Change in philosophy required

Ginu · November 5, 2007

There's been a problem with my account for about a month. I think I just sorted it out. I've had a lot of time to think about our recent form. This is what I've come up with.

We need to change our entire approach to this team. See, when Rafa arrived, the entire first season was spent teaching the team how to play defense. Keeping clean sheets. Zonal marking. Anything and everything to make sure we minimized the goals against. Since then we've achieved that and we've done wonders in the Champions League. But not once since Rafa arrived does it seem like we've spent the same amount of time learning offense. We just don't seem like we know what to do in the final third and it seems like our team is built for defense only. While we may keep our clean sheet, but it results in us not scoring enough goals to get the 3 points.

Consequently, we don't have the players who are comfortable on the ball moving forward. This includes essentially our entire defensive line and affects our entire transition from defense to midfield. That's why we don't play exciting football like Arsenal and Man United. That's why we resort to hoofing the ball up from the defense or passing back to Reina whenever we have a chance. So 9 times out of 10, our first pass is poor.

Looking at our team, there are so many players we need to replace and we need to change our entire philosophy. And our defensive line isn't getting any younger. While Riise has to go, Finnan, Carra and Hyypia all need first-11 competition for the present and future, players that can use both feet, can all make a pass and are football smart. Yes, Stevie Finnan is very reliable at the back, yes Carra plays with the heart of a lion and yes Sami is great in the air, but can we honestly say they're capable of playing the way the back line of Arsenal and Man United do? I honestly can't say that. Do we ever see Carra playing in the opponent's box on a corner as well as Ferdinand does and challenging the goalkeeper? While Agger does this, do we ever see Carra joining the counter-attack like Toure? While Finnan makes a great tackle and can send in a good cross, but does he have the pace of and can beat a defender like Sagna can? Is Riise even as capable as Evra or Clichy? While Riise has become good defensively (again, that has been our focus under Rafa), when he enteres the opposing half, can he do anything but put in a chip cross or fierce shot and only with left foot?

We just don't have the players throughout the team that can be both attacking and defending players. Arbeloa gives us hope that the manager is looking at the right players because he looks more than capable of doing this. But until we get in 3 excellent defenders that can "rival" our rival's players in those positions IN BOTH attacking and defending capabilities, we won't win the title. You may be able to do with one in the team, say Finnan or Carra, but not both or all.

Getting Torres, Benayoun, Arbeloa, Mascherano and Babel is a start. All are the "next-generation" type of players that we have lacked in recent years. Even Agger is a great showing of this. But we lack the "fluidity" that our rivals have continually shown in the last 5 years. It only comes with the right players. And while Kuyt and Voronin work hard, if Kuyt runs around like he does but we lack that fluidity, his contribution gets negated because our play doesn't result in him getting the ball in the box. Notice how he rarely takes shots?

These are the thoughts that I've been building up for the past 3-4 weeks. Hopefully it works to give us fans some perspective about why we have failed to score goals and already have 4 or 5 draws this season.

Liverpool Football Club should never be satisfied with just remaining unbeaten. If we continually draw, after a couple, they might as well be considered losses.

A big change in our philosophy is necessary. We need to consider ourself an attacking team, not a defensive one. We need to get replacements for our back line and a top quality winger and we'll see results.

YNWA

SkippyjonJones · November 5, 2007