on building familiarity within the squad for new players and tactics as we can't afford to let the process drag on if it impedes results.

Precisely.  Couldn't have put it better myself, good post.

Oi, StMick couldn't had put it into better words himself that's why he has a tendency to copy and paste posts from other forums. 

So there's a very good chance that he didn't write that. In fact most of his posts, I end up reading twice at one point or another. 

What are you on about.

he means that many of mike's posts appear on RAWK 

kazza wrote:I think buying Kuyt was probably due to Raffa guaranteeing CL admittance to the board