Are we too controlled in the league

[Tyler]

Our game seems to be suited to European pace

Not as hectic - our players have more time and more protection from the officials

 

How do we play differently in the league

Should we play three in central midfield

 

 

United's all action style is costing them and has cost them in Europe

[Guest RedIsMyColour]

Benitez's success has been in the Spanish league where he knows that style of play inside out. This style of play also suits European football. I think with Liverpool he has used the same methods he used at Valencia to generate success, it has worked in Europe clearly. I think he just needs us to find the right balance between la Ligas style of play and pace of the English game.

 

If we were in La Liga, We'd have won it in one of rafa's seasons.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

We are simply playing with too little confidence in the league. the end.

[Maldini]

We're grand at home.

[Andy @ Allerton]

Our game seems to be suited to European pace

Not as hectic - our players have more time and more protection from the officials

 

How do we play differently in the league

Should we play three in central midfield

United's all action style is costing them and has cost them in Europe

 

Rafa is a clever chap - I think he's not quite sussed the league yet - but he does learn - he seems to have sussed Cup games with the club and it'll only be a matter of time before he susses the league

 

I think being controlled a the back is a good platform to build on and Sami's slowing down and Carra's injury plus Reina's difficult start have cost us dear in the league - but given our success at the back last term - when we get that back together we'll be drawing as a default and the odd goal will nick it.

 

I always seem to be saying this - but maybe next season...

[Guest BrianF]

Didn't seem to have too many problems last season, in fact we were one of the more physical, high tempo sides in the league.

 

It's been frustrating this season, but I think the reasons are a lot simpler than we think.

[honourablegeorge]

I dunno what the word is for what we're missing in the league - but it's that thing that makes you draw a breath when the likes of Rooney or Ronaldo get the ball - the "Oh s***, what's he going to do?" feeling.

 

We simply don't have that unpredictability, pace, excitement, whatever. That's what costs us. Our two wingers last night - you never REALLY thought they were going to tear someone apart. We don't get teams backpedalling, panicking, etc.

 

Maybe that's the word - panic. We need to start casuing a bit of it.

[Andy @ Allerton]

I dunno what the word is for what we're missing in the league - but it's that thing that makes you draw a breath when the likes of Rooney or Ronaldo get the ball - the "Oh s***, what's he going to do?" feeling.

 

We simply don't have that unpredictability, pace, excitement, whatever. That's what costs us. Our two wingers last night - you never REALLY thought they were going to tear someone apart. We don't get teams backpedalling, panicking, etc.

 

Maybe that's the word - panic. We need to start casuing a bit of it.

 

I dunno what the word is for what we're missing in the league - but it's that thing that makes you draw a breath when the likes of Rooney or Ronaldo get the ball - the "Oh s***, what's he going to do?" feeling.

 

Miss completely open goals?

[Tyler]

What I mean is more related to when we are attacking

 

In Europe there is more chance to build and keep possession

 

In the league it seems that teams can harry and hassle us out of our game particularly away from home where we take more physical punishment without getting frees etc

 

Also we don't seem to be committing the players forward to break these teams down

 

It also seems that we see Kuyt dropping deep/other forwards working the channels

 

I think we need to be more cynical and more "professional" - complain to referees and put pressure on them

stand up to the physical game that other teams play

[Rimbeux]

My observation is that in the PL, teams will let you pass the ball around at the back all day, but make the midfield area congested with yard dog midfielders who make it tough to play through there. They then set the defenders up to deal with high balls, and long balls into the channels.

 

The better attacking teams are good and brave enough to play through midfield at pace with high levels of technique, daring the yard dogs to chase the ball. Pace does help to either create more room in midfield by dropping the defence back, or testing the defence with the long through ball.

 

In Europe teams are more likely to use better technical players, who are probably less physical than PL players, with more emphasis on keeping possession and creating than being destructive and high tempo.

 

We have a good balance in Europe because we are usually technically adept enough for the pace of the game we can play, and are stronger phsically than the oppo. In the PL, too often our passing falls down under pressure, and we can get sucked into trying to outslug the oppo, rather than outplay them.

[anny road]

we got 83 points last season..enough to win the league in a number of years

 

we have struggled with a more attacking putset, and certain players havnt bedded in, others have started the season badly...all this combined and Chelsea, a***, Utd, Everton, Bolton on the bounce away have contributed to a s**** start on the road

[Stevie H]

 

putset

what does that mean?

