Liverpool FC Forum

by **bigmick** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 8:30 am

About a hundred years ago when I played centre half, we toyed with zonal defence from set pieces. We fell into the same hole that Liverpool did last night. Conceding goals with everybody looking at each other and nobody being too sure whose fault it was.
In the end, we dropped it and went back to a man-marking system, keeping the zone on for front post only. We didn't mark the posts either, the feeling was that you invited scrambles and scrimmaging around the keeper if you played everybody onside all the time.
Despite the failure of us to defend zonally with any success, I always felt the system was sound in theory, just takes a lot of practice I guess. The main difficulty it seemed to me was counteracting the most basic human principle of all when defending, the ball-watch. They do it with success on the continent though so given Rafas proven quality as a coach, he could well make it work here too.

by **Leonmc0708** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 9:19 am

The employment of this new type of defending from set pieces was the reason we lost last night, and the only reason.

I remember seeing Valencia doing it to great effect against us, and I also watched them a couple of times last year and it worked well for them. If this is the way Rafa wants to do it, then who are we to argue? I guess it will simply need some time for the lads to get used to and master the art, I am willing to give it time, but I cant help but worry when there are, as there was last night, three big fellas on the edge of the penalty area with free runs in on goal.

The biggest disadvantage of this type of defending is that the attacker will always have the advantage of the runup, into your "zone" where as you as the defender are always jumping from a standing start, and I am sure we can all appreciate the difference.

If it is the way Rafa intends to go with respect to defence during set pieces, then I am happy that trying out the new system was the reason we lost last night. Apart from the Ronaldo shot hitting the post, they had no other chances, so if we had played them later in the season when the lads had had more experince of and the chance to master "zone marking" then I would be sure we could beat them.

I fear last nights game came too quickly for the new signings, a few more easier run outs against lesser sides under our belts and we would have been in a better position.

ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN A DAY.

by **LFC #1** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 12:02 pm

apparently Cisse was the man meant to be picking up Silvestre, not poiting the finger squarely at him but if Rafa told him to do this job where was he?

by **chiggz_likes_owen** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 4:50 pm

Maybe Rafa should point out before the match who should pick who up on other teams set plays and we should have man to man defence. There are 2 post players so which liverpool 8 should mark whatever team we play.

by **adayinthelife** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 6:52 pm

Whether man 2 man or zonal marking somebody has to attack the ball.

by **bigmick** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 11:03 pm

One or two posters have alluded to Cisse being entrusted with the man-marking of Sylvestre from the corners. He's probably well capable and seems ok in the air, Sylvestre is certainly no Sami, but how do they know that to be the case? I'm not saying they're wrong or anything but was there an interview after the game or something where this was revealed? (I watched it in a pub and it was difficult to even see it, never mind hear any analysis). If it is the case then I strongly suggest we leave Cisse on the half-way line in future and give the job to someone, anyone else.

Liverpool FC Forum

Zonal defence. - Is is the best way?

Who is online