[Andy @ Allerton]

My observation is that in the PL, teams will let you pass the ball around at the back all day, but make the midfield area congested with yard dog midfielders who make it tough to play through there. They then set the defenders up to deal with high balls, and long balls into the channels.

 

The better attacking teams are good and brave enough to play through midfield at pace with high levels of technique, daring the yard dogs to chase the ball. Pace does help to either create more room in midfield by dropping the defence back, or testing the defence with the long through ball.

 

In Europe teams are more likely to use better technical players, who are probably less physical than PL players, with more emphasis on keeping possession and creating than being destructive and high tempo.

 

We have a good balance in Europe because we are usually technically adept enough for the pace of the game we can play, and are stronger phsically than the oppo. In the PL, too often our passing falls down under pressure, and we can get sucked into trying to outslug the oppo, rather than outplay them.

 

You should be on Match of the Day with prose like that mate

[anny road]

what does that mean?

 

 

new word...i made it up

 

it means gay men with man bags

[honourablegeorge]

Cue dozens of us googling for that Baros pic....

[beejay]

we got 83 points last season..enough to win the league in a number of years

 

we have struggled with a more attacking putset, and certain players havnt bedded in, others have started the season badly...all this combined and Chelsea, a***, Utd, Everton, Bolton on the bounce away have contributed to a s**** start on the road

 

We don't yet have a style about us that sets us apart from the opposition. We were getting there last year with a rock solid defence and a balanced midfield but perversely, with a better squad this year we have lost some of the strength & shape that made us hard to beat.

 

Manu are quick around the pitch, press well and have several players who can run at the opposition so counter-attack incisively.

 

Chelsea are the most athletic side and they overpower other teams.

 

Arsenal are technically very good in all departments and pass and move better than the rest of the premiership.

 

Each have their own style and are the best in the division at what they do.

 

I think Rafa is trying to make us unique by creating the best tactically prepared side in the country with several different formations he can use to negate the particular strengths of the opposition and exploit weaknesses on a game-by-game basis. But this is a hugely difficult task relying on the intelligence of the players to adapt to different systems and a rotation policy that few like or understand. If it's confusing for some of the players, it is way, way over the heads of the media and all the dumb-ass pundits and if truth be told, most of our fans as well.

 

We still have this notion that we are Liverpool so f*** who the opposition are, eleven of our own wearing the all red will beat all comers. Rafa knows however that we cannot match the spending power of our main rivals and find it tough to compete on a player-to-player basis therefore we have to be superior in our game planning and making the best use of our resources.

 

It's not worked this season in the league but Rafa isn't going to change, if the players can't adapt he will work on them until they can or ship them out if they can't.

[Guest BrianF]

Chelsea are the most boring team to watch in the league. They have no "style"

Edited November 23, 2006 by BrianF

[Eskimo]

Chelsea are the most boring team to watch in the league. They have no "style"

 

That is their style..

[beejay]

Chelsea are the most boring team to watch in the league. They have no "style"

 

Method?

[Tonto]

We're grand at home.

 

At home, teams generally sit deeper and let us build up play more slowly, which suits us. One exception was Villa, who tried to press us very high up the pitch, yet we coped very well in what was, I thought, our best performance of the season. If we played away from home with the same confidence and composure on the ball we showed in that game, we'd do fine.

Away from home, we are forced to play the ball forward more quickly from the back and our attacking players end up being far too isolated. Too often our wide players take up good positions but have no support. It's a lot easier for Pennant, for example, to beat his man if the full back is worried about Finnan or one of the central midfielders making a run past him off the ball.

Hopefully having Agger at the back along with a bit more confidence in some of our key players will mean we play a little higher up the pitch and commit more men to the attack.

[Stevie H]

new word...i made it up

 

it means gay men with man bags

like indiana jones?

[anny road]

like indiana jones?

 

 

yes and Stevie H

 

both bummers

[Stevie H]

yes and Stevie H

 

both bummers

i do not know who this 'stevie h' is.

 

you homophobic fat man.

[anny road]

i do not know who this 'stevie h' is.

 

you homophobic fat man.

 

 

i dont dislike bummers

 

and your Stevie H obviously